HEADLINES & NEWS
Air New Zealand shares bounced back after trading resumed this afternoon.
The Stock Exchange suspended trading in the shares this morning after the Prime Minister, Helen Clark reportedly said she'd recommended small shareholders should hold on to their shares. But trading resumed after Air New Zealand told the Stock Exchange it believed the news media had made more of Helen Clark's statement than was warranted. At a news conference, the Finance Minister Michael Cullen moved to limit the fallout from the Prime Minister's comments blaming the media for "beating up" the story. Journalists asked Doctor Cullen why the Prime Minister advised Air New Zealand shareholders [illegible] selling. PRE-REC
How have small shareholders reacted to the Helen Clarks comments?. Bruce Shepherd is chairperson of the New Zealand Shareholders Association which represents such people. He's already quit his shares in Air New Zealand. Mr Shepherd says there is a problem with the wording Helen Clark used. PRE-REC
Joining us now is our economics correspondent Brent Edwards. LIVE
The first plane load of the Afghan refugees refused entry into Australia is expected to touch down in Auckland later tonight ending a five week ordeal which began on a sinking boat in the Indian Ocean. The 70 Afghans arriving tonight will be joined by another 70 tomorrow - they've been held on the Australian troop carrier the Manoora, moored off Nauru. The refugee were initially rescued by a Norwegian freighter the Tampa, and Australia became the focus of international condemnation when it refused to allow the ship to leave the asylum seekers at Christmas Island. They were transferred to the Manoora and taken to Nauru after both that country and New Zealand offered to take the refugees.
[illegible] they are on there way here, Ben Wilson from the ABC is on Nauru - he describes the departure. PRE-REC
Meanwhile, agencies dealing with refugees here say the Afghan asylum seekers will have to go through a rigorous process in order to gain residency. The secretary of the Auckland Refugee Council, William Smith, the refugees will go through a tough and often traumatic interview process to prove they are genuine asylum seekers. PRE-REC
BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
The United States is continuing to intensify its forces around Afghanistan. It's increased the number of reservists activated by another 17-hundred and is still building up its troops in the Persian Gulf and central Asia. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the war against terrorism, now called "Operation Enduring Freedom", will not include major invasions similar to past conflicts. Steve Mort reports from Washington. PKGE
In this country, airports and airlines are under enormous pressure to introduce tough new security measures because of the terrorist attacks. The American Federal Aviation Administration, along with US and Asian airlines, have demanded that stringent security checks of planes, passengers and staff be carried out if flights are to enter and leave New Zealand. The chief executive of Aviation Security Services, Mark Everitt, says extra funding and defence personnel were needed to cope with the new security requirements. I asked him what sorts of security measures the Asian and US airlines are demanding. PRE-REC
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
The Tourism Action Group, formed to plan a response to events in the United States and disruption in the airline industry says New Zealand can expect around a ten percent drop in overseas visitors in the next few months. Representatives of Tourism New Zealand which markets the country overseas, the Tourism Industry Association and the Inbound Tour operators met today and [illegible] their knowledge on the current dilemmas facing the industry. Tourism reporter Fiona Morris has this report. PKGE
As millions of Afghans flee their country in anticipation of a military strike by the United States, there are calls for wealthy countries to step in and offer them refuge. The International Organisation for Migration says the situation in Afghanistan should spur developed nations, like New Zealand and Australia, to review their approach to asylum seekers. I spoke with Chris Lom from IOM, who is on his way to Pakistan to help co-ordinate the huge numbers of refugees from Afghanistan. PRE-REC
The National Party says the government is planning to introduce a fifty million dollar tax on pokie machine profits which it claims will hurt community sports clubs. About a hundred and fifty million dollars worth of pokie machine profits are currently distributed to local charities and sports clubs each year. National's Deputy leader, Bill English, says the government has a secret plan to put a third of those profits into a centralised fund which will then be redistributed to the arts and Māori. Mr English joins me now. LIVE
Carter Holt Harvey claims the Kyoto Protocol will have a negative impact on the New Zealand economy. This follows an Institute of Economic Research report on the effects of this country's climate change policies on forestry. Brad Markham complied this report. PKGE
In Christchurch, a transport collection spanning three centuries is up for grabs as debts force the sale of a family museum business. But valuers are having a hard job working how much the collection in the Yaldhurst Museum of Transport and Science is worth, describing it as a treasure trove. Katy Gosset found out why. PKGE
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