Checkpoint. 2008-04-18

**** CKPT FOR FRI 18 APRIL 2008
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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POLICE CHILD: A police child abuse team is investigating the suspicious death of a three year old boy, Dylan Hohepa Tonga Rimoni, in the South Auckland suburb of Drury. Our reporter Rowan Quinn has been looking into the case LIVE
CHCH MISSING: A body found in the Waimakariri River north of Christchurch still has not been formally identified, but police are now calling the disappearance of Marie Davis a case of homicide. The 15-year-old was last seen alive 13 days ago. Detective Senior Sergeant Virginia Le Bas (le bah) spoke to the media a short time ago. CUT
Our reporter Monique Devereux was there and joins us now. LIVE
REPORT-KOTUKU: Fishing boat skippers in Nelson fear their industry will be hit by more red tape following the report into the Kotuku tragedy, which sank two years ago on a muttonbirding expedition off Stewart Island, killing six people. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission report calls for change in the maritime regulatory system. Nelson reporter Geoff Moffett has been speaking with local owners and skippers. PKG
REPORT-MADDICK: A marine surveyor, Bill Maddick, runs his own small surveying businesess and says he's lost contracts to inspect vessels because he's too thorough and the boat owners aren't prepared to pay what it costs for his time. Mr Maddick says it's become a race to the bottom and companies compete to offer the lowest price. PREREC
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BUSINESS NEWS
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POPPIES THEFT: Thieves have targeted the Takapuna RSA's poppy collection, taking 6 thousand poppies, collectors buckets and badges at the weekend. The poppy appeal is on today, tand he RSA wants to stop any attempt by the thieves to con people out of their money. Bridget Gourlay reports. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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HAMILTON RACE: The sound and smell of motor racing permeates the air in Hamilton after day one of the three-day Hamilton 400 event. The central city circuit for the Super V8 series has been christened after a full day of practice sessions gearing up to the big race on Sunday. Andrew McRae has spent the day down at the track and filed this report. PKG
POPE-ABUSE: In what is thought to be an unprecendented move, Pope Benedict XV1 has held a private meeting with some of the US victims of sex abuse by priests. It came after an open air mass atttend by tens of thousands in Washington DC. Tom Foreman reports. PKG
GAZA FUNERALS: Funerals have been taking place in Gaza for a Palestinian cameraman and up to a dozen others, mainly civilians, who were killed in an attack by Israeli forces. Four militants and three Israeli soldiers were also killed. Here's the BBC's Paul Wood: PKG
SPOTLESS-PAY: Rolling strikes by public hospital cleaners and food workers over a wage dispute have been averted. Spotless Services and District Health Boards reached an agreement today to share the cost of a funding shortfall. Lisa Thompson reports. PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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CONGESTION-WELLINGTON: The Greater Wellington Regional Council has asked the government for a law change, so councils can impose extra charges on motorists.The chairperson, Fran Wilde, says the council wants to be able to impose congestion charges on motorists entering and leaving Wellington city. Cherie McQuilkin reports. PKG
ARGENTINA-FARMERS: Farmers are being blamed for fires that have left a blanket of smoke across Buenos Aires. The government is accusing them of lighting the fires to clear pasture. But the farmers reject the charge. Here's correspondent, Daniel Schweimler PKG
MAGNETS-CANCER: Researchers in Britain say they've developed a potential new way of treating cancer tumours using tiny magnets. The researchers at universities in Sheffield, Keele and Nottingham say the innovation might offer ways to target and treat malignant tumours more effectively. The BBC's science reporter, Neil Bowdler has the details PKG
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