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*** Checkpoint FOR THURS 19 NOV 2009
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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One of the Defence Force's most experienced explosives experts has been killed in a freak accident today at Waiouru Military Camp.
46-year-old Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster was killed when an artillary shell exploded just metres from him and another sergeant today. Our reporter Clint Owens has been at a news conference held by the Defence Force in Wellington this afternoon, he joins me now.
LIVE
A District Court judge has told a teenager who attacked an elderly returned serviceman that it was a gratuitously violent and cowardly crime. 19 year old Maurangi Pere was sentenced to nearly nine years jail for bashing 85 year old Eric Brady and trying to steal his car outside the Papatoetoe RSA in February this year. Mr Brady sounded the car's horn for help causing his attacker to run away but when Pere realised no-one had heard he ran back and threw the retiree to the ground. Our reporter Laura Davis has been at the Manukau District Court today. LIVE
The Labour Party leader, Phil Goff has announced an end to the 20 year consensus between Labour and National over the best way to control inflation and says he would make significant changes to the way the Reserve Bank operates. Mr Goff says the next Labour-led Government would end the bank's overriding focus on inflation and go for a new approach which fosters rather undermines exporters.
He has told Federated Farmers in Wellington this morning that the approach needs to focus on keeping interest rates and the New Zealand dollar stable, rather than having an overriding emphasis on inflation. But later he refused to spell out to reporters what options Labour might be considering. CLIP The Prime Minister John Key has dismissed Mr Goff's announcement. CLIP Our political editor Brent Edwards was at Mr Goff's speech and joins me now. LIVE
MP's have heard that some proposed changes to accident compensation cover may result in the reintroduction of the right to sue. A select committee is hearing submissions on a bill which seeks to pull back on a number of entitlements now available under the ACC system. And during the discussion came a surprise confession from the National Party MP, Tau Henare, who bragged that he's "broken the law heaps of times". Our political reporter, Chris Bramwell, was there. PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Patrick O'Meara
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Surgeons in Melbourne say Trishna, one of the Bangladeshi conjoined twins separated this week, woke this morning and enjoyed a cuddle from her Australian legal guardian Moira Kelly. The three-year-old girls were separated on Tuesday at Melbourne's Royal Childrens' Hospital. Medics say both have pulled through the marathon 32 hour operation amazingly well. But Surgeon Virginia Maixner says there is still a considerable journey ahead CLIP
Herald Sun medical reporter - Grant McArthur is at Melbourne's Royal Childrens' Hospital and joins us now LIVE
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17.30 HEADLINES
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A District Court judge has told a teenager who attacked an elderly returned serviceman that it was a gratuitously violent and cowardly crime. 19 year old Maurangi Pere was sentenced to nearly nine years jail for bashing 85 year old Eric Brady and trying to steal his car outside the Papatoetoe RSA in February this year. Pere was out on bail for a burglary charge at the time of the attack. The teenager's lawyer was Amit Malik who joins us now. LIVE
Two Chinese men and one woman have been charged with forgery following a police investigation in Auckland into forged university degrees, diplomas and academic records. Detective Inspector Stewart Allsop Smith says more than a 100 sets of false documents have been produced. PREREC
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17.45 TRAILS
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WAATEA
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Police in New Zealand and Australia are joining forces to crackdown on alcohol-fuelled crime. They have anounced a 48 hour blitz, codenamed Operation Unite, on the December 11th and 12th. In New Zealand the total cost of crime due to alcohol and drug misuse is estimated at 1point 1 billion dollars each year. New Zealand Police Assistant Commissioner Viv Rickard joins us now LIVE
US President Barack Obama has sent a strong message to the Israeli government, warning that it's resettlement policy is jeopardising prospects for peace with the Palestinians. He has condemned as dangerous Israel's decision to build another nine hundred Jewish homes in East Jerusalem. The ABC's Anne Barker reports. PKG
The principal Family Court Judge is calling for a "radical re-think" in the way domestic violence cases and handled and would like to see a whole new agency established. Judge Peter Boshier wants an agency to follow up on violent offenders who drop out of their programmes and refer victims and offenders to counselling. He says, historically, this has been the role of the Family Court, but it's not the court's core business. CLIP Judge Boshier. Brian Gardner is the director of the National Network of Stopping Violence Services - an umbrella group for agencies dealing violence. He's questioning the call for a new agency and joins us now. LIVE