The Government announced today that it is opening up the prison system to private sector managment. Private companies, along with the Public Prison Service, will be invited to tender for the management and running of three new prisons in Auckland and Northland. Pkge ex Clare Pasley & The Corrections Minister, Nick Smith, IS I/V'd LIVE.
Five dangerous prisoners are still on the loose after escaping from Auckland and Christchurch prisons.. Four men escaped from Auckland's Paremoremo prison two nights ago - Graeme Burton and Darren Crowley are convicted murderers, Arthur Taylor and Mathew Thompson were behind bars for armed robberies... and Zane Frank Sutton who is 17, broke out of Rolleston prison last night...Police officers Wayne Stack and Mike Bush are I/V'd LIVE.
[illegible] BUSINESS HEADLINE
The government is considering cutting back its spending in response to the continued economic downturn. The Minister of Finance Bill Birch says the economy is weaker than had been expected and the Prime Minister Jenny Shipley says a review is underway to see where savings can be achieved. Pkge ex Economics correspondent Bronwen Evans.
South Island midwives join forces to compete for funding for maternity services. They've set up the country's first regional maternity service that's owned and operated solely by midwives. They say it's a response to the growth of doctor-led Independent Practitioners Associations. pkge ex Health Correspondent, Rae Lamb.
1730 HEADLINES
An Air New Zealand 747 lands safely at Auckland International Airport after experiencing engine problems on take off. Air New Zealand says the plane was taking for Fiji when flames were observed coming out of one engine. Air New [illegible] Public Affiars Director David Beatson is i/v'd LIVE.
Returning to the lead story - the Government's plan to put the management of three new prisons in Auckland and Northland out to tender for private companies. In Australian state of Victoria there already three private prisons. One of them, Port Phillip prison in Melbourne is run by Group 4 Securitas which is on warning from the government to fix serious problems at the jail... Peter Bertolis from the prison officers union is I/V'd LIVE as is Labour's justice spokesman, Phil Goff.
The latest crime figures are out and show a big increase in the number of homicides .. up by 42 to 151. Violent crime has also risen, with a a ten percent increase in robbery, grevious assaults, intimidation and threats. police reporter karlum lattimore is i/v'd LIVE.
1745 SPORTS
Three opposition MPs make a rare visit to the satellite monitoring station at Waihopai, near Blenheim. With them is peace activist Nicky Hager, whose book Secret Power reveals the workings of a worldwide spying system called Echelon. pkge ex Sharon Brettkelly.
1750 MANA NEWS
The Minister of Education, Wyatt Creech, had to face some tough questions on his recent visit to the four schools in the Chatham Islands. Mr Creech's flying visit to the Chathams was the first time a Minister of Education had made it to the most remote school in the country, Pitt Island. Pkge ex education correspondent, Gael Woods.
1800 NEWS BULLETIN