Checkpoint. 2008-07-31

**** CKPT FOR THURS 31 JULY 2008
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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STORM: The storm which caused havoc in the North Island yesterday has today caused flooding and evacuations in Canterbury coastal settlements including Amberley Beach. The rain has not stoppped all day, with surface flooding affecting homes, businesses and schools across the North Canterbury district.Reporter Monique Devereux.has been in Amberley. PKG
Monique is here with an update from Christchurch. LIVE
A civil emergency declaration in Marlborough has been lifted as a major clean-up continues after last night's damaging storm. Road and rail track closures are causing disruptions for motorists and freight. Geoff Moffett has been in Picton this afternoon and filed this report. PKG
Mainfreight is the country's biggest transport company which sends a lot of goods by rail and road. The company's group managing director is Don Braid and he joins us now. LIVE
STORM-CRUISE: 40 passengers on board a big cruise ship north of Auckland are nursing cuts, bruises and sprains after being flung off balance when the vessal suddenly rolled sharply in heavy seas last night. P&O Cruises' Pacific Sun was battling 7 metre swells and 50 knot winds. Here's company spokesman Anthony Fisk. PREREC
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BUSINESS NEWS
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The Commerce Commission has won a Court of Appeal case preventing two supermarket giants from making takeover offers for the Warehouse.The ruling reverses a High Court finding in favour of Woolworths and Foodstuffs. The commission's chairperson is Paula Rebstock. PREREC
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17.30 HEADLINES
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WELLINGTON-RAIL: A points fault on the Johnsonville line at the Wellington rail yard is affecting all services, and OnTrack doesn't know when normal services will resume. Our reporter Charlotte Graham joins us from rush hour at the Wellington railway station. LIVE
CROWN-TUHOE: Less than a year after the police raids at Ruatoki, Tuhoe and the Crown have signed terms of negotiation, which begins the process of settling the iwi's Treaty of Waitangi claims. Several hundred Tuhoe people travelled to Parliament to witness today's event. Our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson, filed this report. PKG
DIXON-RETRIAL: The jury in the Antonie Dixon case has just retired to consider its verdict. Antonie Dixon is on trial for the murder of James Te Aute, by shooting, and for seriously injuring two women with a samurai sword in 2003.Rowan Quinn is at the High Court in Auckland LIVE
POLITICS-PETERS: the Foreign Minister Winston Peters has again ducked questions in Parliament about donations to the New Zealand First Party. Our political reporter Danya Levy watched a raucous -- and at times highly personal -- session in the debating chamber. PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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CAR-POLICE: The immigration service says a man alleged to have reversed his car into a police officer who tried to pull him over is an illegal immigrant they intend to deport.44 year old Ioelu Peniamina admits he was twice the legal alcohol limit last night. But he says the incident in the Auckland suburb of Henderson was an accident. Gill Bonnett reports. PKG
STORM-SH1: There has been a setback to hopes of restoring traffic on State Highway One from Kaikoura to Christchurch. On the line now is the local head of Transit Pete Connors LIVE
TEENS-INQUEST: A Coroner has heard that the deaths of three teenage girls in a car crash near Christchurch cannot be blamed on the 15 year old driver texting on her cellphone. The car crashed into a power pole in September last year. Shanna Crispin was at the inquest in Christchurch. PKG
US-POLITICS: Barak Obama's campaign officials have condemned the lyrics of a song by one of the Senator's favourite rap stars, Ludacris. The lyrics praise Senator Obama, but bitterly attack his rivals, Hillary Clinton and Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain. The BBC's James Coomarasamy reports. PKG
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