1700 to 1707 NEWS
Angry students up and down the country protested today and ceremoniously burned fake money to mark a significant milestone - the fact that they've clocked up seven BILLION dollars in student loan debt. The loan scheme's 12 years running and has nearly 390 thousand borrowers. But student groups say along with tertiary fees and course costs, two thirds also borrow the 150 dollars a week maximum amount that can be claimed for living costs, like rent and food. They want to see a universal living allowance set up so students aren't forced to incur so much debt. Sarah North takes a look at how the loan scheme is affecting students. PKG
15 thousand people on sickness and invalids benefits in South Auckland are under scrutiny to see if surgery may help them get back to work. It's part of a 20 million dollar plus strategy officially launched by the government this [illegible] which aims to put a lid on the one hundred thousand people claiming [illegible] a sickness or invalids benefit. The eight month pilot scheme is being run with the Counties Manukau District Health Board and if successful will be rolled out across the country. Social Development MInister Steve Maharey says no-one yet has been offered surgery because officials are still working out how many people may need operations who have little chance of getting them on the public waiting list. PRE-REC
The new Sickness and Invalids' Benefits strategy also looks at ways of getting mentally ill people back to work. Steve Maharey says with more counselling and better support people who in the past were thought unable to work may be able to move off benefits. But Tina Siteine a beneficiaries advocate with the Tamaki Te Kairaro Trust is not convinced that strategy will deliver. PRE-REC
Police are searching for clues at the home of an elderly man who's body was found in the boot of his station wagon near Waitara. A police officer discovered the 79-year old wrapped in a sheet in the back of his car which was parked 20 kilometres from his Inglewood home. A homicide investigation has been launched and a post mortem examination will be carried out tomorrow. Detective [illegible] Sergeant Grant Coward from the New Plymouth police says it is unclear how the man died. PRE-REC
Niue is confident it will raise close to the 37 and a half million dollars it believes is needed to recover from Cyclone Heta. Niue presented aid donors, including the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union, with the recovery plan at its first ever donor roundtable held in Wellington today. Michele Hollis compiled this report. PKG
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
The National Distribution Union says one of its officials was assaulted while trying to organise workers employed by the Supermarket chain Foodstuffs on Monday night. The union says it happened at Foodstuff's Dunedin Distribution Centre and is in breach of the law.
Eric Frykberg reports. PKG
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
Five members of a Kawhia-based commercial fishing family, and a company face over a hundred charges of illegally selling fish through a King Country black market network. The charges, which were laid today in the Te Kuiti District Court follows a 10-month investigation by the Ministry of Fisheries. The Officer in charge of the Investigation, Patrick Lynch joins us now. LIVE
There's consternation in Whangarei over a consultation agreement the district council's made with a local marae. It's agreed a large rural area north-west of the city should be treated as potentially significant to Māori. That means anyone seeking a resource consent will have to pay for cultural, archaeological and historical assessments - and have them evaluated by the marae committee. Whangarei's MP Phil Heatley says 700-land-owners are affected including many farmers - and the agreement is absurd. Lois Williams reports. PKG
Thai police have shot and killed about 75 machete-wielding militants who launched simultaneous predawn raids on police bases and army checkpoints in the [illegible] southern provinces. Authorities says at least three policemen and one soldier were among those killed in the fighting. The government has blamed Islamic separatists seeking to carve a homeland in the Muslim-majority south of the predominantly Buddhist country. AAP correspondent in Bangkok Ron Corben says its been suggested that members of the army may have been involved in the raids. PRE-REC
The United States has stepped up efforts to restore order in Iraq as special United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned that the ongoing bloodshed threatens the credibility of the country's political process. US forces staged night time air and ground strikes against Iraqi militants in the Sunni stronghold of Fallujah, hours after battles in the Shiite holy city of Najaf left dozens dead. Washington corresondent Laura Iiyama has more. PKG
The advertising image of the driver as a lone figure in a fast car on an empty road is adding to the problems on the roads, says a visiting driver education academic. Dr Sarah Redshaw from the University of Western Sydney is a keynote speaker at the AA Driver Education Conference in Wellington. Dr Redshaw says as driving becomes more complicated on increasingly busier roads, car advertising [illegible] and more unrealistic. PRE-REC
In treatment befiting a superstar - shrek the sheep will walk the red carpet before his appointment with the clippers tonight. Shrek hit the headlines when he was caught on Bendigo station in central Otago last week, after evading the annual roundups for six years. World champion shearer, David Fagan will do the honours tonight and Shrek's fleece, which is estimated to weigh 27 kilograms, will be auctioned off for charity. Bendigo station owner, John Perriam says it's time Shrek parted company with his fleece. PRE-REC
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