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Checkpoint FOR MONDAY 13 AUGUST 2012
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The families of skydivers killed at Fox Glacier want someone to be held accountable and some may consider civil action against those responsible. A Transport Accident Investigation Commission report has blamed modifications to the plane and the failure of the Civil Aviation Authority to properly monitor skydive companies. The police have completed their investigations and have decided not to charge anybody. But at today's inquest in Greymouth, Pamela Bennett from Australia, whose son Adam died in the crash, said civil action is still a possibility. CUT Karen Bourke, whose son Glenn was killed, also wants someone to be held accountable. CUT Our reporter Conan Young is in Greymouth covering the inquest. LIVE
The smaller political parties are sharply divided over the proposed removal of the one seat threshold to enter Parliament. Under the current law, parties need either one electorate seat or five-percent of the party vote. The Electoral Commission is reviewing MMP and is recommending changing both those thresholds. Here's our political reporter, Clare Pasley. PKG
With us now is Radio New Zealand's political editor Brent Edwards. LIVE
The 2012 London Olympics are over, and already the fight's begun here over money after the Government said it was freezing its funding for top athletes. They won't get any more state funding for at least two years, or halfway to the next Games in Rio. As for London, 80 thousand people packed the main stadium for today's closing ceremony and 100s of millions more watched on TV. The competing nations marched in, with New Zealand's contingent headed by gold medal rower Mahe Drysdale. CUT That commentary from Sky Sport. George Michael and other British pop veterans sang some favourites while the Spice Girls rode on the roofs of taxis around streets laid out like a giant union jack inside the stadium. The head of the International Olympic Committee, Jaques Rogge, called them the happy games. CUT That audio from Sky Sport. Back in New Zealand, the Government freeze means funding for high-performance athletes will stay at about 60 million dollars a year for the foreseeable future. Already High Performance Sport New Zealand has singled out two sports that produced disappointing results - swimming and triathlon. Will Hine reports. PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Kate Gudsell
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People in rural parts of North Otago are being warned they could be isolated for up to two or three days after more flooding in the region. The Shag River is on flood alert, and farmers along the Kākānui river have been told it could break its banks. More than 20 backcountry roads inland from Ōamaru and Palmerston are impassable because of persistent rain and many paddocks are flooded. The Waitaki District Council says it is frustrating to have roads closed for the third time in a fortnight - Michael Voss from the council has the latest. PREREC
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17.30 HEADLINES
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As the London Olympics finish, officials are already putting the pressure on the next host of the summer games, Rio de Janeiro. The International Olympic Committee has asked the Brazilian city's organisers to come up with their budget as soon as possible. It'll be the first time the Olympics have been held in South America and questions are already being raised about Rio's transport and venue options. The ABC's Lisa Millar has this report: PKG
A structural engineer has told a hearing that parts of the CTV building did not meet the Building Code . But Arthur O'Leary said these faults would have been difficult for council engineers to pick up. The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission is investigating why the building collapsed in February's earthquake, killing 115 people. Katy Gosset reports. PKG
New Zealand's 15-year-old golfing star Lydia Ko has won the US Women's Amateur Championship. She's the first New Zealand woman to claim the title and it comes after she made history earlier this year by being the youngest golfer ever to win a professional tournament. Ko was never behind in this match in Ohio, but her coach Guy Wilson says it was still a relief when she took it out. PREREC
The American presidential candidate Mitt Romney has hit the campaign trail with his newly announced running mate Paul Ryan - both men are vowing to take back America. Mr Ryan is a forty-two year old congressman who's popular with the conservative Tea Party movement. Brendan Trembath has this report from the US : PKG
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17.45 MANU KORIHI
Tēnā koutou katoa, good evening,
A Bay of Plenty tribe says there're striking similarities between a great ancestress and Whakatāne's Olympic gold medal canoeist, Lisa Carrington.
Ngāti Awa people say her win on the water reminds them of Wairaka, who some 700 years ago saved a waka full of women by going against tradition and paddling a drifting canoe to land.
With all of the men already ashore, Wairaka said: Kia Whakatāne au i ahau! - I will act like a man.
The tribe's deputy chair, Pouroto Ngaropo, says they're absolutely proud of Carrington for her ability, discipline, strength and natural talent.
OLY-SIMILAR-TP
IN:.......BEING AWARE OF...
OUT:...FOR NEW ZEALAND.
DUR:..22"
Pouroto Ngaropo.
Lisa Carrington descends from Ngāti Porou and Te Aitanga ā Mahaki, but hails from Whakatāne.
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The Independent Māori Statutory Board's being urged to keep up the pressure on Auckland Council to find out how many senior officials are Māori.
At its monthly meeting today, a Board member, John Tamihere, says despite repeatedly asking - they're not getting any answers.
The Council's previously responded, saying it doesn't keep employee figures based on their race.
But Mr Tamihere suggested Auckland Council needs to change the way it collects its data.
He says the Board has a right to ask for the information under legislation covering local government and the Independent Māori Statutory Board.
John Tamihere also questioned whether the Council's failure to find out how many senior Māori it employs is a human rights issue.
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After decades of protesting to have its say over how to care for Whanganui National Park, the local river iwi are now at the decision-making table with the Department of Conservation.
A new co-management plan includes iwi in a shared partnership with DoC in the day-to-day running of the park, and acknowledges the deep cultural relationship they have with it.
The Whanganui Conservation Board Chair, Darryn Rātana, says the local river iwi have long fought to be involved in looking after the park and now that dream's a reality.
WHANG MANAGE TP
IN:.......IT IS A HUGE CHANGE...
OUT:...UNDERTAKE THAT WORK.
DUR:..24"
Darryn Rātana of the Conservation Department.
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A Queensland Māori rugby league coach predicts younger players will become a force to reckon with as more time and effort goes into developing them.
Young rugby league players in the Australian state are gearing up for their local Māori rugby league competition Ngā Hau e Whā in October in the lead up to an interstate match with New South Wales.
The coaching director for Queensland East Māori Rugby League, and Queensland Māori Rugby League, Hamiora Wanoa, says already the under 16 team is looking sharp, and with the right mentoring the players will go a long way.
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a further bulletin in an hour.
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Two crucial voting thresholds will be lowered if the recommendations of the MMP review are followed. The Electoral commissions proposals released today are to change the threshold at which a party gets into Parliament, from five percent to four percent. And it wants the one-seat electorate threshold abolished, which means if parties win an electorate seat, they wouldn't be entitled to any more list seats, unless they reach the four percent party vote. Our reporter Kelly Spring has been speaking to voters in the Ōhariu electorate where the United Future leader Peter Dunne has held the seat for 28 years. PKG
The ACT Party has held the seat of Epsom since 2005 when it brought in one extra MP. In 2008 it brought in four more list MPs then in 2011 John Banks won the seat alone. The owner of Mt Eden's Time Out book store, Wendy (TAI) Tighe-Umbers, says she voted strategically in the last election. READER + CUTS
A woman who says she was pressured into expensive dental treatment after being told her face would collapse without it has had her complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner upheld. The Commissioner says two North Island dentists, which it's not naming, failed to get informed consent from the woman and did a shoddy job. The dentists could face disciplinary proceedings. Ruth Hill reports. PKG
To Nigeria now, where the army says it's killed 20 suspected members of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram in a shoot-out in the north-east. In recent months hundreds of people have been killed in Boko Haram bombings and shootings. But some think the military response isn't having the desired effect as the BBC's Will Ross reports PKG