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Fatal fire at coolstore being left to burn out (+ photos)

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:59:30 GMT

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Fatal fire at coolstore being left to burn out (+ photos)

Photos: Blaze injures firefighters, smoke plume seen for miles

Fire safety officers will wait for a fatal fire at a Hamilton dairy coolstore to burn itself out before they begin an investigation into its cause.

There is believed to be concern toxic runoff could pollute Waikato River if too much water is dumped directly on the flames.

"The fire is contained and it's being monitored. It's just being left to burn out."

One firefighter is dead and six others remain in hospital, some in critical condition, following the explosion and blaze at the Icepak Group's Tamahere coolstore.

Senior Station Officer Derek Lovell, who had at least 25 years service, died from his injuries at Waikato Hospital overnight.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known, but the Fire Service said a gas leak might have been responsible.

The building exploded as the officers entered, injuring them all.

N Z Fatal coolstore fire Story like terror blast

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:34:05 GMT

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Clip Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

Fatal coolstore fire Story

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Coolstore tragedy 'like terror blast' - surgeon (+photos)

Firemen spray water on what is left of the Icepak Coolstore. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Video: Coolstore fire burning

A gas blast which killed a Hamilton fireman and injured seven others at the weekend was similar to a terrorist blast in Iraq or London, a surgeon says.

Grant Christey, head of trauma at Waikato Hospital, said today the blast would haver ripped through the Icepak coolstores on Saturday at 2000km/h, followed by super heated air which caused severe injuries to exposed flesh.

All of them had been knocked out by the blast and would have been hit by flying debris.

Tariff cuts - what and when for N Z

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:21:27 GMT

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Clip Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

Tariff cuts - what and when

Tariffs on beef and sheep meat will be removed. Photo / Richard Robinson

This will cover more than $200 million worth of goods and means 35 per cent of trade with China will be tariff-free from day one.

This will mean another 31 per cent of total exports to China will be tariff-free by 2013.

The deal also bestows "Favoured Nation Status" on New Zealand, giving exporters easier access to markets and less stringent non-tariff barriers.

"This is a big deal. There has not been a trade deal like this with China done by anyone before.

DAIRY

Some dairy products - infant milk formula, casein, yoghurt and whey - will be phased out over five years;

China's tariffs on butter, liquid milk and cheese will be phased out over the 10 years to 2017;

Skim and whole milk powder will be removed over 12 years; and

There are mechanisms to delay the tariff reductions if exports exceed certain quantities.

All one way for China working holiday deal

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:11:47 GMT

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clipper's remarks: N Z

Clip Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

All one way for China working holiday deal

The Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the occasion of the signing the Free Trade Agreement. Photo / Reuters

Up to 1000 young Chinese a year will soon be able to come on working holidays to New Zealand for up to a year - but the deal does not apply to Kiwis wanting to do their OE in China.

A new working holidays scheme with China was set up alongside the free trade agreement unveiled yesterday, but the scheme has been criticised because it offers nothing for New Zealanders travelling to China.

It will allow up to 1000 Chinese aged between 18 and 30 to visit New Zealand each year for up to 12 months on working holidays.

Trade Minister Phil Goff said China did not have the legal set-up to grant a direct vice-versa scheme.

Under the deal with China, up to 1000 young travellers a year can travel and do short-term work or study if they meet health, character and English language requirements.

China - our new best friend [ N Z ]

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:02:49 GMT

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Clip Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

China - our new best friend

Helen Clark said the free trade agreement opened the door for New Zealand business to step up the pace in China.

"We've scarcely scratched the surface with what's possible."

New Zealand's flag was fluttering alongside China's when Helen Clark arrived in Tiananmen Square for her red-carpet welcome by Premier Wen.

Their talks went well beyond the appointed signing time of 11.30am (Beijing time), so the contents of the free trade deal were public on news media websites well before it was signed by Trade Minister Phil Goff and Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming.

China has agreed to a sweeping programme of tariff reductions that will ultimately result in 96 per cent of New Zealand's exports to it being tariff-free.

Helen Clark was not optimistic that Foreign Minister Winston Peters' party would back the deal.

The committee will report back to Parliament, possibly expressing a view on the agreement. That could happen as soon as the end of next month.

Firefighter's wife hosed off over pay

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:53:30 GMT

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clipper's remarks: N Z

Clip Source: www.stuff.co.nz

Firefighter's wife hosed off over pay

The wife of a long-serving Shore firefighter is speaking out about her husband’s lack of pay and recognition.

Gill Kyle’s husband has been in the service for 36 years.

In a letter to the North Shore Times, Mrs Kyle says her husband is paid $16.26 an hour, "not much above the minimum wage".

"I think it is a disgrace," she says.

She says he works 48 hours in four days, which includes two 10 hour days and two 14 hour nights.

"Luckily they have the four days off because they all have other jobs so they can earn enough to live," Mrs Kyle says.

Mrs Kyle says firefighters’ wages should be on par with other emergency services.

"We were talking to an ambulance officer who was saying they start on $19 per hour," she says.

PM says no jobs at risk in China deal

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:47:03 GMT

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Clip Source: www.stuff.co.nz

PM says no jobs at risk in China deal

The Government has won over unions fearful of its historic free-trade agreement (FTA) with China, assuring them that the movement of Chinese workers to New Zealand will not cost jobs.

The agreement, signed yesterday, allows for a limited number of Chinese to fill skill shortages and will see nearly all New Zealand goods duty-free in the massive Asian market by 2019.

Trade Minister Phil Goff and Chinese counterpart Chen Deming signed the deal _ China's first with a developed nation _ in a ceremony at Beijing's heavily guarded Great Hall of the People.

The hall is in Tiananmen Square, site of the brutal 1989 crackdown on democracy.

The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Helen Clark and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

The pact caps the number of visas for temporary migrants at 1800 at any one time, with no more than 100 workers in any sector, in an effort to safeguard Kiwi jobs.

Landmark Chinese trade pact signed

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:43:09 GMT

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Clip Source: www.stuff.co.nz

Landmark Chinese trade pact signed

A controversial free trade pact signed with China today allows for a limited number of Chinese workers to enter New Zealand to fill skill shortages and will see nearly all Kiwi products duty-free in the massive Asian market within 12 years.

Trade Minister Phil Goff and Chinese counterpart Chen Deming inked free trade agreement (FTA) - China's first with a developed nation - in a ceremony at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

The deal caps the number of workers at 1800 at any one time with no more than 100 workers in any sector in an effort to safeguard Kiwi jobs.

Goff said New Zealand negotiators had come under pressure from China to provide for the movement of workers across borders. He described the move to allow some workers in on temporary visas as a modest gesture that would benefit the country and have no impact on the employment of Kiwis.

Business welcomes free trade deal

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:38:23 GMT

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Clip Source: www.stuff.co.nz

Business welcomes free trade deal

Canterbury business has generally welcomed the historic free-trade agreement (FTA) with China.

But some caution that the devil will be in the detail as the Government trumpets the deal being worth up to $350 million annually to New Zealand.

National business organisations are calling it a big achievement, although the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association (CMA) said key problems had to be addressed if the playing field was to be levelled between New Zealand and China.

The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) said it appeared union concerns had been noted in the deal, and that the phasing-down period for the remaining NZ tariffs was over a reasonable time. The labour memorandum also gave a channel for unions to raise labour rights issues.

Ngai Tahu Seafoods chief executive Geoff Hipkins said getting real security over future tariffs and import regimes would give the firm more confidence and lessen its risk as it expands into the China market.

New Zealand new best friend China

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:34:32 GMT

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Clip Source: www.stuff.co.nz

China trade gets leg up

Business groups and exporters have welcomed the relatively rapid phase-out timetable for tariffs on New Zealand exports to China in the free trade agreement.

Exports of apples, seafood and most manufactured goods to China will be tariff-free by 2012.

Kiwifruit, beef and sheepmeat tariffs will fall to zero by 2016, while tariffs on butter and cheese will disappear in 2017 and those on milk powders two years later.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Charles Finny said the deal was the most important free trade agreement for New Zealand since the finalisation of CER with Australia 25 years ago.

"I'm very impressed. It's much better than the Thailand deal that was done a few years ago."

Export NZ chief executive Bob Walters said the tariff phase-outs were quicker than he had expected.

"They have done remarkably well," he said. "The phase-out times are as good as we are likely to see."

I'm free to criticise, says Foreign Afairs Minister

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:25:48 GMT

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Clip Source: www.stuff.co.nz

I'm free to criticise, says Peters

Foreign Afairs Minister Winston Peters says he sees no problem in speaking out against the free trade deal with China if NZ First decides to oppose it.

The party's seven MPs are due to consider the historic agreement today, but deputy leader Peter Brown has already signalled alarm about provisions for 1800 temporary workers to come to New Zealand - including 1000 in skilled occupations where there are shortages.

As foreign affairs minister, Mr Peters will have to walk a delicate line if his caucus gives the thumbs-down to the deal, which has attracted international attention and counts among Prime Minister Helen Clark's biggest foreign policy coups.

But he said yesterday that agree-to-disagree clauses in NZ First's support agreement with Labour meant that, though he had to espouse the Government line in his official capacity overseas, he was free to speak his mind at home.

PM addresses human rights concerns

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:18:12 GMT

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Clip Source: www.stuff.co.nz

Clark addresses FTA human rights concerns

Prime Minister Helen Clark says the landmark trade deal with China will not undermine New Zealand's ability to argue for an improvement in its human rights record.

The deal signed in Beijing yesterday will remove tariffs and ease trade between the two countries, but it comes as the world focuses on China's human rights record.

The recent crackdown against Tibetan independence protesters and the build up to the Olympic games have all heightened protests against China at the same time as New Zealand grows closer to the Asian giant.

Miss Clark met with Premier Wen Jiabao before the agreement was signed and said the situation in Tibet was discussed.

New Zealand had concerns around the violence and called on China to urge restraint and enter into dialogue with the Tibetan independence movement, she said.

The Dalai Lama has called for an end to violence, the start of talks with China and for countries to attend the Olympics.

Outcry over online auction of cheese

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:14:10 GMT

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Clip Source: www.stuff.co.nz

Outcry over online auction of cheese

The offer for sale of a charred block of cheese from the site of the Icepak Coolstores fire has been condemned as immoral and disturbing.

The seller of the cheese on Trade Me, Alistair from Hamilton, said his parents lived next to the scene of Saturday afternoon's fire and he had received permission to take the cheese for the purpose of raising funds for the Fire Service.

Icepak Group owner Jan Van Eden said he would be upset to find that someone had stolen the cheese, because Icepak acted as a bailee for the product and did not own it.

"It is totally unacceptable, illegal, totally immoral and all those other things."

Mr Van Eden said no one had asked his permission to take the cheese. "I think it's a hoax."

"The Fire Service will not be accepting any funds from this and we will be contacting Trade Me and asking them to show some social responsibility and withdraw the auction."