Checkpoint FOR WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL 2010
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The public will be able to invest in a Fonterra-linked fund under the dairy giant's final restructuring proposal announced today. The co-operative's plan allows farmers to buy and sell shares among themselves rather than having to go through the company. At present Fonterra has to buy back shares if farmers want to leave or cut back milk production. Under the proposals farmers would have up to three years to buy or sell shares and could buy up to double what they can now.There's also a plan for a new investment fund to help those who can't afford to buy more shares. Fonterra's chairman is Henry van der Hayden. PREREC
The bodies of two men who were shot dead in Hokitika may be removed from the crime scene tonight as forensic work continues. One of the men is 86-year old Frank Schist, but the other has yet to be named. A man has been charged with murder and will face a second murder charge next week. Inspector John Canning says the situation is terrible for the family, especially Joyce Schist, who was in hospital when her husband was shot in their home. CLIP
Our reporter Monique Devereux has been in Hokitika and says it seems Joyce Schist had a lucky escape. PREREC
Doctors say the health of thousands of poor children living in Porirua City north of Wellington is under threat because of a lack of free after-hours care. Paediatricians are demanding action from health authorities to make after-hours care in the region free, particularly for children under age six. Our Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, is with us now. LIVE
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BUSINESS WITH
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In Rio de Janeiro more than a hundred people have been killed and many more are homeless after the heaviest rains in decades triggered deadly mudslides and turned roads into rivers. Brazil's second largest city ground to a halt as 29 centimetres of rain fell in less than than a day. Our correspondent in Rio, Tom Phillips says the victims, including many young children, are mostly from hillside shanty towns: PREREC
The police and the Capital and Coast District Health Board are investigating allegations that hundreds of thousands in taxpayer money has been misused by a Māori trust in Kapiti. And runanga members, who alerted the authorities to the financial irregularities, are asking why the DHB didn't pick up the problems earlier. Ruth Hill reports. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The Justice minister says some lawyers won't make the grade under a tougher system to decide who can provide legal aid services. The Government is getting rid of the legal services agency and extending the public defence service following a scathing report on the current system, released last year. Simon Power says the changes could also mean there are fewer lawyers available, with each having to go before a panel and meet stricter criteria. PREREC
Journalists in Fiji could be jailed for up to five years and media organisations fined more than 350 thousand for publishing anything the country's military government decides is not in the public interst. A draft decree has been released today by the regime which says it wants to ensure fair, accurate and responsible reporting. Consultation meetings started in Suva today but those affected have only been given two and half hours to read the the 50-page document. Associate Professor Ursula Cheer specialises in media law at Canterbury University - she's had a look at the decree and she joins us now. LIVE
The United States has warned North Korea and Iran that no options are being taken off the table in dealing with the threat of a build-up in nuclear capabilities.The US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has announced the country's "Nuclear Posture Review", a document which shapes policy on America's nuclear strategy.Overall the US aims to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in favour of conventional weapons. The review comes as President Obama travels to Prague to sign a new nuclear reduction treaty with Russia and prepares for the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington next week. From Washington Daniel Ryntjes reports. PKG
For the first time proper nouns can be used in the game of Scrabble.The official rules have been updated so that place names, people's names and brands will all count towards scores. What do players think? VOXPOP
Paul Lister is the Vice President of New Zealand's Scrabble Players' Association and he threw his hands in the air at the news. LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS
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An investigation has found the pressure of the National Gliding Championships may have been a factor in the death of a pilot two years ago. Trevor Atkins was taking part in the competition at the Waharoa airfield, near Matamata, when he crashed in February 2008. A report released today by the Civil Aviation Authority found Mr Atkins was killed when he lost control of the glider. Alan Moselen was in charge of the investigation and joins us now. LIVE
Legal bills for two National Party MPs have cost taxpayers 336-thousand dollars in the past few years. The Agriculture Minister, David Carter, had a defamation case taken against him which has since been resolved.But costs are still rising in a case against the Environment Minister, Nick Smith.Here's our political reporter Liz Banas. PKG
Police in Britain have arrested two women after they tried to take a dead relative on a flight to Germany. The women insisted the ninety one year old relative was merely sleeping in his wheelchair. It's thought he died while visiting family members in the north of England. Maddy Savage has more details: PKG