NEWS WITH CATRIONA MCLEOD
Fiji's hostage crisis is in its sixth day, with no sign of a resolution. Coup plotters remain holed up in parliament with the prime minister and some MPs as hostages. The plotters, lead by George Speight, are well armed with military weapons and have been joined by some elite soldiers. The Great Council of Chiefs is meeting for a second day, considering plans put forward by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to end the crisis. A statement is expected from the council in a few hours. The commonwealth secretary general, Don McKinnon, and the United Nations emissary Sergio de Mello have both arrived in Suva to help - Mr McKinnon explained why they're there. AUDIO. Joining me now is our reporter [illegible] Lisa Owen. LIVER
Meanwhile the police in Suva say the streets are calm and quiet. The director of uniform operations Superintendent Ramano Tikotikolau says there are about 200 officers closely monitoring the situation in the town and at Parliament, He says there are plans in place in case trouble breaks out following any announcement from the Great Council of Chiefs, but he won't say what those plans are. PREREC
The outbreak of violence surrounding the coup has already closed several Suva businesses and now concern is growing that Fiji's place in the international business community may be jeopardised. Joining us now is the President of the Fiji Australia business council, Mark Halabe. LIVE
As the tension increases, foreign journalists have pulled out of the parliament complex where the hostages are being held, saying it is becoming too dangerous to remain overnight. Among those who have left is our reporter Barbara Dreaver, who has been inside parliament with the coup plotters since the weekend. Barbara joins me now. LIVE
Business news with Catherine Walbridge
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
FIJI UNREST SPREADS TO INSURANCE INDUSTRY
Returning to our lead story - and the crisis in Fiji. Some insurance companies are starting to refuse travel insurance for New Zealanders going to Fiji, saying the attempted coup means the risk is too great. The Chief Executive of the Insurance Council, Chris Ryan, says the decision follows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' warning to delay trips to. I asked him what to do if travellers could be left in the lurch. PREREC
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The Ministry of Health says it's already responding to the country's high rate of infectious diseases, which is highlighted in a report it commissioned from the Inistitute of Environmental Science and Research. The report says New Zealand has a disease level not expected for a developed country - it tops the developed world in rates of measles, meningitis, TB and performs poorly when it comes to other illnesses like whooping cough and giardia. A Ministry spokesman Doug Lush says while this is cause for concern, programmes are being put in place to treat people and find out why the diseases are happening. I asked him what he thought the report said about public health. PREREC
INQUEST BEGINS ON DROWNINGS
An inquest has begun into the death of two boys on a school trip to a South Canterbury river. Glen Jopson aged 13 and Hamish Neal aged 15 were among 13 special needs students from Waimate High School who went on a school trip and barbecue to a popular swimming hole on the Waihao River known as the Black hole. The inquest began today in Waimate - our reporter Jos Darling is there and joins me now. LIVE
CASINO CONTROL AUTHORITY LOSES LICENCE DECISION
The High Court has thrown out the Casino Control Authority's decision to grant a casino licence in Hamilton. The High Court judgement released a short time ago quashed the decision on the grounds on bias on the part of a member of the authority who heard the application last year. Our reporter in Hamilton Andrew McRae joins us now. LIVE