HEADLINES & NEWS
In a landmark decision, Fiji's High Court has ruled that the military's appointment of an interim government was unlawful and unconstitutional. In his ruling, Justice Tony Gates has also upheld the validity of the 1997 constitution and the elected government deposed in George Speight's May coup. The ruling was handed down amid extremely tight security at the Lautoka court house. George Williams is a barrister and constitutional lawyer who took the case on behalf of an Indo-Fijian refugee who has lost everything as a result of the coup. Dr Williams joins us now. LIVE
Our correspondent in Fiji, Shalen Shandel, joins us now... LIVE
In the United States, the presidential election result still hasnt been confirmed but the advantage appears to be tipping towards the Republican George W Bush. One of the Florida districts at the heart of the recount drama has decided not to order a fresh tally of the votes. The decision came after the state's top election official made the first declaration of votes from last week's presidential election, which gave Mr Bush a lead of three hundred. Our Washington correspondent Robin Brant reports. PKGE
The New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo has issued a warning to New Zealand women not to seek work as hostesses in men-only clubs and bars in Japan. This follows a recent incident involving several New Zealand hostesses, who were reportedly kidnapped from a club and assaulted before escaping. The warning also relates to the disappearance of British woman Lucie Blackman from the Tokyo men's club where she worked as a hostess. A man has been arrested in connection with her disappearance - he's also been charged with drugging and raping two Canadian women. I asked the New Zealand embassy spokesperson, Brad Tattersfield, what he could tell me about the incident involving the New Zealanders. PREREC
BUSINESS NEWS with PATRICK O'MEARA
Government MPs have sought to embarrass the National Party in Parliament this afternoon over a private memo they have obtained written by National's Finance spokesman Bill English.
The memo says the economy is set to turn in the government's favour over the next few months, that confidence surveys will start to recover, and that National MPs will need to change how they talk about the economy. Our political reporter Kathryn Ryan says the memo was found on a chair in one of Parliament's cafetarias. PKGE
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SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
Christchurch's Paparua Prison is running over budget, with the major prison officers' union claiming that the jail is already a million dollars in the red only five months into the funancial year.
The general manager of the Public Prisons Service, Phil McCarthy, wont cojnfirm that figure but admits that the cost of running the prison is higher than it should be and will have to be reduced. John MacDonald reports. PKGE
The head of a controversial indigenous whaling lobby group has hit back at the New Zealand government over accusations it is a front for commercial whaling interests. The World Council of Whalers began its annual conference in Nelson this afternoon, hosted by the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission and several South Island iwi. The Council is a lobby group for indigenous whaling communities - more than 100 international delegates are attending the conference, which is promoting indigenous peoples' rights to whale and trade whale products.
The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has forbidden any government involvement in the conference, saying earlier this year, that the Council has a far more sinister agenda. CLARK CUT
Chief Tom Mexis Happynook - a Canadian Inuit leader - is the chair of the World Council of Whalers. I asked him to respond to Miss Clark's allegations. PREREC
Criminal lawyers are calling for a law change so that first time offenders [illegible] police diversion automatically get name supression. The call follows a high court judgement denying supression to an Auckland woman seeking diversion. In his judgement Justice Robertson said that the Court of Appeal has clearly found that what happens in the courts happens in public.
And he says the Criminal Justice Act does not provide name supression as of right for those dealt with through diversion. Julian Robins reports. PKGE
New Zealand has been called in to co-ordinate the rescue of two badly burnt seamen from the middle of the Tasman Sea. The men were on board the Singapore-registered Kota Wirawan heading for Auckland when the engine blew up, badly injuring them and killing a third crew member. The injured men are now being taken to Norfolk Island for urgent treatment - Corin Dann reports. PKGE
Dramatic Defence evidence from a former prison inmate has been given at the High Court trial of the man accused of murdering Wellington contractor Terri King in the Tararua ranges last year. William Haanstra, a 23 year old model, has denied shooting Mr King in the head after luring him into the mountains [illegible] talk of a buried drug stash. Our Court reporter Merle Nowland has been listening to the evidence, and joins me now. LIVE
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