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**** CKPT FOR MON 22 DEC 2008
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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NZ-ECONOMY: New Zealand's current account balance has slipped further into the red raising fears foreign investors could bail out of the country. The balance measures the value of international dealings, including trade in goods, services and the transfer of investment income. Our economics correspondent, Nigel Stirling, has more.PKG
AUCK-FIRE: The Fire Service says the fire which has been burning for more than 48 hours in Auckland may not be out until tomorrow. The blaze at the old Southdown Freezing works in Penrose is believed to be Auckland's largest ever fire and is being treated as suspicious. Joy Reid has spent the day at the scene ...PKG
CHCH-DEATH: The police investigating the death of a Christchurch sex worker are now focussing on the person who picked her up just after half-past 10 on Thursday night. 27 year old Mellory Manning was found in the Avon River near Dallington Terrace on Friday morning. Katy Gosset reports PKG
NORTHLAND-MAYOR: Northland Regional Councillors are warning the Far North District Mayor Wayne Brown they will not tolerate any more of his personal attacks on them. The law firm SwanLaw has written to Mr Brown telling him that publicly accusing the chairman and councillors of corrupt practice and bribery is defamatory. Regional Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth says he's had enough of the name calling. PREREC
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BUSINESS NEWS
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TRIAL-MEDALS: The lawyer who brokered the return of stolen war medals has been kicked off the case by a judge. Chris Comesky has been acting for one of the two men accused of stealing 96 medals including nine victory crosses from Waiouru Army Museum a year ago. (Dec 2 ) Our reporter Craig Ashworth is at the Wangaui District Court - he''s with us now. LIVE
CHARITIES: As Christmas approaches, charitable organisations say they're feeling the pinch from the worldwide financial crisis. Charities say that difficult economic times will affect the help they can give to people in New Zealand and abroad. Nick Butcher reports. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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PHARMAC: Dermatologists are worried Pharmac's decision to widen access to potentially dangerous acne drugs could put patients at risk. Severe acne sufferers will soon be able to access two powerful medicines, Isotretinoin, more commonly known as Roaccutane, and Acitretin under subsidy from certified GPs and nurse practitioners. The drugs can cause serious birth defects if taken by pregnant women, and have also been linked to depression and suicide. The president of the Dermatological Society is Elizabeth Baird. PREREC
WHAKATANE-DEATH: The police in Whakatane are investigating the death of a Spanish man in the town's police cells. A post-mortem has confirmed Francisco Javier De Larratea Soler had no physical injuries when he died on Friday. The Eastern Bay of Plenty Police Area Commander is Steve Bullock. PREREC
LOCKERBIE: Memorial services and vigils have been held on both sides of the Atlantic to mark the day 20 years ago when a Pan Am flight was blown up over the small Scottish town of Lockerbie. 259 people on the jumbo jet and 11 on the ground were killed. CNN's Debbie Edward has visited Lockerbie. PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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FONTERRA: The dairy giant Fonterra has been defending its on-line global Trade auction after a rival company said the on-line trading for whole milk powder has contributed to a drop in international dairy prices. Fonterra says the auction system simply reflects what's happening in the market. Bridget Tunnicliffe reports: PKG
AVIATION-DENVER: U.S. investigators will interview crew members and review data and voice recorders to help determine what caused a passenger plane to veer off a Denver International Airport runway and catch fire. All 115 people aboard the Continental Airlines jet escaped. CNN's John Lawrence reports : PKG
ZIMBABWE: The US says there's no way Zimbabwe's problems can be solved while President Mugabe remains in power. The country's in the grip of a cholera epidemic which has killed hundreds and its economy is in freefall. So what does the future hold for the people of Zimbabwe. The BBC's Jonah Fisher report from Johannesburg: PKG
NEWS-POPULAR: Unusual weather events, natural disasters and high profile crime are the stories which most captured the public's attention in 2008. An annual survey by UMR research found the most popular story was the storm that tore through NZ in July, followed by the outdoor pursuit tragedy when six students and a teacher drowned, followed closely by the shooting of a Manurewa shopkeeper. Tim Grafton is a director for UMR Research. PREREC
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