*** Checkpoint FOR FRI 18 DEC 2009
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The law is to be changed so that adults who do nothing to stop a child in their household from being seriously assaulted will be held legally liable. The Law Commission has put forward the recommendation in its latest report on the Crimes Act and the Justice Minister Simon Power says he'll be introducing legislation next year. He says the new law will ensure it's no longer an excuse to say you weren't directly involved in abusing a child. The Minister says it will also protect vulnerable adults at risk of abuse such as the elderly. The Deputy President of the Law Commission, Warren Young says it's not just parents or the direct caregivers who will be held to account. PREREC
Two teenage girls will spend at least the next 17 years behind bars for bashing and killing an elderly man in his Opotiki home last year.
A neighbour found 78 year old John Rowe dead in his bed - he'd been attacked with a wooden-broom handle and his own walking stick.
Courtney Churchward, who was 17 at the time and Lori-Lee Te Wini, who was 14 have been sentenced to life with a 17 year non-parole period. Detective Inspector Rob Jones led the investigation. PREREC
A desperate search for compromise by world leaders at the climate change summit in Denmark is keeping alive hopes a deal can yet be clinched on the last day of talks. But a leaked United Nations paper shows current pledges would put the world on track for at least three degrees of global warming, which has stoked fears a last-minute deal might be worse than no deal at all. Here's our environment reporter, Ian Telfer. PKG
Cities and towns from the Far North to the deep south to will host teams competing in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Rugby New Zealand announced the arrangements today. Sam Morrah has the details. PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Anusha Bradley
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It's Wanganui with an H and without an H. The Government's gone for compromise over what to call the city - and instead says both versions will now be used. It says people can choose whatever option they prefer, though Crown agencies must switch to the 'H' over time. David Reid is in the city with two spellings. PKG
Dozens of fires have been burning around New South Wales and so far have destroyed nine homes and blackened thousands of hectares of bush and grassland. The state's Rural Fire Service made its first use of the telephone warning system sending text messages to moblie phones in dangerous areas. The ABC's Bridget Glanville reports : PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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A New Zealand man is suspected of being involved in the biggest seizure of exotic animals in the United States' history. Jasen Shaw has been arrested in Texas after the discovery of more than 26 thousand abandoned animals in a warehouse in the city of Arlington. The tip-off for the raid on the pet wholesaler, US Global Exotics, came from a veterinary technician working undercover for an animal rights activist group. A hearing will be held tomorrow to determine whether Mr Shaw will face criminal charges . Maura Davies is a spokeswoman for the Texas SPCA, one of the three agencies which took part in the raid
PREREC
The police say four people who were forced to spend the night on top of their capsized boat seven kilometres out to sea, are very lucky to be alive. The couple, their ten year old son, and a family friend were rescued this morning after they got into trouble while out fishing from Taranaki's Waverley Beach yesterday. Leilani Momoisea reports: PKG
The Law Commission is recommending that the next Governor-General be required to pay income tax. The Governor-General's salary is presently exempt under the 2007 Income Tax Act. The suggestion comes as a pay rise is awarded to judges. Emma Lancaster reports. PKG
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17.45 TRAILS
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WAATEA
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In Copenhagen officials have been working through the night trying to hammer out a draft climate change accord they can present to world leaders today. The U.S President Barack Obama is due to arrive shortly. New Zealand journalist Marie McNicholas is covering the talks for New Zealand Farmers Weekly and the online news service, Newsroom.co.nz.. She says the summit negotiating process and even the venue are biziarre. PREREC
Fiji's military regime looks to be moving towards tougher censorship of the media with proposed new laws that are expected to make the current restrictions permanent. The interim-government has announced it's excluding two of the country's biggest media outlets, the Fiji Times newspaper and Fiji TV, from any consultation over the changes because of their biased anti-government coverage. A high profile academic Professor Brij Lal was expelled from the country last month for criticising the regime. He says the government's latest move is another mistake. PREREC
A week before the Christmas getaway rush - and three months ahead of schedule - Tauranga's second harbour bridge has been officially declared open. Our reporter Matthew Farrell was there. PKG