The Bulletin: Change looms in Samoa after knife-edge election
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Change looms in Samoa after knife-edge election, another border worker has tested positive for Covid-19, and dozens of organisations call for Misuse of Drugs Act to be scrapped.
The balance of power could be shifting in an important country in our neighbourhood, after a big election swing. The dominant Human Rights Protection Party may end up losing power in Samoa after decades in office, with the newly formed Faatuatua i Le Atua ua Tasi (FAST) taking a surprisingly large share of the vote. FAST was founded last year by MPs who split from HRPP, in large part over a controversial land ownership reform bill. RNZ Pacific reports unofficial results show the split between the two big parties is so close, it is likely to come down to a kingmaker independent MP. Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, told the Samoa Observer that he wants to see change in the way politics i
Pike River families asked to choose between two factions stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Some family members of the 29 victims are calling for the Government to assess going past the roof fall at the top of the drift to recover evidence from the mine’s main ventilation fan, which could hold clues about what caused the first explosion in November 2010.
NZ Police
The Pike River mine after the explosion in 2010. The mine’s geotechnical strata was “inherently unstable” and the technical challenge of getting past a roof fall blocking the mine workings would be phenomenal, he said. Pike River father Bernie Monk said international mining and ventilation experts had told him it was possible to recover the mine’s fan only 30m from where the recovery team stopped at the top of the drift.
Pike River families ask Little to reconsider assessing mine re-entry stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.