The government has released details of its plans to tighten building industry rules in the wake of the leaky buildings crisis. A discussion paper, called Better Regulation of the Building Industry, proposes a mandatory warranty on all building design and construction contracts, compulsory registration of builders, and the accreditation of building inspectors and certifiers. It also plans to give the Building Industry Authority the power to prosecute. The Minister of Commerce Lianne Dalziel released the discussion paper at the Waitakere Gardens Retirement Village which is under construction in west Auckland. Sharon Brett-Kelly was there. PKGE
Prendos is a building surveyance and valuation company and its director Greg O'Sullivan joins me now. LIVE
The United States has rejected a proposal to give Iraq an extended deadline to cooperate fully with weapons inspectors. It comes as negotiations continue over an American and British sponsered resolution at the UN authorising force [illegible] Baghdad. The White House has promised a vote on the resolution this week. Our Washington correspondent Steve Mort reports. PKGE
Public Health staff in Auckland are on alert after two species of exotic mosquito were intercepted at the Port in Auckland. The mosquitos were were found on a ship whose last port of call had been Pago Pago in American Samoa. Ministry of Health Spokesperson Sally Gilbert says they have put in place a system of enhanced surveillance ... she joins me now. LIVE
BUSINESS with TODD NIALL
Parliamentarians are considering whether to reclassify the drug methamphetamine as a class "A" drug - giving police greater powers and dramatically increasing the penalties. The proposal has already been approved by Cabinet, but it still needs Parliament's support, and it's be referred there next week. The national expert committee on drugs today advised the Health Select Committee to support the move, saying methamphetamine poses significant health risks. Our Health Correspondent Rae Lamb was there and she joins me now. LIVE WITH DROPINS
A [illegible] variety of speed limits could be in store with the Government deciding to give local councils more power to decide limits in their areas. There will be no change to the maximum speed limit of 100 kilometres an hour, and Transit New Zealand will keep control of speeds on state highways. But local authorities will have the power to impose a speed limit of less than 100 k's on the open road, or a limit of other than 50 k's on an urban road, or reduce speed limits outside schools at peak times. The Transport Minister Paul Swain says the change is in response to requests from local authorities. CUT
I asked Local Government New Zealand chief executive Peter Winder why local councils think the changes are necessary. PREREC
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Five paintings stolen from a Palmerston North art gallery more than six months ago have been handed in. The paintings, by Wellington artist Pippa Sanderson, were taken from the Te Manawa Art Gallery last August. I asked Detective David Thompson of the Palmerston North CIB how the paintings were recovered. PREREC
Joining us now is the artist Pippa Sanderson. LIVE
The news that Kapiti residents are fast running out of water, has highlighted problems facing several communities throughout the country. And with forecasters predicting a dry autumn ahead, communities and their representatives are facing some difficult choices in how to use their water. Nathan Mills has more. PKGE
A survey of Asian students coming here to study has found that the reality of life in New Zealand falls well short of their expectations. Asian students make up the bulk of foreign fee paying students in an export education industry now worth around one and half billion dollars. But, Colleen Ward, the head of the school of Psychology at Victoria University in Wellington says her study of 150 Asian students has found there is often a wide gap between their expectations and actual experiences. For instance 91 percent thought they would form friendships with New Zealanders but only 41 percent did. Professor Ward joins us now. LIVE
The Hawke's Bay District Health Board is disappointed that the Wairoa District Council has back tracked on fluoridating the town's water supply. The council [illegible] last November to go ahead with fluoridation but recently overturned its decision to treat the water in both Wairoa and neighbouring Frasertown. The Board's Deputy Chairman David Marshall who's also a dentist says it's a retrograde step. Heugh Chappell reports. PKGE
Several schools around the country are cancelling education and sporting trips abroad because of the threat of war in Iraq. A number of school groups travel overseas every year for sporting, educational and academic trips - but some schools are now worried about the safety of their students. Catherine Wilson has more. PKGE
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