HEADLINES & NEWS
FIJI ARMY SAYS A GOVT COULD BE NAMED SOON
Fiji's military ruler says he will name a civilian government within days, and it will not include coup leader George Speight or his supporters. Negotiations between Commodore Frank Bainimarama and Speight, who is holding 31 hostages, have been deadlocked for more than a week over the makeup of Fiji's next administration. Commodore Bainimarama's martial law regime has taken steps that meet a number of Speight's demands - including throwing out Fiji's constitution and offering an amnesty to key supporters. I'm joined now by our reporter in Suva, Shona Geary. LIVE
ELECTRICITY INQUIRY OFFERS NO GUARANTEES
The head of the government inquiry into the electricity industry is offering no guarantee that power prices will go down if its recommendations are adopted by the Government. The report by an enquiry team headed by former Labour cabinet minister, David Caygill, follows a four month investigation into whether power is being delivered to consumers in an efficient and environmentally sustainable manner. Claire Silvester has this report: PKG
Joining us now is Energy Minister Pete Hodgson.
TENSION BUILDS AS PARLIAMENT PREPARES TO MEET
In Solomon Islands there's been fresh exodus of local people from the capital Honiara, as tensions builds towards an expected flashpoint on Thursday. That's when the Prime MInister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu is expected to resign even if he wins a no-confidence motion in Parliament that day. Honiara is under the control' of the rebel group the Malaita Eagle Force, who say the Prime MInister must go over his mishandling of the ethnic crisis which has forced thousands of Malaitans off the main island of Guadalcanal. The Isatabu Freedom Movement which is blamed for forcing the Malaitans out, controls areas outside the town. New Zealand's HIgh Commissioner to the Solomons Nick Hurley says there's huge anxiety over what will happen on Thursday. PRE REC
Meanwhile, the Australian navy transport ship Tobruk has arrived in Cairns with nearly five hundred people evacuated from Honiara. Among the 478 passengers are 30 nationalities - the majority Australians and New Zealanders. Several passengers were taken to hospital after the rough three-day voyage, some suffering from dehydration while there were five cases of malaria. One passenger says that while it wasn't luxury, there was plenty of food. AUDIO. The commanding officer of the Tobruk Vinn Thompson told the ABC the biggest problem on the trip was seasickness. AUDIO.
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NORTH AND SOUTH MAKE HISTORIC MEETING
The historic Korean summit that may pave the way for reconciliation between two countries still technically at war began just a few hours ago in Pyongyang in North Korea. Earlier this afternoon, the South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met at the airport, promising broad and wide ranging talks. It's the first meeting between the two countries' leaders since Korea was formally separated in 1948 - I asked reporter Caroline Gluck to describe the moment.
SHAREHOLDERS SUE DIRECTOR FOR INSIDER TRADING
Two Fletcher Challenge shareholders are suing the company's former chairman, Kerry Hoggard, for insider trading. Last week, the Securities Commission said Mr Hoggard breached the law when he bought Fletcher shares a day before the company announced a major restructuring. Mr Hoggard says the purchase was an administrative mistake and has reimbursed the profit he made. Business Roundtable executive director Roger Kerr and Catherine Franks, the wife of ACT MP and securities law expert Stephen Franks, are taking the case against Mr Hoggard - Stephen Franks joins me now
COURT GETS MONEY FOR MāORI LAND
The Government has announced a major funding boost for the Māori Land Court in [illegible] to speed up returning Māori land to productive use. Large blocks of multi-owned Māori land have been unproductive for years because of the difficulty of establishing ownership and management systems. At a pre-budget announcement in Rotorua, the Courts Minister, Matt Robson, and the Māori Affairs Minister, Dover Samuels, have announced the Māori Land Court will get an extra six-point-two million dollars over three years. Our Māori Issues Correspondent Chris Wikaira joins us now to explain. LIVE
RALLY HELD IN MEMORY OF KILLING
In Auckland, a community peace rally is being held for journalist Kylie Jones, who was killed in a Glen Innes park last week. The rally started at the Glen Innes marae and will end at the Eastview Reserve, where Ms Jones' body was found. Our reporter Lisa Owen is there - she joins me now. LIVE
LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW...
Roads are re-opening after the first heavy snowfalls of the winter closed some major routes in both the North and South Islands. While the antarctic cold snap has disrupted motorists, farmers have taken the snowfalls in tehir stride, while ski-field operators are celebrating the early start to the season. Jill [illegible] reports. PKG
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