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** CKPT RUNDOWN FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28 ****
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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BENSON-POPE ROW - National Party blocks attempt by cabinet minister David Benson-Pope to make explanation to Parliament of school camp incident which triggered complaints he'd intruded on girls' privacy. Audio of Mr Benson-Pope, National MP Judith Collins, National leader Don Brash and Education minister Steve Maharey. (Jane Patterson); live i/v with Political editor Kathryn Ryan.
KIWISAVE SCHEME tabled in Parliament, aims to encourage NZers to save for retirement. Comment from financial adviser April Thompson, Finance minister Michael Cullen, Council of Trade Unions economist Peter Conway, and Vance Arkinstall, chief exec of Investment Savings and Insurance Assn. (Darren Mckenzie)
PRISON ESCAPER and notorious art thief Athony Ricardo Sannds pleads guilty to charges of escape, burglary and taking a car. He was caught last night after escaping from Tongariro Prison 27 days ago. Joy McArthur reports.
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
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PRISON ESCAPES - more than half of most serious escapes in last year were from court cells. Corrections Dept figures obtained by Radio New Zealand compare number of escapes from custody over last 3 years and have re-ignited concern about keeping prisoners in court cells. Audio of Corrections Assn president Bevan Hanlon, National MP Simon Power, and President of Prison Fellowship of New Zealand, Kim Workman. (Kate Williamson)
WANGANUI GANG VIOLENCE - Mongrel Mob and Hell's Angels members involved in violent clashes in Wanganui East, leading to 5 arrests and 2 men being injured. Eyewitnesses report shots were fired, cars rammed and windscreens smashed in confrontations at petrol station and at Wanganui Hospital. Wanganui mayor Michael Laws says such violent lawlessness
won't be tolerated - i/ved live.
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH MARK CROSSLEY
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KIWISAVER SCHEME - Finance minister Michael Cullen expects about 350,000 people will join scheme in its first 5 years. But Vance Arkinstall, chief exec of Investment Savings and Insurance Assn, has doubts about the scheme - i/ved live.
BULLER WATER - Westport in crisis mode as water supply runs dangerously low. District Council warns unless every possible drop is conserved it may have to cut off town's supply within 48 hours. Live report from Geoff Moffett.
TRANSPOWER PRICES - Transpower says Commerce Commission's move to take control will put electricity supply at risk. Commission has announced plans to take over lines business, citing unjustified price increases and excessive profits. (Rachel Graham)
BENSON-POPE ROW - Prime Minister's office releases personal
explanation David Benson-Pope was to make to Parliament before being
denied leave by National Party. Last year, Mr Benson-Pope told
Parliament he was not aware of any complaints made about him during his
teaching career but Opposition accuses him of misleading Parliament with
revelation that letter of complaint from a parent was received by
Bayfield High School about his conduct during a school camp in 1997. In
his personal explanation, Mr Benson-Pope says he has no recollection of
ever having seen the letter but can confirm that issues of camp policies
and procedures were discussed between him, the principal, and others and
acknowledges the policy changed after that discussion. Mr Benson-Pope
declines i/v; live i/v with National MP Judith Collins.
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WAATEA NEWS with Eru Rerekura
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PANCAKE DAY - CHRISTCHURCH celebrates Shrove Tuesday with relay teams
flipping pancakes on the race track. (Nadine Chalmers-Ross)
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