National News Brief Thursday, March 19

PM: Donate your tax cut to charity; more sensitive documents left with gang members; stem cell trial in New Zealand; cancer treatment times (or health boards) to be slashed; 1080 drop in Wellington water catchment; woman gives birth on plane then leaves baby on board

If you don't spend your tax cut this year, donate it to charity, urges the Prime Minister. The next round of tax cuts, due in a fortnight, will give workers earning $45,000 a year an extra $11.54 a week and those earning $100,000 about $24, reports the Herald. John Key told a Philanthropy New Zealand conference that he would like New Zealanders to give more of their income to charity, like Americans.

More sensitive documents have made it into the hands of gang members. Yesterday police left information about police procedures--including how raids are carried out, officers' names and radio call signs--with Mongrel Mob members. This came one day after Housing New Zealand revealed to gang members the name of a complainant in an eviction case, reports the Herald.

A team of New Zealand surgeons plan to insert stem cells into 12 people with spinal injuries to see if they can help them walk. The trial will be led by Dunedin cell biologist Dr Jim Faed, reports the Otago Daily Times. The same procedure has been carried out in Portugal, Italy, Japan and China with varying degrees of success, said Spinal Cord Society spokesman Tony Edmonds.

If cancer treatment times aren't slashed, health boards may be fired. Ministry of Health figures show that more than 100 cancer patients a month wait longer for radiation treatment than the four-week timeline set by cancer specialists, reports the Press. Health Minister Tony Ryall says waiting times are "unacceptable".

Controversial pesticide 1080 will be dropped in the Wellington water catchment area in mid-May, reports the Dominion Post. Murray Kennedy, greater Wellington regional council water supply manager, said 1080 breaks down in water and people should not worry about the possum-killer getting into their drinking water.

A woman gave birth on an Auckland-bound flight this morning and left the baby on board. It was not known whether anyone on the Pacific Blue flight originating in Apia saw the woman in labour. Both baby and mother have been taken to hospital and are in good health, reports the Herald.