**** CKPT FOR WED 20 AUG 2008
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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FORUM-FIJI: The tension over Fiji and its failure to schedule promised elections is dominating the Pacific Forum in Nuie. Fiji's interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is refusing to attend the forum. Our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson, is there. LIVE
CHCH-DEATH: A body has been found in the Christchurch suburb of Westmorland, believed to be that of 52 year old Kerry Leigh Downey who has been missing since Monday. A member of the public found the body while out walking. Shanna Crispin joins us now. LIVE
APPEAL-POLICE: The Court of Appeal says that a recidivist burglar with a long criminal record, who threatened a neighbour with an axe, should have got a more lenient sentence because he is a police informant. Conrad Gray will now be re-sentenced at the Rotorua District Court. Here's our reporter Mathew Farrell. PRE-REC
FORUM-FIJI(2): Returning now to the ongoing tension at the Pacific Forum over Fiji's failure to schedule promised elections.The refusal of Fiji's interim leader Frank Bainimarama to attend the forum today prompted the Prime Minister Helen Clark to liken him to Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe.The Prime Minister joins us now LIVE
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BUSINESS NEWS
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OLYMPICS: Nick Willis won bronze in the 1500 metres at the main Olympic Stadium last night - the first medal won on the track by a New Zealander for 32 years. Our reporter Beijing Barry Guy asked him about returning to the Birds nest tonight for the medal ceremony. PRE-REC
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17.30 HEADLINES
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CHCH-HENDERSON: The Auditor-General is launching a formal investigation into a property deal the Christchurch City Council made with a local developer.The council's spending nearly 17 million dollars to buy five properties from the developer Dave Henderson. The mayor Bob Parker is with us now. LIVE
POLITICS-PETERS:The Foreign Minister, Winston Peters says he has now confirmed that he personally paid the court costs related to his unsucessful Tauranga electoral petition. On Monday Mr Peters' lawyer Brian Henry told Parliament's Privileges Committee that he had paid the 40-thousand dollars in costs to National MP Bob Clarkson.That raised questions about whether the money was a gift that should have been disclosed. Our political reporter, Julian Robins spoke with Mr Peters earlier this afternoon and he joins us now...LIVE
FRANCE-AFGHANISTAN: President Sarkozy of France is flying to Afghanistan to support his country's troops after 10 men were killed and 21 injured in fighting with Taleban militants.They were part of the NATO force in the country. The French government says it will keep its troops in Afghanistan despite the death of the soldiers . CNN's Jane Dodge reports :PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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BIKES: Auckland's Boobs on Bikes parade may have drawn its biggest crowd ever, with organiser Steve Crow attributing at least part of the crowd to the publicity generated by attempts to stop the event. 50 protestors marched quietly ahead of the parade. Rowan Quinn reports. PKG
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