HEADLINES & NEWS
The head of the national secure unit for this country's most at-risk children has questioned media treatment of 13 year old Bailey Kurariki saying the convicted killer now thinks he's a star. Kurariki is being held at the secure unit at Christhurch's Kingslea Residential Centre after being convicted last week of the manslaughter of pizza delivery worker Micheal Choy. Kinglsea manager Shirley Johnson wants a ban on publishing photos or footage of young convicted offenders, saying after seeing Kurariki on TV and the front pages of major newspapers some other 13 year olds now regard him as a hero. IV
I asked former High Court judge and Press Council chair Sir John Jeffries whether the media is responsible for turning young serious offendors into [illegible]. IV
New Zealand's men's basketball team, The Tall Blacks, has scored a stunning upset victory at the World Championships, beating one of the top teams, Russia, 90-81. Russia were the silver medalists at the last Championships and today's victory is the first time New Zealand has ever beaten the Russians. The Tall Blacks trailed for most of the match and were down 14 points at half time before hitting the front with just over three minutes to go. Our correspondent at the event, former National coach Keith Mair says the win is very exciting. IV
Beneficiary groups are sceptical of the government decision to review some beneficiary entitlements and debts, saying they doubt it will be rigorous enough. The Ministry of Social Development has accepted that between 1996 and 2000 more than 15-thousand beneficiaries may have either had their entitlements wrongly cut off, or made to repay money because they were deemed to be in a de facto relationship. Liz Banas reports. PKGE
BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
[illegible] the High Court in Napier, three Cambodian men have been found guilty over the importation of nearly 13 million dollars worth of heroin. The jury found Dy Lay (die lay) guilty of importing the drug and accomplice Nan Bou (boe) guilty of possession for supply. Late in the trial, a third man, Sothea (soth ear) Kim pleaded guilty to possessing heroin for supply. Our reporter Heugh Chappell has been in court and joins me now. LIVE IV
The New Zealand native Christmas Tree, the pohutakawa, is now considered a pest in some parts of the country. The Department of Conservation has warned the West Coast Regional Council that pohutakawa should not be planted outside its natural range in the upper North Island. Doc says outside this zone, pohutukawa can become invasive and cross breed with the closely-related rata. Project Crimson has been encouraging communities to save the pohutukawa in its natural range through extensive planting - Project Crimson trustee Doctor Gordon Hosking joins us now. LIVE IV
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
Overseas - as international opposition mounts to United States threats to attack Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein, the Bush administration is defending its plan, with the Vice President warning that time is running out. Our Washington correspondent Vicky Ford reports. PKGE
The government has appointed a new Race Relations Commissioner - he's Joris de Bres, who will replace the current commissioner Gregory Fortuin. Mr De Bres is currently working in Child, Youth and Family's Chief Executive's office. His appointment comes as New Zealand First leader Winston Peters again targets immigration, accusing foreigners of being a taxpayer burden, introducing third world diseases, taking New Zealander's jobs and posing a security risk. The Human Rights Commission says Mr Peters' attack has seen its phones running hot with complaints, while the Refugee Council says it's harmed this country's reputation abroad. Joris de Bres joins me now. LIVE IV
Groups opposed to plans for Auckland's new Eastern corridor motorway are preparing for what could be a lengthy legal battle to stop it. If the 460-million dollar six-lane tollway goes ahead, it will see around two hundred [illegible] and shops demolished. But as Anna-Louise Taylor reports, while many residents and community groups are opposing the plan, it is being supported by business organisations. PKGE
A 20-year-old trainee security guard Nika Abraham has been committed for trial for the murder of Lower Hutt woman Kate Alkema on the banks of the Hutt RIver in April. Ms Alkema was attacked and strangled while out for a morning walk. Today's decision follows a two-day depositions hearing in the Lower Hutt district court. Our court reporter Merle Nowland joins us now. LIVE IV
New Zealand's Director of Public Health is urging the Pacific to regulate commercial medical research, saying the region faces very real risks from uncontrolled testing. The Cook Islands is still considering a proposal from a New Zealand company, Diatranz, to trial a controversial diabetes treatment which involves inserting live pig cells into humans. The procedure is banned in New Zealand because of the risk of transferring animal diseases to patients. Barbara Dreaver reports. PKGE
MANA NEWS
CLOSE & THEME