HEADLINES & NEWS
A Northland boy who shot his father after years of abuse has been found not guilty of murder - but guilty of manslaughter.
Tikiahi Erstich, who is fifteen, admitted killing his father Walter, at his home near Kaitaia last July. But his lawyers argued provocation, based on the violence the boy had suffered at his father's hands, since he was a small child. The jury in the high court in Whangarei little more than three hours to return the manslaughter verdict. LIVE
The government aims to save millions in the health budget by getting its drug agency, Pharmac, to purchase drugs for all hospitals. The 21 District Health Boards currently spend about 140-million dollars a year on pharmaceuticals, and negotiate their prices individually with drug companies. Pharmac's chief [illegible] Wayne McNee says having Pharmac as the sole negotiator is expected to save several million dollars every year - I asked him why. PREREC
Australia's Governor-General Peter Hollingworth is defying calls to resign, instead apologising for earlier comments downplaying child sexual abuse in the Anglican church when he was Archbishop of Brisbane. The Prime Minister John Howard held crisis talks with Doctor Hollingworth this morning amidst mounting pressure for him to resign. Afterwards, the governor general made a brief apology before flying to New Zealand for an official visit. Our reporter in Australia Eric Frykberg is following the story and joins me now. LIVE WITH DROPINS
BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
In Egypt, the death toll from a fire which ripped through a crowded night train has reached 373. It took firefighters several hours to put out the blaze, which raged through seven carriages, near the town of al-Ayatt, about 70 kilometres south of the capital, Cairo. CNN's Sandy Petrokowski filed this report. PKGE
[illegible] of racism are once again dividing the Taranaki community of Waitara following the decision to dismiss ateempts to bring a private murder prosecution against a police officer who shot and killed a local man. At the New Plymouth District Court yesterday two justices of the peace dismissed the private prosecution against Constable Keith Abbott, which was brought by the family of the dead man, Steven Wallace. The police say the decision means it is time to move on, but it has angered the Wallace family and local Māori who say the decision is racist and biased. Fiona Wilde reports. PKGE
Heavy rain has deluged Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula, causing slips, flooding and cutting off the town of Whitianga for several hours. Around a hundred millimetres deluged Whitianga, while Great Barrier Island was saturated by almost a quarter of a metre of rain over five hours. The island's constable Greg Bolton says the downpour caused the worst flooding on the island in years. B/ANNOUNCE: That was constable Greg Bolton on Great Barrier Island. Meanhile in Whitianga flooding has eased allowing the northern route on State Highway 25 to re open. However workers are still removing logs and silt from the southern road before that route can be used. PREREC
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
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In Fiji protesters have condemned as too harsh the life sentence handed down to George Speight for his leading role in the coup of May 2000. The condemnation has come from groups from the west of Fiji protesting near the capital, Suva - they are also showing their support for indigenous rights and the ruling government of Laisenia Qarase. Our reporter in Fiji Barbara Dreaver told me the protests have remained peaceful, partly because of bad weather. LIVE
The Marlborough District Council is moving to protect declining fish stocks in the Marlborough Sounds, saying the fishery there is now in a critical state. The move is being promoted by Marlborough mayor Tom Harrison - Geoff Moffett reports. PKGE
A High Court jury has heard Mark Lundy told police that he was with a prostitute in Wellington on the night his wife and daughter were slain in Palmerston North. Lundy is charged with murdering Christine and Amber Lundy in the family home nearly 18 months ago. He has pleaded not guilty to their murders. Our reporter Jill Galloway is following the case - she joins me now. LIVE WITH DROPINS
Argument over the use of 1080 poison on Stewart Island has taken a nasty turn with threats to harm Department of Conservation staff. DOC has a five-year plan for controlling pests on the island and has held a number of public meetings to discuss the options, one of which is the use of 1080. The threats which have come second or third hand involve physical violence, tyre slashing and the release of stoats onto the island. The manager for biodiversity Brent Beaven told me the main thrust of DOC's plan is to get rid of possums. PREREC
Fresh moves are underway to protect the great Kiwi OE, following reports Britain may cut New Zealanders' present right to a two year working visa. The British Government is looking at halving the visa to one year as part of an imiigration review, although a decision has yet to be made. But the Youth Hostel Association is mobilising to protect what its sees as the rights of future travellers. Katy Gosset explains. PKGE
[illegible] visiting two major US allies, Japan and South Korea, President George Bush is ending his diplomatic tour of Asia on a very different note in Beijing. America's relationship with China has improved in recent months, boosted by Beijing's support for America's self-declared war on terrorism. But there are still many thorny issues including Beijing's concern about where the US might be taking its war on terrorism. Our Washington correspondent Catherine Drew reports. PKGE
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