**** CKPT FOR WED 26 MAR 2008
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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BLUE CHIPS: Liquidators trying to recover money owed to investors in 20 failed Blue Chip companies, have secured funding from the Government to continue their work. They met investors today in Auckand. The head of Blue Chip failed to appear at the meeting - he's now been reported for breaching the Companies Act. Reporter Kim Baker Wilson was there PKG
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: Retailers are being warned they'll need to adapt to survive with consumer confidence falling to its lowest point in a decade. The stats come from the Westpac bank's quarterly consumer confidence survey. Leilani Momoisea reports PKG
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY: New figures from the House Prices Unit show there's been an 80 percent increase in real house prices since 2002 and, with rising interest rates, the situation's unlikely to improve. On average across all households, couples now need a 122-thousand dollar deposit to buy their first home. Charlotte Graham reports. PKG
RENTAL AFFORDABILITY:A new Massey University study reveals rent has gone up 7-percent in the past year, with the average cost now 3-hundred dollars a week. Bridget Gourlay reports PKG
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BUSINESS NEWS
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CLINTON BOSNIA: The former first lady of the United States and Democratic Presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, says she got it wrong when she told supporters she'd had to run for cover under sniper fire in Bosnia in 1996. The ABC's Michael Rowland reports: PKG
CARS EFFICIENCY: Car sellers will have to advertise their vehicle's fuel efficiency from next month to allow buyers to compare different models. Traders and private sellers could be fined up to 5-thousand dollars if they do not display the information in online adverts and in car yards. Gill Bonnett was at Turners auction house in Auckland for the scheme's launch. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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BLUE CHIP (2): Liquidators trying to recover money owed to investors in twenty failed Blue Chip companies, have secured funding from the Government to continue their work Paul Dale is a lawyer acting for a number investors of the failed Blue Chip companies. He's spent the afternoon meeting with those he represents and joins us now. LIVE
PEGAGUS TOWN: Its not even on the map yet, but construction of the first house at a brand new Canterbury town got underway today - more than 10 years since plans for the village were first made public. Those behind Pegasus Town, say the number of people buying property there makes a mockery of the reported real estate downturn. Monique Devereux reports. PKG
FIJI FORUM: A lack of progress on an election timetable for Fiji has prompted foreign ministers at the Pacific Forum in Auckland to form a ministerial contact group. The interim Fiji Foreign Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau told the meeting his country is committed to an election but that has not been enough to satisfy delegates. Our Pacific Issues Correspondent Richard Pamatatau is with us now. LIVE Here's the Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters. LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS
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CRICKET: Despite a disappointing end to the third test and series against England, New Zealand test debutant Tim Southee provided plenty of excitement, racking up 77 runs, including nine sixes and in record time. England beat New Zealand by 121 runs in Napier, wrapping up the series by two games to one. Southee's innings was the fastest ever test 50 by a New Zealander and the sixth fastest in the history of test cricket, surpassing the likes of Viv Richards and Ian Botham. We're joined now by cricket commentator John Morrison. LIVE
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