Vol.22 No. 23 December 1 2011 Published every Thursday Fortnight Phone and Fax 761-7016 A/H 761-8206 for Advertising and Editorial email: [email protected] ISSN 1171-0624 Inside... Don’t sell our assets. See editorial page 2 National returned comfortably The National Party looks set The other party to increase Peters. to form another Coalition its share of the vote is the Several of the minor parties Government, winning by an Greens Party led by Dr Russel will be disappointed with their increased percentage of the vote Norman and Metiria Turei. showing. The ACT, United on election night of 48.1%. This This time they won 10.6% of Future and Maori Parties have was an increase of 3.1% on the the vote – up from their 2008 also lost their respective share 2008 General Election. They percentage of 6.7. They will of the vote. Ironically, ACT’s will have 60 MPs elected. have 13 parliamentarians – all leader Dr Brash did not make The Labour Party will be List MPs. it, despite colleague John disappointed by their share of One of the surprises of this Banks winning the electorate the vote – just 27% - a drop of election is the New Zealand seat of Epsom. ACT received 7% since 2008. Their total is 34 Party, which garnered 6.7% just 1.1% of the vote – down MPs. of the vote to yield 8 from 3.65% at the 2008 parliamentarians – all List Mine! The Ranfurly However, although many election. MPs. Last election they failed Shield at Coastal opinion polls predicted that The Conservative Party Taranaki School, p. 5. National could govern alone by to attain the 5% threshold so gained 2.8% of the vote – exceeding 50%, this was not were entitled to no List MPs, although shy of the threshold reflected in the voting. Prime having also not won any to obtain List MPs. Minister John Keys’ coalition electorates. Winston Peter, Mana Party’s leader Hone partners are ACT (John Banks), the leader, has said he will not Harawira won his electorate United Future (Peter Dunne) join any coalition seat. Last election he was and the Maori Party have not yet government and Mr Key has elected to a Maori electorate, reached a decision. ruled out working with Mr but broke from his original Tariana Turia who held the Te Tai Hauauru party (Maori Party) following seat for the Maori Party. a disagreement with the hierarchy. Continued page 3 Colonel Malone immortal- ised in bronze page 7. The Sex Fiend is still on. Andrew Little who won a position as List MP See review back page. Chester Borrows who held his seat for Whanganui. Shane Ardern who won Taranaki King for the Labour Party, although he lost to Jonathan Young in the New Plymouth One Country contest. FOUR SQUARE 45 electorate. issue to COASTAL Xmas go MACHINERY SALES Goodies There is just one issue REPRESENTATIVE of the Opunake & PETER Instore Coastal News left for the year. LAURENCE Now It will be published on December 15. PHONE Shop This is usually a 027 2477 677 Local bumper issue which OR covers the Christmas and 06 757 5582 “Big enough to be competitive, New Year period. small enough to care.” It’s also a last FOR ALL YOUR opportunity to target MACHINERY ENQUIRIES Christmas shoppers. Jonathan Young who retains And get in your New Plymouth. 146 GILL ST, Christmas messages. NEW PLYMOUTH Deadline for copy is PH (06) 757 5582 77 Tasman St, Opunake • Ph:(06) 761-8668 Friday, December 9. FARM MACHINERY CENTRE For advertising or editorial please phone/fax (06) 761-7016 OPUNAKE & COASTAL 2 NEWS AND VIEWS Thursday, December 1, 2011 OPUNAKE & COASTAL NEWS NEWS Fracking – the turning tide EDITORIAL Registered office: 23 Napier Street, Opunake Your report on fracking (17 operations are carried out PO Box 74, Opunake November) suggests that the properly there is little Asset sales – Telephone and Fax: (06) 761-7016 a/h ph: (06) 761-8206 “tide is turning” against the environmental risk. e-mail: [email protected] hydraulic fracturing of rocks, The people quoted in your Editor/Advertising: Bernice McKellar which is occasionally used article base their opposition please reconsider Production/Advertising/Office: Carol Marshall during oil and gas exploration. to hydraulic fracturing on There is minimal public Also, the cut off threshold Journalists Rolland McKellar You may be interested in a experience overseas, which support for asset sales – partial should be periodically Kathryn Stanley report issued 24 November by industry in New Zealand has or otherwise, according to all reviewed in the light of the Taranaki Regional repeatedly said has no recent opinion polls. inflation and the like. Delivery: Thursday, fortnightly Council, and independently Published by Bernice McKellar. Registered as a newspaper. bearing on what happens There are other measures peer reviewed by scientists at Members of the Community Newspapers Association of here. The TRC report The arguably unlamented that could be enacted to save GNS Science, which has New Zealand. supports our assertion. Lange/Douglas Government money and thereby reduce the given the oil and gas Our industry will continue of the 1980s made extensive need to borrow so much. How The Opunake and Coastal News exploration industry a clean is distributed free to every home to monitor its activities asset sales an art form, but about setting the principal that bill of health in the use of and business within the rural carefully and has a strong eventually paid a heavy no one in the public sector hydraulic fracturing. area bounded in the north by commitment to conducting electoral price. The rest of us should be allowed to earn An assessment of the 28 the New Plymouth city border, all operations in a safe and are still paying. It was a more than the leader of the extending east to Egmont Vil- wells that were fracked in environmentally responsible mistake then, a mistake when nation – the Prime Minister lage, and around to the edge of Taranaki over a 10 year period way. continued by the Bolger who earns over $400,000pa. Stratford, south to the Hawera from 2001 to 2011 shows no John Pfahlert city border and inland to Government, and is a mistake There are numbers of high evidence of environmental Kaponga and through Eltham. Executive Officer now. level earners in the public damage. All these operations Petroleum Exploration Does anyone truly believe sector who are paid more than were carried out in deep rock and Production Association the suggestion that shares held that, such as high level Next issue of Opunake & Coastal News formations that were hundreds PO Box 5227 by ‘Mum and Dad’ investors managers and CEOs, to say THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011 of metres below the much Wellington won’t ultimately end up in nothing of the likes of high Deadline for adverts and editorial, shallower freshwater aquifers. 04 472 1993 overseas investor’s hands. I court judges who are on Friday, December 9. The report concludes that if www.pepanz.org think the apt expression is obscenely high salaries (over hydraulic fracturing ‘Yeah right’! $600,000). Opunake & Coastal News Of course overseas And how about making the is proudly printed by BBC (Bible Believers Corner) borrowing needs to be Higher Salaries Commission APN Print - Wanganui addressed - and urgently. accountable to the long - Phone 0800 111 500 www.apnprint.co.nz However, there are other suffering tax payers whose A lamb for Christmas options that can reduce money they allocate in such a She couldn’t understand the other person more than spending. For example, seemingly extravagant ‘crying out’ to be implemented what God was asking. She self. He cared more that she manner. At present they seem is the imposition of a means a faceless group - they should was to have a baby. She should not be stoned, as the test on Superannuation. There be elected officials. questioned the messenger. law demanded, than his hurt is no need - and it is a waste of Also, a fairer tax system “But I haven’t had sex with a feelings. He started to plan taxpayers’ money - to pay the needs to be devised that man, how could this be?” where to send her to have her likes of Sir Bob Jones ensures everyone’s paying The messenger replied that baby and be safe. Superannuation now that he is their whack. Gail Drought - Livestock Agent God’s Holy Spirit would And then Joseph dreamed 65 plus. Anyway, let’s hope the 4036 Main South Road, Opunake | Ph: 06 761 7012 | Fax: 06 761 7018 father the child. a dream so real he knew it At the end of the day newly elected Government Mob: 0274 509 108 | Email: [email protected] Joseph’s girlfriend was was from God. No man had Superannuation is a benefit can rethink their asset sales pregnant, and he was upset. been involved in Mary’s and should be there for those intentions and heed the He had kept the relationship pregnancy, nor had Mary in need (Not for those who opinions of the majority of pure, within the strict herself. What was growing in don’t need it). However, the political leaders, such as MEETINGS: religious beliefs of both her was by the Holy Spirit. cap should be kept quite high Russel Norman, Phil Goff, Sundays at 38 Tayler Street, families. Mary too had This was not a human baby – perhaps for those earning Tariana Turia and Winston Eltham at 10.30am. seemed to want to wait until with its father’s blood or over $150,000 per annum.