Checkpoint FOR THURSDAY 31 MAY 2012
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Intermediate Schools have fired a warning shot over class sizes with the call going out today for a boycott of the Ministry of Education. And the pressures ratcheted up further on the Minister Hekia Parata whose post-budget breakfast meeting with Porirua business leaders was gate-crashed by a hundred protesters. One of them, father of three, Mathew Manninen, whose daughter is in a class of 29 at Tawa Intermediate, says there's already too much pressure on teachers. CUT And in Parliament Ms Parata came in for questioning for a third (Corr) day running over class sizes. The Green MP, Catherine Delahunty, asked the minister what might happen at the end of the three year period when the Government's guaranteed no school will lose more than two fulltime teaching positions. CUT Like yesterday, Hekia Parata was unavailable to speak with Checkpoint. And the Education Ministry's chief executive, Lesley Longstone was also too busy to speak to us now. Gary Sweeney is the president of the Association of Intermediate and Middle Schooling and the principal of Pukekohe Intermediate School. LIVE
After more than 280 days closed by massive landslides, the Manawatu Gorge road has been reopened, though only one lane. One-way traffic from Woodville to Ashhurst began rolling through the gorge at about four o'clock, for the first time since August. The Manawatu region has haemorrhaged money during the closure, with the local economic development agency putting the losses at 62-thousand dollars a day. The Transport Agency says motorists and crews are jubilant at the reopening. Mainfreight truck driver, Marsh Graham, was one of the first to drive through the newly re-opened road this afternoon. He's with us now. LIVE
Days after the massacre of more than 100 people in the Syrian town of Houla, there is new evidence of atrocities in the country's east. United Nations observers have confirmed that the bound bodies of 13 men, who appear to have been shot at close range, were found near the city of Deir al-Zour (deer al zoor). With Moscow refusing to agree to military intervention, the United States is feeling the heat from the Syrian rebels and the world community to come up with a solution to the seemingly intractable conflict. And, as the ABC's Brendan Trembath reports now from Washington, it appears everyone there has an opinion. PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Patrick O'Meara
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A nationwide manhunt is underway in Canada for 29-year-old, Luka Rocco Magnotta, who is suspected of sending packages containing severed human limbs to political parties. Our correspondent in Canada, Lee Carter, says the first parcel with a decomposing foot inside, was delivered to the Conservative Party headquarters in Ottawa. PREREC
In Doha - the family of the crèche-owner, who has been detained after the fatal mall fire that killed 19 people, has questioned the response time of rescue teams - and says the owner tried to save the children herself. Authorities have ordered the arrest of five people, including the owners of the shopping mall and day-care centre. In the meantime the father of the New Zealand triplets who died in the blaze says it was a horrible accident and no-one is to blame. READER + CUTS
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17.30 HEADLINES
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An opponent of Fonterra's controversial ownership scheme says his fears of huge rifts and divisions among farmers have been confirmed, by documents sent out about the plans.
Farmers have found out the final details of the scheme, prior to a vote over the next few weeks by Fonterra's 10 and a half thousand suppliers on the proposal. In June 2010 farmers voted overwhelmingly for the Trading among Farmers or TAF scheme which allows them to cash in shares which are then held in a fund. Outside investors can buy units in the fund giving them dividends and income, but not voting rights in the country's biggest exporter. Rotorua dairy farmer Lachlan McKenzie, who used to chair the dairy section of Federated Farmers, opposes the TAF. He joins us now. LIVE
The once widely touted approaching P epidemic is fizzling out with new figures suggesting the number of people using the drug has halved. And the police say fewer people are taking it up because methamphetamine is now seen as less socially acceptable. William Ray reports. PKG
The Foreign Affairs Minister says the soldiers being sent to Papua New Guinea are there to help people vote in next month's election not to get embroiled in any political violence.
Three Iroquois helicopters and 40 people from the Air Force will be part of a contingent of about 250, with the remaining from the Australian military. PNG has been involved in a leadership battle for the past 10 months, since Sir Michael Somare was ousted as Prime Minister. Mr McCully says Port Moresby asked for help with the election some time ago. PREREC
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17.45 MANU KORIHI
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The Chairman of Ngāti Porou says the Gisborne Council has failed to honour its Treaty of Waitangi obligation, over plans for a flood protection scheme on the East Coast.
Apirana Mahuika told the Council's Hearings Committee yesterday the rūnanga isn't opposed to the Waiapū river scheme, but objects to not being adequately consulted over proposed rate increases.
Heugh Chappell reports:
TREATY BREACH VCR
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OUT....IS HEUGH CHAPPELL
DUR...46"
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South Taranaki iwi representatives opposed to a water privatisation bill appeared before a Select Committee in Wellington this morning.
The Cold Creek Rural Water Supply Bill is sponsored by the local National MP, Chester Borrows.
Four South Taranaki iwi are against the bill - because if it becomes law - pipes running from a stream to about 400 people will be privately owned by a group of local farmers.
The general manager of Taranaki Iwi Trust, Liana Poutu, says she and others from Taranaki wanted to tell the committee why they're opposed to the plan.
WATER-BEFORE-TP
IN our submission today
OUT discussion about alternative options
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Liana Poutu.
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Northern iwi who launched a new broadband venture today have paid tribute to the Chinese company that's financed it.
Tai Tokerau Networks - made up of the rūnanga of Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whātua, and Whaingaroa are celebrating the completion of a fibre-optic cable delivering ultra-fast broadband from Auckland to Whangārei.
It's the first Māori-owned broadband network in Aotearoa.
The Te Rarawa chairman Haami Piripi says the iwi were unable to win support from the New Zealand government or companies - but the Chinese Telco - CCS - has proved to be the best backer they could have wished for.,
HAAMI TANIWHA
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OUT: ... Of our own tūpuna.
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Haami Piripi.
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A new group has been formed to oversee the Bay of Plenty's Rangitaiki River and its catchments.
The group is made up of a 50-50 split of iwi and council members - and will share responsibility for the management and protection of the river.
The Rangitaiki River Forum is the first Treaty settlement in the region to involve co-governance of a river.
It's been established through Treaty settlements for Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Whare.
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a further bulletin in an hour.
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Two Christchurch painters had a lucky find today, stumbling across about 60-thousand dollars in coins lying in bags on the side of the road. The police say it appears a pallet of coins fell off a freight truck coming from the BNZ in Invercargill and heading to the security firm, ACM Services. Most of the bags were intact but a number had broken open. One of the painters, Jaime Stephens, is with us now... LIVE
To the United States, where papers have been filed to dismiss what's described as the flawed case against Kim Dotcom. The Megaupload founder faces extradition to the US on charges of internet piracy and money laundering in what's been called the largest criminal copyright case in the world. Ira Rothken is the internet millionaire's American lawyer, and says the US isn't following its own rules. PREREC
The British parents of six children killed in a Derby house fire have been charged with their murder. The BBC's Chris Barclay reports. PKG