HEADLINES & NEWS
A man has appeared in court in Fiji charged with the murders of New Zealand man Gregory Scrivener and his partner, the Red Cross director John Scott. The bodies of the two men were found in their Suva home more than a week ago, they'd been attacked with a cane knife. Our correspondent in Fiji Shalen Shandil joins us now.
LIVER
The controversial and at times sensational Christine Rankin employment grievance case, is now heading towards its end after almost two weeks of hearings. The former Chief Executive of the department of Work and Income, her three year fixed-term contract ended last Thursday, is seeking 818-thousand-dollars for what she claims was unfair and unlawful treatment. The [illegible] has seen one senior MInister and several key public servants in the witness box. Chief Employment Court Judge Tom Goddard is now hearing final addresses from Mrs Rankin's lawyer and the defence, before he begins weighing up the ten days or so of conflicting evideence he's heard. Our court reporter Merle Nowland is covering the case and joins us now. LIVER WITH DROP INS
BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
The police have scaled down their investigation into the headless body that was found in the Silverstream area of Upper Hutt, saying they now believe there are no suspicious circumstances in the death. The body was discovered in the bush in the Upper Hutt suburb of Silverstream by the workers who were setting possum bait. Its head was initially not visible but Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Small says the police have now located the head, about 6 metres from the body. Mike Small joins us now. LIVER
In the riot-hit English city of Bradford, about 30 white youths attacked an Asian restaurant and petrol station overnight, but police say an appeal for calm has been largely successful. Police and comunity leaders made the appeal as [illegible] cleared up after a night of riots on Saturday when almost a thousand mainly Asian youths took to the streets with petrol bombs and sledgehammers. The violence erupted after the white supremacist National Front planned to hold a rally in the city but were outnumbered by anti-racist groups. The BBC's Nick Garnett has been out on the streets of Bradford for a second night and told me about the latest violence. PREREC IV
A joint application from Ngai Tahu Fisheries and Kuku Enterprises to set up nine marine farms in Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula has been turned down. Commissioners, on behalf of the Canterbury Regional Council turned down the application, saying that to grant coastal permits would be inconsistent with the Resource Management Act and the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement. One environmental group happy with this decision is the Forest and Bird protection society, whose spokesperson, Eugenie Sage joins us now. LIVER
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
The Māori Affairs Minister, Parekura Horomia, has promised to take immediate action to improve the state of a Tolaga Bay house he administers on behalf of his family. The Gisborne District Council says the house, which had been lived in by Mr Horomia's nephew, needs major repairs to bring it up to health and safety standards. Mr Horomia is executor, but not beneficiary, of an estate which includes the house. and he joins us now. LIVER
The New Zealand government says there is an urgent problem of illegal weapons in the Pacific and it is taking regional concerns to a United Nations conference. The two week United Nations conference on illicit Trade in small arms and light weapons is being held in New York from today. The Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Matt Robson is heading New Zealand's delegation at the conference. Barbara Dreaver reports. PKGE
Recreational fishermen and tourism interests in Hawke's Bay are worried at the possibility that boats may be banned from using Lake Waikaremoana. The Department of Conservation is concerned about aquatic weed ruining the lake. Its ten year draft management plan includes the provision to either close boat ramps or ban boats altogether. Heugh Chappell reports. PKGE
[illegible] Indonesian police commanders are expected to arrive in East Timor today to begin investigations into the death of New Zealand peacekeeper Private Leonard Manning, who was shot dead in a clash with militias last July. A former militia commander was arrested in January for the murder of Private Manning and is now in custody awaiting trial. I asked our correspondent in Jakarta Mark Bowling why, when the police already have a person in custody, they are doing this investigation. PRE REC IV
The Chairman of Victorian based West Coast Railway which is looking to purchase the Napier to Wellington Bay Express is optomistic it could be saved. The service is in one of four in the North Island which the company declined to buy from Tranzrail, because it's been running at a loss. Don Gibson from West Coast Railway has today been meeting with the Mayors from Gisborne to Palmerston North and tourism interests. We're joined now by the mayor of Napier, Alan Dick. LIVER
MANA NEWS
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