HEADLINES & NEWS
HOSTAGES RELEASED IN FIJI, BUT ANARCHY CONTINUES
Fiji continues to be wracked by civil unrest with the second island of Vanua Levu now described as being in a state of anarchy. The latest crisis comes as the two New Zealand pilots held hostage on the island were freed and Fiji's new government and prime minister were sworn in. New Zealand's deputy High Commissioner in Fiji, Nick Kettle says the release of the hostages, James Henry and Maurice Parsons, was only because the local paramount chief took a stand against the kidnappers. Nick Kettle says the entire island is becoming increasingly dangerous. PREREC
In [illegible] south two groups - one bent on reinstating George Speight, the other wanting law and order - are now at a standoff. In other developments, the New Zealand government is warning all New Zealanders in Fiji to be ready to get out, saying that evacuation plans have been drawn up. While Suva is quiet today, power cuts continue to plague the area. James Henry, of Kerikeri, and Maurice Parsons, of Waiuku, work for Air Fiji - they were kidnapped at gunpoint by coup supporters and held at a village on the island of Vanua Levu. They were freed this morning after negotiations involving senior staff from Air Fiji, civil servants, and high chiefs in the area. Maurice Parsons says he's relieved it's all over - he told me that he was sitting in his plane on the runway at SavuSavu when a gunman suddenly appeared at his side. PREREC
I asked Linda Parsons, Maurice's wife who is living in New Zealand what the last 24 hours have been like for her. PREREC
An interim government has been installed in Suva with the new prime minister calling for support from all Fijians, including the administration ousted in a coup ten weeks ago. The interim cabinet is unchanged from one proposed ten days ago except for the removal of four proposed assistant ministers who had been supporters of the now arrested coup leader George Speight. The appointed government's role is to lead Fiji until elections in two to three years time. The interim Prime Minister Lisenia Qarase promised there will be no discrimination. PREREC
The Prime Minister Helen Clark says she is pleased the worst of George Speight's supporters have been dropped from Fiji's new government. But Ms Clark says three years is far too long to wait for new elections and the new Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase must move a lot faster on restoring democracy. DROPIN
Meanwhile, Fiji constitutional expert Professor Brij Lal says the international community must realise that although George Speight has lost in some ways, in others he's achieved what he set out to do. And he says the make-up of the interim goverment shows that. PREREC
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALLBRIDGE
GE LABELLING AGREED
There's been agreement between the Health Ministers of Australia and New Zealand, meeting in Wellington, over the labelling of food containing genetically engineered ingredients. The decision means that all foods with GE ingredients will be labelled with the exception of food additives, processing aids such as rennet in cheese making, flavours, and food sold at restaurants and takeaways. The New Zealand Health Minister Annette King says she believes the decision will satisfy consumers - we'll be talking to her shortly. But the Green Party is unhappy with the announcement. Health spokesperson, Sue Kedgley, says it's a major backdown on the Labour Party's election promise to label all foods with GE ingredients. DROP IN
Brenda Cutress is the director of the food manufacturers association - she says the system is better than what was being discussed last year. DROPIN Annette King joins us now. LIVE
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
ECA BLAMED FOR SWEATSHOPS
[illegible] of alleged sweatshops are under investigation and the Minister of [illegible] Margaret Wilson is blaming the Employment Contracts Act for creating the climate of fear which she says allowed them to emerge. Ms Wilson's remarks come as a select committee prepares to report back on the coalition government's proposed new industrial relations legislation which will replace the nine year old act.
Here's our political reporter, Mark Torley. PKG
CONEY SAYS NATIONAL CONTRIBUTED TO SCREENING PROBLEMS
At the cervical cancer inquiry in Gisborne, long-time women's health activist Sandra Coney has taken a swipe at the government health reforms in the early 1990s. Ms Coney says in the early days of the programme, the Labour government supported the programme with the formation of an advisory committee. However, soon after National came to power in 1990, the committe was disbanded and it was another four to five years before women once again had a say. Heugh Chappell has been covering the inquiry today and joins us now. LIVE
CORONERS LOBBY FOR MORE PAY AND RESOURCES
Coroners are supporting a just released report on their work, saying the government should give them more pay and resources in order to promote public health. The Law Commission report says the current system of part-time coroners is haphazard. It suggests the Government establish a chief coroners office, set up a national information database for coroners and review their payment and resources.
Chief Coroner Richard McElrea says coroners have been poorly resourced for too long - he joins us now. LIVE
EXHIBITION HONOURS RUTHERFORD
He's the face on the hundred dollar bill - Ernest, Lord Rutherford of Nelson, the Kiwi genius hailed as arguably the greatest experimental scientist of all time.
An exhibition celebrating him has opened in Christchurch, in the same buildings where he carried out his early experiments. Our reporter Jocelyn Darling went along for an insight into the Nelson boy who split the atom, won the Nobel prize and was showered with the titles of Baron, Sir and Lord. PKG
CLOSE & THEME