1700 NEWS AND WEATHER
A Government-appointed task force on the Millenium Bug is warning that many essential services - like hospitals, electricity and water supplies - remain vulnerable to computer glitches at the turn of the century. The Y2K Readiness Report released this afternoon says some electricity companies, water and sewage disposal firms and many public hospitals are underprepared for the millenium bug. By contrast, the banking, financial sector and oil companies are ready. Communciations Minister, Maurice Williamson - IV
Onhn Good is a consultant who is advising a number of major New Zealand organisations on the management of the Year 2000 bug. I asked him what he thought of the government's plan to deal with the problem. - IV
New Zealand's women shooting pair Tania Corrigan and Jocelyn Lees have just won their second silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. They were pipped to the gold by only one point by Australia. Joining me now is our reporter at the Games, Barry Guy. IV
1715 BUSINESS HEADLINE
There's growing concern at the quality of x ray services being offered at the country's hospitals. Ministry of Health guidelines state that ninety percent of patients with an urgent referral by their GP must have free access to x-rays within 8 hours. But as Caitlin Cherry reports, a survey by the Coalition for Public Health shows at many hospitals, patients are waiting days or weeks for an x-ray, and some are forced to pay. PKGE
How do hospitals cope with a demand for X ray services they cant meet? Joining me now is the chief executive of Capital Coast Health, Leo Mercer. LIVE IV
The quality of New Zealand's border control is under scrutiny after a survey of shipping containers revealed that 40 percent were contaminated with material which required quarantine. The survey concentrated on the underside of containers, which aren't usually inspected - material discovered included soil, plant and animal material, including gypsy-moth eggs and redback spiders. MAF's chief forestry officer Gordon Hosking LIVE IV
1730 HEADLINES
Critics of ACC restructuring are worried about employers getting a greater say in managing compensation funds. Cover for workplace accidents is being opened up to competition from July next year. The Government also intends making employers liable for five billion dollars worth of outstanding ACC cases. As well, it wants employers involved in managing compensation funds - a move the Council of Trade Unions opposes. Meanwhile, an accident compensation expert, lawyer Don Rennie, is questioning the need for competition, saying the proposal appears driven by ideology. LIVE IV
Bad weather continues to hamper the search for a tourist plane, missing in the Mount Cook area. The plane, with three people on board, went missing around midday yesterday and although a locator beacon has been picked up, strong winds and low cloud have prevented searchers getting to the wreck site. As well as the pilot, the plane was carrying two Japanese women. The search has now been abandoned for the day. Senior Constable Bill Apes - LIVE IV
To the Pacific now - and the drought in Fiji is getting worse, leaving a quarter of a million people dependent on government rations. Parts of Fiji have now been without rain for 12 months - New Zealand is waiting for a direct request for assistance from Fiji before it gives any aid to the thousands of drought-stricken families. Sharon Brettkelly PKGE
The government says it's proceeding with plans to break up ECNZ - although a final decision won't be made until December. This afternoon the government released an interim report from the Electricity Reform Transition Unit, which has been working on the proposed split-up of the country's biggest electricity generator. It's proposed that ECNZ would be turned into three new power [illegible] two in the North Island, one in the South. Economics correspondent, Bronwen Evans - LIVE IV WITH DROPINS
SPORTS
1750 MANA NEWS
One of New Zealand's most well known couples are today celebrating their seventiethh wedding anniversary. Myrtle and Fred Flutey run Bluff's Paua Shell house, made famous in numerous documenataries and TV ads. They wed in 1928 - they had their main family celebrations on the weekend - Myrtle Flutey IV
1800 NEWS