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Checkpoint FOR THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 2011
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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A five year old girl has undergone four hours of surgery after a sexually motivated attack by an intruder late last night at a Turangi campground. The girl and her family are here on holiday from Europe, and her mother and father were just metres away when a man locked himself inside their caravan and attacked the child. He's still on the loose and police are appealing for help to catch him. They've have just held a media conference in Turangi - we're joined now by Detective Inspector Mark Loper. LIVE
Canterbury's biggest public hospital could end up being owned by a private company which will then lease it back to the District Health Board. The board has been told to prepare a business case for a 600 million dollar rebuilding of earthquake damaged Christchurch and Burwood Hospitals. The Health Minister Tony Ryall says it will also look at whether a public private partnership could be a cheaper option. This would be a first in the health sector, and both Labour and the union representing senior doctors warn it's a move towards inserting a profit motive into public hospitals. Tony Ryall says under a PPP, a private company would raise the money needed and would build and maintain the hospitals. PREREC
The protesters occupying Auckland's Aotea Square have lost a last minute bid to stay. An Auckland District Court judgement means the protestors will now have to leave by two thirty tomorrow afternoon or risk being arrested. Natalie Mankelow reports. PKG
The protestors marched from their court hearing to the Auckland Town Hall near Aotea Square. They've been trying to get into the heavily guarded building to speak to officials. Our reporter Olivia Wix is there. LIVE
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH
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Opposition parties say a Treasury report confirming state-owned businesses are doing well is further reason for the Government to drop the plan to partially privatise its energy companies. The report has found the performance of SOEs has improved in the past year or two in the wake of the global economic crisis. Here's our political editor Brent Edwards. PKG
Syrian opposition leaders have called for emergency meetings at the United Nations and the Arab League to address the worsening violence in the country. Activists say that in the past few days alone, around 250 people have been killed by pro-Syrian forces. An Arab League team of monitors is due to arrive in the country to begin the month-long task of assessing the situation. Here's Anne Barker. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The economy is growing at its fastest rate in nearly two years. But economists say strong figures for the September quarter mask an uncertain outlook for future growth. Our economics correspondent, Nigel Stirling, reports. PKG
The Prime Minister has confirmed that the SAS will come home from Afghanistan in March, but is not ruling out sending them back in the future. Here's our political reporter, Chris Bramwell. PKG
The Occupy Auckland group has lost a last minute bid to continue its stand at Aotea Square. The protestors have been camping there for more than two months - but a district court judge yesterday ordered them to leave within 48 hours. The movement's request for a stay on that judgment was turned down this afternoon. Andrew Geddis is a law professor at Otago University - where he lectures on the Bill of Rights. He joins us now. LIVE
Mediation has failed between the country's largest port and the Maritime Union, with workers due to strike again from tonight. (10.30pm start) And the Importers Institute is calling for Ports of Auckland to break the dispute over the union members collective contract by laying them off. Amelia Langford reports. PKG
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17.45 MANU KORIHI
Tēnā koutou katoa, good evening,
A lawyer representing the Bay of Plenty family of a Christchurch man, says the whānau wants the Supreme Court to decide on the legality of their actions.
In August 2007 James Takamore died in his fifties in Christchurch.
Before the funeral his family turned up and made a tono or claim on the body.
They took it away to be buried at a Tūhoe family cemetery near Ōpōtiki.
Last month the Court of Appeal decided their actions were unlawful, and referred the case back to the High Court to work out a solution between the families.
A lawyer representing Mr Takamore's sister, Josephine Takamore, says the family made a decision this week to seek a ruling from the Supreme Court.
Jamie Ferguson says the option they've chosen will give them time over the festive season, to talk with extended family members about the issue.
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Auckland's Medical Officer of Health is warning Pacific and Māori families, to make sure their children are immunised for whooping cough.
Dr Andrew Lindsay says there's been a steady increase in the disease, with about 30 cases last month compared with 12 in August
He says Māori and Pacific infants are two to three times more likely than Pākehā infants to be hospitalised because of the illness.
Dr Lindsay says it's a particularly severe disease that spreads easily and can lead to death.
COUGH CHECK TP
IN CHRISTMAS IS A TIME...
OUT ...THOSE YOUNG BABIES.
DUR 15"
Dr Andrew Lindsay people need to be careful to stay away from young babies if they have coughs or colds.
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The Principal of Rangitahi College in Murupara is relieved the Government has finally made a decision on merging two schools in the town.
The Education Minister, Hekia Parāta, says the college will close, and there'll be a new area school on the Murupara Primary site opening in January 2013.
She says one reason for the merger is a drop in the student enrolments, and the consolidation will help strengthen education and raise student achievement levels.
Dawn Mitai-Pehi (peehi) of Rangitahi College says she's pleased a decision's been reached, as it's about three years since the community decided the schools should merge.
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The Head of Auckland's Elam School of Fine Arts is delighted a staff member has been awarded an international sculpture commission.
The Queensland Premier has selected Michael Parekowhai who's an Associate Professor at Elam, to create a three part bronze sculpture for the state art gallery.
Heugh Chappell reports:
QLAND SCULPTURE VCR
IN PROFESSOR JONATHAN...
OUT ...IS HEUGH CHAPPELL.
DUR 48"
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a further bulletin in an hour.
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Now to the latest in the Nelson and Tasman districts, where more than 100 houses are still off limits after last week's record rainfall. We're joined now by the Tasman mayor, Richard Kempthorne. LIVE
Teacher and principal groups are warning of a growing rich-poor gap and say government funding for poorer schools must be boosted. The Auditor-General lists 31 schools in serious financial difficulty, 25 in poor areas. Our education correspondent, John Gerritsen, filed this report. PKG
The pre-trial hearing for the US Army intelligence analyst accused of leaking top secret information to the whistle-blower website Wikileaks is nearing a close. Bradley Manning today waived his right to speak at the hearing. The ABC's Jane Cowan reports. PKG