HEADLINES & NEWS
A Defence Force inquiry has found that an order from army boss Major General Maurice Dodson, to shred a document that may be relevent to impending defence inquries was unwise and inappropriate, but not illegal. However the Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshall Carey Adamson, says no action will be taken against Major General Dodson, who today dismissed the shredding incident as a storm in a teacup. The investigation was prompted after Major General Dodson's second in command, Brigadier Lou Gardner, refused to comply with the order to destroy a document prepared by the PR company Communications Trumps. There is already a seperate inquiry into allegations the army used PR lobbying to influence government policy. I asked Defence Minister Mark Burton for his response to the Maurice Dodson's storm in the teacup comment. IV
But National's Defence spokesperson Max Bradford says Major General Maurice Dodson should be suspended. I asked him why. IV
Nauru has suspended all further transfers of asylum seekers from the Australian warship Manoora until its cabinet meets to discuss the use of force to remove six men yesterday. Australian soldiers began forcibly removing 217 people, mostly Iraqis and Palestinians, from the ship after they refused to disembark.
Nauru has objected to the use of force - as well as the cabinet meeting now underway, urgent talks are being held between the Nauru and Australian governments, about how to shift the asylum seekers onto the island. Meanwhile another group of 262 refugees aboard another Australian warship, the Tobruk, is heading towards Nauru and expected to arrive in two to three weeks. Hamish McLean is a spokeperson for the Nauru government - I asked him what preparations are being made to receive this group. IV
A Hawkes Bay firefighter is still in hospital after a chemical emergency near the town of Clive which forced homes to be evacuated and left 25 people needing medical treatment. Fumes from a toxic chemical applied at a nearby orchard [illegible] symptoms like stinging eyes, sore throats, and vomiting. Twenty-five families were evacuated, and had to stay with family and friends overnight. Michele Hollis reports PKGE
BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
In Auckland, police are hunting a gunman who shot a man in front of a marae full of children early this morning. Paul Davis was shot in the stomach after confronting an armed intruder who came onto the Orakei marae at about four thirty this morning. He's now in a stable condition in hospital, waiting for surgery. At the time of the shooting, 22 people - mostly 7 to 13-year-old children - were sleeping inside the marae. I asked Detective Inspector Gavin Jones what happened after the intruder fled. PREREC
There's been a torrid start to the resumption of parliament this afternoon, with the parliamentary speaker, Jonathan Hunt throwing two MP's out of the house after a heated exchange during questiontime. A Labour MP and a National MP were ejected after interrupting Mr Hunt - Our political reporter mark Torley compiled this item. PKGE
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
The United States-led campaign against Afghanistan's Taliban rulers is gathering pace, with funds believed to be linked to terrorist groups being seized and more warships steaming to the Indian Ocean. But the Taliban continue to refuse to hand over Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect for the suicide air attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. Meanwhile, the United Nation's General Assembly has started a week-long debate on how to combat terrorism. Our correspondent Vicki Ford reports, New York's mayor began the debate. PKGE
The United Nations organisation for refugees is refusing to assess another group of asylum seekers onboard an Australian ship heading for Nauru. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has already agreed to process asylum seekers unloaded from the Australian frigate the Manoora on Nauru. But it's refusing to handle another 262 asylum seekers who are heading for Nauru [illegible] the Australian vessel the Tobruk, which picked them up last month from [illegible] Reef off the north-west coast of Australia. The UNHCR says the asylum seekers should be dealt with in Australia not in Nauru. UNHCR spokesperson Ellen Hansen joins us now. LIVE
The Green Party is calling for stricter bio-security checks for genetically modified seed being brought into New Zealand following reports from Mexico of GE-contaminated maize. Mexico imports transgenic corn from the United States for consumption but has a moratorium on growing GE crops. However Mexico's environment minister has confirmed that genetically modified corn is growing in 15 out of 22 sites tested. Liz Banas has more. PKGE
In Fiji, President Josefa Iloilo has formally opened parliament, unveiling a foreign policy that swings away from New Zealand and Australia. In a speech written by the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, the president has unveiled what he describes as the Government's look north policy, which will see Fiji strengthening relations with countries in east and southeast Asia. And he's also condemned Fiji's internal critics, accusing them of a lack of love for their country.
Our correspondent in Fiji Samasone Pareti joins us now. LIVE
Wellington inner-city businesses are being targeted by gangs of thieves stealing laptop computers. In the past six months, there have been 70 burglaries in which more than a million dollars of laptops and equipment has been stolen. But as Fiona Wilde reports, the cost could be significantly higher if the loss of valuable data stored on the stolen computers is calculated. PKGE
MANA NEWS
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