Checkpoint FOR TUESDAY 31 JULY 2012
****************************
1700 to 1707 NEWS
****************************
The Pike River boss charged over safety failings at the doomed mine has been given a stern warning after he failed to appear or enter a plea in the Greymouth District Court today.
The judge agreed to give Peter Whittall's lawyers more time to consider the evidence but wants a plea from him at the next hearing in October.
A spokesperson for the families of dead miners, Bernie Monk is angry about that, and questions whether the strategy is to get the hearings moved to Wellington where the former Pike chief executive lives. CUT
As for Pike River Coal Limited, it faced 9 health and safety charges in court today but the receivers for the company entered no plea.
They say the company's just a shell and entering a plea will be costly.
Bernie Monk is angry about that too. CUT
The third and last party charged, Valley Longwall International Drilling, did appear in court and pleaded guilty to three charges brought by the Department of Labour, including failing to take all practicable steps to ensure its workers' safety.
Among its workers was the youngest of the 29 men to die at Pike in November 2010, Joseph Dunbar, who was 17.
VLI didn't want to be interviewed, and neither did Pike river coal's receiver.
Conan Young is in Greymouth covering the hearings. PRE REC
The ACT Party leader, John Banks, was back at Parliament today, where he fronted up to MPs about the police investigation into his mayoral campaign funds in 2010.
The police didn't find enough evidence to prosecute Mr Banks over Labour's complaints some donations had been wrongly declared as anonymous.
Here's our political reporter, Clare Pasley. PKG
A structural engineer who worked on the CTV building in Christchurch has conceded that there were significant design weaknesses.
David Harding was giving evidence for the second day at the Royal Commission into the buildings collapse that killed 115 people in the February 2011 earthquake.
He also says the builders might not have used the final approved plans.
Nicola Grigg reports. PKG
To Australia now, where the police say they've smashed an international drug ring and seized more than half a tonne of heroin and methamphetamine.
In Sydney, in the early hours of this morning, police arrested seven people with drugs worth about half a billion dollars.
The Australian Federal Police are still investigating the drugs syndicate and haven't ruled out further arrests.
The ABC's Will Ockenden has more. To Australia now, where the police say they've smashed an international drug ring and seized more than half a tonne of heroin and methamphetamine. PKG
***********************
1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH
************************
The Māori Party believes iwi claims to water will end up in the High Court after the Waitangi Tribunal released its interim report calling on the Government to delay selling shares in Mighty River Power.
The Prime Minister, John Key, concedes it's a possibility but says he is relaxed about the Tribunal's report.
Here's our political editor Brent Edwards. PKG
You've heard of Eddie the eagle, Eric the eel and now the new Olympic favourite is the sculling sloth.
Rower, Hammadou Djibo (jew-bow) Issaka from the west African nation of Niger was left for dead in his men's single sculls repechage, but his efforts have won over the fans.
The BBC's Andy Moore says the former swimmer only took up rowing this year. PRE REC
***********************
17.30 HEADLINES
***********************
Auckland's poorest communities are facing hefty increases for basic water services as a result of the creation of the new Auckland Council.
The supercity merger means Auckland's water company, Watercare, is changing the way it charges for wastewater.
Mani Dunlop reports that means some households in the former Manukau (man-oo-koe) City Council area are facing increases of over 40 percent. PKG
Animal control officers are marvelling at how a woman survived a vicious dog attack that lasted for at least two hours.
The woman, aged in her 60s, was attacked at home at the weekend by the Staffordshire-Pitbull Cross owned by her grandson.
Kevin Coutts, from the Rotorua District Council's Animal Control branch, says he may never see worse injuries from an attack.
He joins me now. LIVE
A long awaited asthma drug is to get funding, cutting the price of it for thousands of preschool children with severe and recurrent wheezing.
Some others too are covered by the decision by the drug-buying agency Pharmac to fund Montelukast (mont-ee-loo-kast).
Our Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, reports. PKG
***************
17.45 MANU KORIHI
Ngā mihi o te pō
The Māori Party says its job is to extend support to tribes - no matter what the government decides following the Waitangi Tribunal's water rights decision.
The Tribunal released an interim direction yesterday recommending that the Crown delay its partial sale of state-owned assets - until the first part of its inquiry is finished.
The Government is considering its response to the inquiry's report.
The Māori Party's co-leader, Doctor Pita Sharples, says it looks likely that the matter will go to the High Court.
He says whatever the outcome, his caucus will be there for iwi.
IN and make sure
OUT and put before government
DUR 15
The co-leader of the Māori Party, Pita Sharples.
Ngāi Tahu says the newly released blueprint for the rebuild of central Christchurch indicates the iwi's ideas have been taken on-board.
This plan, unveiled yesterday, proposes a smaller downtown area with a new convention centre, a covered stadium, and precincts for arts, health and justice.
It also proposes a cultural centre to showcase and celebrate Ngāi Tahu, Māori and Polynesian traditions.
The Kaiwhakahaere or Chair of Ngāi Tahu, Mark Solomon, says the tribe has been listened to.
IN NGAI TAHU HAS HAD
OUT NOT JUST MONO
DUR 20 SECS
Mark Solomon says the blueprint is the beginning of a new era and the city now has a blank sheet to start again.
Ngāi Tahu says the newly released blueprint for the rebuild of central Christchurch indicates the iwi has been listened to.
Amelia Langford reports.
IN THE PLAN UNVEILED YESTERDAY
OUT THIS IS AMELIA LANGFORD
DUR 58 SECS
The MP for Te Tai Tonga, Rino Tirikatene says although the top of the South Island now has its first Māori language immersion school - there's still a case for more to be built.
Labour's Rino Tirikatene was among nearly 300 people who attended the opening of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tuia Te Matangi this month - to see a 30 year dream became a reality.
He says the future of the language depends on more tamariki being able to access instruction in the Māori language and to continue their development in it.
REO RINO TP
IN:.......VERY IMPORTANT WE...
OUT:...LEADERS OF THE FUTURE.
DUR:..15"
Te Tai Tonga MP, Rino Tirikatene.
A Northland Iwi leader is warning the government it may face litigation if it chooses to ignore an interim Waitangi Tribunal decision over water rights.
The Tribunal yesterday recommended that the partial sale of state owned assets should not go ahead until it's finished its inquiry into water rights.
The urgent hearing was sparked by an application by the Māori Council, which opposed the government's proposal to sell up to 49-per cent of shares in some power enterprises.
The chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, Haami Piripi, made a submission to inquiry into water rights.
He says the issue won't go away, and warns that the government shouldn't ignore Māori interest.
IN if the government were
OUT all parties involved
DUR 14
Haami Piripi of Te Rarawa.
One of the captains of the largest traditional Māori sailing canoe, says there are plans to have more exchanges with native American tribes to hold waka regattas in each country, and learn about different canoe construction techniques.
Chappy Harrison of Kaitaia led the waka tauā Te Hono Ki Aotearoa on the Thames river last month as part of the Queen's 60th Diamond Jubilee River Pageant.
Both he and Joe Conrad also captain New Zealand's largest waka Ngātokimatawhaorua.
He says Māori already have a good rapport with First Nations peoples in North America, but there are opportunities for more cultural exchanges.
WAKA-EXCHANGE-TP
IN:.......AND IN THE...
OUT:...AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
DUR:..21"
Chappy Harrison.
****************
The Suva High Court has found Fiji's ousted prime minister Laisenia Qarase guilty of all nine charges against him.
This follows a unanimous guilty verdict by assessors yesterday.
The charges against the 72 year old included abuse of office brought by Fiji's Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Our correspondent in Suva, Ricardo Morris, spoke to Radio New Zealand International's Megan Whelan shortly after the verdict. I/V
The man accused of opening fire at a midnight screening of the new "Batman" film in Denver, has been charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder - meaning he could get the death penalty if convicted.
James Holmes killed 12 people and wounded 58 others in the attack earlier this month.
In all, he faces 142 criminal charges.
More now from our correspondent in Denver, Steve Mort, who was at court today. PRE REC
The Irish writer Maeve Binchy has died after a short illness.
She was 72.
Her novels and short stories about small town Irish life were popular worldwide and translated into forty two languages, something she was very thankful for: CUT
Her last novel Minding Frankie was published in 2010, the same year she received a lifetime achievement award, from the Irish Book Awards.
The BBC's Ruth McDonald reports from Dublin. LONG VCR