1700 to 1707 NEWS
Nine million dollars worth of crystal methamphetamine, hidden inside a shipment of lava lamps, has been seized in Auckland - in what's being described as one of the country's biggest drug hauls. Customs officers uncovered 9 kilos of the crystal meth inside 30 lamps, which had been sent from China by what's believed to be an international drug trafficking ring. A 23 year old Chinese student has been charged with importing a Class A controlled drug and police say more arrests are likely. Detective Sergeant John Sowter says the shipment came inside four boxes which were destined for an Auckland address. PRE REC
Parliament is due to publicly condemn anti-semitism in New Zealand, following a second attack on a jewish cemetry in Wellington. Up to one hundred graves were desecrated and a Jewish Chapel was totally destroyed at Makara Cemetery early this morning. It follows over a dozen gravestones being smashed and swastika's [illegible] drawn into the grass in a central Wellington cemetry last month. PKG
A jury at the High Court in Auckland has heard a television personailty found bashed to death at his Auckland home had a sex life that was out of control. Both sides have made their closing addresses in the trial of 24 year old Philip Edwards who is accused of murdering David McNee who was found dead in his St Mary's Bay home last July. Our reporter Monica Holt is at the HIgh Court. Q &A
A sixty metre long slip of clay and rock has caused major headaches for travellers between Kaikoura and Blenheim today. The slip happened three kilometres north of the Kekerengu Store - blocking State Highway One and covering the railway track. Owner of the Store, Richard McFarlane, describes the area affected. DROP IN
As well as delays for motorists, three rail freight services were disrupted, the Trans Coastal passenger service was cancelled, and about 150 ferry passengers had to transfer to later sailings. Trains can now get through, but road traffic is restricted to one lane. Barry Stratton, the Area Engineer for Transit New Zealand, joins us now. LIVE
Battle lines are being drawn on the Coromandel Peninsular following an Environment Court decision that has the potential to reopen parts of the region to gold mining. The ruling throws out a plan by the local district council to ban mining on the peninsular. The court decision will allow underground mining and limited surface mining, but only after resource consents were given and only under strict conditions. PKG
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH TODD NIALL
In Fiji, the vice president Ratu Jope Seniloli has been jailed for four years for unlawfully swearing in Ministers in a rebel government during a coup. Seniloli and four other officials were convicted by Fijis High Court yesterday for their roles in the May 2000 coup - which toppled the government of the then prime minister Mahendra Chaudry. Radio Fiji's reporter, Teresa Ralogaivou (rra-long-ae-vou) was there for the sentencing: PRE REC
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The veil of secrecy surrounding proceedings in Guantanamo Bay has, to a small extent, been lifted. Journalists have been allowed in for the first time to witness one of the review tribunals to establish whether the detainees are enemy combatants.
It's the first form of hearing for any of the 600 detainees, held without trial or access to laywers for more than two years. BBC PKG
The debate over the care of women by doctors and midwives has come to a head in the Wellington Coroner's Court this week with expert medical witnesses challenging the attitudes and experience of some midwives. Coroner Garry Evans has completed inquests into the deaths of two breech birth babies following home delivery by midwives. Cameron Elliot died in February last year after being born at his parents' home at Pekapeka Beach north of Wellington. Saskia Swagerman-Fugle died three and a half years ago after being delivered at her parents' home in Newtown. Our court reporter David Venables says the Coronor see strong similiarities between the two cases. Q & A
A [illegible] expert says a bill dealing with assisted human reproductive technology will ease the public's fears about the issue - but will have no effect on current practices. The health select committee has recommended a bill on the technology be passed, with some changes. But there's some political opposition to the system that will be set up under the legislation to deal with reproduction issues. PKG
In Sudan aid agencies are warning that the humanitarian crisis affecting more than two million people is getting worse. Some 30,000 people are thought to have been killed, and millions urgently need food, medicine, and shelter in the western Darfur region where two main rebel groups launched a revolt last year complaining of official neglect. Militias retaliated and terrified civilians have fled their homes. The Sudanese government and the United Nations have agreed on a plan to disarm the militias - but in the meantime Adrian McIntyre, an Oxfam worker in Darfur, says conditions are getting worse. He told me about one refugee camp where Oxfam is trying to help. PRE REC
In Whangarei today, the government launched the first regional strategy to [illegible] a national skills shortage. Northland is the first of five regions to make use of new funding to bring schools and employers together, with the aim of attracting more students into the trades. The strategy also aims to increase skill levels of workers generally and steer people into the jobs going begging in a fast growing economy. Lois Williams went along to the launch. PKG
Tributes have been pouring in for one of the world's greatest and most influential photographers, the Frenchman Henri Cartier Bresson, who died at the age of ninety-five. Bresson - often called the father of photojournalism - was a founder of the well-known Magnum picture agency and the first photographer to exhibit at the Louvre gallery, in Paris. Neda Ulaby (ned-ah oo-la-bee) of National Public Radio in the US has this report. PKG
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