Checkpoint FOR THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2010
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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It could be weeks before the Pike River coal mine is safe enough for recovery teams to bring out the bodies of the 29 men killed in this country's worst mining disaster in almost a century. The Prime Minister John Key says specialist equipment is being brought from Australia that could help stabilise the dangerous mix of gases that could still trigger more explosions. Mr Key met today with the families of the miners. cut Police Superintendent Gary Knowles is still heading the operation.cut Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall told reporters yesterdays second explosion didn't get rid of all the methane in the mine cut Peter Whittall says he's given the families a very rough timeframe of how long a recovery might take. cut.He says sealing the mine is still an option. cut Gary Knowles again defended the approach the rescue teams have taken since last Friday.cut The remaining staff at Pike River have been told they're being paid until the New Year. Peter Whittall says people want to help and want to keep working.cut
Our reporter Laura Davis was at today's news conference with Superintendent Gary Knowles in Greymouth and Andrew McRae was with Pike River Chief Executive Peter Whittall Live
The National Secretary of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, Andrew Little, has met with union members from the mine today.Live.
Parliament paid tribute to the miners today. And as Liz Banas reports the tragedy was also marked nearby with Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul tolling its bells for ten minutes at midday. PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH - Naomi Mitchell
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Three young Tokelau boys given up for dead after their small aluminium boat went missing in the Pacific Ocean in October have been rescued north east of Fiji. The 14 and 15 year olds were picked up yesterday by a tuna vessel heading to New Zealand. Apart from being badly sunburnt and very thin they seem astonishingly unscathed by their 50 day ordeal. They'd been attempting to row nearly 100 kilometres between two Tokelau islands and extensive searches at the time found nothing. Tai Fredickson says his crew spotted the boys late yesterday afternoon. pre-rec
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17.30 HEADLINES
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Two relief funds (The relief fund ) set up to help the families of those who lost loved ones in the Pike River Mine disaster have (has) so far raised more than a million dollars. Alongside that, Government agencies have launched a plan to offer extensive support to those in need. Steve Wilde reports. PKG
Tension is growing on the Korean Peninsula in the aftermath of the North Korean artillery barrage that's killed two soldiers and two civilian construction workers in the South.
The United States and South Korea are ramping up the pressure by announcing that they will push ahead with a planned naval war game beginning on Sunday. That's despite the fact that this week's attack from the North was triggered by just such a military exercise. Here's what some people in Seoul, had to say about the attack. cut The ABC's Stephen McDonnel is in Seoul. cut The head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, says the attack by Pyongyang comes as Kim Jong-il's health deteriorates and his son prepares to take over.cut And the US state department spokesperson PJ Crowley tried to sound firm without inflaming the situation further. cut Here's Stephen McDonnel again on the huge naval exercise which sparked the North Korean assault.cut.
The Auckland Council is making tentative first steps on a two billion dollar downtown rail tunnel, despite words of caution from the Government. The tunnel would link the rail terminus to Mount Eden, creating a rail loop which the council believes will transform the CBD and avert grid-lock. Our Auckland Correspondent Todd Niall reports. PKG
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17.45 WAATEA - Eru Rerekura
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The polls have just closed in Tonga where for the first time most of the MPs will be ordinary citizens, elected by ordinary citizens. 17 parliamentarians are up for election by the general public, while nobility has already elected a further nine. Our Pacific Issues Correspondent Richard Pamatatau is in Nuku'alofa .Live
The police say it may be days - or even weeks - before the Pike River Coal mine's environment is stabilised and the bodies of the 29 miners can be recovered. The officer in charge of the recovery operation, Superintendent Gary Knowles, says air samples are still being taken and it is still extremely risky to send people underground. Joining us now is a mining safety consultant at the University of Queensland, Associate Professor David Cliff.
Live
New research has found about half of families living in the country's most deprived areas have never even heard of the Working for Families Tax credit. Auckland University released the first findings from, Growing up in New Zealand its new longitudinal study at parliament today. Our social issues reporter, Teresa Cowie was there. PKG