The Cook Strait Times

Thursday November 30 2006

INSIDE

Nervous Motorists Queue in Most

Centres

ROSS SMITH queued for almost 2 hours yesterday while waiting to fill his tank with petrol, but that did not deter him or others as the fear of rationing hits motorists.

The Christchurch machinist was one of many who had heard talkback radio  hinting at shortages in the supply of petrol at the pumps as a result of possible staffing and infrastructural failures if the ‘flu pandemic should worsen.

The scene was being repeated at supermarkets where shoppers were emptying shelves just as fast as they could be refilled.  One supermarket owner has doubled his staff to try and keep up, but even he has concerns that manufacturers have been caught unawares and stock levels are too low to match the demand for basic items of groceries.

The situation has been getting worse all week as the public response outweighs the ability of the Ministry of Health to control perceptions of widespread closing down of the essential consumer supplies.

Matters were not helped in Timaru yesterday when a power blackout occurred in the CBD, caused in this instance by a transformer failure at Parkside.  The power was restored just 75 minutes after causing shoppers to panic.

Police were out in force to keep traffic moving and to reassure the public that, in this instance, matters were in hand.

 

Good manners have been squeezed out by city drivers. What has happened to the simple rule of one-for-one when merging lanes?

After spending countless hour sitting in Auckland traffic my patience has worn thin... I simply cannot understand how it has become so difficult to merge.

Every night I sit in a queue of cars while five lanes of traffic make their way up to the Harbour Bridge and four come out the other side.

Some motorists triple-jump the queue (if there is such a term for those who cross three lanes of traffic in

front of everyone else), others just undercut each other in an attempt to get into the traffic flow. Some will fight, risking panel damage to stop someone getting in front.

Then there are those (you know who you are) who simply run out of road (and are probably still there, waiting... waiting.... waiting...) because they have no idea of how to merge in the first place.

What is the cause? Can't people drive any more? Are Auckland motorists just rude and impatient?

Whatever happened to the simple rule of one-for-one?

Difficulties with crude supplies if the pandemic spreads is leading to speculation about petrol price hikes, whether New Zealand is hit or not by a ‘flu pandemic.

Tight monetary controls are being

anticipated and this will lead to price hikes, an analyst said.

Treasury officials deny this will cause any hardship, but industry sources are being tightlipped in the face of an impending emergency declaration here.

Petrol Price Hike in the Wind

‘Flu Pandemic Alert Moves Upwards

In an unprecedented move earlier today, UN Health Officials moved the Alert Phase up a notch to Four.  This means that countries like New Zealand will need to reassess their own alerts.  Ministry of Health officials are meeting today to determine whether  to move upwards to the red stage of activation.  An announcement is expected at noon today (NZ time).

The Ministry of Health declared a Code Yellow nationally yesterday because of the 3 cases of suspected pandemic influenza reported in Christchurch, Tauranga and Auckland.

Some ready-use antivirals were released last week in anticipation and more are being dispatched daily.

Surveillance has been intensified including secondary cases and contacts. GP’s, A&M clinics and hospital emergency depts involved.

WHO have been advised of these suspected first cases in New Zealand.

MAF are now beginning to implement plans for the surveillance of animals.

Tracing efforts are being intensified for possible contacts and advice is being issued to people who have been located.

Government is dusting off legislation for the implementation of emergency powers.

Airlines are being required to report any sick people on board flights into the country.

MFAT is providing travel advisories to people overseas which indicate they should not travel back to New Zealand.

The MoH has begun a multi-media campaign to guide people on self care/caring for others; staying safe; limiting spread; possible closures of mass gatherings; where to go for help; community resources such as home help; shopping help for a wide range of

 

As part of the Reserve Bank's business continuity planning, the Bank is preparing for the possibility of an avian influenza pandemic. This planning is in line with wider government effort.

The Reserve Bank is committed to maintaining core financial services during an avian influenza pandemic. As banking supervisor and overseer of the financial system, the Reserve Bank will be working closely with the banking industry and other key stakeholders, ensuring that we have robust procedures in place to ensure that our critical functions can continue to be undertaken during a pandemic.

Last Use of Emergency Powers

1951 Waterfront Strike

On 9 February 1951, in a climate of rapidly deteriorating industrial relations on the waterfront, the Waterside Workers Union refused to work overtime at all ports.

The employers had previously taken action to reduce the workers' conditions, which induced the

Union's action.

Claiming that this amounted to a strike, the employers responded by suspending the workers, who then counterclaimed they were being locked out.

The government took draconian measures, including

declaring a state of emergency and using armed forces personnel.

The dispute was not ended until 15 July, after a total of 1,157,390 man-working days had been lost, and it became New Zealand's largest industrial dispute.

Reserve Bank

Prepared

audiences. Hand hygiene demonstrations are available on the web www.moh.govt.nz/hygiene. People with internet access are being urged to look at this site.

A health leaflet for incoming people is now being made available at checkin points for New Zealand bound travellers.

 

 

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

$1.20

In a snap NBR Poll taken yesterday, Labour took a further dive as Prime Minister Helen Clarke defended the government inaction, blaming the draconian procedures put in place during National’s last term of office.  She said in a statement released last night that the country was now in the hands of a virus which was spreading as fast as the Opposition’s rumour machine could create waves. 

None of the Opposition Leaders were available for comment before our Press deadline.  Labour’s comments come at a time when citizens expect a bipartisan approach to government.

Global warming has been blamed for the spread of the ‘flu pandemic from Asia.

A prominent weather expert at Massive University said that he could track the spread of the pandemic to the countries most affected by global warming.

These include mainland China, the Malaysian Peninsular and the Philippines.  His views were expressed in a scientific journal published in Australia recently.

A meteorologist from NIWA was skeptical about the claim, but there were many theories as to why the pandemic had moved so quickly across the South Pacific, he said.

 

Labour Trails in Polls

Ozone Hole Suspected

Letters

Merge or Die

By Jaedene Hudson

INSIDE

Theatre

Smaller audiences expected as rules on numbers gathering kick in.  Advertisers begin looking for way out of contracts.

Jobs

Workers concerned about layoffs in many industries as big companies search for ways to minimize impact of “flu pandemic on wage bills. 

Shipping

Shipping is threatened with a standstill in mid-ocean as more and more countries reuse entry for fear of ‘flu pandemic.

News

Prisoners in the countries jails face an early release if conditions worsen.  Authorities warn that some of the most hardened criminals nearing the end of their detentions will be released, raising fears of

Money

Interest rates are expected to jump, causing inflationary pressures on our already stretched economy.

An Exercise Document

security issues, especially as police numbers are likely to be reduced.