**** CKPT FOR TUES 16 DEC 2008
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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FIJI-NZ: The Foreign Minister Murray McCully has spoken with Fiji's interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama, as efforts continue to end a diplomatic stand-off with Fiji. Here's our political reporter Danya Levy PKG
And TVNZ's Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has arrived back in New Zealand after being deported from Fiji this morning. She says her detention overnight was not entirely unexpected. PREREC
ACC RAISE: People on an average wage of 47-thousand dollars will pay about three dollars more in Accident Compensation Corporation levies a week, from next April. The levy for employers and the self-employed will also increase. The ACC Minister Nick Smith joins us.LIVE
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BUSINESS NEWS
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COURT-XUE: The lawyer for the man accused of murdering his wife and abandoning their daughter at an Australian railway station claims legal services has it in for his client. A bail hearing for the accused, Nai Xin Xue, had been scheduled for today, but the matter was adjourned when lawyer Chris Comesky told the High Court that despite filing an application for financial aid 10 months ago he was yet to see a cent. He spoke outside court. CUTS
Chris Comesky says Mr Xue owes his firm a significant sum and he could be forced to abandon the case. The national manager for Legal Aid joins us now.LIVE
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17.30 HEADLINES
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HOSPITALS-SAFETY: The Health and Disability Commissioner says overcrowded hospital emergency departments are putting patient safety at risk. Ron Paterson has released five reports today on the problems. Joining us now is Health Correspondent, Karen Brown. LIVE
PARLIAMENT: In the first parliamentary question time since the election the Labour Party criticised the National-led Government for the legislation it has pushed through under urgency. But the Government hit back, accusing Labour of making spending commitments before the election that it could not afford. Our political editor Brent Edwards has more. PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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NZ-FIJI (2): The NZ Pacific Business Council says the National-led government must work to put this country's relationship with Fiji onto a better footing. The council's chairperson, Gilbert Ullrich says trade worth more than 300 million dollars is at risk. Our Pacific Issues Correspondent Richard Pamatatau has more PKG
JAPAN-BUSINESS: Japanese business confidence has suffered its biggest drop in 34 years, fueling fears of a deep and lengthy recession. Japan is New Zealand's fourth largest trading partner. Our correspondent in Tokyo, Mark Willacy, says even wealthy Japanese consumers are feeling the pinch. He joins me now. LIVE
CHINA-ECONOMY: China's economy is facing a sharp slowdown. The International Monetary Fund expects the Chinese economy to grow by 5 to 6 per cent next year compared with estimated growth of close to 10 per cent this year. Economists say this will hit New Zealand's commodity returns. Our economics correspondent Nigel Stirling has more PKG
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