HEADLINES & NEWS
ZANU-PF GAINS MAJORITY IN ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS
The governing Zanu-PF party in Zimbabwe led by President Robert Mugabe is assured of a majority in parliament after the most closely fought election since independence 20 years ago. With most of the votes counted, Zanu-PF has won 52 of the 120 seats while the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change has 48. But the MDC's leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed to win in his rural constitutency. Earlier in the day, the results strongly favoured the MDC, especially in the towns and cities, suggesting many people wanted change. This was typified by the reaction of this group in the capital Harere saying it was time for President Robert Mugabe to step down.
[illegible]. But votes cast in the rural areas have backed the Zanu-PF party, giving it a slight lead. The BBC's Cathy Jenkins says it is now clear that despite the closeness of the election race, Zanu-PF WILL be able to form the next government. AUDIO While supporters of the MDC in Harare have been celebrating its election gains, the authorities have appealed for calm with extra police being deployed to prevent any violence.
Zimbabweans Peter and Anne-Marie Baldwin left their country last month to come to New Zealand for a new life, with their two children. I asked Peter what he thought of the election result. Meanwhile there are predictions the election result could unleash further violence at least in the short term. PREREC
Robert Patman, a political studies lecturer at Otago University has closely followed events in Zimbabwe. He says the victorious Zanu-PF party may now exact retribution against those who voted for the opposition, while the MDC could also resort to violence out of fury that intimidation before the election has cost them votes. PREREC
DOVER SAMUELS' EFFECTIVENESS QUESTIONED
[illegible] of the embattled Māori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels is in question this evening as speculation grows that the Prime Minister is preparing to edge him out of the portfolio. Mr Samuels is taking leave from his ministerial duties while the police investigate allegations that he had a relationship with a girl under the age of 16 in the 1980s. Initially Helen Clark said Mr Samuels' place in Cabinet depended on the outcome of the police inquiry and the legality of his action. But today, she widened her options by saying that a judgement would have to be made on whether he will be effective as a Minister in the future. Our political reporter Clare Pasley has more. PKG
[illegible] MPs are about to begin their own caucus meeting at parliament - and the [illegible] Samuels case is expected to be discussed. Our Māori Issues correspondent [illegible] Wikaira is there and joins me now. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALBRIDGE
STUDENT LOANS PUT COUNTRY AT RISK
[illegible] controversial student loans scheme has come under the scrutiny of the Auditor- General, and been found wanting. A new report, released today raises concerns about the lack of information of the scheme's impact on people's futures as well as the financial risk to the country. The loan debt now stands at three billion dolllars and it is estimated it will reach 20 billion dollars in 20 years time. Our education correspondent, Gael Woods, has been looking at the report and joins me now.
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
SURVEY WANTS CHILDREN BETTER PROTECTED
Hard on the heels of the damning report on the death of four-year-old James Whakaruru, a new survey by the Commissioner for Children's office shows that GPs and Plunket nurses still feel there are barriers to reporting child abuse and neglect. The survey will be released by the Commissioner Roger McClay next week and is the result of questioing nearly 400 GPs and Plunket nurses about the difficulties of reporting child abuse. Claire Silvester reports. PKG
[illegible] TALKS RECOMMENCE, HOSTAGES PUBLISH LETTER
[illegible] rebels have allowed 27 political hostages, including Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, to publish a letter in a Suva newspaper, calling for a peaceful end to the political crisis gripping the South Pacific nation. Gunmen led by failed businessman George Speight stormed parliament on May 19th in the name of indigenous Fijians. Fiji's military says it has reestablished communications with rebels and plans to meet this evening in a bid to get talks back on track. Joining us now from Suva is our reporter Shona Geary. LIVE
MCCARTHY TRIAL CONTINUES
The jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering Whangaparoa woman Joanne McCarthy has today visited the house where she was killed. Travis Burns was arrested and charged five months after the slaying - his trial in the High Court in Auckland began yesterday. Our reporter Julian Robins is following the case - he joins me now. LIVE
GENOME PROJECT ALMOST COMPLETE
Medical researchers around the world are celebrating the successful mapping of [illegible] all of the human genetic code. Researchers from the publicly funded [illegible] Genome Project and a similar private project made the joint announcement from the United States and Britain today. They success in identifying three billion pieces of genetic information in the right order will transform knowledge about the human body. Karlum Lattimore compiled this report.
CLOSE & THEME