The fallout from the Paparua Prison seige continues today, with prison management, union and staff meeting to discuss safety concerns in the wake of the weekend hostage taking by inmates. The 26-hour siege ended on Sunday when the last of the six guards taken hostage was freed after agreement was reached on an investigation into the prisoners' grievances. Our Christchurch regional reporter Lauren McKenzie has been outside the prison today following developments - LIVE IV
LIVE IV WITH Gordon Ngatai national chair of the PSA prison officers group
Meanwhile, there's been a heated debate in parliament this afternoon on the security of the country's prisons. Labour's Phil Goff has accused the Minister [illegible] Corrections of being weak-kneed in the wake of the hostage seige at Paparua. But the Minister, Paul East, backed up by the Minister of Police, Jack Elder, has fought back. LIVE IV WITH our reporter Clare Sziranyi
1715 .30 HEADS
1.30 BUSINESS NEWS
The Employment Contracts Act is back in the headlines. Government officials are arguing that the Employment Court is biased in favour of workers and against the act's intentions. That's feeding a review of parts of the controversial industrial relations law - and sparking a predictably hot reaction. LIVE IV WITH political editor Al Morrison.
The news has sparked a mixed reaction from unions, religious groups and employers. PACKAGE FROM Tama Muru
Community representatives will once again sit on hospital boards under a new initiative announced this afternoon by the Health Ministers. Bill English and Tuariki Delamere have unveiled plans for two community representatives to be appointed to each of the boards running hospitals. Members of the community sat on area health boards until 1993 when the health reforms turned CHEs into profit driven organisations. LIVE IV WITH Bill English
A leaked Defence Ministry report revealed in Wellington's Dominion newspaper is warning that New Zealand's defence role must be cut back unless extra funding is made available. The leaked document warns that it will cost an extra 213 million dollars a year simply to keep the armed forces at their current level, with at least three frigates and strike planes for the Air Force. IV WITH Terence O'Brien, the head of the Center for Strategic Studies at Victoria University
1730 2.00 NEWS:
The murder trial of Dean Wickliffe has resumed after being suddenly abandoned yesterday. Dean Wickliffe, who is 49, is charged with the murder of Mt Manganui man Richard Bluett in July last year. The trial was halted without reason after the jury returned after lunch with one member missing. LIVE IV WITH Our reporter Andrew McRae
The risks of juries being intimidated by gangs is being raised by the Police Association. The association is livid over lists of potential jurors being left with one of the gang members convicted of the New Plymouth door step murder case. PACKAGE FROM Eric Frykberg
The conduct and behaviour of politicians is to be investigated by a parliamentary committee. The Government Administration Committee also wants to look into establishing a register of all MPs' interests along similar lines to those in Australia, Britain and Canada. LIVE IV WITH committee chairman Clem Simich
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1.30 SPORTS
A savage drought continues to grip Papua New Guinea, forcing it to ask Australia to airlift emergency supplies. Half a million people need urgent food and water supplies - IV WITH the head of PNG's National Disaster and Emergency Service, Leith Anderson
1750 .30 WORLD HEADS
6.00 MANA NEWS
Plans are afoot to solve the conflict between business development on Wellington's waterfront and public access. The city council is prepared to [illegible] 40 million dollars on the initiative - PACKAGE FROM Mark Henderson