Checkpoint FOR FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2012
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The Government's released a major new China economic strategy amid the controversy over Chinese corporates buying farmland here. The strategy says that farm sales to foreigners are a sensitive issue but adds that officials are working on a policy to attract more Chinese investment, which is worth about one point eight billion dollars now. This comes on the day the High Court in Wellington is hearing a challenge over the sale of 16 Crafar dairy farms to Chinese investor Shanghai Pengxin. (pung shin) Earlier this week John Key said the Government would consider changing the law if there was both a significant increase in land sales to foreigners and increasing opposition from the public. Steven Joyce is the Minister for Economic Development - he's with us now LIVE
An urgent demolition is being organised in Christchurch because authorities have discovered critical structural damage to an apartment complex. The Earthquake Recovery Authority says the Terrace on the Park apartments were damaged during Decembers quake but has only just been picked up . As Katy Gosset reports, the discovery has authorities renewing their calls for owners to recheck buildings. PKG
It's feared that one hundred bodies are trapped inside the ferry that sank off Papua New Guinea yesterday. 238 survivors of the Rabaul Queen's sinking have so far been rescued but searchers have yet to find any bodies. Passengers say the ship was overcrowded and the shipping company's offices have been attacked amid growing public anger. PNG's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neil, says there should be an investigation into why the ferry sank. Bridget Tunnicliffe reports:
PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Naomi Mitchell
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The Corrections Department says it's not embarrassed that a man on home detention was able to cook up millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine without visiting probation officers noticing anything. Scott Filer (Fye-ler) has today been jailed for more than 17 years for his part in one of the country's biggest meth syndicates. He was being electronically monitored at a house in Whangamata between October 2009 and February 2010 after being convicted for attempting to pervert the course of justice. The police says he could have cooked up to five kilos of meth during that time. The head of Probation Services Katrina Casey says staff visited him at least fortnightly and saw no signs of drug making. PREREC
The Rugby Sevens is in full swing in Wellington, and the host team is determined to defend their title and add a sixth home crown to their trophy cabinet. Along with that expectation, the tournament also has the reputation for being the most colourful on the circuit, drawing a crowd of thirty five thousand over two days. Our sports reporter, Joe Porter, is at Westpac stadium. LIVE
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The Government's released a major new China economic strategy amid the controversy over land sales to foreigners. But a critic says the strategy, which aims to boost cross investment and double bilateral trade within three years, still falls short. Our economics correspondent, Nigel Stirling, reports PKG
The sale of the Crafar farms to a Chinese conglomerate has been put on hold after a court hearing today. A High Court Judge has reserved his decision on whether officials followed the correct procedures in okaying the sale of the 16 North Island dairy farms to the Shanghai Pengxin Group . It's the first such Judicial Review of the Overseas Investment Office's practices.
Our Court reporter Ann Marie May was at today's hearing. LIVE
Protesters in Egypt, angered by the deaths of more than seventy people at a football riot have clashed with security forces in Cairo. The demonstrators threw rocks at the security personnel in the city's main square and police responded with tear gas and live ammunition. They are demanding answers and seeking retribution against the military government for the lack of security at the venue in Port Said. Peter Cave sent this report for the ABC: PKG
The Mayor of Nelson, Aldo Miccio (al-doh meech-ee-oh), says it will cost about 40-million dollars to fix the damage caused in Nelson and Tasman by the record flooding in December. Mr Miccio says repairs will take up to ten years to complete, and the costs will be spread over that time.
Geoff Moffett reports. PKG
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17.45 MANU KORIHI
Kia ora Mary, Tēnā Koutou Katoa
The chance of the Nelson City Council becoming the first unitary authority in New Zealand to have a Māori ward, is far from certain.
Last November councillors voted unanimously in favour of a resolution to create a Māori ward in time for the 2013 local government elections.
But this week the Local Government Commission approved a merger of the Nelson City and Tasman District Councils.
Nelson's Mayor Aldo aldoh Miccio meech ee oh says if ratepayers vote for amalgamation there won't be a Māori ward.
NELSON MāORI TP
IN......AND WHEN I'VE
OUT..HAVE ONE COUNCIL
DUR...22"
Aldo aldoh Miccio meech ee oh says if amalgamation goes ahead, the new council will have a Māori advisory board.
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Climate change, education, the constitution and the partial State Asset sales are among some of the topics that'll be discussed by Iwi leaders at Waitangi.
The Iwi Chairs Forum will hold its first meeting for this year, in the Bay of Islands tomorrow.
Rosemary Rangitauira will be covering events at Waitangi, and filed this report.
IN the hui will be hosted
OUT this is Rosemary Rangitauira
DUR 51
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The Māori Party has issued advice to iwi on the Government's draft paper on partial asset sales, before the consultation hui start next week.
The Waiariki MP, Te Ururoa Flavell, says the three options proposed in the paper do not require private shareholders to act in accordance with the Treaty.
Mr Flavell says the party is urging iwi to ensure that section nine of the State-Owned Enterprises Act, which requires the Crown to act in accordance with the Treaty, is at least maintained.
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The head of the Awanui Rūnaka in Southland, Sir Tipene O'Regan, says the Ngāi Tahu Treaty Festival will be used to discuss the Constitutional review, and pollution in the Waituna Lagoon.
Te Rau Aroha Marae near Bluff is the centre for the large event on Waitangi day where Murihiku members of the iwi will converge and commemorate close to Ruapuke Island in Foveaux Strait - one of the three locations Ngāi Tahu signed the Treaty in 1840.
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Auckland's largest hapū won't be holding its annual Ōkahu Bay Waitangi Day festival.
Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei says its commitment to the Rugby World Cup has absorbed a lot of energy and sponsorship funding.
The sub-tribe is instead considering plans for an official celebration next month.
However, a Ngāti Whātua member, Louise Te Aroha Simpson, says she's organising a free event at Ōkahu Bay on Monday - with music all day and entertainment for tamariki.
that's TMK news and I'll have a further bulletin in about an hour