Checkpoint for Thursday 9 APRIL 2009
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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An 85 year old man is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after a home invasion at a retirement village in South Auckland.The police say the elderly man, Louis Watts, was attacked when he confronted an intruder. Police are describing the attack cowardly and brutal and say it has left residents at the Seventh Day Adventist Retirement Village fearful.Detective Senior Sergeant Karyn Malthus is heading the investigation. PRE-REC
The victim's son-in-law, Keith Oddy, says despite his injuries, he's doing well. PRE-REC
The woman who abandoned her baby on a plane from Apia has been convicted and discharged although it's still unclear if she is to be deported back to Samoa. 29 year old Karolaine Maika gave birth on a flight to Auckland last month, leaving the infant, called Grace, in the aircraft's toilet cubicle. Leilani Momoisea reports: PKG
A 25 year old Southland man who admitted raping a European tourist has been sentenced to 10 years in jail. Maakiti Tipene pleaded guilty to nine charges relating to an attack on the woman and her partner, including unlawful sexual connection and aggravated burglary.Our reporter Steve Wilde was at the Invercargill District Court for the sentencing. LIVE
The MetService says Easter weekend is looking up for most of the country , but freak hail storms have been hitting parts of the North Island this afternoon. Holiday makers are already heading out of the cities for the long weekend. In Auckland, northbound traffic is jammed solid from the Harbour Bridge, past the Northern Gateway and into Warkworth. Southbound traffic is crawling from the city through to Drury. .At Kopu bridge near Thames, traffic is backed up for several kilometres. In Wellington the Police say northbound traffic on state highway 1 is slow but the police in Christchurch report no problems.Our reporter Ben Brown's been out braving the elements, and filed this report. PKG
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BUSINESS NEWS
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The High Court in Christchurch has heard scientific opinion that supports the Crown theory that David Bain shot his father Robin, rather than Robin committing suicide.David Bain is on trial for Robin's murder, and that of 4 other family members, in Dunedin in 1994. Monique Devereux is covering the trial and filed this report. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The chairs of State Owned Enterprises have just begun a meeting at the Beehive with the Finance and SOE Ministers about their financial performances. They are expected to be told they must perform better but not at a cost of job losses and price rises. Our political reporter Danya Levy is outside the meeting and joins us now. LIVE
The Minister in charge of Work and Income has denied accusations in Parliament that a group of workers from Myanmar have been the victims of institutional racism. The Green MP Sue Bradford made the claim, and our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson has more. PKG
In Thailand, anti-government protestors are camped outside the Prime Minister's residence in Bangkok and are calling for his resignation.Travel warnings have been issued to New Zealand tourists and they come as Prime Minister, John Key, heads to Thailand to meet the ten leaders from the Association of SouthEast Asian nations at a summit on the global economic crisis. Last year political unrest in Thailand forced the previous summit to be postponed.For the latest, our correspondent Norman Hermant joins us from Bangkok. LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS
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The first funerals have taken place for the victims of Monday's earthquake which killed 272 people in central Italy. Plans have also been announced for a national memorial service for those who lost their lives in the disaster. Meanwhile aftershocks continue to shake the Abruzzo region. Our correspondent in Italy, Frances Kennedy, is with us now. LIVE
To sport now and the US Masters where New Zealand hopes will be riding on successful golfing teenager Danny Lee. The 18-year-old is the reigning US Amateur champion. The tournament gets under way early tomorrow morning ibut much of the talk is about the world number one, Tiger Woods, who is bidding to win his 15th major title. Joining me now to discuss the prospects of Woods and Danny Lee is Mal Tongue, the golf coach who set Michael Campbell on his way. LIVE
Guest nights for February were the lowest in ten years, according to figures just released by Statistics New Zealand. February is traditionally the peak month for accommodation providers but, this year, and excluding caravan parks and camping grounds, occupancy was at just 62 percent. Joe Porter filed this report. PKG
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