The hospitals that run two of the most secure units for the mentally ill say a new review of mental health services for prisoners and other potentially dangerous psychiatric patients does little to address their concerns. The Ministry of Health report, released today, aimed to find out how well forensic mental health services were being delivered, and what kind of funding may be needed in the future, as the prison population grows. They say forensic services offered by prisons, courts and in the community will be improved and the ministry will fund an extra 31 inpatient and community based beds over the next 2 years. Last year Auckland's Mason Clinic complained that overcrowding was creating a potentially dangerous situation. Dwayne Crombie, the chief executive of the Waitemata District Health Board, which runs the Mason Clinic joins us now. LIVE
Several thousand New Zealand music fans have been traced and put on file because of their use of the internet service Napster to download music. The much criticised Napster provides a means of exchanging downloaded music free, from anywhere in the world. Napster has faced concerted court action in the United States. And in this country, Sony Music has been carrying on its own campaign, using a London organisation to trace internet addreses and keep them on file. Eric Frykberg reports. PKGE
BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
In Fiji - the post-coup interim government declared illegal by an Appeal Court ruling has effectively managed to stay in power although now under the new name of a care-taker regime. The leader of the illegal government, Lasenia Qarasie resigned earlier this week and was promptly reinstated by the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo in an apparent attempt to observe rules under the 1997 constitution which the Appeal Court says is still in place. Now Prime Minister Qarasie has appointed his cabinet - to discuss the latest developments I'm joined by our Fiji correspondent Shalen Shandeal. LIVE
Joining us now is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phil Goff. LIVE
A stand off at the army barracks in Papua New Guinea continues as soldiers protest over a plan which would see the defence force halved. Papua New Guinea wants to undertake a major overhaul of its defence force after a Commonwealth inspection team described it as in chaos and unable to feed itself. As a result of the review some 2,000 soldiers are expected to be discharged. Our correspondent in Papua New Guinea Richard Dinnen joins us now. LIVE
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East Coast Māori have given the Government a warm welcome today at a meeting in Gisborne, in contrast to last month's visit to Ratana Pa near Wanganui when the Prime Minister was put on notice to deliver to Māori. Helen Clark is in Gisborne along with seven other cabinet ministers looking at ways to develop Māori businesses in the region. Our Māori correspondent Jodi Ihaka is at the high powered meeting - I asked her to explain just exactly what it's been about and who was there. LIVE WITH DROP INS
Competition in the the retail electricity market has intensified, with On Energy formerly Transalta announcing price changes for 80-percent of its customers. The company is the country's largest retailer, with a presence in Waitemata, Thames, greater Wellington and Christchurch - but has been hemorrhaging customers over poor service and pricing. Good news for some of the smaller users who will pay less, but 10-percent of On Energy's larger customers will have their rates increased. Spokesman Bruce Thomson says a family of four can expect to save between about fifty to eighty dollars a year - I asked him if customers would notice the saving. PREREC
The Ministry of Health is requiring all public hospitals to develop new systems for checking the competence of senior doctors. The systems, which are known as credentialling, will cover about 4000 hospital specialists and consultants and will be compulsory from June next year. A committee at each hospital will be required to check a doctor's competence every five years using clinical audits, [illegible] review and patient satisfaction. I asked Gillian Bohm who is a senior quality audit advisor with the Ministry of Health why a doctor's preformance may have dropped. PREREC
Farmers at this week's Central Districts Field Days say they are not splashing out on luxuries, despite having disposable income this year. The farmer focussed field days, held at Manfield in Manawatu, are the country's second largest, behind the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek.
With dairy returns at record levels, and cattle and sheep returns bouyant, there is an upbeat feeling at the feild days site. Jill Galloway went along. PKGE
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