** CKPT RUNDOWN FOR WEDNESDAY MAY 31 *******
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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EAST TIMOR POLITICS: There's confusion tonight over who's in control in East Timor. The Prime Minister is denying President Xanana Gusmao has taken 'sole control' of his country's security. Mari Alkatiri is challenging the president's statement from last night, that he has taken charge of defence and national security in a 30-day state of emergency. Mr Alkatiri insists that as head of the government, he is in charge of internal security and the President does not have exclusive control. CUT
Mari Alkatiri is also challenging the Timorese people who are calling for his resignation. He says he could muster 100 thousand supporters on the streets at any time. CUT
Mr Alkatiri maintains he will stay Prime Minister until the next election.
Radio New Zealand's Eric Frykberg says it's not surprising that there's still political confusion. PREREC
DOCTORS STRIKE: junior hospital doctors have announced that they intend to strike for five days from June the 15th. Some two thousand five hundred junior doctors represented by the Resident Doctors Association have been in talks with district health boards since early November over their pay and conditions. DHBs have offered 2 point 9 percent, but the doctors' spokesperson, Deborah Powell, says that's not enough for the long hours and night-work worked by junior doctors. She says they have not had a rise in four years. She's with us now. LIVE
STRIKE RESPONSE: The Health Minister Pete Hodgson is confident the argument between doctors and the Government over fee subsidies is sorted out quickly. The main sticking point a requirement for GPs to seek approval for future fee increases above a certain level. But talks broke down last night, and today the Minister faced questions on the negotiations when he appeared before the Health Select Committee. Our parliamentary chief reporter Clare Pasley was there. PKGE
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH SEAN KENNEDY
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ART - VENICE BIENNALE: An art controversy that started with a toilet and a braying donkey has taken a new turn today with a decision taxpayers will continue to pay for New Zealand artists to take part in the Venice Biennale. Creative New Zealand has spent about 500 thousand dollars on each of the three entries since 2001. A report into whether that should continue says yes, but the selection panel must be aware of the media and political risks of each choice. Last year's entry by Merylyn Tweedie, also known as et al, was widely criticised when the artist refused face-to-face interviews about her piece. She was already known for her braying toilet installation, and the Venice entry called "the fundamental practice" featured cubicles and loud noise including music, drumming, and bells. Incomprehensible and not Kiwi enough said the critics.
Joining us now is Creative New Zealand's chief executive Elizabeth Kerr. LIVE
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
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EAST TIMOR SECURITY: Back to East Timor now - where the Australian commander of the stabilisation force has just held a media briefing on the security situation. Radio New Zealand's Eric Frykberg was there - and he joins us now. LIVE
MāORI SMOKING: Māori Party MP Hone Harawira has unveiled his battle plan in his crusade to permanently stub out cigarettes in New Zealand. The package of initiatives - introduced to mark World Smokefree Day - includes legal action on behalf of Maoridom, a petition and a private member's bill. They're all aimed ridding the country of tobacco products by December 2010 - six years after bars and restaurants were made smokefree. Political reporter, Sarah Bristow. PKGE
TOYOTA RECALL: Toyota's recalling its flagship hybrid car to replace faulty parts that could cause drivers to lose control of the steering wheel. 420 Prius models in New Zealand are being sent back to the workshop, along with just over 150 Avensis cars - as part of a global recall. On the line now is Toyota's general manager of after-sales, Paul Carroll. LIVE
NIUE GENERATOR: The New Zealand aid agency, NZ-AID, is sending a new generator and an electrical engineer to Niue, after a major fire on the island left most of the population without power. One of the island's two diesel generators and much of the electrical wiring were destroyed in the blaze last night. Radio New Zealand Internationals Don Wiseman has more. PKGE
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WAATEA NEWS with Eru Rerekura
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US - HOFFA: The FBI has drawn a blank in an extensive dig for the body of powerful labor leader Jimmy Hoffa - who inexplicably vanished from a restaurant in 1975. Dozens of agents, detector dogs, ground-piercing radar, archaeologists and diggers were rolled out in a search of a Michigan horse farm. Investigators believe Hoffa may have been the victim of an underworld feud, with Mafia Iinvolvement. Detroit News columnist Laura Bergman says the search is a waste of money. PREREC
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