**** CKPT FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 21 *******
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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SALLIES ABUSE: The Salvation Army has, this afternoon, admitted to covering up sexual abuse againt children in its care. At the same time it has issued a public apology to the people who were sexually abused by a former Captain at the Bramwell Booth Children's home in Temuka. 69-year old John Francis Gainsford was sentenced yesterday to 10-years in prison for sexually abusing eight children at the home in the 1970s. But Gainsford's victims say it's no longer about him and they want a public inquiry into the Salvation Army's care. Nadine Chalmers-Ross reports. PKG
The head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand is Commissioner Garth McKenzie. He's admitting his organisation does bear responsiblity for what happened to the children and that there was a coverup. PREREC
GUN CONTROL: A row over gun control has erupted after nationwide firearms seizures exposed a lucrative black market. More than 500 military-style semi automatic and automatic weapons, pistols and machine guns were confiscated yesterday from 55 properties between North Auckland and Canterbury. Hannah Ockelford filled this report. PKG
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH
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PAPAMOA STABBING: Residents of a motor camp at Papamoa beach near Tauranga are in shock, just days before the Christmas rush, after a man died from stab wounds in the early hours of this morning. A 34 yr old woman who police say was known to the victim has been charged with murder. The Police have spent the day at the Papamoa Village Park motor camp, from where our reporter Monica Holt joins us LIVE
FIJI COUNCIL: Fiji's Great Council of chiefs is meeting again today (1700) to decide whether to recommend immunity for the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, for staging this month's coup. In return, the military would be expected to hand over executive authority to the deposed president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, and allow a civilian Interim Government of National Unity to be appointed. The ousted prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, would also be required to resign. Our correspondent in Fiji, Vijay Narayan joins us now LIVE
WARNE RETIRE: Cricket's greatest ever wicket-taker has officially called it a day. Australia's Shane Warne has claimed 699 wickets and set to break the magic 700 mark next week. At a news conference, the 37-year-old spin king said he'll finish his 15-year Test career after the fifth and final Test against England in Sydney in the new year. CUT
Warne's also retiring from state and club cricket but will see out his contract with the English county side, Hampshire. His says people have accepted his decision to quit - even his kids. CUT
But Former Australia Test bowler Geoff Lawson says there's some surprise in cricketing circles. PRE-REC
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH
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RENTS RISE: Residential rentals are on the rise for the first time in two years. The latest figures from the Massey University Real Estate Analysis Unit show the national weekly median for rent is now $270 dollars a week That's 3.8% more than a few months ago and is just ahead of the consumer price index. The Unit director Bob Hargreaves joins us now LIVE
FIRES VICTORIA: Fire authorities in Victoria say more homes are likely to be lost to bushfires today, with soaring temperatures and high winds forecast to fan the flames.The bushfires have blackened more than 800-thousand hectares in Victoria, with about 4-thousand firefighters on deck today.Firecrews are working to secure the state's three main ski resorts with fire creeping towards the Mt Buller summit and spot fires between Falls Creek and Mt Hotham.Phil Nunn, the chief executive officer of Mt Buller Resort Management says residents and resort staff have been preparing for today's extreme conditions. He joins us now LIVE
FINANCE CARS: Car buyers beware - your finance company could be ripping you off - and in some cases not even aware it's doing so .The Commerce Commission is investigating up to 35 companies for breaches of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act. And in the latest case, an Auckland car finance company has been ordered to refund 12-thousand dollars to more than 140 customers. Here's Sally Wenley. PKG
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WAATEA NEWS WITH ERU REREKURA
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TARANAKI SHREDDER: The labour department has lost its bid to toughen up the penalty for the owners of a greenwaste-shredder in which a Taranaki worker lost both legs and an arm. Chris Fromont was pulled into the unguarded blades of the Manawatu Waste shredder at New Plymouth's transfer station in February. Two weeks ago the company was fined 10-thousand dollars, and ordered to pay Mr Fromont 30-thousand dollars reparations on top of the 30-thousand it had already paid voluntarily. This week the Department of Labour asked the Solicitor General for permission to appeal the sentence, arguing it was inadequate, but that permission has been declined. Joining us now is Chris Fromont's brother Stephen LIVE
CHRISTMAS UK: While most people here are getting ready to gear up the barbeque and don their sunhat on Christmas Day - spare a thought for those New Zealanders who're thinking more along the lines of hat, gloves and scarf. Emily Gibbs caught up with some New Zealanders living in London, to see how Christmas compares over there. PKG
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