HEADLINES & NEWS
POWHIRI CUT The Prime Minister and the Governor General have been welcomed to the Waitangi Marae in the Bay of Islands, where they will attend tomorrow's Waitangi Day celebrations. The visit marks the crown's return to the treaty grounds after refusing to attend in recent years because of continuing protests and confrontation. It's also Helen Clarks first visit to Waitangi as Prime Minister - she had refused to go there since a confrontation four years ago with activist Titewhai Harewira over Ms Clark's right to speak on the marae. Lois Williams is at the Waitangi treaty grounds and joins me now. LIVE WITH DROPINS
There have been delays to the start of the high profile trial of Mark Lundy, who's charged with the murdering his wife and daughter. Lundy is accused of [illegible] Christine and Amber Lundy in the family's suburban home in August 2000.
He has pleaded not guilty. Our reporter, Heugh Chappell, has been at the High Court in Palmerston North and joins me now. LIVE
The Commerce Commission is warning educational institutions to make sure their promotional material is accurate, following the fining of a Christchurch-based company for using misleading advertising. The Design and Arts College of New Zealand Limited has been fined 10-thousand dollars in the Christchurch District Court, after pleading guilty to four breaches of the Fair Trading Act. The College had claimed in its prospectus and ads that its course in multi media design and production was for a national diploma qualification, when it was only a certificate course. The Commerce Commission chairman, John Belgrave, says they are receiving growing numbers of complaints about education and are now taking a close look at the sector. PREREC
BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust. It says a number of alleged irregularities in aspects of the Trust's finances have recently been brought to its attention. The trust's Malcolm Beattie joins me now. LIVE
Concern is mounting over the lack of reliable air services to parts of the Pacific which has seen some island states virtually cut off. Airlines around the Pacific including Solomon Airlines, have had planes grounded because of safety breaches Others such as Air Nauru and the Royal Tongan airlines face continual maintenance problems leaving passengers stranded around the Pacific. Barbara Dreaver reports. PKGE
Are you loud? love your cricket? two balls short of an over? Then your country needs you. New Zealand Cricket is holding auditions for cricket fans to join its Mad Caps supporters group. The group has been formed to counter the English cricket team's Barmy Army - a vocal group of fans, infamous for its loud antics during English tour matches. Tonight's auditions are being held in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington - the actor-comedian Patrick Duffy will be leading the Mad Caps and I asked him what was behind the move. PREREC
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
In the New Plymouth District Court, a former police officer has criticised the fatal shooting of Waitara man Stephen Wallace as reckless and negligent. The court is holding a preliminary hearing of a private murder prosecution brought against Constable Keith Abbott by Mr Wallace's family. They brought the prosecution after a police inquiry cleared Keith Abbott of any wrong doing. It is believed to be the first such case heard in New Zealand - our reporter Kirsty Jones is at the court and joins us now. LIVE
In the United States, the former Enron chairman has cancelled an appearance before the US Senate on legal advice and he'll now be subpoenaed to testify on the energy giant's collapse. According to Kenneth Lay's attorney, inflammatory statements by members of Congress led him to believe the hearing would be prosecutorial. Our Washington correspondent Jessie Brandon reports it's just the first of many expected setbacks to the already complicated investigations by the US Justice Department and several Congressional committees. PKGE
The high number of drownings last month is disapointing Water Safety New Zealand. 23 people drowned last month - that's double last January's death toll and six more than the average for the past five years. Water Safety's executive director Alan Muir told me that two thirds of January's drownings were preventable. PREREC
The SPCA is calling on the poultry industry to change its practices so chickens have more natural lives. The call comes after the Green Party MP Sue Kedgley lodged complaints over what she sees as misleading claims by the poultry industry giant Tegel that its chickens have "pure, natural, healthy" lives. The SPCA says it's time for poultry companies to bite the financial bullet and provide chickens with better lives. Liz Banas has more. PKGE
A programme is being launched in Christchurch to get underage and intoxicated youth off the city's streets. The police, Child, Youth and Family and the Christchurch City Council are setting up what is described as a safety centre in the inner city to handle the youngsters. Katy Gosset compiled this report. PKGE
CLOSE & THEME