Checkpoint FOR WEDNESDAY 29 AUGUST 2012
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Misery today for Huntly and Greymouth with hundreds of coal miners learning they stand to lose their jobs. The country's biggest coal miner, State-owned Solid Energy is looking at mothballing Spring Creek Mine north of Greymouth where 230 miners and 130 contractors work. And, hit by the downturn in world coal prices, it's definitely cutting 140 other jobs, including 63 at the Huntly East Mine in Waikato. Solid Energy's chief executive Don Elder told a news conference a short time ago they're looking at all options at Spring Creek. CUT The plug's being pulled too on 100 million dollars of capital investment, and Solid Energy will sell or close its biodiesel business. As well, 60 outside contractors will go Don Elder says the workers in Huntly told his team they had suspected the news might be worse today Last week the Government said Solid Energy was not in good enough shape to be included any time soon in its partial privatisation of state assets. Don Elder denies these moves are about maximising the value of Solid Energy ahead of any privatisation. CUT The company will now enter a consultation round with its workers with a final decision due within weeks.
A union organiser with the EPMU, Garth Elliot says the company is looking at four or five options at Spring Creek. PRE REC
Apprehensive, frightened and subdued. That's how Stewart Murray Wilson is feeling on his first day out of jail in almost 20 years, according to those who've been with him. But the serial rapist is keeping a low profile, ignoring the large pack of journalists camped out at Whanganui Prison eager for any glimpse of the 65-year-old. Our justice reporter, Tim Graham, filed this from Whanganui. PKG
The Government's announced its suspending local government elections in Kaipara until 2015 - in the wake of a highly critical report on the debt-ridden Kaipara district council. And it’s appointed four commissioners to run the district - for the next three years. The Local Government Minister David Carter has today released a report by the review team that's investigated the council's competence after a community uproar and rates rebellion. That report has found the council was simply not capable of dealing with the challenges it faces - and after a preview of that report last week the council agreed to step down. It held its last meeting in Dargaville today - heckled and booed by a full public gallery of angry ratepayers - as it adopted a controversial annual report and long term plan. CUT Greg Gent (as in gentleman) chaired the team which reviewed the Kaipara District Council and he joins the programme now: LIVE
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Kate Gudsell
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Hurricane Isaac has crashed ashore in southeast Louisiana bringing with it a dangerous storm surge. It's going to be the first test for New Orleans' multibillion dollar flood defences put in place after Hurricane Katrina 7 years ago. Dave Cohen from WWL newstalk radio is on the line now from the city. LIVE
The internet tycoon Kim Dotcom is hailing another legal victory, with a high court judge this afternoon granting him access to six million dollars of his own money. The Megaupload founder has had the bulk of his property and funds frozen since his arrest in January. Our reporter, Bridget Mills, is covering the case. LIVE
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17.30 HEADLINES
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More than two hundred West Coast miners are in limbo over their jobs this evening with Solid Energy announcing it's reviewing the future of the Spring Creek underground coal mine. The SOE says it's struggling with plunging coal prices and a persistently high New Zealand dollar and will earn 200 million dollars less than expected this year. It's confirmed 140 jobs are going elsewhere including 63 at its Huntly East Mine and today told 230 angry workers at Spring Creek near Greymouth that it doesn't now long they'll have their jobs for. We're joined now by the Grey District mayor, Tony Kokshoorn - and the mayor of Waikato District Allan Sanson. LIVE
Schools are being told to do a better job of teaching and that too many of them are simply forgetting about their students. In a report out today the Education Review Office outlines three problems facing schools, a lack of focus on individual students, not providing a rich enough curriculum, and not paying enough attention to pupils' progress. It says between a third and a half of schools are still not doing enough to meet the needs of struggling students. The Chief Executive Dr Graham Stoop says the principals were told the same thing four years and it’s frustrating there's been no improvement. And he says some principals are too soft on teachers. He's with us now. LIVE
CUT That's Ann Romney speaking at the Republican convention in Florida, where she tried to convince voters of her husband Mitt's softer side and make him seem less out of touch. Our correspondent Simon Marks spoke to us from the convention, just after Ann Romney finished her speech. PRE REC
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17.45 MANU KORIHI
Tēnā koutou katoa, good evening,
Māori have asked to become a member of a sub-group of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The Polynesian Leaders Group, made up of eight nations including the Cook Islands, Niue, and Samoa, is meeting in Rarotonga - where the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum is being held.
The Polynesian group aims to work together on issues in the Polynesian triangle, which includes trade.
Some Iwi delegates representing multiple iwi are in Rarotonga, and have expressed interest in joining.
An iwi representative who's there, Mark Solomon, the kaiwhakahaere for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, says Māori want to rekindle their relationship with their Pacific whanaunga.
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Mark Solomon of Ngāi Tahu.
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An independent assessor has criticised the way the Ministry of Social Development reviewed the performance of the Waipareira Trust's provision of services for at-risk families with babies.
The Trust's taking legal action against the Ministry over the termination of its one-point-four million dollar contract to deliver the Government's Family Start welfare scheme.
Jessica Maddock reports:
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To a significant land rights decision across the Tasman now....
And the Federal Court of Australia has recognised native title rights over more than 30-thousand square kilometres of western Queensland.
The State Government says the court's recognised the rights and interests of the Pitta Pitta people over 66 parcels of land near Boulia.
The determination settles a claim first lodged in 1999.
Queensland's Natural Resources Minister, Andrew Cripps, says an Indigenous land use agreement's also been negotiated between the state and the Pitta Pitta people to resolve native title issues in the township.
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A Northland GP says a conference on keeping Māori doctors healthy is important, as some are burning out from the demands of the job as well as being community leaders.
Tomorrow, the annual Māori Medical Practitioners' Association conference is being held in Northland for the first time since it began about 15 years ago.
Northland GP Lance O'Sullivan says a Māori doctor's workload can be strenuous as they're not just medical practitioners within their communities - they're also frequently called on for other reasons and to fill leadership roles.
About 150 health care providers will attend the conference, at Koroukore Marae at Ahipara from Thursday to Sunday.
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a further bulletin in an hour.
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The Prime Minister John Key says it's a reality that China's presence is growing throughout the Pacific and around the world - and there's not much New Zealand can do about it. But speaking on the opening day of the Pacific Islands Forum in Rarotonga, Mr Key said he's not worried about it. CUT Our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson, is there. LIVE
More than a thousand people marched to the steps of Parliament today in support of a bill to legalise same-sex marriage. The Marriage Amendment Bill in the name of the Labour MP, Louisa (loo-issa) Wall, will have its first reading in a few hours, and is expected to have support through to the select committee stage. Here's our political reporter, Demelza Leslie. PKG