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Checkpoint for Tuesday 03 March 2009
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The police have arrested a 17-year old international student after a teacher was stabbed in the back in a classroom of Auckland's Avondale College. The 50 year old teacher, who the school named as Mr Warren, is in a serious condition in Auckland City Hospital. Belinda McCammon has spent most of the day at the college, and joins us now. LIVE
Graeme McCann is the chairperson of the PPTA Principals Council. He says the stabbing comes as a huge shock. PREREC
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has been working with the family of a New Zealander in Brazil whose 3-year old daughter was raped and killed. Karl Paroli, who recently moved to Brazil with his Brazilian partner, was holidaying with his daughter Cloe in the town of Trancoso in December, when his daughter disappeared. He says it took the police until last week to arrest the suspected killer, a labourer on the gated vacation property they were renting. Our reporter Kate Williamson joins us now with the latest details. LIVE
The Government is accused of using a report into a funding shortfall at ACC to soften the public up for privatisation of the Corporation. An independent report has found that a one-point-five-billion dollar hole in ACC's Non-Earner Account over the next four years should have been disclosed in the pre-election opening of the books. That's prompted the finance minister, Bill English to accuse the former Labour-led Government of trying to hide problem. But as Julian Robins reports, Labour says National is simply trying to discredit ACC. PKG
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BUSINESS NEWS WITH DAVID REID
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The Court of Appeal has retired to consider whether a man who drove into a crowd killing two people should have his conviction and sentence overturned. Darin Gardner was found guilty of murdering 19 year old Kane Wright and 23 year old Melissa Viall in East Auckland in 2006. Gardner has always maintained he didn't intend to kill anyone and was just trying to break up a fight involving his friend. Reporter Laura Davis joins us now. LIVE
An overbridge, which serves as a main thoroughfare in an Auckland shopping district, has been shut after contractors discovered cracks in its structure. The Remuera Overbridge is near the shopping district of Newmarket, and KiwiRail is expecting a severe traffic impact. It has dozens of staff at the site. It's spokesperson, Kevin Ramshaw joins me now. LIVE
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17.30 HEADLINES
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A 17-year old international student will appear in the Auckland District Court tomorrow after a teacher was stabbed in a classroom at Avondale College this morning. The 50-year old teacher is now in Auckland City Hospital but is expected to be discharged this evening. Police Inspector Cornell Kluessien says there's some degree of threat in all workplaces but this attack was out of the ordinary. CUT
Meanwhile former Prime Minister, and Mt Albert MP, Helen Clark, visited the College this afternoon, saying she wanted to offer moral support to the school as it was in her electorate. And the Minister of Education Anne Tolley joins us now. LIVE
Medical workers say it's getting increasingly dangerous for doctors and nurses working in hospital emergency departments around the country. In the latest case of violence, a drunk male patient beat up a Waikato doctor at the weekend. And the threat of abuse may be turning staff off working in emergency services. Clint Owens reports. PKG
The sentencing of a youth who admitted killing Scottish backpaker, Karen Aim in Taupo in January last year has been delayed. 15 year old Jahche Broughton was to be sentenced later this week in the High Court in Rotorua,but it's now been put back three weeks. Andrew McRae has been following the story and joins me now. LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS
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The Police investigating the death of 3-year-old Cherish Tahuri-Wright have confirmed the injuries she suffered were not accidental and have launched a homicide inquiry. The 3 year old was found with head injuries at a house in Marton last month. She died in hospital when life support was switched off. Police spokesperson Kim Perks joins us now. LIVE
The Otago Regional Council has confirmed its funding for Dunedin's enclosed stadium project, by 6 votes to 4. The council is contributing 37.5 million dollars to the 200 million dollar stadium after being satisfied that a private sector funding shortfall of 15 million dollars will be met. The Council's chair Stephen Cairns revealed to a meeting this morning that the Crown would, in principle, be willing to underwrite the 15 million dollars. Stephen Cairns is with us now. LIVE
The Cuban President Raul Castro has announced the largest cabinet reshuffle in decades, removing 11 ministers from office including two of the country's most prominent politicians. State television says the cabinet chief and the foreign minister will be stepping down. CNN's Morgan Neil reports from the Cuban capital Havana. PKG
NIWA scientists have discovered that nearly all the snapper on the west coast of the North Island come from nurseries in just one harbour - the Kaipara. Fish from Ninety Mile Beach to Mana Island off Wellington were tested, and chemical analysis of their ear bones showed 98 percent were originally juveniles from Kaipara Harbour. Fisheries ecologist Dr Mark Morrison says the result was a surprise. PREREC