HEADLINES & NEWS
New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand will take independent action against Zimbabwe if Commonwealth leaders fail to agree on an action plan. Leaders attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting or CHOGM in Queensland have reached an impasse over what action to take against Zimbabwe lead by President Robert Mugabe where there are reports of violence and intimidation in the build up to its presidential election this weekend. Miss Clark today suggested New Zealand could impose sanctions against Mr Mugabe if the Commonwealth statement on the issue isn't strong enough. Our political reporter Mark Torley is in Queensland to cover the meeting and he joins me now. q&a with dropins
Emergency Services in Auckland say they are extremely worried about the theft [illegible] a dangerous chemical that can kill on contact. Around 260 litres of hydrofluoric acid was taken from a chemical company in East Tamaki last night - its concentration is so strong that it will dissolve glass and even if it's washed off the skin it can continue dissolving the body. Joining us now is the fire service's Hazardous Substance Advisor, Tony Haggerty...live IV
It's been a gruelling day for jurers at the High Court in Palmerston North with an ESR scientist called to the house where the Lundy double homicides took place giving graphic details of the scene. One juror became so distressed by the evidence that they had to be helped from the court this morning. Mark Lundy's trial for the murders of his wife Christine and daughter Amber, has begun its fifth week. Our reporter Jill Galloway has been in court. live q&a with dropins
BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
Cook Islands politicians who want to approve a controversial medical trial banned in this country are warning New Zealand health officials to back off. The New Zealand biotechnology company Diatranz is hoping for approval from the Cook Islands government this week to continue trials injecting insulin-producing pig cells into diabetics. The procedure has been banned in New Zealand because of fears that viruses could be transferred from pig to human. Barbara Dreaver filed this report pkg
The Government has been quick to dismiss reports that it's agreed to take 200 refugees from Indonesia. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phil Goff who's currently in Indonesia says the Reuters report has misquoted comments from a midnight media conference in Jakarta last night. Mr Goff says he has simply given a ballpark figure of up to 200 genuine refugees New Zealand could be prepared to take, to ease Indonesia's problem with asylum seekers from Iraq and Afganistan. Phil Goff says people would be accepted as part of this country's annual quota of 750 refugees. pre rec
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
The remaining three thousand Ansett workers in Australia will be unemployed from tomorrow as the airline winds up its operations and prepares to sell off its assets. A series of wakes in the Golden Wing lounges are being held by the staff as the doomed airline's final flights take to the air, and the Australian Services Union will relaunch a fundraising appeal to try to ease Ansett staff into their new unemployed status. The airline's fate resulted from a collapsed bid to buy the airline last week, although the threats of legal action continue. Martin Foley is the President of the Australian Services Union in VIctoria. I asked him how much of the blame is being given to the actions of millionares Solomon Lew and Lindsay Fox, who were telling the staff the deal would go through right up until just before it collapsed. pre rec
Charities are cautiously welcoming changes that will allow them to keep their tax-free status. Under a new proposal a Charities Commission will be responsible for putting a fence around genuine charities making sure that others are kept out. Here's our social issues correspondent Shona Geary. pre rec
Russell Crowe's foul mouth and boorish behaviour has probably cost him this year's Oscar for best actor. This according to Tom O'Neil a veteran commentator [illegible] Academy Awards and author of the book "Movie Awards: The Ultimate Guide to the Oscars." New Zealand born Crowe has been nominated for his role in "A Beautiful Mind," but it's an ugly outburst after he won the BAFTA best actor award for the same movie that has apparently blown his chances in Hollywood. Crowe shoved, threatened and swore at the producer of the British awards after part of the actor's acceptance speech was cut for the television broadcast Tom O'Neil says that's lost him critical support from the conservative Academy voters. pre rec
Bomb disposal experts have disarmed what police are describing as suspicious devices found in a Manurewa shopping mall early this morning.
A dozen shops and a school were cordoned off after the devices were discovered by firefighters, who were putting out a restaurant fire in the mall at about four o'clock this morning. The disruption lasted for more than seven hours - Inspector Jim Searle won't say if the items were bombs. pre rec
A row has broken out over the commercial collection of rocks from West Coast beaches, with Forest and Bird saying the West Coast Regional Council is allowing a free-for-all with no controls over where and how much is taken. The [illegible] rocks and stones have proven a goldmine for entrepreneurs who export them to North Island customers for building and landscaping. Some companies have a resource consent to do this, but others are using a loophole to avoid applying for a consent. Forest and Bird says what's needed is better enforcement and control over where the stones can be taken from. Forest and Bird's Field Officer Eugenie Sage joins us now...live IV
An exhibition tracing early historical links between New Zealand and Tonga, has opened in Auckland. The collection of photographs and documents dispels the belief that links werent strong before the 1950's. Brad Markham viewd the exhibition at Auckland's Central City Library and compiled this report. pkg
CLOSE & THEME