SHIP ARRIVES FOR EVACUEES
As the situation in Solomon Islands continues to deteriorate, the Australian government has launched an operation to evacuate its citizens who have been trapped by the attempted coup there. The coup attempt was mounted on Monday by the Malaitan Eagle Force, which seized the prime minister hostage and has since been involved in fierce fighting with its rival the Isatabu Freedom Movement. A short time ago, Australia's Defence Minister John Moore announced he's sending a navy transport ship to the Solomons capital Honiara to evacuate 700 Australians. AUDIO CUT
As the Australians prepare to evacuate their citizens from Honiara, New Zealand [illegible] Te Mana is also heading there. New Zealanders trapped in the Solomons are desperate to get on board. I spoke to a group of six who have been warned by militia and hotel staff not to leave their hotel in downtown Honiara. I asked one of them, John Smith, a truck driver from Amberley, about their situation. PREREC
The Australian evacuation follows fierce fighting around Honiara between the Malaitan Eagle Force, which mounted the coup on Monday, and its rival the Isatabu Freedom Movement. Some reports claim that up to a hundred people were killed in a battle near Honiara yesterday. A Solomons Government information director Alfred Maesulia says the still cant determine the number of casualties because the Red Cross can not get access to the battlefield.
But Mr Maesulia says the Eagle Force appears to driving the Isatabu Freedom militants further from the city. AUDIO CUT
As the Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff prepares to leave for Solomon Islands, a European Parliament MP has described his dramatic departure amidst gunfire, from the Guadalcanal airport. John Corrie and fellow MP Glenys Kinnock were trying to mediate in the crisis when the Malaita rebels took over the [illegible] Honiara on Monday. The MPs decided to get out yesterday - John Corrie explains. PREREC IV
The Foreign minister, Phil Goff, joins me now. LIVE
FIJI DEADLOCK CONTINUES
In Fiji - the political crisis remains deadlocked as attempted coup leader George Speight continues to hold the elected prime minister and more than 30 MPs hostage at parliament. As the situation continues without sign of a resolution, the western provinces on the main island of Vitu Levu has decided to set up their own regional council of chiefs. The region's chiefs are now meeting in Nadi - our reporter in Fiji, Shona Geary, has been following today's developments and joins me now. LIVE
Meanwhile it should be known within the next 24 hours whether Fiji's critical sugar cane harvest can start. Many of the country's FIji Indian cane farmers are refusing to harvest what is a bumper crop this year, until the Prime Minister Mahendra Choudry and the other hostages are released. Hafiz Khan is chairman of the Fiji Sugar Cane Corporation which crushes the cane at its mills. Harvesting takes up to 30 weeks and Mr Khan says it's vital it's finished by the November rainy season. He hopes to know by tomorrow if it can begin.
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TOURISTS ABLE TO FLEE SOLOMONS
Returning to our lead story - New Zealanders trapped in the Solomon Islands have a way out as the Australian Navy goes in. Earlier on Checkpoint the foreign minister Phil Goff announced that the Australians would pick up those wanting to leave. AUDIO CUT. Joining us now is John Smith, who as we heard earlier in the programme, wants to get out of the Solomons as fast as he can. LIVE
TRAFFIC COP REVIVED
Traffic officers are back - the government is setting up a new team of police dedicated soley to policing the country's roads. The re-emergence of the traffic cop was included in a 152 million dollar road safety package unveiled by the Ministers of Transport and Police in Hamilton. The plan also includes greater emphasis on driver education, tougher enforcement of speed restrictions and more compulsory breath testing in an effort to lower the road toll. Andrew McRae reports. PKG
CONSERVATION STILL ENDANGERED DESPITE NEW FUNDING
Conservation is going to be one of the big winners in next week's budget, with the government announcing it will spend an extra 187-million dollars over the next five years on protecting the environment and native species. The biodiversity strategy aims to halt the continuing decline in New Zealand's natural heritage. Environmental groups and farmers have generally welcomed the package, but, as Veronika Meduna reports, some say it's too little too late.
AIRPORTS SAY CHARGE UNLAWFUL
[illegible] High Court in Wellington, two regional airports used for budget-priced Trans-Tasman flights are challenging the Ministry of Agriculture's policy of charging them for essential border control services. The same services are fully government funded at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The Palmerston North and Waikato airport companies, together with the budget airline Freedom Air, are asking the Court to declare the charges unlawful and order return of the money paid to MAF. Our Court Reporter Merle Nowland has been listening to the argument and joins me now. LIVE
TROOPS WELCOME AT PALMERSTON NORTH
New Zealand is looking at reducing the number of troops it is contributing to the international peacekeeping effort in East Timor. The Minister of Defence Mark Burton says a scaling down of New Zealand's peacekeeping effort is likely later this year. Mr Burton's comments came in Palmerston North, where he was attending a welcome home parade for the 600 armed forces personnel returning from their deployment on the Island. Jill Galloway reports. PKG