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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Thousands of people in Northland are clearing up after one of the worst storms ever to hit the region.Weather scientists are describing the deluge as more than a one in one hundred year dumping and some places that's one in 150 years.In Whangarei alone up to 150 homes have been flooded and at this early stage the insurance council is expecting damage in region to cost at least 10 million dollars.For the latest with us now is our reporter Lois Williams. LIVE
Transit has been working to clear slips from State Highway eleven, but says it will be several days before the road will be passable for the general public. Transit engineer Richard Green is part of the team clearing the road around Opua.He says the flood damage there is the worst he's ever seen. LIVE
The Far North Mayor Yvonne Sharp has taken a helicopter trip around the region, stopping at the most isolated areas.She joins us now. LIVE
Yesterday the owners of the Haruru Falls Resort near Paihia feared their business had all but been destroyed, as the Waitangi River burst its banks swamping their property, and a hillside slip swept away buildings.Today Jan Gerritsen-Molloy awoke to begin the clean-up on a beautiful day in the far North. PREREC
A six year old Northland girl, home for the day because of the flooded impassable roads, has been shot in the chest with an air rifle as she was playing with her older brother.She's now in hospital in Auckland in a critical condition. Emergency services sent a helicopter and an ambulance to the farm in the isolated Waikare Valley just north of Kawakawa. The ambulance crew got part way along a damaged road, with a private four wheel drive vehicle taking them the rest of the way.The girl was unconscious when they arrived about ten minutes before the helicopter. The police are now investigating the shooting. Here's Inspector Chris Scahill PREREC
The tense stand off over the fifteen British sailors seized by Iran shows no signs of coming to an end.The group were detained a week ago, after the Iranians accused them of straying out of Iraqi waters into their territory.Britain wants to increase international pressure.The United Nations Security Council has agreed a watered down statement expressing "grave concern" at the situation.CNN's Anderson Cooper has the latest developments: PKG
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS
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The US President has found time to lift the weight of the world off his shoulders - to poke fun at himself. George W Bush - and some complimentary booze - had them rolling in the aisles at an annual broadcasters' dinner - and Gareth Thomas listened in. PKG
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS
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The police hope toddlers and young children will be safer from abuse, with the launch today of a prevention programme for early childhood centres.18 children under five have died after being abused in New Zealand in the last three years, and police say the number's increasing. Our police reporter Kathryn Jones filed this report. PKG
Rural GPs and nurses say they're shattered from being on-call - and want the Government to introduce a separate after-hours contract.They say it's the single most important issue for them, and it was raised at the Rural General Practice Network conference in Auckland today.Laura Davis reports. PKG
The storm has been much more severe than first thought . It's now categorised as, at least, a one in one hundred year storm - but climate researchers say Northland could be hit with a repeat in a much shorter timeframe. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says some areas in Northland experienced their heaviest rain since records began. But NIWA climate scientist Jim Renwick says climate change may make such a heavy rain a more common event. PKG
Farmers in the North are counting the cost of flood damage. Some have lost stock and spent the day trying to track them down. Others have paddocks swamped with waters - so are turning to their neighbours to find grazing.The president of federated farmers for the region, Denis Anderson, spent his day swimming his cows to safety. LIVE
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17.45 TRAILS
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WAATEA
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The Early Childhood Council says a survey shows less than a quarter of early childhood centres will opt into the government's 20 hours free education initiative and there's a danger even more will opt out when they discover they won't be able to offset their losses by increasing fees.The results of a survey of 1000 community and private centres were presented at the Early Childhood Council's annual conference today. The Council's chief executive officer, Sue Thorne joins us now LIVE
The trucking industry's accusing the Government of either casual indifference or total ignorance of how business in New Zealand works. Road user charges for heavy trucks are going up with just 48 hours notice, and The Road Transport Forum says the jump could drive some companies to bankruptcy. Eric Frykberg reports. PKG
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