Checkpoint FOR TUES 16 MARCH 2010
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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A state of natural disaster has been declared in Fiji as emergency services struggle to contact the outer islands cut off by Cyclone Tomas. The Disaster Management Office in Suva so far has confirmed 50 homes as well as hospitals and other public buildings have been destroyed but the final number is expected to be at least three times that. 17 thousand people have been evacuated, communication lines have been cut to many of the eastern Islands including the Lau group, which is bearing the brunt of the storm at the moment. Anthony Blake is the operations manager at the Disaster Management Office. PRE-REC New Zealand, Australia, Japan, France and UN have all offered help.
The man at the centre of one of the country's most notorious, and still unsolved, child murder cases has been allowed to move in with his young child.The Family Court has allowed Chris Kahui to live with his 14 month old daugher.Two years ago, a jury found him NOT guilty of murdering his 3 month old twin sons Chris and Cru. During the trial his lawyers accused the mother of the twins Macsyna King of being responsible for their deaths - but no-one has ever been convicted of their killing. Our reporter Eileen Cameron has the latest. PREREC
Child Youth and Family would not be interviewed about the decision.Lorraine Smith is Chris Kahui's lawyer. PREREC
Telecom says it stands to lose 56-million dollars a year as a result of the Government's plan to roll out high-speed internet to rural New Zealand.The Cabinet has now signed off on the Rural Broadband Initiative, which will be funded to the tune of a quarter of a billion dollars, over six years, by a levy on telecommunications companies.Here's our political reporter, Julian Robins. PKG
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS
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An aerial search is underway off the North Island's east coast for a missing yacht with one man on board.The 11 metre vessel left Tauranga for Gisborne on Friday morning but hasn't been heard from since Friday afternoon. Keith Allen is the mission coordinator at Rescue Coordination Centre - he joins us now. LIVE
New Zealand skier Adam Hall has won gold in the standup slalom at the Winter Paralympic Games despite falling on his second run.The 22-year-old from Otago has spina bifida and races with his skis strapped together. Hall had a two-second lead after his first run, but then took a tumble on the second. Despite the fall, he managed to finish almost a second ahead of his nearest competitor. PREREC
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17.30 HEADLINES
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Auckland's hopes of hosting the Commonwealth Games in eight years have been dashed. Today the Government ruled out putting in any taxpayers' money saying the half billion dollar cost is too high. The Auckland region had been hoping for a last minute change of heart - arguing it could cut the cost for an event which would have brought major economic benefit. Todd Niall reports PKG
The mayor of Waitakere City Bob Harvey had hoped to persuade the Government to hold off a decision so they could discuss a lower cost way of staging the games. He joins us now: LIVE
The Prime Minister is guaranteeing SuperGold Card users there will be no change to their travel entitlements including free rides on the Waiheke ferry. The benefits of the discount card for senior citizens include some free travel on off-peak public transport. The Labour Party says the government's handling of a review of the scheme is a shambles. Here's our political reporter Clare Pasley. PKG
The Green Party is urging the Government to ramp up its efforts to bring home the anti-whaling activist, Pete Bethune, who is currently being held in Japan. But the Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the Government can't interfere in another country's judical process. Here's our political reporter, Catherine Hutton. PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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The controversial director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum has resigned. In a statement released this afternoon The Auckland Museum Trust Board says Vanda Vitali has resigned by mutual agreement. No-one from the museum was available to talk to Checkpoint but our reporter Belinda McCammon has been covering this story and joins us now. LIVE
Telecom says it'll lose 56 million dollars a year off its gross earnings for the next three years under the government's plans for rural broadband. Communications MInister Stephen Joyce has decided to stick with his original plan to spend 300-million dollars rolling out broadband to rural areas. Most of that will be funded through a levy on the telecommunications industry replacing the telecommunications Service Obligations levy, or TSO. Under the TSO, Telecom received roughly 60 million to 70 million dollars for providing basic phone and dial up services to uneconomic customers in isolated communities. But from next year the company will no longer get that subsidy. Spokesperson Mark Watts won't criticise the decision but says it was not unexpected. CUT
The Minister Stephen Joyce explains why the subsidy is no longer warranted. PREREC
Supporters of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been queuing in their thousands to give blood in Bangkok - which they're planning to pour on the steps of parliament. Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday rejected their calls for him to resign and hold fresh elections. Joining us on the line from Bangkok is ABC reporter Conor Duffy: LIVE
An adventure tourism organisation hopes to launch New Zealand's first power-fan jump experience, down a 13-metre mine shaft in Greymouth this year. Wild West Adventure Tours says the experience is similar to a bungy jump, but instead of bouncing back up, a brake brings the fall to a gradual halt. Craig McCulloch explains. PKG
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