Image via Flickr.
Everything you need to know this morning curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Claims Oil Exploration off the Taranaki Coast Is Deafening Whales
Seismic blasting off the Taranaki coast could result in harmful consequences for New Zealand's only blue whale home. The mammals use sounds to communicate and to locate their food, but constant seismic blasting could be making them deaf. Greenpeace campaign manager, Kate Simcock old 95bFM the repetitive underwater blasting for seismic surveys would is "extremely distressing for blue whales". "They can be literally deafening," said Simcock. "These blasts from these air guns underwater are going off every eight to seven seconds, of every minute of everyday". Consent is about to be given to an international oil company to perform the blastings.Three Strikes Law is Out
The new government is repealing the three strikes law. The law provides increasingly harsh consequences for repeat offenders of major violent and sexual crime. By the third strike, the sentence must be the highest possible without being unjust. Justice and Courts Minister Andrew Little said that for eight years now the law has not successfully reduced or deterred serious crime with the prison population growing and serious crime rates rising. ACT party leader David Seymour who initially drove the policy disagrees. Mr Seymour said that three strikes is a young policy and there is evidence to show the policy has reduced offending. Mr Little expects to repeal the law by mid to late next year.Recyclables May End Up In Landfill After China Bans Waste Imports
China plans to ban the importation of certain recyclable waste products by the end of the year, due to environmental concerns. The Environmental Projects Manager for Plastics New Zealand said that the ban has already put downward pressure on some global plastic prices. There are fears that some businesses who on sold recyclables to China may now dump their waste into landfills. However WasteMINZ chief executive Paul Evans said that landfill is not the only option and there are other markets available for recycling. Ministry for the Environment's waste minimisation fund has provided financial support to over 100 recycling projects.Rats and Grease Found in Dannevirke Sinkhole
A sinkhole appeared on a street in Dannevirke last month due to a large buildup of grease in the sewer line. When the council investigated they found rats feasting on the fatty waste and white grease plastering the walls of the drain. The Tararua District Mayor, Tracy Collins said that although a number of fast food outlets operate nearby they are unlikely to be responsible as they have waste management plans in place to deal with the disposal of grease. She said that it is more likely the buildup had come from households which has prompted the council to educate residents about how to correctly get rid of grease. The sinkhole has now been repaired and the sewer has been water blasted but the council will continue to monitor the drains for future buildups.Health Minister May Seek Health Board Resignations
New Health minister David Clark may ask for resignation letters from District health Boards. Clark says resignations may be requested and accepted if the chairs of District health boards aren't on the same wavelength as the government. Clark adds that he wants to make sure the sector is focussed on delivering the things the government campaigned on and the things that New Zealand as voted on. Opposition leader Bill English is disappointed at the decision, calling the new government brutal.Suu Kyi Tells Muslims to 'Live Peacefully,' Report Says
Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar's ruling party, met people from the country's brutally persecuted Muslim minority during a trip to Rakhine state. A representative of the Arakan Project NGO said Suu Kyi told Muslim leaders "they should live peacefully, the government is there to help them, and they should not quarrel among each other." International observers have called the situation there genocide.Catalan Leaders Show Up for Sedition Hearing
Nine senior members of the recently dismissed Catalan regional authority attended a High Court hearing Thursday. The central government has argued for sedition charges, but no one has yet been charged. The former president of the Catalan body, Carles Puigdemont, skipped court, remaining in Belgium, and the prosecutor called for a European arrest warrant to be issued for him.Thirteen Killed in Battle Between Turkish and Kurdish Fighters
Eight Turkish security personnel and 17 Kurdish militants were killed in fighting near Turkey's border with Iraq Thursday. Government soldiers were targeting the PKK, the separatist group the Turks consider a terrorist organisation.Reporting by Reuben McLaren, Ollie Powell, Jemima Huston
LOCAL NEWS
Seismic blasting off the Taranaki coast could result in harmful consequences for New Zealand's only blue whale home. The mammals use sounds to communicate and to locate their food, but constant seismic blasting could be making them deaf. Greenpeace campaign manager, Kate Simcock old 95bFM the repetitive underwater blasting for seismic surveys would is "extremely distressing for blue whales". "They can be literally deafening," said Simcock. "These blasts from these air guns underwater are going off every eight to seven seconds, of every minute of everyday". Consent is about to be given to an international oil company to perform the blastings.Three Strikes Law is Out
The new government is repealing the three strikes law. The law provides increasingly harsh consequences for repeat offenders of major violent and sexual crime. By the third strike, the sentence must be the highest possible without being unjust. Justice and Courts Minister Andrew Little said that for eight years now the law has not successfully reduced or deterred serious crime with the prison population growing and serious crime rates rising. ACT party leader David Seymour who initially drove the policy disagrees. Mr Seymour said that three strikes is a young policy and there is evidence to show the policy has reduced offending. Mr Little expects to repeal the law by mid to late next year.
Advertisement
China plans to ban the importation of certain recyclable waste products by the end of the year, due to environmental concerns. The Environmental Projects Manager for Plastics New Zealand said that the ban has already put downward pressure on some global plastic prices. There are fears that some businesses who on sold recyclables to China may now dump their waste into landfills. However WasteMINZ chief executive Paul Evans said that landfill is not the only option and there are other markets available for recycling. Ministry for the Environment's waste minimisation fund has provided financial support to over 100 recycling projects.Rats and Grease Found in Dannevirke Sinkhole
A sinkhole appeared on a street in Dannevirke last month due to a large buildup of grease in the sewer line. When the council investigated they found rats feasting on the fatty waste and white grease plastering the walls of the drain. The Tararua District Mayor, Tracy Collins said that although a number of fast food outlets operate nearby they are unlikely to be responsible as they have waste management plans in place to deal with the disposal of grease. She said that it is more likely the buildup had come from households which has prompted the council to educate residents about how to correctly get rid of grease. The sinkhole has now been repaired and the sewer has been water blasted but the council will continue to monitor the drains for future buildups.
Advertisement
New Health minister David Clark may ask for resignation letters from District health Boards. Clark says resignations may be requested and accepted if the chairs of District health boards aren't on the same wavelength as the government. Clark adds that he wants to make sure the sector is focussed on delivering the things the government campaigned on and the things that New Zealand as voted on. Opposition leader Bill English is disappointed at the decision, calling the new government brutal.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar's ruling party, met people from the country's brutally persecuted Muslim minority during a trip to Rakhine state. A representative of the Arakan Project NGO said Suu Kyi told Muslim leaders "they should live peacefully, the government is there to help them, and they should not quarrel among each other." International observers have called the situation there genocide.Catalan Leaders Show Up for Sedition Hearing
Nine senior members of the recently dismissed Catalan regional authority attended a High Court hearing Thursday. The central government has argued for sedition charges, but no one has yet been charged. The former president of the Catalan body, Carles Puigdemont, skipped court, remaining in Belgium, and the prosecutor called for a European arrest warrant to be issued for him.Thirteen Killed in Battle Between Turkish and Kurdish Fighters
Eight Turkish security personnel and 17 Kurdish militants were killed in fighting near Turkey's border with Iraq Thursday. Government soldiers were targeting the PKK, the separatist group the Turks consider a terrorist organisation.Reporting by Reuben McLaren, Ollie Powell, Jemima Huston