1700 to 1707 NEWS
The former chief district court judge Peter Trapski says he has no regrets over the way he helped the Catholic Church to respond to claims of sex abuse by victims of former priest Alan Woodcock. After being extradited from Britian, Alan Woodcock yesterday pleaded guilty to 21 sex offences involving young boys, some of which occured while he was teaching at St Patrick's College, Silverstream in 1982. Its been revealed that when one of Woodcock's victims went to the media in 1994, Mr Trapski advised the church to respond but in a restricted way. He also told them to put confidential material about Woodcock into his employment file in a separate envelope marked secret. Peter Trapski was the chair of the school's Trust Board, and one of the authors of the church protocol for dealing with claims of sex abuse. He says this protocol advised openness and honesty and he was trying to ensure that was done. PRE-REC
World war two veterans of the 28th Māori battalion have taken part in a moving ceremony at the site of some of the bloodiest fighting during the battle of casino. Our reporter, Andrew McRae is at casino and compiled this report. PKG
Israeli helicopter gunships have killed 12 Palestinians, as the army launched a new large scale military operation in the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza. Palestinians sources say seven were killed in dawn helicopter missile strikes, and five in street fighting. The attacks came as Israeli troops moved into a neighbourhood on the outskirts of the camp and began carrying out searches. The Independent Newspaper's correspondent in Jerusalem, Eric Silver joins us now. LIVE
Senior American, British and Iraqi politicians are stressing the hand-over of sovereignty in Iraq will go ahead as planned despite the murder of the head of Iraq's governing council.
Ezzedine Salim died in a suicide bomb attack at a checkpoint in Baghdad. CUT
An unknown Iraqi group, the Arab Resistance Movement, al-Rashid Brigades, says it carried out the assassination. But Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt says it [illegible] all the hallmarks of attacks carried out by supporters of Jordanian-born al-Qaeda suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. CUT
British Prime Minister, Tony Blair says it will not delay plans to hand over power next month. CUT
Mr Salim is the second member of the Iraqi governing council to be killed and his assassination has sparked accusations US security forces are failing to protect members of the council. CUT
The leadership of the governing council has passed to Ghazi Ajil al-Yawar a sunni from the Northern city of Mosul. CUT
A Washington defence analyst Tim Brown, says the assassination looks like a planned attack. PRE-REC
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH LOUISE GARRETT
A scheme to encourage hospital staff to limit their sick leave by offering free trips is being criticised for compromising health standards. Northland Health has told staff those who take no more than two sick days till the end of October, will go in a draw to win free trips to Fiji or Queenstown. The Public Service Association says it encourages staff to turn up at work sick. Joining us is Northland PSA organiser, Mark Furey (fury) and Jane Holden, general manager surgical and critical care at Northland Health. LIVE
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
A Wellington District Court jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of a Lower Hutt pharmaceutical company charged with defrauding the Ministry of Health of 1.9 million dollars. Five managers and pharmacists of the Kentra company have pleaded not guilty to one charge each of conspiring to defraud the Ministry by lodging fraudulent claims. Our court reporter, David Venables, joins us now. Q + A
More teenagers are being prosecuted for drink driving offences since the legal drinking age was reduced to 18 five years ago. The figures come from an official report by the Ministry of Justice. It is the third in a series of reports to the Ministry, since the drinking law was liberalised in 1999. The report also indicates increasing binge drinking among teenagers. Eric Frykberg reports. PKG
The man who wants to take legal action against the Corrections Department over the triple killings at the Mt Wellington-Panumure RSA is optimistic his case will proceed. Tai Hobson, whose wife Mary was one of three people killed by William Bell when he was on parole, is seeking over half a million dollars in damages from the department.
The High Court in Auckland has been hearing arguments over whether the case should go ahead and today allowed Justice Heath reserved his decision. Kirsty Jones has this report. PKG
The MidCentral District Health Board has decided to get out of in-patient services in Fielding. The board has opted to exit maternity, pychogeriatric and continuing care services in the Manawatu town.
The birthing services will be permanently relocated at Palmerston North hospital, and private providers will be found to take over the other services. However, one member of the board, Barbara Robson, voted against the decision. She says the decision should not have been made until there was a long term [illegible], particularly for providing alternative psycogeriatric services. PRE-REC
Dozens of gays exchanged wedding vows today after Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to allow same-sex marriage. City halls began issuing marriage licences, in response to the State's Supreme Court ruling that ALL couples, regardless of their sexual orientation, should enjoy equal rights when it comes to marriage. The issue is set to dominate the race for the White House. Our Washington Correspondent John Terrett reports. PKG
MANA NEWS
CLOSE & THEME