The standoff between the rugby union and the rugby players association over how much the All Blacks will be paid if they win the world cup, is over. [illegible] New Zealand Rugby Union's chief executive Chris Moller says its been forced to back down on its stance that it could not pay more than 50 thousand dollars per player - and has upped it to 80 thousand dollars.
The offer - and acceptance by the players - comes after last night's mediation between the two groups.
The players are to get two thousand dollars each for each pool match win, 13 thousand for each quarter final, 15 thousand for a semifinal win, and an extra fifty thousand each if they bring home the Cup.
Reaction to the news from the people on the street, has been mixed. VOX But former All Black captain, Sir Brian Lochore says settling the dispute is a relief for fans. CUT
But another All Black legend, Fergie McCormick says there's still a sense of frustration that the issue became so threatening between the players and administrators - and that it was fought out in public. CUT
Meanwhile the players representative Rob Nichol says they were positive about reaching a compromise. CUT
Joining us now is the Rugby Union's chief executive Chris Moller (mole-uh) LIVE
The row over an alleged 'agreement to lie in unison' has continued in Parliament today, with National raising further allegations against Immigration Service officials.
Its media spokesman, Ian Smith, has already had to apologise to the Immigration Minister, Lianne Dalziel, after writing about the agreement in an internal memo.
The comments were made about handling media inquiries into the detention of a suspected terrorist last December.
Now the National MP, Murray McCully, has raised another allegation, that the service may have misled the Ombudsman. CUT
The minister, Lianne Dalziel, says she accepts there was no conspiracy to lie, but has ordered an inquiry into the Ombudsman allegation.
But the New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, demanded to know why she won't go further. CUT
The minister, Lianne Dalziel joins me now....LIVE
BUSINESS
The Medical Association is urging MPs to vote against the Death with Dignity bill which is expected to be before Parliament tonight.
The Association has today written to all MPs saying the bill is untenable because it relies on doctors being involved in the euthanasia process, and this would be asking doctors to act unethically.
The Association's chair, Dr Tricia Briscoe, is with us now ....LIVE
The health insurance payments have stopped today for a teenager from Papua New Guinea, who needs privately funded dialysis treatment to keep her alive. Her family says they can only afford to pay for one more week of care. 17-year-old Radhika Lal came to New Zealand in October for a Kidney transplant, but was forced to stay here on dialysis after the procedure was cancelled. The Auckland Distict Health Board has confirmed Ms Lal's private insurer will stop paying for the treatment from today, and says it will only continue providing the service if the family pays for it. Sarah Howison reports. PKGE
1730 HEADLINES
More now on the World Cup Rugby Bonus dispute was resolved this afternoon. The New Zealand Rugby Union has announced players will be paid 80 thousand dollars should they win the cup, 30 thousand dollars more than the NZRU's previous offer.
Our Rugby Commentator John McBeth is with us now. LIVE
To Solomon Island's now where the leader of one of the former militia groups has today undertaken to surrender the group's weapons.
The leader of the now-disbanded Malaitan Eagle Force Jimmy Rasta made the promise to a delegation from the Australian-led intervention force at a meeting a short time ago.
[illegible] reporter Eric Frykberg was there and he joins us now from Honiara LIVE
An Auckland Coronor has found that mechanics who worked on a truck's driveshaft that disintegrated and killed a motorist, were not properly trained or kept up to date with the parts they had to work on.
Eddie Tavinor, who was 32, died on the Southern Motorway in November 2000 after he was hit by a piece of driveshaft that came off a MItsibuishi truck because of a worn bearing.
The driveshaft had been repaired three times - the last just eleven days before the accident - but the mechanics did not follow the proper procedures for reinstalling it, and also failed to notice the bearing was excessively worn.
It's also emerged that the mechanics had never seen the instruction manual on the driveshaft or had any specfic training.
The Coroner, Dr Murray Jamieson, has recommended Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand improve its training and John Layton the company's managing director says that's been done. PRE-REC
The Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson has announced he will introduce new legislation over the foreshore and seabed into parliament, before the end of the year.
He set the target at today's annual meeting of the Waitangi Fisheries Commission in Wellington.
Mr Hodgson told about 200 people, that the government is treating the matter with urgency, to give all interested parties, both Māori and non-Māori, certainty over their rights.
We're joined now by our Māori Issues Correspondent Gideon Porter. LIVE with dropins from Pete Hodgson, Peter Love & Dover Samuels.
Parliament is today debating two controversial members' bills, including the [illegible] vote on legislation to legalise voluntary euthanasia.
Debate on the first reading of the Death with Dignity bill, sponsored by the New Zealand First MP Peter Brown, is expected to get underway about eight o'clock tonight, with a conscience vote expected just after nine.
And a short time ago MPs voted for the first time on the toughened-up Smokefree Environments bill, which bans smoking in bars, restaurants, and any indoor workplace.
We're joined now by our political editor Kathryn Ryan LIVE with dropins from Damian O'Connor and Paul Hutchison
MANA NEWS
CLOSE & THEME
CLOSE & THEME