HEADLINES & NEWS
In Fiji, Ratu Josefo Iloilo was sworn in today in a ceremony attended by both the head of the military and the coup leader. At last week's Great Council of Chief's meeting the former President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara refused to be considered for reappointment. This lead to the release of the remaning hostages held by rebel leader George Speight and his group and the unanimous appointment by the council of the new President and Vice President. Shona Geary was at the ceremony in Suva. PKG
And Shona Geary joins us now. LIVE
[illegible] Hepatitis C "bad blood" controversy looks to be heading to court after lawyers today angrily rejected the latest compensation offer to a group suffering from the disease. The government has offered 44-thousand dollars plus some legal costs to those who were infected with Hepatitis C between February 1990, when blood screening was available until July 1992 when it actually started. Lawyer Roger Chapman represents some 250 people, only about 60 of whom fit that category. He's upset that all 60 have to say yes for any of them to get the compensation. I spoke to both him and the Health Minister, Annette King - who has now softened her stance. PREREC
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALLBRIDGE
The Department of Work and Income will keep the job of processing student loans but the Minister of Social Services, has warned the chief executive, Christine Rankin, that she had better get it right. Mr Maharey has this afternoon released a report on the widespread problems students and institutions faced earlier this year with student loans. To discuss the report I'm joined by our education correspondent, Gael Woods. LIVE
[illegible] at the Porter Heights skifield in the Southern Alps have apologised for an exercise this morning which police thought was a real emergency. Reports said there had been an avalanche near the skifield, trapping a number of people. Only after the emergency services were at the scene did the police discover it was merely an exercise. Skifield management say the exercise was planned because of concern over the rising number of people venturing into the back country without the proper knowledge and equipment. Police were upset over the incident, joining me now is Sergeant Stu Munroe, the first police officer on the scene. LIVE
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SPORT with CHRIS REID
Returning to our earlier story, in Fiji, Ratu Josefo Iloilo was sworn in today in a ceremony attended by both the head of the military and the coup leader. The President has now announced his new cabinet, which does not include George Speight's nominee for President. Instead the military-appointed interim President, Laisenia Garase, gets to keep the job. Joining us now from Fiji is rebel spokesman Joe Nata. LIVE
Jewish groups around the world and in New Zealand are welcoming a deal between Germany and other countries on the amount of compensation to be paid to slave labourers who survived the Nazi regime. The settlement of more than 10 billion dollars ends years of bitter negotiations during which several lawsuits against German firms were launched in New York and the authorities threatened to boycott German firms and stop using German banks. Our correspondent in New York, Nathan King, has been guaging the worldwide reaction. PKG
Up to a hundred Jewish New Zealanders may be eligible for money from the compensation fund. One of them, Claire Galambos-Winter spent 8 months at a munitions factory after being transferred from the Auschwitz death camp. She escaped when the Americans arrived. I asked her what life was like at the factory.
PREREC
An Auckland gynaecologist, Ron Jones, says it is dangerous to assume that there are women who have a high risk of contracting cervical cancer. He's told the [illegible] Cancer Inquiry in Gisborne that's because it's the male not the female who carries the virus which can lead to the disease developing. Heugh Chappell is at the inquiry and joins us now. LIVE
The Prime Minister has told the country's primary producers that they will continue to be the backbone of New Zealand's economic future. Helen Clark opened the Federated Farmers national conference in Christchurch this morning with an assurance that the Government recognises the value of farming to the country. Louise Garrett is at the conference. PKG
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