The Social Welfare Minister, Roger Sowry, says the extra funding he's just announced for children at risk should go a long way to addressing the concerns of the community. The Government has set aside another 27-million dollars in this year's budget to be spent over the next three years on services for young offenders, sex abusers, and children who need care and protection. PACKAGE FROM Clare Pasley. AND LIVE IV WITH Vicky Hirst, a former supervisor for CYPS who now works for Children's agenda, a lobby group for children's rights.
A nursing student who was suspended from Christchurch polytech seven years ago will be able to work as a nurse in New Zealand after studying overseas. Anna Penn was suspended from the polytech nursing course in 1991 after she clashed with kaumatua at a hui which was part of her course. Since then, she's [illegible] training and post-graduate work in Australia, and has registered as a nurse both there and in the UK. LIVE IV WITH The Chairperson for the Nursing Council, Judy Kilpatrick
1715 BUSINESS HEADLINE
The Foreign Minister, Don Mckinnon, arrived in the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby, this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's ceasefire ceremony on Bougainville. At midnight tomorrow the truce brokered at talks in Christchurch will be replaced by what has been called a permanent ceaesfire to end the island's nine-year secessionist war. In about two hours Mr Mckinnon will attend the formal signing of the protocols on the peace monitoring group at Parliament in Port Moresby. RECORDED INTERVIEW WITH AFP correspondent, Michael Field.
The National Poisons Centre which offers 24-hour advice on emergencies involving chemicals and hazardous plants, faces a crisis of its own. It costs [illegible]-quarters of a million dollars to run the centre - 80-percent of that comes from the Health Funding Authority and the other 20 from OSH.
But OSH is halving its contribution from the end of July. LIVE IV WITH Centre's Director, Dr Wayne Temple.
Chaos with police rosters is predicted if police are forced to reduce a massive backlog of leave owed to them, before the end of June. Labour's Police spokesperson, George Hawkins, has released figures showing officers are owed a total of 2-hundred-and-four-thousand days of leave, that's almost 30-days per officer. PRE REC IV WITH Assistant Police Commissioner John White, incharge of human resources.
1730 HEADLINES
Accusations of collusion between the Alliance and ACT have flown during today's by-election campaign in Taranaki. They have come from Labour Leader Helen Clark. LIVE IV WITH Sarah Boyd.
The number of people getting married is at its lowest level in 34 years, as the trend toward fewer, and later marriages continues. Statistics News Zealand says the number of marriages registered last year totalled 21-thousand-and-38, more than two-percent down on the previous year. The decline in marriages and growing trend in de facto relationships have prompted calls for the statistics to give a more accurate reflection of couples in relationships. PACKAGE FROM Sharon Brettkelly.
A warning from a primary teacher cleared of indecency charges that men shouldn't teach, is worrying the country's colleges of education already stuggling to recruit males. The proportion of men has never been high in primary teaching, but with an increasing number of children from one parent families, it's felt male teachers are important role models. LIVE IV WITH the Principal of the Dunedin College of Education, Lestor Taylor.
A bid in the environment court to throw out charges concerning the collapse of the Opuha Dam, has failed. Doug Hood Limited and its site superisor Chris Hollingum are accused of illegally discharging contaminants into the Opuha River when the dam breached on Waitangi Day last year. LIVE IV WITH Lauren McKenzie.
1745 SPORTS
EXTENDED SPORTS BULLETIN INCLUDING AN INTERVIEW WITH GLENN TURNER ABOUT CRICKET TEAM GOING TO SRI LANKA.
1750 MANA NEWS
A key figure in getting a Māori rugby league team accepted in the next World Cup, says Police claims about cannabis use in sport highlight the need for widespread promotion of sport to Māori. Kaitaia Police say they've heard of cannabis use in several sporting codes in the Far North, including being used as raffle and player of the day prizes. PACKAGE FROM Māori Issues Correspondent Chris Wikaira.
1800 NEWS BULLETIN