HEADLINES & NEWS
CTU LIFTS BAN ON FIJI GOODS & SCHOOLS REOPEN
The Council of Trade Unions has lifted its trade ban on Fiji only a week after imposing it. The ban has been opposed by two shipping companies which went to the employment court to have the ban lifted, before withdrawing Proceedings on Friday. Today's decision by the CTU follows yesterday's release of the women hostages being held in Suva by the coup leader George Speight. The CTU president Ross Wilson joins us now. LIVE
Meanwhile, schools in Fiji reopened today after an enforced five week break following the coup last month. This semblance of normality follows a hectic three days during which the military government and the rebels reached an [illegible] which promised the release of all the hostages but fell apart moments before it was signed. Our reporter in Fiji Shona Geary joins us now from Suva. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALBRIDGE
ECONOMY IN SAME GEAR
The economy has eased back in the first three months of this year, after soaring out of recession in the second half of last year. Gross Domestic Product - which measures total economic activity - grew by zero-point-8 per cent during the March quarter, taking growth for the year to 4-point-4 per cent. And while today's figures bear out the picture of a robust export sector, domestic spending is flat. To discuss the significance of the GDP figures, I'm joined by our Economics Correspondent, Stephen Harris. LIVE Q&A
WHAKARURU REPORT ASKS FOR BETTER RECORDS
Health professionals are backing the Children's Commissioner's calls for a national information system allowing them to access and record information about at-risk children. Such a system is one of almost 60 recommendations made by [illegible] Commissioner, Roger McClay, in an 85 page report on the death of four year old Havelock North boy James Whakaruru. James was killed last year - his mother's partner Benny Haerewa has been jailed for 12 years for the death. Heugh Chappell reports. PKG
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
CHILDERS HOSTEL FIRE AFTERMATH
In Australia, the hunt continues for a man police want to question following the Childers Hostel fire tragedy. It's now confirmed that 15 people died in the blaze - one person is still unaccounted for. The Brisbane coroner today formally opened the inquest into fire - the Premier of Queensland has apologised for the tragedy and announced that all hostels in the state will be inspected for fire safety. Joining us now from Childers is Queensland Police spokesman Eric Meyer. LIVE
TRAVIS BURNS TRIAL BEGINS
The trial of the man accused of killing Whanagaparaoa woman Joanne McCarthy began in Auckland today, with the crown saying DNA evidence linked the accused to her killing. Joanne McCarthy's body was discovered at her Whangaparaoa home in November 1998 - her 11-month-old son and the two-year-old she was baby-sitting were still in the house, uninjured. Travis Burns was arrested and charged with her murder five months later. Our reporter Julian Robins was at the High Court at Auckland. He joins me now. LIVE
INTERNATIONAL EXAMS PREFERRED OVER LOCAL PRODUCT
Auckland Grammar School is defending its decision to adopt international exams ahead of the new, internally assessed national certificate for secondary school students. The school has reached an agreement with Cambridge University to offer its A level qualification to students when the planned National Certificate of Education Achievement is introduced in 2002.
Luke Henshall with this report. PKG
TEENAGE PREGNANCY RATES RISE
Teenage pregnancy rates in this country are rising, and medical researchers are [illegible] there needs to be a closer look at how often young women are getting [illegible] rather than just how many actually give birth. Dr Nigel Dickson from the Otago School of Medicine has combined figures for teenage birth rates and abortions which show in 1997 there were 65 pregnancies for every one thousand teenage girls. He says that's an increase of 31 percent since 1986. PREREC
WAIKATO CONNECTS WITH AUCKLAND
Hamilton has come a step closer to becoming a satellite town of Auckland with the launch of a new rail service bringing Waikato commuters into the country's biggest urban area. Tranz Rail hopes a six-month trial of its new Waikato Connection will repeat the success of the Palmerston North to Wellington daily service, which brings up to four hundred long haul commuters to the capital every day. Our Auckland Correspondent Todd Niall got on board for the first journey. PKG
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