HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: amorgan@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
Subject: Re: US Gun Lobbyist Visits
Date: 24 Nov 92 14:47:35 +1300
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

In article <1992Nov22.013405.6199@acme.gen.nz>, kilroy@acme.gen.nz (earthbound misfit, I) writes:
> mrichardson@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu writes:
> 
> You're absolutely right. But why stop there? Pump-action shot guns have quite
> rapid rates of fire, let's outlaw them. Even a bolt-action rifle can be fast
> (just ask Lee Harvey Oswald) so let's ban those as well. In fact, no hunter
> can really justify needing a rapid rate of fire so let's make everything
> illegal except nice slow black-powder weapons.
> 
> 						- k
> -- 
> Craig Harding            kilroy@acme.gen.nz             ACME BBS +64 6 3551342
> "Jub'er lbh pnyyvat n obmb?"

You've got my vote.

Morgy.
Xref: sparky soc.culture.new-zealand:3033 soc.culture.australian:4874
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand,soc.culture.australian
Subject: Re: US Gun Lobbyist Visits
From: derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz (Derek Tearne)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 03:47:41 GMT
Organization: Fujitsu New Zealand

In article <1992Nov20.093304.12336@waikato.ac.nz> maj@waikato.ac.nz writes:
>Has anyone any reactions to the US gun lobby's efforts to 
>link up with their local counterparts to turn Australia and 
>New Zealand into places where handguns and semi-automatic
>weapons may be freely obtained?

Line them all up against a wall and shoot them?

Is there a serious attempt to do this?  I don't think there can be any 
possible justification for handguns or semi-automatic weapons to be 
freely available. I have yet to hear anyone come up with one either.

Seeing as currently the legislation is being _tightened_ here I suspect
they are pissing in the wind.


-- 
Derek Tearne.   --   derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz   --    Fujitsu New Zealand   -- 
Some of the more aware dinosaurs were worried about the environmental
consequences of an accident with the new Iridium enriched fusion reactor.  
"If it goes off only the cockroaches and mammals will survive..." they said.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: Mary.Curtin@bbs.actrix.gen.nz
Subject: Re: Kevlar vests to be made COMPULSORY for pedestrians in NZ
Organization: Actrix Information Exchange
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 11:43:54 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.171627.12286@waikato.ac.nz> hist1261@waikato.ac.nz writes:

> Hands up all those people who think they can walk down the street without
> full body armour?  How many of you have ever tripped on a piece of concrete,

Hands up all those people who can walk down the street at 50 km/h.  Or
even 40.  Or even 30.  Or even 20.  Or even 10.




-- 
\   \/   /  |  
 \/\/\/\/   |  mary.curtin@bbs.actrix.gen.nz

Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: jmacmill@crc.ac.uk (Dr. J.C. MacMillan)
Subject: Maori attitudes to genetic diseases
Keywords: Maori, genes, disease
Organization: MRC Human Genome Resource Centre
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 11:51:44 GMT

There may be a symposium during November 1993 in Cardiff, Wales (UK)
on cultural and ethnic aspects of the implications of advances in genetic
technology and their application to clinical situations. One group under
consideration for inclusion are Pacific Islanders and Maoris. If anyone
knows of any published literature on the possible conficts between their
cultural beliefs and "western" (Pakeha) concepts of genetic disease, could
they please get in touch, ESPECIALLY anyone who has done a study of this.
Please contact myself by E-mail (jmacmill@uk.ac.crc or
macmillan@uk.ac.cardiff) or Dr A Clarke by conventional means (bush telegraph)
at Institute of Medical Genetics
   University Hospital of Wales
   Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
   FAX: (+44) 222 747603

Thanks in anticipation.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
Subject: Re: Kevlar vests to be made COMPULSORY for pedestrians in NZ
From: derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz (Derek Tearne)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 03:44:10 GMT
Organization: Fujitsu New Zealand

In article <1992Nov20.101021.12341@waikato.ac.nz> hist1261@waikato.ac.nz writes:
>In article <1992Nov18.202240.23670@ncar.ucar.edu>, amanning@acd.ucar.edu (Andrew Manning) writes:
>> In article <1992Nov18.124648.12272@waikato.ac.nz> higham@waikato.ac.nz writes:

[Satire deleted] 

>> Is this guy for real????
 
>No.  It's called satire.  Some people who believe in compulsory helmet wearing
>seem unable to identify the literary form.  This in itself is not surprising.
>Perhaps we should call for a law that calls for the compulsory reading of
>Swift and Orwell - it certainly makes more sense than other enforced measures
>being currently advocated.

Good idea.  In the case of Swift however it is very important that they
read the original version, not the 'suitable for all intellects' shortened
and expurgated versions most people know.  

The same goes for Grimms faerie tales.  

ObLiteraryQuiz: OK how many people know how Gulliver _really_ put out the 
fire in the palace!  Name _three_ of the lands he visited for a bonus prize.


-- 
Derek Tearne.   --   derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz   --    Fujitsu New Zealand   -- 
Some of the more aware dinosaurs were worried about the environmental
consequences of an accident with the new Iridium enriched fusion reactor.  
"If it goes off only the cockroaches and mammals will survive..." they said.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: news@massey.ac.nz (USENET News System)
Subject: Re: Beware the push bikers
Organization: Massey University
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1
     <liam.09ls@durie.amigans.gen.nz> <1992Nov19.170109.28916@nevada.edu>
     <1992Nov20.094315.12340@waikato.ac.nz>
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 00:56:41 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.032607.27122@Princeton.EDU> Michael Woodhams,
woodhams@phoenix.Princeton.EDU writes:

>Of course the French are better drivers. They have to be careful not
>to disturb the limpet mines in the back of the camper van.

I should have known somebody would bring the French back in the
discussion. 

Apart from what is meant here, as a French driver in New Zealand, I can
tell you that I have never felt so insecure on the roads anywhere else! 
I know the statistics are much worse back in France (the worst in Europe
I think), but the absolutely mindless behaviour of MALE drivers here is
just incredible. 

I think people are given a licence to drive too young. 18 (in France) is
bad enough. And there is really no sense of personal responsibility. 'I
am king on the road, if you're not happy, get lost. '
And they are convinced they are really good drivers, and that the problem
is with 'foreigners' (always), or people who drive too slowly.

What about driving more responsibly?

(Noticed how accidents reports always make it sound like 'it just
happened'. Nobody seems to have done anything wrong. They just crashed in
a tree.. (driving too fast, or too much alcool?)
I think that might be one of the wrong sides of ACC. Loss of
responsibility.)

Anyway... as we say in french, "c'est comme pisser dans un violon..."

EMA ALTER (EJ. Alter@massey.ac.nz)
CUES
Massey University
Palmerston North
New Zealand
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: kilroy@acme.gen.nz (earthbound misfit, I)
Subject: Re: US Gun Lobbyist Visits
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 92 01:34:05 GMT
Organization: ACME BBS - Public Access Usenet, Palmerston North, New Zealand

mrichardson@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu writes:

> kilroy@acme.gen.nz (earthbound misfit, I) writes:
>
> > derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz (Derek Tearne) writes:
> > 
> >> Is there a serious attempt to do this?  I don't think there can be any 
> >> possible justification for handguns or semi-automatic weapons to be 
> >> freely available. I have yet to hear anyone come up with one either.
> > 
> > <sarcasm alert>
> > 
> > Semi-automatic weapons?!?! Oh no?! The horror!!!
> > 
> > <sarcasm off>
> > 
> > Hands up if anyone here actually has a clue what a semi-automatic rifle is.
> 
> Ooh! Miss! Miss!  I know! I know!  And I don't think any reason in 
> support of them (e.g. more effective bunny killing) even comes close 
> to the myriad of reasons against them (e.g. more effective people 
> killing by the anti-social, easy conversion, in some cases, to fully 
> automatic and thus even easier people killing and so on.)

You're absolutely right. But why stop there? Pump-action shot guns have quite
rapid rates of fire, let's outlaw them. Even a bolt-action rifle can be fast
(just ask Lee Harvey Oswald) so let's ban those as well. In fact, no hunter
can really justify needing a rapid rate of fire so let's make everything
illegal except nice slow black-powder weapons.

						- k
-- 
Craig Harding            kilroy@acme.gen.nz             ACME BBS +64 6 3551342
"Jub'er lbh pnyyvat n obmb?"
Xref: sparky soc.culture.new-zealand:3031 soc.culture.australian:4871
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand,soc.culture.australian
Subject: Re: US Gun Lobbyist Visits
From: jonc@status.gen.nz (Jon Clarke)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 23:43:35 GMT
Organization: The Z*NET Global News Gateway in Parnell New Zealand.

rwturner@IASTATE.EDU (Richard W Turner) writes:

> In my view NZ gun laws are adequate and 
> we don't need interference from extremist
> outsiders.  I can't see their message finding
> fertile ground in NZ.
> 
> Richard Turner
> (moderately conservative kiwi = liberal by US standards)

 
 Well said Richard. We can now get hand guns if you want to go down
 that path and I for one am in favour of the existing laws, being
 a licence holder (class 3)

  
  Jon  Clarke                                        Z*NET Pacific
  ================================================================
  Phone (+649) 358-5589  GEnie   : J.CLARKE6      CI$ : 75300,1642
  Fax   (+649) 302-2672  Hexagon : HSBC NZ EBD    IFNA: 3:772/105
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
  "The problem is between the chair and the Keyboard"  JimT NCR'91
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: rcbc@seth.cs.cornell.edu (Robert Cooper)
Subject: Car rental in NZ
Reply-To: rcbc@cs.cornell.edu
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 21:39:45 GMT

I'm travelling around NZ this Christmas and rental cars seem kind of
expensive. I've been quoted $US230/week and 16c/km from Budget and
$US278/week with unlimited mileage from Thrifty. This is a one-way rental
from Palmerston North to Auckland Airport. I also need a car for 2 days in
Auckland when I arrive. 

From my experience last time it was even more expensive to rent a car once
in NZ. Is this still true, or am I better off renting something when I get
there. Are there some local companies that are cheaper?

Thanks -- Robert Cooper rcbc@cs.cornell.edu
--
-- 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: Mary.Curtin@bbs.actrix.gen.nz
Subject: Re: Kevlar vests to be made COMPULSORY for pedestrians in NZ
Organization: Actrix Information Exchange
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 12:14:57 GMT

In article <58sis-b@massey.ac.nz> N.Perry@massey.ac.nz writes:
> On Friday it was announced that after an investigation into road
> unrealistic and (b) cyclists would be forced to wear helmets.
> 
> Cycling is not an inherently dangerous activity (certain types might
> be, such as racing, but general cycling is not). As such people should
> not be forced to protect themselves, though if they wish to they may,

Driving a car is not an inherently dangerous activity.  As such
drivers should not have to wear seat belts either?

> as it violates a fundamental principle that people should be protected
> from injury by others (or from their own activities). NO OTHER section
> of society is forced to protect themselves from injury in this way.

Oh - I could swear that I was forced to pass a test to prove I was safe
to drive alone before being allowed to do so.  And that I am forced to
wear a seat belt - even when travelling in a car being driven by
someone else!  And that I have to pay a registered electrician to do
major wiring work in my house.  

 
> Will such an action reduce the road toll? Maybe, but probably not the
> accidents. 

But helments have been should to have a major effect on the severity
of the head injuries received by crashed cyclists.

> stopping distance before the crossing, just pulled out and overtook on
> the crossing. Would my wearing a cycle helmet have protected those
> children?

Nope.  But it would have protected YOUR HEAD if you had been hit.

> give a certain amount of false security]. It is interesting to note
> that my 5 year old son never thought of cycling as dangerous when we
> lived in London, despite the tales of near disaster and the accidents.
> A short while after coming to Palmerston North, a small town of merely
> 70K compared to the 6M of London and much quieter roads, he decided
> that cycling was dangerous after the barrage of propaganda which
> results in children wearing helmets when riding around the garden!)

So his ability to rationally access information (when you fall
off/crash etc, you get hurt, sometimes badly) improved with age.
Congratulations, you have a normal kid.

> 
> Come on what do you Kiwi's think?

Government here pays the bill for very expensive re-habilitation for
head injury sufferers.  If they can get this bill down (and maintain
quality of life for a significant number of people) by making helmets
compulsory, then it is A GOOD THING.



-- 
\   \/   /  |  
 \/\/\/\/   |  mary.curtin@bbs.actrix.gen.nz

Xref: sparky soc.culture.new-zealand:2955 alt.alien.visitors:8352
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand,alt.alien.visitors
Subject: Re: NZ UFO reports in mainstream press, 1989?
From: jonc@status.gen.nz (Jon Clarke)
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 07:34:14 GMT
Organization: The Z*NET Global News Gateway in Parnell New Zealand.

mcwg9235@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Marsha Woodbury ) writes:

> Not only that, Blenheim is on "the grid" in a book (I don't
> remember the title)--the book says the high proportion of
> UFO sightings are due to where blenheim is (I always wondered
> why God put it there!)--I guess ET, etc. will make contact
> with humnakind in Blenheim, so get ready DownUnder!!
 
 Marsha,
 I have spent ten years of my life in Blenheim, or should I say I 
 was sentenced to tens years in Marlborough (grin).
 
 I joined the RNZAF (Kiwi Airforce) straight from school and then
 spent my service career at Woodbourne just out of Blenheim.
 
 Apart from the Kiakoura sightings (some 2hours drive SOUTH of
 Blenheim) in the late 70's there has been no more sightings
 than those elsewhere worldwide.  
 
 Blenheim and indeed the south island does have its form of 
 "Wildfire" (sheet lightening on a clear night) and this has
 been confused with sightings for years.
 
 The Marlborough Excuse (Express) has made mention of this on
 many ocassions.
 
 The last major sighting was in 1983 when an object low on the
 horizon apeared to sit still and change colour. Many people
 in Marlborough and Wellington saw this sight, and it was even
 discussed on 2ZE the local radio station.  The object was a
 star called (Sorry for the spelling) "Canopis" and it did look
 very nice, and very much like ET's craft (grin).
 
 I am still not convinced there is more UFO activity in Blenheim
 or Marlborough than elsewhere. The refernce to Cathey's book is
 a red herring IMHO.
 
 Now were you to talk about Longburn and the their experiments 
 (in the 60's) I would agree with you as would many locals.

  
  Jon  Clarke                                        Z*NET Pacific
  ================================================================
  Phone (+649) 358-5589  GEnie   : J.CLARKE6      CI$ : 75300,1642
  Fax   (+649) 302-2672  Hexagon : HSBC NZ EBD    IFNA: 3:772/105
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
  "The problem is between the chair and the Keyboard"  JimT NCR'91
From: hardie@admin.und.ac.za (Roy Hardie)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
Subject: Emigrating from South Africa to New zealand
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 15:40:22 GMT
Organization: University Of Natal (Durban)
NNTP-Posting-Host: pc11.admin.und.ac.za
Summary: Anyone in new zealand please read.
Keywords: New zealand

Hi. I am in South Africa and we (my family and I) have been granted 
permanent residence in New Zealand and I would like to find out a couple of 
things about New Zealand. If there is a new zealander out there who is 
prepared to help me please can they let me know.

Thanks in advance.

Terry Hardie.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
Subject: Re: MasterCard access in overseas ATM's
From: jonc@status.gen.nz (Jon Clarke)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 23:37:25 GMT
Organization: The Z*NET Global News Gateway in Parnell New Zealand.

lightw@cetra.trl.OZ.AU (Liron Lightwood) writes:

> P.S.  What's this PLUS network?  Is it an ATM network confined to NZ, or
> is it found in other countries?
 
 The PLUS network is the Gloabal Intergration of Credit Cards. It is
 available on Visa, Master Card, Amex, Diners, JCL and many more
 cards world wide. It also works on Debit cards like our HongkongBank
 ETC Cards or ATM cards (Global ATM cards).
 
 So look on the back of your cards and see if it has 3 triangles and the
 word PLUS on it. If it does and it is a CREDIT card it will work in all
 ATM's linked to the PLUS network worldwide.
 
 In Australia .. ANZ,NAB and Westpac Atm's to name a few. Here in NZ
 all those on the Westpac network or EFT Ltds network.
 
 Hope this helps ..

  
  Jon  Clarke                                        Z*NET Pacific
  ================================================================
  Phone (+649) 358-5589  GEnie   : J.CLARKE6      CI$ : 75300,1642
  Fax   (+649) 302-2672  Hexagon : HSBC NZ EBD    IFNA: 3:772/105
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
  "The problem is between the chair and the Keyboard"  JimT NCR'91
From: g9023690@cc.uow.edu.au (Philip Secker)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
Subject: Re: Car rental in NZ
Date: 18 Nov 92 23:06:12 GMT
Organization: University Of Wollongong

rcbc@seth.cs.cornell.edu (Robert Cooper) writes:

>I'm travelling around NZ this Christmas and rental cars seem kind of
>expensive. I've been quoted $US230/week and 16c/km from Budget and
>$US278/week with unlimited mileage from Thrifty. This is a one-way rental
>from Palmerston North to Auckland Airport. I also need a car for 2 days in
>Auckland when I arrive. 

>From my experience last time it was even more expensive to rent a car once
>in NZ. Is this still true, or am I better off renting something when I get
>there. Are there some local companies that are cheaper?

>Thanks -- Robert Cooper rcbc@cs.cornell.edu
>--

I recall that the Domestic Terminal at Auckland airport has an information
booth which, among other things, has a lot of pamphlets on local car hire
firms.  There may be similar info at the International Terminal but I can't
recall seeing it.  Also, from memory, I think the best rates were of the
order of $NZ40 per day.

Philip
-- 
=============================================================================
Philip Secker, Elec & Comp Eng. University of Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
EMAIL:	secker@wampyr.uow.edu.au
PH:     +61 42 213785
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: news@massey.ac.nz (USENET News System)
Subject: Re: Kevlar vests to be made COMPULSORY for pedestrians in NZ
Organization: Massey University
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 01:58:49 GMT

From article <P.Etheridge-171192114028@130.123.3.79>, by news@massey.ac.nz (USENET News System):
> In soc.culture.nz, Nigel Perry wrote:
> 
>> Cycling is not an inherently dangerous activity (certain types might
>> be, such as racing, but general cycling is not). As such people should
>> not be forced to protect themselves, though if they wish to they may,
>> as it violates a fundamental principle that people should be protected
>> from injury by others (or from their own activities). NO OTHER section
>> of society is forced to protect themselves from injury in this way.
> 
> OK, so we've already gone through this at morning tea on Friday, BUT...
> 
> Sure they do.  The closest comparision is with motorcycles, which until
> around '75 didn't require the compulsory wearing of helmets.  I can reach
> 50+km/h on my bicycle in favourable conditions, so that puts me at just as
> much risk as a motorcycle, probably more considering that a push bike is
> harder to see.
> 
> The trouble is that, although some people might be capable of deciding what
> is an appropriate level of risk, others (probably in the majority) are not.
>  By an appropriate level, I mean one which does not place society as a
> whole at an unreasonably high risk of needing to support persons with head
> injuries.  Never mind for the moment who pays for it -- society ends up
> paying in the end.
> 
I too might hit 50+km/h on my bike on occasions, but when doing so can
hardly be classed as an "average cyclist". Normal use of a bike would
not be much in excess of 16km/h. In Holland where they have a practice
of "traffic calming", in which they place obstructions in roads to slow
down traffic in residential areas, they aim to get car speed down to around
the 16-24km/h area. This is because in their belief a child hit by a car at
that speed lives to see another day. NORMAL cycling is a relatively safe
activity, it is the increasing use AND ABUSE of cars on our roads which
has led to the call for compulsory helmets. In giving in to these calls
we are accepting the level of crime on our streets, a VERY BAD precedent.

This does not only effect cyclists. I am a motorist too and am frequently
overtaken whilst travelling at the speed limit, I might not be as vunerable
as on my bike, but I'm still at risk. I also drive my car with my son in
it, he doesn't understand how close to death/serious injury he has been
- at least my training as a London cyclist (very fast reactions or death)
has proved useful...

We should NOT be setting this precedent in New Zealand.
-- 
---
Dr Nigel Perry                    Email: N.Perry@massey.ac.nz
Department of Computer Science    Tel: +64 6 356 9099 ext 8900
Massey University                 Fax: +64 6 350 5611
Palmerston North
New Zealand
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: mcwg9235@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Marsha Woodbury )
Subject: need FAQ on NZ]
Summary: copy
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 11:30:38 GMT
Keywords: please send me

would someone re-post the FAQ about NZ (the funny one)
to this group?  thanks.
-- 
Marsha Woodbury   marsha-w@uiuc.edu
A simile is like a metaphor.
University of Illinois, Middle of Nowhere
Newsgroups: soc.culture.new-zealand
From: gkozak@mis.mi04.zds.com (george m kozak)
Subject: Re: Health Care etc....
Organization: Zenith Data Systems
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 04:00:13 GMT

What are the current GST/Income/Property tax rates in NZ?  Are they stifling
or just the normal gov't larceny? ?

Thanks in advance.