HEADLINES & NEWS
HELEN CLARK SACKS SAMUELS
The Prime Minister has sacked Dover Samuels as the Minister of Māori Affairs. Mr Samuels took leave from his ministerial duties last week while the police investigated claims that he had a relationship with a teenage girl in the 1980s. But ever since, his career has been in doubt and last night the prime minister summoned him to parliament for lengthy discussions. Those discussions failed to produce a resignation from Mr Samuels - just after three this afternoon, Miss Clark called a news conference at the Beehive - as you've heard, she announced Mr Samuels was no longer part of her cabinet. Prime Minister Helen Clark joins us now. LIVE
Meanwhile, a sombre group of government Māori MPs sat through the Prime Minister's anouncement this afternoon, that Mr Samuels had been sacked. Clare Sziranyi compiled this report. PKG
Joining us now is our Māori issues correspondent Chris Wikaira. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALBRIDGE
13 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE FOR ANGER MANAGEMENT COURSES
The Corrections Department says almost 90 percent of the men who go through the anger management courses it pays for, re-offend. But it still says the programmes are worthwhile. This comes after revelations by the Children's Commissioner that the man convicted of brutally beating James Whakaruru had been to two such courses before he went on to kill the child. Anne Clark, from the Department's Community Probation Service, says generally anger management courses, including the one attended by James' killer, manage to get 13 percent of its clients NOT to re-offend. She told me that's considered good. PREREC
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
DOVER SAMUELS SACKED
Returning to our lead story, the sacking of the Minister of Māori Affairs, Dover Samuels. Mr Samuels took leave from his ministerial duties last week while the police investigated claims that he had a relationship with a teenage girl in the 1980s. Earlier on Checkpoint the Prime Minister gave her reason for the sacking. AUDIO. To gauge reaction in Mr Samuels electorate, I'm joined by our reporter Lois Williams. LIVE
DEADLINE EXPIRES IN FIJI
Fiji's military says a deadline given to coup plotters to sign an agreement has expired and they will put a government in place to rule for next two years. The military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinkini says the military will run the country, review the constitution, operate a "normal" government and prepare for general elections. The military council is now considering who will be in the government and says it expects to select people over the next week. I asked Colonel Tarakinikini why the military decided to stop negotiating with George Speight. PREREC
TRANZRAIL INQUIRY SETS TERMS
The man running the Government's inquiry into employee safety within Tranzrail, says encouraging open discussion will be a key part of his investigation. The Government has announced the terms of reference for the inquiry and appointed a Wellington QC, Bill Wilson, to head it. The inquiry follows a series of accidents which have left five Tranzrail employees dead over the past year. Bryan Crump reports. PKG
SOLOMONS LOOK FOR NEW PM
Solomon Islands politicians are meeting in Parliament to choose a new Prime Minister after the previous one resigned following the attempted coup in Honiara. Security was increased in the capital today, with police stationed around parliament and three hotels housing politicians. There are three candidates for the top job - New Zealand's High Commissioner in Solomon Islands, Nick Hurley, joins us now. LIVE
[illegible] TASKFORCE SET UP
The Government has set up a Ministerial Taskforce to explore the role of sport, fitness and leisure in New Zealand. The seven memberTaskforce includes a number of current and former sports stars and will be headed by former All Black John Graham. The Minister of Sport Trevor Mallard says the group's main objectives include establishing ways to increase participation in sport and improve the country's international sporting record. Corin Dann has the story. PKG
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