HEADLINES & NEWS
HOSPITALS STRUGGLE WITH STAFF SHORTAGE
Hospitals are now struggling with a shortfall of hundreds of staff, most of [illegible] nurses. The junior doctors pay negotiations have highlighted the shortage of trained doctors. However, a survey of some larger hospitals by Radio New Zealand has found fewer junior doctor vacancies than expected, but hundreds of nursing jobs waiting to be filled. Fourteen urban and provincial hospitals say they have 57 doctor vacancies but around 370 unfilled nursing positions. Our Health Correspondent Rae Lamb filed this report. pkg
FREE TRADE BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND SINGAPORE CLOSER
A free trade agreement between New Zealand and Singapore has come a step closer with the signing of an agreement by officials in Wellington this afternoon. Discussions on the agreement, which is similar to the Closer Economic Relations deal with Australia, began under the previous National government. But it's not yet clear whether Labour has the support of its junior coalition partner, the Alliance, for the deal, or the votes of its other main support party, the Greens. Joining me now to discuss the free trade deal is the Prime Minister, Helen Clark. live
ARMS SMUGGLING ALARMS PACIFIC COUNTRIES
Small South Pacific countries are becoming increasingly worried about arms smuggling in the wake of the attempted coups in Fiji and Solomon Islands. The South Pacific Forum last week met to examine the implications of events in Fiji and Solomon Islands in its first formal meeting of foreign ministers. Barbara Dreaver took a closer look at the control of arms in the Pacific pkg
BUSINESS NEWS with CLAIRE SILVESTER
BIG SNOW BLOW BEATS UP SOUTH
The big Antarctic storm sweeping up the South Island has trapped motorists, closed roads and on the West Coast, blown vehicles off roads and torn roofs from houses.
Snow has trapped travellers at Lake Tekapo, while in South Canterbury rain has flooded roads. The weather is expected to worsen overnight with the MetService issuing a storm warning for Cook Strait and a high wind warning for the south coast of the North Island. Joining us now from the snowbound Tekapo Auto Centre is Steve Joll. live
PUBLIC TRANSPORT GETS A PUMP FROM PETROL PRICES
The relentless rise in petrol prices is pushing people in several parts of the country to leave their cars at home and get into buses, ferries and trains. [illegible] latest rise has pushed petrol up to a dollar 17.9 for unleaded 91 and a dollar 22.9 for 96 octane in many areas. The cost is deterring some people from using their car and turning instead to public transport - Eric Frykberg reports that the result is cleaner air. pkg
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with RICHARD CROWLEY
LEAFLET TARGETS SEX OFFENDER
Police in Auckland say they're concerned about the possiblity of vigilante action by parents in Panmure, following the distribution of a leaflet about a convicted internet sex offender. The leaflet gives the 51 year old man's name, address, details of the vehicle he drives, and the offences he committed. Police say while it is not threatening, and there is nothing illegal about the leaflets themselves, they are concerned that some people might take the law into their own hands as has happened recently in Britain. The group Child Abuse Prevention Service says parents have the right to keep their children safe from sex offenders but its national coordinator, Heather Henare, has some reservations about the details on the leaflet. Joining me now is the President of the Auckland council for civil liberties, Barry Wilson. live
CEO SAYS GOVT WANTS HER LESS OUTSPOKEN
The Chief Executive of Womens Refuge claims she has been pressured by the Government not to be outspoken on the issue of violence within Māori families. Merepeka Raukawa-Tait has told the National Party annual conference in Christchurch she does not appreciate being hauled over to Parliament by a Māori Cabinet minister to be told to pull her head in. Our parliamentary chief reporter Kathryn Street is at the conference and joins me now. live
[illegible] EFFORTS CONTINUE
Russia and NATO have reached agreement on how best to rescue the crew from the wrecked Russian submarine following talks in Brussels. There were 118 crew on board the submarine Kursk when it sank on Tuesday - hope is now fading that any of them are still alive. All attention is now on the British rescue mini-sub, the LR5, which is due over the wreck by Sunday. Jane Patterson has more. PKG
AL GORE ACCEPTS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
AUDIO United States presidential candidate Al Gore making the biggest speech of his life to the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles a few hours ago. Accepting his party's nomination for America's top job, Vice President Gore spoke of his hopes for building a better fairer more prospersous America. A convention hall overflowing with thousands of delegates fervently and frequently applauded Gore's more than 45-minute speech as he laid down his position on issues from abortion to tax. I asked our correspondent covering the convention, Mary Tillotsen, whether Mr Gore's speech was good enough to boost him in the polls. prerec$$$$
MATAURA MILL CLOSES IT GATES FOR THE LAST TIME
The Mataura paper Mill in Eastern Southland closed today after 124 years of paper making. Carter Holt Harvey announced last month its been forced to close the mill because of a 30 percent increase in raw material costs and competition from overseas. The closure has cost 155 workers their jobs - our reporter Graham McKerracher was there as the mill shut down for the last time. pkg
CLOSE & THEME