HEADLINES & NEWS
INTERIM GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IN FIJI
Tension is rising in Fiji after the military announced an interim government, prompting warnings from the rebels holed up in parliament that the move will bring repercussions. The new prime minister is Indigenous Fijian banker Laisenia Qarase - there are no Fiji Indians in the new government. The new government comes six and a half weeks after gunmen led by George Speight seized the Chaudhry Government hostage. While they have released some women MPs, 27 hostages are still being held at gunpoint. A spokesperson for Speight, Joe Nata, had this warning for the military. AUDIO
Our reporter in Suva is John MacDonald - he joins me now. LIVE
[illegible] CORP CLEARED
The Auditor General has cleared the State Owned Airways Corporation of any unlawful or unethical behavior in the process of joining an international consortium. The Corporation is part of a possible bid for a 46 per cent stake in the British air traffic control system. The inquiry was prompted by the New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, who claimed that Airways Corporation staff stood to gain personally to the tune of 30 million dollars as a result of the possible deal. Joining us now is political editor Al Morrison. LIVE
We're joined now by the acting Minister for State Owned Enterprises Trevor Mallard. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALBRIDGE
CERVICAL SCREENING INQUIRY RECOMMENCES
A tribute today at the cervical screening inquiry to Kathleen Ward, one of eight women who gave evidence at the inquiry in April - and who died recently of cervical cancer. After a seven week break, the inquiry into the [illegible]-reporting of cervical smears by retired pathologist Micheal Bottrill [illegible] in a highly charged atmosphere. Our reporter Heugh Chappell is there and he joins us now. LIVE
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
ERRORS IN SCREENING DATA MAY DELAY CANCER TREATMENT
Some women in Otago and Southland may have had a delay of up to two years in getting treatment for breast cancer because of errors in the way their mammography results have been entered into a computer. The files of 14-thousand women are being re-examined following the discovery of data errors in the files of three women who went for their regular breast screening between late May and early June and this prompted an investigation. Fifty errors have been found in the 13-thousand files checked so far, and Healthcare Otago's Chief Executive Bill Adam says most of these women are being sent for further assessment. He joins me now. LIVE
DELUGE CONTINUES IN COROMANDEL
Heavy rain continues to cause problems in the North Island, with Coromandel hardest hit. Some areas of the Coromandel have been drenched by more than a quarter of a metre of rain, bringing down slips, cutting power supplies and roads and trapping dozens of trampers in the bush. In recent days, flooding has also caused problems in the Far North and Auckland but the problems in those areas are now easing. Civil defence is on standby in the Coromandel, where homes are under threat from flooding near Whitianga - Ron White is the Civil Defence Co-ordinator and he joins me now. LIVE
CLARK WANTS GREATER SCRUTINY
The Prime Minister Helen Clark is pushing for closer scrutiny of would-be MPs before they stand for parliament. This follows the sacking of Dover Samuels from cabinet after allegations of an affair with a minor and his failure to declare a 1984 conviction for assault when seeking selection for the Te Tai Tokerau electorate.
Here's our political reporter, Clare Sziranyi. PKG
LEGALITY OF NEW LICENCES UPHELD
[illegible] woman Lois McInnes has failed in her High Church challenge to the [illegible] of the new photo driver's licence. The High Court has rejected her request for a Judicial Review of actions of the then, Minister of Transport in bringing in the new licence last year. Merle Nowland has been loooking at the long, just released decision and joins me now. LIVE
TE PAPA FACES CHANGE
Big changes could be on the cards for the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa. The Museum has announced it is looking at changing some of its layout and exhibition space in order to give greater emphasis to the arts. Te Papa, which was established in 1998 to incorporate both the National Museum and the National Gallery, has been criticized by some art experts for its failure to give enough weight to the arts. Corin Dann reports. PKG
CLOSE & THEME