Checkpoint FOR WEDNESDAY 11 MAY 2011
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The Labour Party is making a link between the renewal of a Government contract for BMWs and a fifty thousand dollar donation to the National Party. The purchase of 34 new BMWs has been an embarrassment for the Prime Minister, John Key, after he admitted signing off the documents for the contract, without reading them. But now Labour has raised fresh questions about the matter. Here's our political reporter, Liz Banas. PKG
The Government is moving to push more of the cost of KiwiSaver onto employers and workers, saving itself hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. The Prime Minister, John Key, announced today that the Budget will require businesses and KiwiSaver members to pay more into the scheme, while the tax-credit from the Government will be reduced. Here's our political reporter, Julian Robins. PKG
With us now is our political editor Brent Edwards Q&A
The Government stands accused of granting, only begrudging and inadequate compensation to two innocent men who spent more than nine months in jail. Phillip Johnston and Jaden Knight are being paid a total of more than 360 thousand dollars over their wrongful conviction and imprisonment for the 2003 arson of the Manawatu Hotel in Foxton. After meeting the Justice Minister today, Jaden Knight said he accepts Simon Power's apology. But he says the nature of the compensation brings back his experience of being bullied by the police. CUT In retrials ordered in 2005 Mr Johnston was acquitted and Mr Knight discharged. The Justice Minister Simon Powers says he's disturbed at the men's treatment. CUT The men's families say they are extremely worried the detective in charge of the original investigation, Peter Govers is still employed by the police and has not apologised. Phillip Johnston's mother Darrell Arcus was scathing about Mr Govers. CUT Peter Govers was demoted to the rank of senior constable in 2007 after admitting disgraceful conduct in relation to a separate case, in which a judge called his behaviour reprehensible.
The Commander of the central police district Superintendent Russell Gibson is defending Peter Govers. PRE-REC
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH AMY WILLIAMS
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Christchurch police have arrested six people, accusing them of stealing about 200-thousand dollars worth of hair care products, clothing and electronics. They says the group committed more than 50 offences across Christchurch city since September last year, and more than 40 police staff were involved in this mornings operation. Detective Senior Sergeant John Rae says most of what was stolen was easy for the thieves to sell on. PRE-REC
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The Government is planning to increase the number of speed cameras and give speeding drivers demerit points instead of fines, in a new plan to help lower the road toll. The transport Minister, Steven Joyce, today announced the changes in his road safety strategy for the next decade. Other plans include lower speed restrictions on some roads, and improving high-risk country roads and city intersections. The Transport Minister, Steven Joyce, is on the line. LIVE
The Ngapuhi man who announced today he's moved the bones of Hone Heke says he'll now consult the iwi about a permanent resting place for the famous chief. David Rankin says he moved the bones before dawn this morning to a new and safer location near Kaikohe. He took our reporter Lois Williams to the spot. PKG
The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has labelled China's human rights record deplorable. Her comments come on the back of a recent crackdown by Beijing on political dissidents and at the conclusion of two days of historic talks between the United States and China in Washington. The two sides made some progress on a range of trade topics, but there were no big breakthroughs on two of the most divisive issues in bilateral relations: human rights, and the size of the America's trade deficit with China. From Washington, Priscilla Huff reports. PKG
The Governor of the Reserve Bank says the housing market is recovering but he isn't expecting a surge in prices. That's despite the central bank's twice-yearly Financial Stability Report, released earlier today, saying houses are over-valued, and could fall further. I asked Alan Bollard what could make that happen. PRE-REC
An Italian equivalent of Ken Ring is causing panic in Rome. The internet is abuzz with rumours that a long dead seismologist, Raffaele Bendandi, predicted Rome would be destroyed by a devastating earthquake today, on May the eleventh 2011. That's forced civil defence authorities and state television to try to downplay Romans' jitters. The BBC's Duncan Kennedy joins us now from Rome. LIVE
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17.45 WAATEA
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Despite extensive air searches by a New Zealand Airforce Orion and shoreline searches by the Kiribati police, there is still no sign of the six young people missing off the Kiribati coast. The group aged between eight and 19 set out in a canoe towing a smaller dinghy last Friday, to collect palm leaves for roofing. Today came confirmation the canoe has been found. Greg Johnston from the New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre joins me now. LIVE
The veteran American politician and former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, looks likely to become the first major Republican to formally announce he will run for the presidency next year. At present, there's no clear Republican frontrunner to take on Barack Obama. Here's the BBC's North America editor, Mark Mardell. PKG