FIJI HOSTAGE CRISIS CONTINUES:
The Fiji hostage crisis continues, with armed rebels still holed up in parliament holding the prime minister and some cabinet ministers hostage. The country is tense, a state of emergency is inplace and the president, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, has assumed executive control. The military and police have surrounded parliament as negotiations continue to bring the crisis to a peaceful end. But the tension remains high - this afternoon, scores of troops have been reported taking up positions in central Suva as hundreds of coup supporters appeared to gather for a march through town. Joining me now is the coup leader George Speight. LIVE IV
The Foreign Affairs minister Phil Goff joins me now.
Eearlier today, the rebels allowed our reporter Barbara Dreaver into parliament - she joins me now with the latest.
BUSINESS NEWS WITH CATHERINE WALBRIDGE
5.30 HEADLINES WITH CATRIONA MCLEOD
INCOME RELATED RENTS LEGISLATION INTRODUCED:
The government is to introduce income related rents for low income Housing New Zealand tenants. The legislation has been tabled in parliament today. The Housing Minister, Mark Gosche, says there are around 41 thousand Housing New Zealand tenants who qualify as low income earners and from December, they will pay no more than a quarter of their income on rent. Mr Gosche joins me now. LIVE IV
FAHEY PLEADS GUILTY
A national road safety campaigner, doctor and former Christchurch deputy mayor, Dr Morgan Fahey, has been remanded in custody after pleading guilty in the High Court to rape and sexual violation of patients. He faced 13 charges after eleven women laid complaints, including one of rape and one of sexual violation over 31 years to 1997. Shona Geary has been following the case and she joins us now. LIVE IV
UP UP AND AWAY... PETROL ON THE RISE AGAIN.
The price of petrol has gone up for the third time this month. Three oil companies - Caltex, Mobil and Shell - have increased the price by four cents a litre and this will take effect immediately. BP has yet to make a decision. The companies blame the falling value of the New Zealand dollar and the increasing cost of raw materials for the increase. The increase means the price of petrol has gone up by 29 cents a litre since July last year - I asked Shell Oil's general manager of retail and marketing, Steve Foster, where will it end. PREREC IV