Checkpoint FOR FRIDAY 14 DECEMBER 2012
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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In Samoa, roads are still neck deep in water, houses are smashed and uprooted trees litter the landscape, in the aftermath of the deadly cyclone that has killed at least three people - two of them children. There were fears Cyclone Evan would double back and deliver a second blow but it's now north east of the country heading towards Fiji. Reporter Jona Tuiletufuga (tulia-too-funga) says emergency services can't confirm the numbers of people killed, missing or injured. He says the damage in and around the capital Apia is the worst in 20 years - worse than both Cyclone Ofa in 1990 which killed seven people and Cyclone Val in 1991 which killed 16. IV
It's been revealed that Catholic primary school pupils attended a prayer group alongside a convicted paedophile and the church never warned the school about the man. St Joseph's school in Upper Hutt says it never would have let the children go if it had known. But the parish says it did not disclose the man's past because the school had no rules requiring it to do so. And the school's principal has been beaten up amid the speculation about the man. Cushla Norman reports: PKG The Catholic Education Office told Checkpoint it was up to the Wellington diocese to handle the matter - we hope to hear from them later in the programme. The Wellington diocese has not responded to our requests and the Ministry of Education so far has been unable to comment.
The Māori Party leadership is up for grabs with the co-leader, Tariana Turia, confirming she'll step down, while her colleague, Te Ururoa Flavell, is being vague about his future. Mrs Turia has confirmed she will not seek re-election at the end of this Parliamentary term. Here's our political reporter, Chris Bramwell. PKG
The American Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, has unexpectedly withdrawn from the race to succeed Hillary Clinton as US Secretary of State - following relentless opposition from Republicans. Jane Cowan in Washington filed this report : PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH
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Stargazers should turn their eyes to the night sky this weekend for what's been described as the best meteor shower of the year. Every year in mid-December, space debris from an asteroid hits the Earth's atmosphere, turning into meteors or shooting stars. The spectacle will be most visible over the next two days between one o'clock in the morning and sunrise. Grant Christie is an astronomer at the Stardome Observatory in Auckland. IV
It's the beginning of the Hollywood award season with the nominations for the annual Golden Globes being announced. The historical drama, Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg has topped the list. Media watchers often look to the Golden Globes as a preview of who's going to win the most Oscars. The BBC's Arts correspondent, Vincent Dowd, looks at the nominations - beginning with the top film. PKG
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17. 30 HEADLINES
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To Samoa, now where New Zealand's High Commissioner, Nick Hurley, is describing Cyclone Evan as the worst storm to hit in 20 years. At least three people have been killed - two of them children - and up to two thousand people have had to flee their homes. Power is still out for many and the police have confirmed that some children have drowned but won't yet say exactly how many. Nick Hurley says there are still no details yet on the number of people injured. IV
A defence lawyer has told a jury his client is guilty of manslaughter only, as the Phillip Cottrell murder trial draws to a close. And a second defence lawyer says his client had nothing to do with Mr Cottrell's death. The 43 year old journalist suffered severe head injuries in an attack on a Wellington street last year. The lawyer for Nicho Waipuka, Paul Paino (PIGH-eh-NOE) in his closing address today said the 20 year old is not guilty of murder. CUT The lawyer for 18 year old Manuel Robinson, Mike Antonovich (AN-tun-uh-VICH) reiterated what he said when the case opened two weeks ago, that the accused had no involvement whatsoever in any incident with Phillip Cottrell. CUT The prosecution lawyer, Grant Burston told the jury the main questions for them were to what extent each of the accused were involved and did either have murderous intent. CUT Our reporter, Lorna Perry, has been covering the trial in the High Court in Wellington and joins us now. IV
The war in Syria is entering a critical phase and the humanitarian crisis is growing more desperate for hundreds of thousands of civilians. Syria's staunchest ally Russia has acknowledged that the Syrian rebels might prevail. And the head of NATO says the end is fast approaching for the government of Bashar al-Assad. The ABC's Middle East correspondent Matt Brown reports : PKG
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17. 45 MANU KORIHI
Tēnā koutou katoa,
The co-vice president of the Māori Party, Ken Mair, says party co-leader, Tariana Turia will leave behind a number of legacies, but the main one will be her Whānau Ora policy.
Mrs Turia has confirmed she will not seek re-election at the end of this Parliamentary term.
She entered Parliament as a Labour Party MP in 1996, but then left the party in 2004 over the Foreshore and Seabed legislation and formed the Māori Party.
Mr Mair says Tariana Turia will also be remembered for her strong determination, and supporting her constituents by going against the Labour Party.
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OUT: ...THE Māori PARTY.
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Māori Party co-vice president, Ken Mair.
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Tūhoe says its upcoming Treaty settlement is critical for the welfare of its people - after the Crown's failure to deliver health services in Te Urewera over the last century.
A social services plan will be part of the agreement, which is due to be signed next year.
Under mana motuhake, the Government will help the tribe deliver its own health, housing and education services.
In a wide-ranging interview on Nine to Noon, the Tūhoe chief negotiator, Tamati Kruger, told the programme the settlement will allow the iwi to provide for its people.
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The Tūhoe chief negotiator, Tamati Kruger.
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Tukoroirangi Morgan expects competition when he bids to become chair of the Waikato-Tainui parliament - Te Kauhanganui.
The person who held that position, Tania Martin, has told Te Manu Korihi she has walked away from the job - following calls by King Tuheitia for her to step down.
The King recently appointed Tukoroirangi Morgan as his representative on the tribal executive Te Arataura.
Mr Morgan says he'll seek election to become head of the parliament next February - and people will have their say.
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Whanganui trust Tūpoho Whānau signed a deed with the local council today, which paves the way for a new resource recovery centre to be built on the site of the city's old prison.
Heugh Chappell reports:
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That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a final bulletin in an hour.
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More and more students are wagging school and failing courses as they feed their addiction to online video games. Many teacher say boys especially are spending every waking and sleeping hour playing or thinking about games and often become aggressive when their parents try to stop them. Our social issues reporter, Teresa Cowie, has the story. PKG
The South Africa's President Jacob Zuma is facing a leadership challenge from his deputy, Galema Motlanthe gah-LAY-muh mot-LAN-tee. The vote will take place at this weekend's party conference. The governing African National Congress is under pressure amid accusations that it is not doing enough to boost the economy or tackle corruption. And as Hugh Sykes reports from Durban, the party's lost the confidence of some of its supporters: PKG