** CKPT RUNDOWN FOR THURSDAY MAY 18 - BUDGET DAY****
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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BUDGET: Roading's emerged as the winner in this year's Budget. There's an extra 1-point-3 billion dollars for the next five years. This includes more than 850 million dollars to cover a shortfall in State Highway funding. Of course, opening up Telecom's wires to competition was to be the centerpiece - but that announcement was leaked in spectacular fashion earlier this month. The Budget has three themes - economic transformation, family and national identity. What it doesn't have of course is tax cuts, despite an operating surplus of 8.5 billion dollars. It's Finance Minister - Michael Cullen's seventh budget and he joins us now. LIVE
And for Opposition reaction to the Budget - I'm joined by National's finance spokesperson, John Key. LIVE
BUDGET ROADS: So, roading received a major boost in the budget with an extra 1 point 3 billion dollars to be spent over the next five years. That includes 862 million dollars to cover a funding shortfall in Transit's draft ten year state highway plan. The Council for Infrastructure Development is an roading industry lobby group. Here's Chief executive Stephen Selwood. PREREC
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
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FIJI NZ MILITARY: The election victory in Fiji of the SDL Party has been overshadowed by strong disapproval from Fiji's military commander. Laisenia Qarase's SDL Party has won an absolute majority of 36 seats in the 71-member parliament, leaving Labour in second place with 31 seats. The head of Fiji's military, commodore Frank Bainimarama, told a news conference that he would have preferred a Labour led administration, but that he will accept the SDL win. Commodore Bainimarama also said he's heard rumours that the New Zealand Government is going to provide a commander to replace him in the next couple of months, and he will not let this happen. But foreign affairs minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Phil Goff say the provision of a New Zealand military commander is not under consideration because they haven't received any such request from the Fiji government. Mr Peters, joins us now. LIVE
BLUFF SINKING: The Topi family have spoken publicly for the first time since losing four members of their family, when the fishing vessel, Kotuku, capsised and sank in Foveaux Strait. They were joined by the family of Clinton Woods, who also died in the tragedy last Saturday. Our reporter Steve Wilde was at the special press conference, and he joins us now from Invercargill. Q AND A
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
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BUDGET ANALYSIS: Time for analysis on the Budget now. Our Acting Political Editor Brent Edwards is here. LIVE
HELICOPTER CRASH BLAME: An engineer wrongly blamed for a helicopter crash that killed three people, says a one line apology from investigators is not enough for five years of utter hell. In 2001, an Iriquois helicopter broke up in midair approaching Taumarunui, killing the pilot and two others on board. In a report the following year, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, said incorrect maintenance probably led to a mechanical failure in the tail rotor system. However, in a second investigation, the comission has now concluded that a link in the rotor system bent and broke during the flight, causing the break up. Mark Saunders from Air Repair Taranaki has therefore been cleared of wrongdoing. But, he's not impressed with the apology and wants more. PREREC
Mark Saunders from Air Repair Taranaki says he and his lawyers are considering whether to sue the TAIC for compensation.
INVESTMENT DEATH: The statutory manager for the man accused of conning 29 million dollars from investors, says his death won't affect their chances of getting their money back. Donald Rea (Ray) died two days into his trial at Tauranga District Court - he was charged with the fraudulent use of investors funds for his own devices. But the trial has been abandoned after it was announced Mr Rea had died at home of a heart attack. Conan Young takes a look at the case and just where it leaves investors. PKGE
BUDGET REACTION: Back to the Budget now.... Let's get some reaction from the business sector. Wayne Mowat is at a factory in Greater Wellington. PKGE
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WAATEA NEWS with Eru Rerekura
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AUSTRALIA ARMY BUNGLE: Things are going from bad to worse for the Australian Defence Force. The Australian Returned Services League is calling for the sacking of the officer who lost an army report into the bungled repatriation of the remains of Private Jacob Kovco. Private Kovco was the first Australian serviceman to be killed in Iraq. The ABC's Josie Taylor reports. PKGE
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