**** CKPT FOR MON 18 AUG 2008
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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ASSAULT-VEITCH: Former broadcaster Tony Veitch has appeared in the Auckland District Court facing six charges of assaulting a female and one of injuring with reckless disregard, after complaints laid by his former girlfriend. Here's Kim Baker Wilson, with first a statement made by the accused. LIVE
FIJI-FORUM: Fiji's coup leader Frank Bainmarama has withdrawn from attending the Pacific Islands Forum. In a statement, the Commodore says he will not be going in protest at being blocked from attending bi-lateral talks in New Zealand before the event. The Prime Minister Helen Clark says it appears that Fiji is just looking for an excuse. CUT
Our Parliamentary Chief Reporter Jane Patterson joins us now. LIVE
HOSPITALS-OUTBREAK: Dunedin and Wakari Hospitals will remain in lockdown mode tomorrow as they continue to battle a Norovirus outbreak. The severe vomiting and diarrhoea bug has hit at least 64 patients and staff. And norovirus seems to be affecting the wider Dunedin community as well. Emma Lancaster filed this report PKG
ELECTRICITY: Two government ministers have been accused of leaning on the Electricity Commission to get the result they wanted for a major upgrade of the electricity network.
The High Court is hearing a challenge to the Commission's approval 18 months ago of new transmission wires from South Waikato into Auckland. Reporter Eric Frykberg was there. LIVE
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BUSINESS NEWS
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OLYMPICS: Now to the Olympics where Australian Emma Snowsill has won the women's triathlon event. However, the New Zealanders Andrea Hewitt, Debbie Tanner and Sam Warriner were competitive during the swimming and cycle stages, but in the end finished well out of medal contention. Here's our correspondent in Beijing, Barry Guy. LIVE
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17.30 HEADLINES
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POLITICS-PETERS: The Foreign Minister, Winston Peters is now just a few hours away from fronting up to questions from Parliament's Privileges Committee. The New Zealand First leader is facing scrutiny for not disclosing a one hundred-thousand dollar donation towards his legal costs, from ex-patriate businessman Owen Glenn. Political reporter Julian Robins. PREREC
AMBULANCE-ASSAULT: A woman has told an Auckland court how an ambulance driver sexually violated her after she fractured and dislocated her shoulder.The former St John ambulance driver is accused of sexually assaulting patients while transporting them to hospital
in 1999 and 2000. Ben Brown has been at the Auckland District Court and joins me now LIVE
GEORGIA-RUSSIA: Tensions remain high in Georgia as the international community watches to see whether Russia will honour its pledge to withdraw its troops later today. The U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has already questioned whether Russia's promise is genuine. The ABC's Raphael Epstein reports : PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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APPEAL-DEWAR: The Court of Appeal has been asked to reduce the four and a half year jail sentence handed down to a former Rotorua police officer. John Dewar was in charge of the Rotorua CIB when Louise Nicholas first made accusations against police officers Clint Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum in 1993. He was found guilty of attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice at his trial last year. Court reporter Ann Marie May attended today's appeal hearing and joins us now. LIVE
BIKES: The organiser of the Boobs on Bike parade says he is willing to go to jail rather than cancel the event. The Auckland City Council is seeking an injunction against the topless parade in the city on Wednesday. But Steve Crow says it will go ahead regardless of the court's decision tomorrow. Gill Bonnett was at the Auckland District Court Hearing. PKG
WORKPLACE-SAFETY: Industry bosses must take responsibilty for improving high rates of workplace injuries, a national health and safety conference has heard. There were 53 workplace fatalities in the last financial year, and a visiting international expert wants to see a safety culture being pushed from the top of organisations to the bottom. Naomi Mitchell has more. PKG
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