HEADLINES & NEWS
The New Zealand dollar remains at its new low level this evening, amid suggestions for a currency union with Australia and criticism of the government's handling of the situation. The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has reopened the currency union debate by making her strongest statements yet in favour of investigating a joint currency. However, the timing of her comments is being criticised by National, which says Miss Clark is sending out the wrong signal to the markets. Here's our political reporter Clare Pasley. PKGE
Meanwhile, calls from the Importers Institute for Micheal Cullen to resign have been dismissed as ridiculous by the Chief Executive of the Northern employers [illegible] Manufacturers Assocation, Alasdair Thompson. He joins us now. LIVE
The Captain of a crashed Ansett aeroplane has been committed for trial on four charges of manslaughter and three of injuring passengers through an unlawful act. Gary Sotheran was the pilot of an Ansett Dash-8 aeroplane which crashed more than five years ago in the foothills of the Tararua Ranges, killing four of the 21 people on board. Today, a Judge in the Palmerston North District Court decided the Crown had presented sufficient evidence for Sotheran to go to trial. Our reporter Jill Galloway was there, I asked what the judge had said. PREREC
BUSINESS NEWS with GILES BECKFORD
The United Nations is preparing to evacuate 90 more staff from the West Timor capital of Kupang, alarmed by reports that militia gangs are mobilising and heading to the city. On Wednesday, New Zealand troops and helicopters had to evacuate more than 40 UN workers from the West Timor town of Atambua after thousands of militia stormed the UN office there, killing three workers. [illegible], Indonesia has sent a battalion of about 500 troops to West Timor following the slaying. Sulamin Abdulminin is the director of the Information Ministry for the Indonesian government - I asked him whether anyone would be held to account for the deaths. PREREC
Meanwhile, New Zealand prison staff have been rebuilding the prison system in East Timor. Twelve officers have just returned from working with the United Nations there - another contingent leaves in a few weeks time to spend six months running the country's two prisons. The Minister of Corrections Matt Robson says their work has been an unqualified success - Heugh Chappell reports. PKGE
SPORT with DON WISEMAN
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
Hopes of putting a stop to this country's brain drain suffered a set-back today when Singapore's Prime Minister spelt out how he thought his country would benefit from a new free trade deal with New Zealand.
Goh ChokTong wants skilled New Zealanders to flock to Singapore once the deal is signed. His comments came after a meeting with the New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark, at the United Nations Milennium Summit in New York. Our reporter Claire Sziranyi was there - I asked her the meeting came about. PREREC
The Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff has shrugged off an attack from Fiji's Information Minister over his trip to Fiji, saying he has every right to criticise the regime there. An unsigned letter released from the Information Ministry and widely believed to have been written by the Minister Inoke Kumbumbola, accuses Mr Goff of meddling in Fijian internal affairs. Phil Goff says under Commonwealth conventions he's perfectly entitled to criticise a Commonwealth member which breaches democratic principles and basic human rights. In the meantime he's meet with more moderate members of the interim government and arranged for New Zealand to provide legal advice and even judges if the rebel leader George Speight is tried for treason.
B/ANNOUNCE: Meanwhile, the Fiji courts will decide if the treason charges against George Speight will stand latger this month. PREREC
A [illegible] Island lawyer has told health providers they must ensure Pacific [illegible] clients understand what they are being told - or more people may die. The Pacifica Medical Association's annual 2 day conference started today in Auckland. Barbara Dreaver was there.- she joins us now. LIVE
An outbreak of viral meningitis has claimed its first life. Ministry of Health public health advisor Douglas Lush says a newborn baby has died but won't say where. Viral meningitis is a differrent strain from the meningococcal type which has caused an epidemic in recent years. So far this year 47 cases of viral meningitis or echovirus 33 have been reported in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and the Hutt Valley. Dr Lush joins us now. LIVE
The United States is continuing efforts to broker a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians. Meetings have taken place on the fringes of the Millennium Summit in New York. Our correspondent there, Malcolm Brown, reports that the two sides remain at an impasse. PKGE
The Hillary Commission is hoping the Sydney Olympic Games will inspire people to do more than just marathon sessions of TV watching. The Games start at the [illegible] of next week, and the Hillary Commission is running TV ads inviting people to get out and do some sort of physical activity. Our reporter Patrick O'Meara got up out of his chair to find out if New Zealanders are heeding the message or just resting on their laurels. PKGE
CLOSE & THEME