HEADLINES & NEWS
COMMONWEALTH HOLDS MEETING IN FIJI
New Zealand's Minister of Foreign affairs Phil Goff says so far there's no sign of a compromise between political groups over a way out of Fiji's crisis. Mr Goff is part of a four member Commonwealth delegation in Suva to press for a timetable for the restoration of democracy. Today the group has been meeting with a cross section of Fiji's community including political parties, church groups, and the military government. I spoke to Shona Geary, our reporter in Suva, a short time ago and asked what Mr Goff's assessment of the talks had been. PREREC
[illegible] SHOWS WOMEN AT RISK FROM PILL
A Ministry of Health report has revealed that 20 women over the last decade have died from a blood clot on the lung caused by contraceptive pills. The study was commissioned by the Ministry following a number of deaths which suggested the risk of dying could be much higher for so-called third generation pills than initially thought. The research carried out by Professor David Skegg from Otago University shows the death rate is three to four times higher than expected, possibly due to the high numbers of women who have used the pills in this country. 15 of the deaths were from the third-generation pills - three from second generation and a two from a pill used to treat acne. The study also shows that two deaths a year can be expected in New Zealand, from contraceptive pills.
I asked Professor Skegg what he thought about the figures. PREREC
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALBRIDGE
AUCKLAND AIRPORT FOGS UP
Auckland Airport suffered major disruptions today due to fog. Thousands of passengers were left stranded as the country's domestic airlines cancelled most of their flights. The fog cleared early this afternoon and airlines are now busy catching up with the backlog. Our reporter Alison Wallbridge has been looking at the disruption caused, and she joins us now. LIVE
UNSAFE HOSPITAL SAYS UNION
The unions representing staff at Gisborne hospital have called on the government to take action over what they say are unsafe medical practices at the hospital.
Early last week the hospital wrote to 134 patients who had operations between last October and March this year, warning they may have been exposed to blood borne infections. During that period the hospital employed an anaesthetist who was found to be re-using disposable syringes. The hospital maintains it conducted an adequate investigation but the unions disagree and want a review of the matter as well as the care of intensive care and surgical patients over the past three months.
Heugh Chappell reports. PKG
HOSPITAL FURIOUS OVER BEING KEPT IN THE DARK
Northland Health bosses are fuming at being kept in the dark over a Customs exercise they believed was the real thing. They were told on Tuesday night that a boatload of sick Chinese refugees was trying to land on a Far North Beach -and asked to respond to the emergency. Northland Health put doctors and nurses on standby, sent patients home from Kaitaia Hospital to make room for casualties, and bought in extra medical supplies. After spending about $10,000 - they only found out yesterday - that the whole thing was an exercise - and they're not happy.
Our Northland reporter Lois Williams joins us now LIVE
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
SUGARCANE HARVESTER THREATENED
A Fijian union leader detained by the military government today wants to meet with Fiji's military ruler Commander Frank Bainimarama to stop the military intervening in Fiji's sugarcane harvest. Trade Union leader Felix Antony sayshe was taken into custody by the military this morning on his way to speak to a meeting of cane workers, and then manhandled and sworn at. Many sugarcane [illegible] and workers are refusing to harvest the critical cane harvest in protest against the actions of George Speight and to show their support for former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudry. Mr Anthony says the military must stop issuing threats against the farmers who won't harvest. PREREC
GUILTY IN COMPUTER PORN CASE
A 54-year-old Auckland man has been found guilty of distributing child pornography over the Internet. Desmond Millward was charged with the distribution of objectionable material in 1998 after an international investigation into a pornography ring which saw 13 people arrested around the world. The case centred around thousands of images stored on Milward's computer and email messages to other members of the ring known as Paedo University. Reporter Julian Robins was at the Auckland District Court, and he joins me now. LIVE Q&A
PRE SCHOOL EDUCATION COULD CLOSE GAPS
The Minister of Education, Trevor Mallard, says Māori children who start school with the same pre-school advantages as other children still fall behind. He told the School Trustees Conference in Wellington today that making early [illegible] education compulsory as a means of closing educational gaps is an option for the government. Our education correspondent, Gael Woods, was at the conference and she joins me now. LIVE Q&A
ROUND BUILDING TO LOSE SQUARE STYLE
One item in the budget which didn't get mentioned in the budget speech, was upgrading the Beehive, and National is claiming an attempt by Labour to sweep the issue under the carpet. But with holes in the carpet showing the wear and tear on the 23 year old building, the Speaker, Jonathon Hunt says it's well past time the money was spent. Eleven million dollars has been set aside for the first stage of a three year refurbishment project, but Mr Hunt says the project could cost as much as 28 million dollars when completed. Earlier I asked him for his reaction to the accusations that Labour was keeping the Beehive refurbishment secret. PKG
TAKING THE FAST OUT OF FAST FERRY
Tranz Rail is objecting to a report, commissioned by the Marlborough District Council, which says fast ferries are endangering boaties and swimmers in the Marlborough Sounds. The Council is working on a proposed by-law which will halve the speed of the Cook Strait fast ferries when they pass through the Sounds, after the report found their wash causes safety and environmental problems. Jane Patterson reports.
CLOSE & THEME