12 November - 18 November The free news source you can write! Page 1 Queen Elizabeth II unveils New living and working in Britain. "It's genesis lay in the desire to Zealand Memorial in London commemorate the shared sacrifice of November 12, 2006 Among the New Zealand celebrities that attended are former national rugby New Zealanders in times of war, captain Sean Fitzpatrick, ex- alongside the people of Britain," Helen The New Zealand Head of State, Her Clark said. Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of New international cricketer Chris Cairns Zealand, unveiled the New Zealand and pop singer Daniel Bedingfield "New Zealand's relationship with Memorial at Hyde Park Corner today who was born in the country. Britain dated back to the 18th century, in London. Singer-songwriter Dave Dobbyn and and Captain James Cook's exploration of New Zealand," she said. Her Majesty told the audience that soprano Hayley Westenra performed New Zealanders had written during the ceremony. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said themselves into a special place in the The $3 million memorial was funded the link between the two nations was history books. by the New Zealand Government and not just historic. "The bonds of consists of 16 cross-shaped vertical friendship between our two countries, "Many of them for deeds of remain as strong as ever. Our peoples exceptional bravery and sacrifice." bronze 'standards' set out in formation across the north east corner of Hyde are close, they come and go between "But most of them for simply giving Park Corner in central London. our two countries as much as ever, we their all in duty, in courage and in invest in each others' economies, we dogged determination to fight for Each standard weighs up to 700kg and share culture and sport - where friends peace and freedom from tyranny." through text, patterns and small become rivals." sculptures commemorates the shared The striking memorial named 'The sacrifice of British and New Zealand Designed by architect John Hardwick- Southern Stand', commemorates the ex-servicemen, while also celebrating Smith and sculptor Paul Dibble the "strong and enduring" relationship the wider social, cultural and memorial consists of 16 cross-shaped between New Zealand and the United economic ties of the two countries. vertical bronze 'standards' set out in Kingdom, and serve as a focus of formation on a grassy slope. Each remembrance of the shared sacrifice The event began with a Royal Guard standard is adorned with text, patterns during the two World Wars and other of Honour formed by the largest and small sculptures. "Through the military engagements from the South contingent of New Zealand forces to words and images, any New Zealander African War to the present day. be seen in the UK since Her Majesty’s visiting the memorial will recognise Coronation in 1953. Over 250 Army, home, and British people may learn The dedication of the New Zealand Navy and Air Force personnel left for something of the relationship between Memorial at Hyde Park Corner London on Sunday 5 November, the our two countries," explains Paul featured cultural performances, a fly contingent comprises of a Royal Dibble. past of aircraft and famous New Guard, Cataflaque Party, Maori Zealanders from the world of sport and Cultural Group and tri-Service Band. "We set the memorial in a position music. where the main pedestrian route runs New Zealand Prime Minister Helen through the memorial so that visitors The monarch, accompanied by the Clark said she hoped it could be a part will walk amongst the sculptures, Duke of Edinburgh, and dignitaries of London that New Zealanders could encouraging people to stop and from both countries, war veterans and always call home. explore. Through the words and more than 1,500 New Zealanders If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org.nz Wikinews New Zealand Page 2 images, any New Zealander visiting Bill English, Member of Parliament The dean of education at the the memorial will recognise home, and for National and the education University of Auckland, John Langley, British people may learn something of spokesman for National, said: "The said: "The other standards are the relationship between our two easy credits demotivated students. meaningless. I turned 51 last week and countries." Take someone who's struggling with I still can't gift wrap a parcel - and The memorial is located at Hyde Park maths and works hard to get four or actually, it doesn't matter. The Corner, diagonally opposite the five credits - and then they see their authority needed to look at what the Australian War Memorial which was mate getting three credits for holding a NCEA standards were and how they completed in 2003. conversation... That's something that were applied." children learn when they're 2, 3, 4... It "It is better to offer people those sorts In October 2004, 12 designs teams hardly seems credit material." were selected from the 68 who of simple, unsophisticated submitted expressions of interest. All those standards are available to qualifications than not to - as long as These teams submitted designs for the any student who goes to a school people understand the purpose," Mr memorial, and an expert panel, which is accredited to assess the Haque said. appointed by the Ministry for Culture standard internally. The standards are The secondary principals' association and Heritage, selected the final design. not made up by the school but are real head, Graham Young, said: "The The memorial design is a standards written by the New Zealand NCEA system put pressure on schools collaboration between Dibble Art Co Qualifications Authority (NZQA). to accumulate credits - and the easiest and Athfield Architects, led by The NZQA said, on Friday, that the way to do that was to encourage sculptor Paul Dibble and architect standards would be marked down as students into internally assessed unit John Hardwick-Smith, with Jon "special supported learning" but standards. There are some very low- Rennie as the team's London recently they went back on that and level unit standards which are representative. said that now the credits are extraordinarily easy to pass... For "mainstream and not differentiated on people with above-average or average New Zealand students given NCEA records." abilities to be using those unit credits for simple tasks standards is absolute nonsense." November 12, 2006 The chief executive of NZQA, Bali Haque, said: "Level one was Spokesman, Gilbert Peterson, for the Students in hundreds of schools absolutely basic and the delivery of employers and manufacturers around New Zealand are given NCEA unit standards was a developing association, said: "The titles of (National Certificate of Educational process. There's no doubt that you will particular standards meant nothing to Achievement) credits for simple, find anomalies. The intention here is employers faced with a big grab bag of everyday tasks, an investigation by to recognise the learning that people assessments. It's going to cause The New Zealand Herald on Sunday have done, and give them credit for bewilderment and confusion, quite shows. it." frankly. Getting credits for doing the Mr Haque admits that this system "is washing or talking to your mate is just The simple standards include: amazing. Any businessperson reading applying for a benefit, keeping not perfect" but is adamant that schools will not exploit the imperfect this would be quite appalled. We're healthy, talking and listening to a absolutely sure of that." However Mr friend, wrapping a gift, dressing system as to boost pass rates, unlike in 2004 when Cambridge High School Haque said that he was confident appropiately, washing clothes, employers would recognise the working in a group, understanding the used legitimate standards to boost pass rates. The school used one standard standards as basic, and that they were concept of friendship, ordering not misleading. groceries either over the phone or in that was titled "Interpersonal Communications: Participate in a team person. One of the standards include Orcon New Zealand to provide coming to school on time and good or group to complete routine tasks," television via Internet behaviour for 20 days, it appears on and all the student had to do was pick November 13, 2006 the students records as: "Work and up rubbish in a group. This standard is Study Skills: Demonstrate Care and still available. Internet service provider (ISP) and Timeliness as an Employee". telephone provider, Orcon Internet If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org.nz Wikinews New Zealand Page 3 Limited, is going to start to provide $15 a week for an entry level package. International Rugby Board (IRB). television channels via super-fast "We don't believe we have a Gary Moore, mayor of Christchurch, broadband right to the customers monopoly and every channel known to said that if they were selected to host television set. The service will be man, we just think we have the ones the final then they will ask the rolled out sometime next year after that are important to New Zealanders," government for $80 million. The Telecom New Zealand has opened its the chief executive of Sky, John Fellet, stadium is already planning for an lines to the competitors. said. upgrade, worth $60 million but that The high speed internet Orcon wishes Mr Fellet said they "would like to money will be funded from private to use is called VDSL2+ which is able partner with Orcon and deliver our and charitable organisations as well as to go 100 megabits per second; this is channels over Orcon's service, but if the local and central governments. The an upgrade of Telecom's current that did not happen, we are looking current upgrade will see Jade technology, ADSL 2+.