**** CKPT FOR TUESDAY 30 JAN ***
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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A growing violent and impoverished underclass which threatens the "Kiwi way of a fair go for all". That's the message National leader John Key was pushing today in his first State of the Nation speech delivered to party faithful in Christchurch. HIs solutions include work for the dole, getting businesses to help pay for school meals, more money for children to play sport and moving funding from Child Youth and Family to non-government organisations like the Salvation Army and Barnados. John Key does concede that a poverty stricken underclass has been part of New Zealand for a long time. PREREC
Our political reporter Jane Patterson listened to John Key's speech, and joins us now from our Christchurch studio. LIVE
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH SEAN KENNEDY
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Will the Government's decision not to host the annual Wellington sevens tournament parade fire up the Fijian team? The start of Thursday's parade has been moved from Parliament to Bunny street. The decision which was made because of Fiji's coup last year. But first, at least one tournament coach is worried that it may inadvertently backfire. as Megan Whelan reports PKG
The Sports MInister Trevor Mallard says banning the Rugby Sevens parade from Parliament was a pretty easy decision to make. PREREC
Avian malaria parasites found in a quarter of sparrows and blackbirds are threatening to decimate the country's native birds - which have little resistance to new diseases. This is according to a new study by Landcare Research, which has tested 4-hundred birds. Jean Edwards compiled this report. PKG
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
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About 100 sawmill workers in the small Southland town of Otautau are reeling after receiving redundancy letters today. The American company Brightwood is shutting down the town's largest employer, saying the high kiwi dollar and increasing costs contributed to the closure. But the workers' union says Brightwood has plundered the local community and then bailed out. Nadine Chalmers-Ross reports. PKG
On the line now is Southland District Council Mayor Frana Cardo. LIVE
There was one big news story swirling around Television New Zealand's newsroom today - their news boss quitting. News and current affairs chief Bill Ralston handed in his resignation after three and a half years in the job. It comes amid restructuring at TVNZ, as the broadcaster prepares to launch new digital services including a 24-hour news channel. So, did he jump or was he pushed? Mr Ralston didn't return our calls today But someone who can comment is Paul Norris, a former head of news at TVNZ, and he joins us now. LIVE
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17.45 TRAILS
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It appears Christchurch and Auckland may soon be competing to host another top sporting event, as both cities consider bidding for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. But there is a long and expensive process to go through before either city can formally throw its name into the hat, as our Christchurch reporter Monique Devereux explains. PKG
WAATEA
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A small city in the sunshine state is cool place to be right now. One part of Florida has become a rather large ice block - after authorities over-ordered for their hurricane season. More than four thousand tonnes of ice cubes worth 2 and a half million dollars-- were brought in by Florida's emergency management team to help keep things cool if the power went out. But the bagged and bundled product wasn't needed and has been offered to any nonprofit group eligible for government donations. Local reporter Rafael Olmeda, says a group from the city of Tamarac has put its hand up and plans to use the ice to water its plants. PREREC
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Presenter: Mary Wilson
Editor: Gareth Thomas
Producers: Joanne OBrien, Natalie Mankelow, Bryan Gibson