1700 to 1707 NEWS
More than 800 used imported Mitsubishi Fuso trucks and buses including 70 school buses have been ordered off the road, to undergo urgent saftey inspections because of a design flaw that could cause the wheels to fall off. The Land Transpoprt Saftey Authority has told owners to stop using their vehicles and that they have 21 days to get them fixed otherwise their certificate of fittness will be revoked. This follows a recall of more than one hundred thousand vehicles in Japan. Despite the warnings schools buses have been allowed to make their afternoon runs. MIke Bickley is a technical advisor with the Bus and Coach Association has been in touch with all the operators today. I asked him why children weren't allowed to bus home. PRE-REC
The Director of Land Transport Safety David Wright is with us now. LIVE
Six out of seven suspects arrested in Fiji's major Methamphetamine lab bust [illegible] appeared in Suva Magistrate's court today. The six have been remanded in custody until the 25th of June when they will appear in Fiji's High Court. They have yet to plea on a charge of unauthorised manufacture of a class A drug. Fijian police spokesman, Mesake Koroi says investigations are continuing into the New Zealand connection. PRE-REC
Occupational Safety and Health is to prosecute the Canterbury District Health Board for failing to take all practicable steps to protect its staff from patients. The charge relates to an incident at Hillmorton Hospital last November when a staff member was assaulted by a patient, and suffered a broken nose. The District Health Board says it will vigorously defend the charge, with a preliminary hearing to be held in the Christchurch District Court next month. Joining us now is the General Manager Mental Health Services, at Canterbury District Health Board, Vince Barry LIVE
A new report warns the closure of the so-called "tank farm" in central Auckland will put about 4-thousand jobs at risk. The terminal is used to store large quantities of vegetable oils, chemicals, bitumen, molasses and fuel oils. The [illegible] study says its closure will see food prices rise and seriously affect hundreds of businesses. Brad Markham reports. PKG
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH ROBYN CUBIE
Police at Christchurch's Papanui station say they're literally surrounded by hundreds of items recovered after a spate of burglaries across the city. They say the office, two vehicles and even a fomer cell are being used to house the goods which include everything from cameras, TVs and furniture to jewellery and oil paintings. Constable Vaughan Lapslie is with us now. LIVE
New Zealand entertainers have been paying tribute to the legendary singer, and rhythm and blues pianist, Ray Charles, who has died in Los Angeles aged 73. The man regarded as the "father of soul" triumphed over childhood poverty, blindness and a heroin addiction to become one of the world's most inspirational entertainers. Penny Mackay has this report. PKG
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
Laywers for the Australian terrrorist suspect David Hicks say the charges laid against him by America are weak, and appeared to be stretching the truth. Hicks, who's been held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, for more than two years, faces charges of conspiracy, murder and aiding the enemy. No date has been set for the trial. Joining us now is one of Hick's lawyers, Stephen Kenny LIVE
The board of trustees of the beleagured Cambridge High School says it will co-operate in any investigation launched by the Auditor-General. The school is already facing investigations by the Education Review Office and the Qualifications Authority after claims of staff bullying and exam manipulation. In the latest move, the Minister of Education has asked the Auditor-General to launch an inquiry into allegations of conflict of interest.
Our reporter, Andrew McRae has been following the story and he joins me now. Q & A
Hundreds of people have packed into a Palmerston North warehouse throughout the [illegible] chasing bargains at the controversial sale of goods donated to southern North Island flood victims. There had been some concern the huge sale of goods would put some second hand shops out of business. But the Red Cross, which has organised the sale says it has had a lot of support for the garage sale. Jill Galloway reports. PKG
An expert in medical ethics is urging Māori and Pacific Islanders to take a united stance in dealing with foreign research companies, to avoid being ripped off. Small indigenous populations are particularly attractive to drug companies keen to develop medicines genetically tailored to suit the individual. Population groups with very similar genetic makeup are a good starting point for that research. Professor Donna Dickenson is the Director of the Global Ethics Centre at the University of Birmingham who's in Wellington this week speaking at conference on research ethics. PRE-REC
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