nznews

Friday 12th March 10.   My pumkin growth is about six weeks behind last year. But that was a year ago and next years is only a year away.

At least $15 million is now believed to be missing from an Auckland financial advisory firm, according to investigators probing the collapse of the company. They have widened their investigation to include other businesses also linked to Remuera couple Mike and Jackie Bradley.
Liquidators sifting through the accounts of B'On Financial Services, which traded as Bradley & Bradley, have identified 40 investors in Auckland, Kerikeri and Tauranga who are owed money by the firm. I wonder how much "government" money is unaccountable?                 Article

A man is recovering after being run over by his wife - twice. Earthmoving contractor Terry Telford, 69, was hit on Thursday morning by his wife Sandy as she backed their 4WD down their gravel driveway, near Opoutama, 45km east of Wairoa, The Dominion Post reported. Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter marketing manager Louise Harvey says it appears Mrs Telford, did not realise what had happened and then drove forward, running over her husband again. If it doesn't work the first time...have another go.           Article

The Government is looking at cutting back on free off-peak travel for the elderly as the cost of the scheme mounts.   Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the travel subsidy under the SuperGold card was set to exceed its $18 million-a-year budget, with the Wairarapa to Wellington train service and the Waiheke Island ferry singled out.   "The highest priority of the review process is to consider how to keep the scheme within the available budget of $18 million a year, while continuing to provide improved mobility for older people," Mr Joyce said.   The Waiheke ferry cost $2 million and the operator was paid $13 a ticket.   Officials are also considering the level of reimbursement to operators and councils, and what services are eligible.   Have you noted that services to the public are being reduced but departments that service the politicians and themselves are being increased?
Article

The costs of high staff turnover at the Wellington City Council – and the reasons for the high turnover – have been questioned this week after analysis of the council’s most recent annual report.
The number of resignations has gone up every year for the last five years. There were 201 resignations in the 2004/05 year, 273 in 05/06, 297 in 06/07, 428 in 07/08, and a peak of 622 last year. Last year’s resignations equalled more than a third of the council’s 1555 staff.   As the Capital Times reports, there’s been a cumulative staff turnover of 103 per cent since the 2005 annual report. Councils only want workers thick as two short planks?              Article