**** CKPT FOR WED 20 JUNE 2007
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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An unprecedented court hearing has ended this afternoon in Auckland with a reserved decision on the next step in the bribery and corruption case against the former Labour MP Taito Philip Field. The crown is seeking leave from the High Court to lay 15 charges against the now-independent Mangere MP. The claims relate to allegations that he helped mainly Asian overstayers with immigration applications in return for free labour on his properties. Mr Feild showed up to court today, although he didn't have to, insisting he is innocent and has done nothing wrong. CUT To hear more about what happened in court we're joined by our reporter Rowan Quin. LIVE
Over a hundred thousand landlords are taking losses on their rental properties - making them eligible for a special tax break on property investment. But that tax break may not be around for long - with the government considering changes, due to the over-investment in housing. However, National says the clampdown won't work and may simply push down the value of peoples homes. Here's our Economics Correspondent Corin Dann. PKG
The families of three children killed in a cliff collapse at a Manawatu swimming hole wept as the inquest into the tragedy was held today. Ten year old Callum Langley, his eight year old sister Keryn and their friend, thirteen year old Michael Liengme (LIAM) died when the cliff collapsed at the Totara Reserve Regional Park in December last year.The Coroner called the event an unfortunate tragedy and has called for more signage to be put up warning swimmers of the dangers. Our reporter Bryan Gibson was at the inquest into the accident PKG
A wintry blast is set to hit much of the country in the next few days, bringing snow, rain, and wind chill-temperatures close to or below zero in many places. Already Canterbury Civil Defence spokesman Jon Mitchell is urging people to stock up on emergency supplies and learn the lessons of last year's winter blizzard. CUT joining us now is MetService spokeperson Bob Mc Davitt LIVE
A New Zealander living in Sydney has been handed a 5-thousand dollar payout after a popular Sydney pub banned him on account of his race. Marcellus Cook, who is Māori, took a case against Scruffy Murphy's bar which wouldn't let Pacific Islanders and people of Middle Eastern origin in, unless staff knew them. The Daily Telegraph's Shoba Rao has followed the story since the beginning. PREREC
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH
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The Vatican's put out its own 'rules of the road' - a list of do's and don'ts of driving. Gareth Thomas looks at the Pope's 10 Commandments for motorists. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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Money's above morals when it comes to grabbing a cheap holiday deal in Fiji - despite the Prime Minister's plea to think twice about taking a break there. After the expulsion of New Zealand's High Commissioner, Helen Clark said resentment could be shown towards New Zealand visitors. But many are not listening. Rachel Graham reports. PKG
Planned government guidelines for what foods can and can't be sold on school campuses are being unofficially tested at some Christchurch schools.But a catering company which sells healthy food in school canteens says it's struggling for business in some low-decile Christchurch schools. Charlotte Graham reports. PKG
Move over America - China may have already become the world's biggest polluter. An independent agency in the Netherlands has calculated that China is now the biggest emitter of CO2. And a top British climate change official says China is now building two large coal-fired power stations every week. The BBC's Roger Harriben reports. PKG
One man who is making a contribution to combatting climate change is New Zealander Alan Eggers. The Victoria University geology graduate has donated one million dollars to the university's Antarctic Research Centre for its research into global warming.Mr Eggers was the founding and managing director of Summit Resources, which was recently taken over by Palatin Resources and is now worth around one point two billion dollars. LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS
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Think about adoption. That's the thrust of a new Trust - which aims to provide women with an alternative for unplanned pregnancies.The Adoption Option Trust says the process is not a drawn out, negative experience it was in the 60s and 70s. Monique Devereux reports. PKG
What is the right punishment for parents who allow their children to drink alcohol illegally? In the US a mother of two has just started a 27 month jail sentence - reduced from eight years - for throwing a birthday party at which she allowed 16 year old boys to drink beer. Eliza Kelly says the teenagers would be drinking anyway - and she wanted to provide a safe place where they did not have to consume alcohol secretly.Matt Frei reports from Charlottesville. PKG
It's now a-hundred days since the BBC's Gaza Correspondent Alan Johnston was kidnapped. His friends and colleagues will be marking the day with a series of events around the world.
The BBC's Rob Broomby reports. PKG
A new wine in Italy has become a symbol of the fight against organised crime, after being made on land confiscated from a Mafia godfather. The sparkling white wine is said to be the first to be produced on land taken from a prominent member of the Camorra, Naples' version of the Mafia. The land was confiscated after Francesco Schiavone was sentenced to life in prison, and given to a charity. which says turning land bought with illegal earnings into something clean is the most important message it can send to the gangsters.
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