Ask to use material, get more information or tell us about an item
The police have arrested 25 people and seized drugs they say have a street value of 500 to 600 thousand dollars. The arrests follow a six month investigation which the Wellington District Organised Crime Unit has wound up over the last 10 days. Those who were arrested have appeared in district courts in Wellington, Levin, Hastings, Taupo and Papakura to face more than three hundred charges and the police say further arrests are likely. The head of the organised crime unit Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Berry says some of those arrested had gang connections. PREREC
The Winegrowers organisation says the government's new excise tax on alcohol will put a number of smaller wine producers out of business. The organisation also says that the Government reneged on its promise to consult winegrowers before any tax changes were introduced. Parliament rushed through legislation earlier this week raising taxes on all beverages containing between 14 and 23 percent alcohol including light spirits, fortified wines and sherries. One wine maker, Shawn Brown of Muirlea Rise in Martinborough, predicts the new excise [illegible] have a serious impact on his business, with half of his production being fortified wine. CUT The Associate Customs Minister Jim Anderton was not available to come on Checkpoint tonight, but joining us now is the chief executive of Winegrowers New Zealand Philip Gregan. LIVE
The Māori Fisheries debate enters a new era today, as the focus shifts from Maoridom, to the Government. At a ceremony in Wellington, the Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson was formally presented with a Waitangi Fisheries Commission plan, for allocating 700 million dollars of fisheries assets and quota to Māori. It's now up to the Minister to try and get the process passed through Parliament, and into law. Our Māori Issues Correspondent Gideon porter was at the ceremony. PKGE
BUSINESS with JOHN DRAPER
The Commerce Commission is warning tradespeople not to register for a trade directory which may not be legitimate.
Trade Registrations NZ Limited sends out unsolicited letters to tradespeople inviting them to register with the directory for 174-dollars plus GST. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or ACCC has already investigated a similar scheme run by Gary Solah who has now shifted the operation to New Zealand. I asked the Commerce Commission's fair trading manager Deborah Battell, (ba-TELL) what the register offers tradespeople. PREREC
Taranaki is short today of one big movie star - with Tom Cruise departing in his jet after wrapping 17 weeks location shooting on The Last Samurai. The 40 million dollar man leaves behind legions of fans. Peter Avery from Film Venture Taranaki says Cruise left from New Plymouth at about midday after doing a helicopter flyover to say goodbye. He says the star will be remembered warmly. PREREC
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT STEPHEN HEWSON
Electricity retailer and generator Trustpower is withdrawing from the Wellington and Christchurch residential markets.
Trustpower says its 32-thousand customers in Wellington and Christchurch will be offered a lower price and a 50-dollar incentive to switch to Empower. Graeme Purches is Trustpower's Community Relations Manager and he joins me now. LIVE
Refugee and Migrant workers say a new report into Asian mental health has wider implications for all migrants to this country. The Mental Health Commission report says Asian families are at risk, and they're not getting the help they need. Jennifer Dann has read the report. PKGE
The treatment of overseas students studying in New Zealand has been the focus today of a special student meeting on how to ensure they're getting a better deal. The industry is now worth about one and half billion dollars to the country, but there is growing concern that the people coming here are not getting all the help they need. The two-day forum in Nelson brings together a range of organisations involved in export education. Julie Pettett the president of the Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association has been at a workshop talking about what training and help lecturers and tutors need to teach foreign students. She joins us now. LIVE
A 65 thousand dollar Frances Hodgkins painting, stolen in a smash and grab from an Auckland art gallery in February has been recovered from a locked warehouse along with two other paintings also worth thousands. The three artworks were taken from Ferner Galleries in Parnell in two seperate breakins [illegible] days of one another. A man's been charged with burglary and receiving. Gallery owner Peter Jarvis won't be getting the paintings back until they've been used in court as evidence, but he told me about his reaction when the police phoned to say the stolen art had been found. PREREC
Tomorrow will see the long awaited opening of Christchurch's new art gallery, Te Puna o Waiwhetu. The 47.5 million dollar facility is owned and operated by the Christchurch City Council and has been 7 years in the design and planning. Katy Gosset filed this report. PKGE
MANA NEWS
CLOSE & THEME