HEADLINES & NEWS
The political confrontation over the targetting of MPs' families by rival politicians continues, despite the offer of a truce and an apology by the Labour cabinet minister Trevor Mallard for his comments about three National MPs' families. The row began when National raised questions over the Prime Minister's husband's work as a public health researcher - they have now escalated into continuing attacks from both sides. Many people Checkpoint spoke to on Wellington's streets arent impressed with the politicians' tactics. vox pops Despite Trevor Mallard's apology, Clare Sziranyi reports that National is dismissing it as half hearted, and is now demanding a further apology from the Prime Minister. PKGE
The military mutiny continues in Papua New Guinea, with Australia warning rebel soldiers not to overthrow the government. Soldiers took over Murray Barracks in Port Moresby last week in protest at government plans to slash the defence forces in half - two more barracks joined the rebellion yesterday. The rebels are now meeting the Prime Minister, presenting him with a petition on the proposed army cuts - the country's Trades Union Congress is also meeting to consider supporting the rebels. Joining us now is New Zealand's High Commissioner in PNG Nigel Moore. LIVE
Frontline police are to more than 400 new cars at a cost of just over 13 million dollars. The police have been complaining the cars they have are too old and are overdue for replacement - but today the Police Minister George Hawkins made this announcement in Parliament. CUT Police Minister George Hawkins. Joining us now is the Police Association President Greg O'Connor. LIVE
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The Airforce admits it is concerned about the pressure caused on the service by the resignations of five seniors pilots in the past week. It's been confirmed the three Hercules pilots and two Boeing 727 pilots will leave their jobs within the next year. The news once again brings into question the Airforce's ability to retain staff - and the issue's also been highlighted in parliament as Jon Donnison reports. PKGE
In Queensland's far north, the old Slim Dusty song "Pub With No Beer" has a horrible ring of truth for the residents of the tiny floodbound settlement of Burketown. The town's only hotel HAS run out of beer after December floods cut off road access for months. Help however is at hand - I asked publican Tim Trad when the vital supplies ran dry. PREREC
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The Deputy Prime Minister, Jim Anderton, has told mourners at the funeral for the New Zealand SAS soldier, Major John McNutt, that his death in Kuwait last week has strengthened the bond between the United States and this country. Major McNutt was killed when an American fighter plane bombed his observation post during an exercise. Five American soldiers also died. Our reporter John MacDonald was at today's funeral service which was attended by family, friends, army colleagues, politicians and members of the American military and diplomatic service. He compiled this report. PKGE
The lawyer representing the man charged with the 1999 murder of Wellington law student Gavin Dash is taking an argument over suppression of evidence to the High Court.
After almost two days of submissions John Rowan QC has told the two J.P.s presiding at the preliminary hearing of the murder charge against David Gates, he will appealing against their ruling on what evidence can be made public. Court Reporter Merle Nowland was there and joins me now. LIVE
In Brazil, the world's biggest oil rig has started sinking again. The 40-storey offshore rig has slumped more than four and a half metres since a series of explosions ripped through the structure on Friday, killing at least 10 workers. I asked the BBC's correspondent in Brazil, Tom Gibb, how much damage there's likely to be if the oil rig does sink. PREREC
A [illegible] specialist youth unit at Wellington's Rimutaka prison opened today, as part of a Corrections Department stategy to reduce the reoffending rate of young criminals.
It's the third such unit opened in the last three years - a fourth will soon open in Christchurch. Claire Silvester went along to Rimutaka prison to look at the initiative. PKGE
Britain's government has called in the army in its attempts to get to grips with the rampant foot-and-mouth outbreak.
The defence ministry says about 100 servicemen will be deployed to farms to help with the task of disposing of the growing mountain of culled animal carcasses. The number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease has risen to 335, an increase of nine from the weekend. READER
Australia is laughing off the foot and mouth mistake by CNN and Time magazine who both suggested the disease which has sparked a crisis in Europe was still in a problem in Australia and New Zealand. CNN has corrected its mistake and Time is being asked to do the same. New Zealand's agriculture minsiter Jim Sutton is just getting over his annoyance at the scrapie fiasco where a German organisation said sheep here were infected with that disease - and has blamed sloopy reporting for the latest mistake. I asked Carson Clay from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service about the Aussie reaction to the foot and mouth blunder. PREREC
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