** CKPT RUNDOWN FOR TUESDAY MAY 2 ****
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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DOG-CHIPPING GREENS: The Greens have effectively stymied an attempt to exclude farm dogs from compulsory micro-chipping. They say it's not fair to pander to one special interest group and that if there's to be any change, all dogs should be exempted. The National MP David Carter has put forward an amendment to a separate local body bill that would exempt farm dogs. Jeanette Fitzsimons (LIVE)
David Carter (LIVE)
CERVICAL: The Ministry of Health has revealed that 2 other health boards have not provided adequate follow-up care, for women identified with high grade abnormalities after cervical screening. The Ministry has ordered all health boards to review cervical screening, after Waitemata District Health Board failed to detect a cancer case, and provided inadequate follow-up care in other cases.
The Clinical Leader of the National Cervical Screening Programme, Dr Hazel Lewis, says figures indicate there are problems in other parts of the country.
PARKER QUESTIONS: David Parker has been returned to Cabinet in a vote of confidence from his Labour caucus colleagues, but he still faces questions over his dealings as a lawyer. Mr Parker was cleared last week of filing false returns with the companies office. Parliamentary chief reporter Clare Pasley reports.
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH SEAN KENNEDY
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BANK SKIMMING: Police investigating bank-skimming fraud in Auckland have released security camera images of two men they believe are closely linked to the case. Skimming devices were used at ATMs in Auckland to steal about 100-thousand dollars from customers' accounts. Detective Brendon Pearson says one of the men was caught on camera several times with an East European couple, travelling on Canadian passports, who have already left the country.
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
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TASMANIA MINE: Workers in Tasmania are using specialist gear to grind down rock to reach two men pinned underground in Beaconsfield Gold Mine. Brant Webb and Todd Russell became trapped after a small earthquake a week ago.
The head of the New South Wales Mines Rescue Service, Murray Bird, is on the line now. (LIVE)
AUSTRALIA SOLDIER: Hundreds of people, including the Australian Prime Minister, have turned out in the Victorian town of Briagolong to farewell Australian soldier Jake Kovco, who was killed in Iraq. Private Kovco died after being shot in the head, apparently with his own pistol. His body was returned to Australia on Sunday after a blunder that saw a Bosnian man's remains sent in his place while private Kovco's body lay in a morgue in Kuwait. The ABC's Liz Hobday, who was at today's funeral. (LIVE).
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WAATEA NEWS with ERU REREKURA
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MARLBOROUGH WINE WATER: A new battle over water resources is underway in Marlborough with a wine company and a small community at loggerheads. Wither Hills winery wants to take water from more wells for its grapes at Rarangi, but locals say this will threaten home water supplies from an already fragile aquifer. Geoff Moffett reports.
RAOUL RETURN: The Department of Conservation says it's taking extra precautions for four survivors returning to Raoul Island after a volcanic explosion which is believed to have killed one of their colleagues. DoC worker Mark Kearney is still missing after the island's crater lake erupted as he was checking the water temperature, in March. The four DoC staff, Evan Ward, Lynda McGrory-Ward, Melanie Nelson and Morgan Cox are en route to Raoul Island to join fellow survivor, Jim Livingstone who's already there. DOC's Warkworth area manager, Rolien Elliot. (PRE-REC).
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