Ask to use material, get more information or tell us about an item
0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT - Attorney General Sir Douglas Graham expected to sign 10 year lease for 28 F-16s in Washington on Thursday at total costo f $363 million plus GST. Labour leader Helen Clark says govt irresponsible closing deal only months away from election. Labour concedes it would be difficulty to withdraw from deal. Comment also from Defence minister Max Bradford, ACT's Derek Quigley, chair of Defence select committee, and Dr Ron Smith, Waikato Univ. (Mark Torley) INDONESIA - ELECTION RESULT - President habibie gives election commission a week to resolve problems holding up publication of last month's election results. Several small parties which failed to win any seats alleging fraud, illegible commission has been unable to get required 2-thirds majority it needs to publish election results. (BBC) WORLD TRADE ORGN - SOUTH KOREA - WTO's Dispute Settlement Body sets up panel to investigate Australian claims that South Korean restrictions on imports of fresh, chilled and frozen beeg violate free trade rules. (AAP)
0620 RURAL NEWS EDUCATION POLICY - LABOUR - Fed Farmers welcomes policy for recognising needs of rural people and trying to find solutions to education issues they've raised. President Alistair Polson says Fed Farmers especially supports Labour's intention to investigate formula that determines funding for schools. Orgn comes out against compulsory and immediate installation of seatbelts in school buses. (Kevin Ikin) ANIMAL WELFARE - cold snap brings snow to low levels in Otago and Southland, and heavy rain and hail to other regions. MAF draws attention to animal welfare needs, is fielding calls for people concerned about impact cold weather and lack of feed having on stock. South Island enforcement officer David Barbour says many relate to animals on small holdings and are often result of owners' inexperience or ignorance. (Kevin Ikin) INTERNET WOOL SELLING system unveiled yesterday provokes debate in wool industry, with critics saying WoolNet a weak trading system with prices determined by weakest sellers. Southland farmer Liz O'Connell says it's convenient and provides better communication. Wool exporter Peter Christianson thinks trading wool on internet will be cumbersome. (Kevin Ikin) MEGA MERGER - fresh concerns emerging. One relates to governing structure for giant co-op and another to 2-tier electoral system. West Coast Fed Farmers president John Clayton says electoral system would disenfranchise farmers and place co-op under control of small group of non-farmers. (Kevin Ikin)
0625 SPORTS STORY RUGBY - live i/v with Gary Ahern. (squad of 26 All Blacks preparing to leave for Pretoria for second Tri-series match against Springboks next week)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY PETROL PRICE - companies considering further price increases, following Shell's announcement it will raise prices by 3 cents a litre from midnight tonight. Rise comes only 2 weeks after 3 cents a litre rise in price. Companies say rises caused by OPEC restricting amount of oil exported. Paul Richardson, energy analyst and head of research at Warburg Dillon Read in AK, says OPEC's move not surprising considering low world prices earlier this year. (Kathryn Ryan) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA Māori Māori ALL BLACKS set off for Fiji tour, amid criticism they're not getting the games they deserve. TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS MERCHANDISE TRADE FIGURES - big gap in picking figures for June quarter put down to economists under-estimating strength of import demand. Statistics NZ estimats there will be deficit of around $190 million, cf "surplus" of around $25 million predicted by market. Comment from HSBC treasury analyst Stefan Dunatov.(Helen Matterson) XTRA INTERNET - Telecom may float its internet service provider. Chief financial officer Jeff White says some assessments being made but float would make it easier to assess stand-alone value of business. (Helen Matterson) FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW PROPERTY MARKET - Kiwi Income Trust expects further consolidation in market following its takeover bid for fellow property investment concern Shortland Properties. Kiwi joint managing director Ross Green expects market shake-out ad illegible widens between larger firms with investor support and smaller firms. (Paul Diamond) AIR NEW ZEALAND - BRIERLEY INVESTMENTS chair Sir Selwyn Cushing says BIL has no intention of buying more shares at this stage. (Paul Diamond) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS FIGHTER AIRCRAFT - govt approves final deal for lease of 28 new F-16s from US for 10 years at cost of $363 million. Cost includes getting planes airworthy, buying spares and training technicians and flying instructors, is $38 million more than origninally thought. Labour leader Helen Clark comments; live i/v with Derel Quigley, chair of Parliament's defence select committee, who believes getting new fighter jets is not a high priority for defence spending; live i/v with Defence minister Max Bradford.
STEWART ISLAND FOREST - Conservation minister Nick Smith and Stewart Island Māori sign this morning historic heads of agreement giving special conservation status to expanse of virgin native forest on island. 3,600 ha of native forest surrounding Lord's River to be managed as if it were national park and Crown will pay almost $11 million in compensation to owners, Rakiura Māori Land illegible. Live i/v with Nick Smith and Trust chair Graham Lloyd.
SNOW/ICE blanket much of country, creating treacherous driving conditions and road closures. Central Otago motorists warned to take extreme care on Pig Route and SH87 from Outram to Middlemarch. Live i/v with Alistair Baird at the Railhead Store in Middlemarch; North Island Desert Road closed because of snow and ice. Live i/v with Doug Montgomery, Shell service station at Waiouru. Live i/v with Steve Rawdon, Weather Workshop
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS TRAFFIC REPORT FINANCE UPDATE PETROL PRICE - Bruce Hollett of Caltex NZ says it's likely other petrol companies will follow Shell's move and raise prices again too. Companies blaming increases on rising cost of crude oil in international market. Comment also from vox pops. AA's George Fairbairn, and energy analyst Paul Richardson. (Kathryn Ryan)
INDONESIA - ELECTION RESULT - problems delaying publication of last month's election results. Jakarta corresponent Rohnatin Bonasir says hundreds of people have taken to streets protestig about uncertainty - i/ved. (Mng Rpt)
U.S. - WOODSTOCK - 30th anniversary festival in New York state ends in riots with crowds tearing down speaker towers, burning cars, and looting souvenir stands. Live i/v with correspondent Robin Brandt.
CHINA - FALUN GONG SECT - group of about 20 demonstrators gather outside Chinese consulate in AK for 2nd day to protest against banning in China of quasi-religions sect Falun Gong. Wai-Yu Lee, Chinese consulate, explains position of Chinese govt. (Mng Rpt); live i/v with Nathan Fernandez, Falun Gng supporter in AK.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER FIGHTER AIRCRAFT - Carl Oatley, visiting fellow at Australian Defence Studies Centre, says F-16s are combat-proved and reliable aircraft - i/ved. (Mng Rpt); Terence O'Brien, commentator of international and security issues, not so sure the planes are suitable for NZ purposes - i/ved live.
STEWART ISLAND FOREST - Te Tai Tonga MP Tutekawa Wyllie says amount of money paid out by govt on deal to conserve tract of virgin forest on Stewart Island, creates problems for other Māori groups in negotiation with govt over South Island Landless Natives Act land. He's i/ved live; Stewart Island locals want reassurances moves to protect forest won't impinge on their lifestyle. Live i/v with Community Board chair Ted Rooney.
TRAFFIC REPORT SALE OF LIQUOR - Parliament sitting for extended hours under urgency this week the work through Sale of Liquor Amdt Bill but dispute arises over way some MPs exercising votes in what's traditionally area for conscience voting. Comment form Alcohol Healthwatch spokesman Roger Eccles, Alliance leader Jim Anderton, and Labour's Jonathan Hunt. (Kathryn Street); one of most significant changes expected to liquor laws is end to regulations barring supermarkets from selling beer and spirits. Bottle store owners fear many existing beer retailers could fail. Live i/v with Bruce Holm, who runs a "Super Liquor" outlet in AK, and who says moves to allow supermarkets to sell beer and spirits will spell end to his business.
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS MODIFIED FOODS - Green Party's Agriculture spokesman Ian Ewen-Street complains to Advertising Standards Complaints Authority about pamphlet put out by Grocery Industry Council on genetically modified foods. He says pamphlet purports to give factual information but parts of it are inaccurate and deliberately misleading. I/v with him and Brenda Cuttress, exec director of NZ Food Fedn which produced pamphlet along with Grocery Industry Council. (Mng Rpt)
NEW YEAR'S DAY 2000 - should retailers be open on that day? Westfield NZ, owners of NZ's largest chain of shopping malls, decides it will remain closed. says it's a "family friendly" move. Live i/v with director Grant Hirst. illegible/ICE - in CH, snow closes Summit Rd on Port Hills. Live i/v with reporter Lauren McKenzie.
INTERNATIONAL PAPERS UNHEALTHY HOUSES - Housing NZ tenants in AK's Glen Innes carry out survey which shows their homes are not safe or healthy environments. Mercy House Women's Advocacy Group primarily made up of Pacific Island women who live in state houses - worked with Massey Univ researcher, looked at 42 homes, focussing on effects on child health. (Eileen Cameron)
SOUTH AFRICA - NEW PRESIDENT'S PROGRESS - 8 weeks since Thabo Mbeki became president, has followed up on many of his predecessor Nelson Mandela's goals but is also moving in new directions. I/v with correspondent Anthony Johnson. (also talks about changes to Springbok team)