Checkpoint. 2003-05-20

The Government has announced how it's going to save the public from cold showers and power cuts when the hydro lake levels drop in dry years. Pressure has been mounting on the government to do something as this year's electricity shortage is seeing businesses cutting back production in response to soaring power prices, and the public urged to turn off lights and heaters. The Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says an Electricity Commission will be set up to govern the industry and to make sure there is enough standby generation to to cope with a one-in-60 dry year.
The Commission will contract with generators to provide spare capacity. That will be paid for by a levy which could add about 40-dollars a year onto the average power bill. The National leader Bill English is the plan as Helen Clark's energy tax. CUT Bill English says today's announcement was all about the Government trying to look like it is doing something about the current crisis. But ACT's deputy leader, Ken Shirley says New Zealanders are still facing the prospect of cold showers, and he's describing the energy minister as "the prince of darkness" CUT
Joining us now is the Energy Minister Pete Hodgson. LIVE
There's been a cautious reaction amongst industry players to the government's announcement today. Our reporter Nathan Mills has spoken to a number of industry representatives this afternoon and he joins us now. LIVE WITH DROPINS
The Indonesian Government's military operation in Aceh could create a new generation of rebels. That's according to the Jakarta based Sidney Jones who is the Indonesia Project Director for a policy think-tank called the International Crisis Group. Indonesia's military yesterday launched rocket attacks on rebels from the separatist Free Aceh Movement, also known as GAM (rhymes with lamb), while troops began parachuting in as Indonesia's President put the province under martial law. Sidney Jones says that the military operation is likely to increase antagonism towards the Indonesian government. PREREC
BUSINESS with JOHN DRAPER
In Worthland the controversial Ngawha prison project has moved into a new phase - building has begun on the site - and a manager has been appointed for the prison itself.
Meanwhile protest by Ngapuhi objectors has petered out.
Lois Williams reports: PKGE
There are calls to toughen the law to ensure greater protection for people signing up to financially risky rent-to-buy schemes. The schemes, which have become increasingly popular in the Auckland region, purport to allow people to rent a home with the goal of eventually owning it.
But the Auckland company, Blue Sky Holdings Limited, is being investigated by the Housing Ministry over one such scheme, after being ordered to pay back thousands of dollars in illegal levies. Sarah Howison reports. PKGE
In American Samoa - the worst flooding in 50 years has triggered landslides which have engulfed buildings killing at least two people and leaving three seriously injured. One of the dead was retrieved from the rubble of a home in Pago Pago - and a child missing from the home has been confirmed dead. A state of emergency has been declared.
Our correspondent in Pago Pago Monica Miller says there have been at least four large landslides, one hitting a commercial building. PREREC
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The Government has announced how it's going to save the public from cold showers and power cuts when the hydro lake levels drop in dry years. Pressure has been mounting on the government to do something as this year's electricity shortage is seeing businesses cutting back production in response to soaring power prices, and the public urged to turn off lights and heaters. The Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says an Electricity Commission will be set up to govern the industry and to make sure there is enough standby generation to to cope with a one-in-60 dry year.
The plan could add about 40-dollars a year onto the average power bill. David Russell is the chief executive of the Consumers Institute and the spokesperson for the electricity watchdog group the Consumers Coaltion. He joins us now. LIVE
Meanwhile the country's power savings have crept up past six percent for the first time since the conservation campaign began nearly three weeks ago. [illegible] that's enough to save us from cold showers all depends on rain and the lake levels, and there is rain forecast for the Canterbury high country and Otago over the next two days.
In fact the clouds are supposed to be gathering as we speak - joining us now from the shores of Lake Tekapo is resident Bruce Scott. LIVE
There are calls to toughen the law to ensure greater protection for people signing up to financially risky rent-to-buy schemes. The schemes, which have become increasingly popular in the Auckland region, purport to allow people to rent a home with the goal of eventually owning it.
But the Auckland company, Blue Sky Holdings Limited, is being investigated by the Housing Ministry over one such scheme, after being ordered to pay back thousands of dollars in illegal levies. Sarah Howison reports. PKGE
The Court of Appeal considering the case of Canterbury farmer Kevin Harmer, convicted of murdering his wife in 1999 in a deliberately lit fire of a land-rover. Harmer was convicted after an eight week trial last year of murdering his wife by dousing her and the interior and exterior with fuel and setting it alight in a farm paddock. Merle Nowland has been in the Court and joins me now. LIVE
Drug education groups set up to target young people say they are battling to survive, and are desperate for help from the Government. Two groups that provide education and support to young people and parents say they are nearly at the end of the line. Christine Cessford compiled this report. PKGE
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