Checkpoint for Thursday 05 March 2009
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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More jobs have been lost today, with the town of Wellsford's largest employer laying off nearly two thirds of its workforce, and a Nelson company cutting 60 jobs. In Wellsford, north of Auckland, Irwin Industrial Tools plant, which employs 162 people, will be laying off 105 positions by the first week in April. Leilani Momoisea reports. PKG
And in Nelson about 60 workers have been made redundant from Nelson Pine Industries, which makes laminated timber products.The company employs 265 people. Managing Director Murray Sturgeon joins us now LIVE
Hundreds of houses are without power in parts of Auckland and power companies in Northland are on stand-by, as gale force winds intensify across the region. With the latest, Vector's chief executive Simon Mckenzie joins us now. LIVE
For the latest on the weather and the forecast - our reporter Joy Reid is out in the wind in central Auckland LIVE
Hundreds of public servants could be without jobs by the end of the year as government departments look at restructuring and cutting costs. The jobs of more than 50 people are on the line at the Tertiary Education Commission, and the union, the PSA, says there are a half dozen other government agencies about to make decisions on restructuring. The National Secretary Brenda Pilot says she's expecting another restructuring announcement from a government department next week. PREREC
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BUSINESS NEWS
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An independent report has found that the Immigration Service's Pacific Division is badly run with an attitude of getting things done without taking too much notice of the proper processes. The review was ordered following the controversial resignation last year of the Immigration head Mary Ann Thompson who helped organise visas for her Pacific Island relatives. Despite the criticism the report recomends the division be kept as a separate unit. But the Minister of Immigration, Jonathan Coleman, says it will come under the Immigration Service. PREREC
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17.30 HEADLINES
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Newspaper websites have successfully overturned a High Court decision that would have banned them from producing their own video news stories of the David Bain retrial. The last minute appeal comes less than 24 hours before the trial is scheduled to begin. Monique Devereux is following the David Bain case and she joins me now. LIVE
The Tertiary Education Commission is proposing to axe more than 50 jobs, saying the government's push to get better value from the state sector is partly behind the move.
The Public Service Association believes the commission's plan is the first in a rolling restructuring of the state sector. Our education correspondent, Gael Woods, reports. PKG
The family of the teenager who admitted killing Scottish backpacker, Karen Aim, hope to meet with her family to apologise for the crime. 15 year old Jahche Broughton pleaded guilty to murder at a pre-trial hearing last month, and was due to be sentenced tomorrow. But that's now been delayed, after his family asked another lawyer to look at the case, and it was thought he may want to retract his guilty plea. Broughton's new lawyer, Chris Wilkinson-Smith, says he was brought onto the case on Friday. PREREC
The interim leader of Fiji is adamant he will not be rushed into holding elections despite an ultimatum from the Commonwealth to restore democracy or face full suspension within six months. The tougher stance from the Commonwealth follows a meeting in London of the Ministerial Action Group on Fiji. Radio New Zealand International's Jo O'Brien reports. PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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A huge asteroid, which passed close over New Zealand this week, would have had the same effect as a nuclear bomb if it had hit earth. Astronomer Richard Hall says the asteroid is between 30 and 50 metres in size and had the potential to devastate a large area. He's joins us now. LIVE
Allegations are swirling that Pakistan's police had received warning of a terrorist attack this week, ahead of the ambush on Sri Lanka's cricket team. Players and officials are still demanding to know why they were left so exposed. The ABC's Emily Burke has more: PKG
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