Labour slips; gang membership could become illegal; Fonterra tried to recall milk powder; man claims police corruption; reprieve for the southern glaciers
Labour has lost ground in the latest Colmar Brunton poll, according to The Herald. Helen Clark's rating for preferred Prime Minister has dropped to 31 percent while John Key has gained four percent, to 40 percent. Labour has dropped to 35 percent, 18 points behind National.
Corrections Minister Phil Goff is considering making membership in a gang illegal, says The Herald's lead. Tough new South Australian legislation has made it illegal for gang members to even talk to each other. The two men charged with murdering Sergeant Don Wilkinson in Mangere last week are believed to be associates of the Head Hunters gang.
Prime Minister Helen Clark defended Fonterra's actions in the wake of a powedered milk recall in China, reports the Otago Daily Times. Fonterra owns a 43 percent stake in Shijiazhuang San Lu Group, which recalled the melamine-laced milk last week, at least three weeks after Fonterra officials were aware of a problem. Ms Clark said, "I think Fonterra, from the advice I have had, has behaved responsibly at all times, but it has been dealing in a political system at a local level in China where the inclination is to cover things up, but I have to say once we blew the whistle in Beijing they moved very fast." The death of one Chinese baby has been linked to the contaminated milk.
The Dominion Post leads with news that the Independent Police Conduct Authority is investigating a complaint by a man whose Hawke's Bay farm was seized after police found 1000 marijuana plants growing there. Shaun Allen says the marijuana found on the property was not his and the police doctored evidence to get a conviction.
Heavy snowfall in the Southern Alps may temporarily halt or perhaps reverse the decline of the glaciers, according to The Press. However, NIWA says the news is not all good. The Institute reports that the total ice volume of the glaciers has dropped to 44.9 cubic km, the least since surveying began 32 years ago.