1700 to 1707 NEWS
There has been major disruption in Canterbury today with schools and businesses closed as an icy blast swept up the south island. Around 50 households are expected to be without power overnight. And thousands of air travellers have had their flights delayed. Erina O'Donohue reports. PKG
A spokesperson for the Christchurch City Council, Di Keenan has been keeping a close eye on the situation in Christchurch today, and she joins me now. LIVE
The Labour party leader Helen Clark has held her first meetings with some of [illegible] minor parties she hopes to get support from in order to form a government. Miss Clark has been meeting with the co-leaders of the Greens, United Future and the Māori Party this afternoon. Joining us now for an update on where the discussions are at, is our political reporter Liz Banas
A 33 year old Auckland man charged over the election night aeroplane incident has been remanded in prison because the region's psychiatric services have no room for him. David Turnock is accused of taking a plane from Ardmore airport on Saturday night, and allegedly threatening to crash into the Sky Tower. The building was evacuated - the plane later crashed into the sea off Kohimarama beach. Turnock appeared in court today charged with unlawfully taking an aircraft. More charges are likely. Our reporter Sally Wenley was the court. Q AND A
A surgeon, accused of bungling a series of operations, has pleaded guilty today, but has escaped being struck off the medical register. The surgeon, known as Doctor A, has been found guilty of not being careful enough, when he misfired a staple during an operation and perforated a womans vagina. The case was brought by the independent Director of Proceedings, after several patients [illegible] about their operations at a provincial hospital. Our Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, has been at the Health Practitioners Discplinary Tribunal Hearing in Christchurch, and she joins me now. Q AND A
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH SEAN KENNEDY
Millions of people in Afghanistan have been voting in the country's first parliamentary and provincial elections. This is the first nationwide election in thirty years, and security for the poll has been very tight. It will still be a couple of weeks before the preliminary results will be known. The ABCs Jeff Thompson has more. PKG
With the election night result so close, much has been made of the special votes yet to be counted. Those 218-thousand votes represent about ten percent of the total votes cast. But how likely are they to make a difference to the shape of Parliament from the election night results? Our parliamentary chief reporter Clare Pasley has been taking a look. PKG
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
Returning to the weather now - and the cold snap that has blanketed parts of the South Island that's closed many busnesses and schools. Its begun having an impact in the North Island as well. For the latest with us now is Metservice forecaster, Erick Brenstrum. LIVE
The US castaway programme, Lost, has won best drama series at the annual Emmy Awards in the US. The best comedy award went to the long-running sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond. The 57th edition of the awards have been taking place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Our Los Angeles Correspondent, Peter Bowes, joins us now. LIVE
Just how fast should inter-island ferries be allowed to travel in the Marlborough Sounds - and are they causing environmental damage? That's the question being put to the Environment Court, with Toll Shipping challenging a speed limit of 15 knots on new ships imposed by Marlborough District Council. The long running issue has been reignited with the arrival last month of the new ferry, the Kaitaki - and its flouting of the speed limit. Toll says the limit can't be justified and opened its case today in the Court in Blenheim. Our reporter Geoff Moffett was there. PKG
The lawyer for a woman suing the Catholic Church for alleged historical abuse, says her client suffered serious psychological damage in the church's care. The woman says she suffered abuse in the 1960s and 70s at St Joseph's orphanage in Upper Hutt, St Mary's College in Wellington and while placed with foster families. And she wants over half a million dollars from the church. Our court reporter David Venables is at the High Court in Wellington. LIVE
The head of Hurricane Katrina's relief effort has contradicted the New Orleans mayor saying tens of thousands of evacuees should not try to return home yet. [illegible] Orleans mayor Ray Nagin has been encouraging many to return to the devastated city this week. But the head of federal relief efforts Thad Allen says districts still lack safe drinking water and reliable power, and residents should not return yet. CUT
Congress has already approved 62 billion US dollars for the recovery effort along the Gulf Coast, but costs are expected to total 200 billion. In the wake of the disaster George Bush's approval ratings have slumped to 40 percent, the lowest of his time in office. American National Public Radio's Juan Williams on how differently blacks and whites view the country's response to the disaster.
MANA NEWS
1800 to 1807 NEWS
It appears the nuclear crisis in North Korea is over, as the country agrees to give up all of its nuclear weapons and programmes. North Korea has agreed to abandon its nuclear activities, and rejoin the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. It made the announcement at six-way talks being held in Beijing, following two years of negotiations. The ABCs Beijing Correspondent, John Taylor, joins me now. LIVE
There are fears the New Zealand tourism industry's competitive edge is being eroded by tough and expensive campaigns by overseas competitors. The new tourism sector forecast released today predicts steady growth over the next decade. However tourism operators say they are increasingly reliant on themselves and the foreign media for exposure. And they say it's more crucial than ever, that any marketing done by Tourism New Zealand actually works. Our tourism reporter Robyn Cubie reports from the Tourism Industry Conference in Auckland. PKG
Business and Community leaders in Tauranga are looking forward to working with the city's new electorate MP Bob Clarkson who gained 568 votes more than the [illegible] rival Winston Peters. But Mr Peters who has held the seat for 21 years, is yet to concede and is waiting for special votes to be counted. It has also been suggested that Mr Clarkson could be challenged over his election spending during the campaign. Fiona Robinson reports from Tauranga.
1820 BUSINESS NEWS
Uncertainty over the shape of the next government has had little impact on financial markets today. But market watchers expect some volatility, especially for the New Zealand dollar, over the coming weeks as special votes are counted. To discuss how the markets reacted, we're joined by our business editor, Patrick O'Meara. LIVE
Opposition parties in Fiji are discussing whether they should form a coalition ahead of next year's general elections. They are trying to figure out how best to win over voters, but admit there are a few hurdles to overcome. Radio New Zealand International's Linda Skates has more. PKG
[illegible] and supporters of Michael Campbell say his win at the World Matchplay championship shows he is a force to be reckoned with. The US Open champ has now added the World Matchplay championship - with golf's richest prize of one million pounds for first place - to his accomplishments. His family and supporters at home are convinced its only the beginning. Rachel Graham reports. PKG
1830 HEADLINES
One of the most closely fought elections in German history has seen the conservatives with such a narrow advantage that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has refused to concede defeat. The Christian Democrats led by Angela Merkel, who's been dubbed the German Margaret Thatcher, will have the first shot at forming a new government. Only three weeks ago Merkel seemed to be cruising to an easy win, but provisional results show her party only won three more seats than Schroeder's left leaning Social Democrats. A Grand Coalition between their two parties, which had been talked about now looks increasingly unlikely. Phil Crookes covered German politics for the BBC and Deutsche Welle since the German reunification in 1989, he's now back in New Zealand and on the line. LIVER
The ten Indonesian fishermen who jumped off a fishing ship in Port Nelson last week have been sent home. The union representing the men, the International Transport Workers Federation, says they deserted the ship because of appalling living conditions and rotten food. But the New Zealand company which chartered the boat says the men are lying about claims they were mistreated. Peter Dawson, the lawyer acting for charterers Poseidon Fishing Limited, says the company has confidence the Department of Labour investigation will get to the bottom of the matter. CUT
Kathy Whelan who is a spokesperson for the International Transport Workers Federation says the men were relieved to be heading home yesterday. PRE-REC
[illegible] SPORTS NEWS
1848 BRYAN CRUMP PREVIEW
The sound of New Orlean's - Coco Robicheaux with "Walk with the Spirit." It's the song musican and historian Ned Sublette has had on his mind, as he comes to grips with the destruction of the city he's lived and breathed for the last year researching for his book on the "BIg Easy's" place in American music history. Known as the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans has also played an integral part in shaping other music genres - from soul, funk and blues to hip-hop and zydeco. It's a rich cultural history Ned Sublette fears has been irreparably damaged. PRE-REC
The blast of cold weather which has caused major disruption to parts of the South Island has started to make its way north. It has started snowing on the desert road, although it remains open and high seas have washed debris across roads in Eastbourne, near Wellington. the Police are now warning motorists to take extreme care. In North Canterbury farmers are waiting to see whether the cold snap will continue - which could put stock at risk. We're joined now by [illegible] president of Federated Farmers' North Canterbury branch - Harry Schat (Skat) LIVER
CLOSE & THEME