nznews

Auckland City may have 10 times more bus lanes than its Manukau neighbour, but it is imposing thousands of times more fines on drivers caught using them illegally. Only six $150 infringement notices were issued for the 2009-10 financial year in Manukau, which has 3km of bus lanes. In Auckland, 41,169 tickets were issued for for breaches on the city's 31km network. Greed greed greed!!!                              Article

A leaked email shows pig farmers want to avoid public scrutiny by evading the Official Information Act so they will not face "embarrassment" from the conditions reported at their piggeries. The results of a nationwide audit, led by the Pork Industry Board, are subject to the act and would ordinarily be accessible by the public. However, the board has admitted it will deliberately evade the act, prompting the Ombudsmen's Office to say there appeared to be grounds for a complaint and subsequent investigation. The audit was announced last year, after a public outcry over footage showing the conditions for sows kept in crates at Kuku Beach Piggery near Levin. The same piggery is under its third Agriculture and Forestry Ministry investigation after animal welfare group Open Rescue said it discovered pigs with bleeding sores, bloody feet and one with an infected ear. This doesn't make pigs arse sense.             Article

A South Auckland baby, who was admitted to Starship hospital on Friday with severe head injuries, has died. Six-month-old Cezar Taylor died about 7pm last night, the hospital said. Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Wilkie said yesterday that Cezar's injuries were consistent with "shaking and blunt force trauma, which is a blow to the head" and appeared to have happened over a period of time. James Allan Hemana, 30, was yesterday charged with assaulting Cezar. Hemana, who is Cezar's mother's partner, was remanded in custody after a court appearance yesterday.   What can one say?    Article

The wage gap with Australia has blown out by more than $50 a week under National despite Prime Minister John Key saying before the election �the fundamental purpose of his government� would be to narrow the gap, says Labour Leader Phil Goff. �The trend is getting worse,� Phil Goff said. �The gap is actually accelerating. In the past quarter, according to official statistics, Australian wages have increased by $17 a week, compared to $3 for Kiwi workers. Why do politicians treat the public like idiots? Article