Checkpoint for Wednesday 15 APRIL 2009
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum says Fiji now poses a threat to the stability of the region, and has asked forum leaders whether immediate action should be taken against the ruling military regime. Over the past week, Fiji's judges have been sacked and soldiers have occupied the central bank as the military moves to consolidate control of the country. Here's our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson. PKG
The President of the Law Society in Fiji has been released from police custody vowing he'll continue to speak out against the military government. Dorsami Naidu was picked up by police yesterday morning. Courts are not operating after the military government sacked the country's judges, dtiched the constitution and imposed strict bans on what the media can publish. Mr Naidu says he was taken to the Lautoka police station. PREREC
Auckland Māori have decided to hold a hikoi in protest against the government's decision not to include any Māori seats on a super city council. More than 300 people met at Orakei Marae in Auckland to discuss how to fight the plan which goes against the Royal Commission's recommendation of three dedicated Māori seats. Rowan Quinn was at the hui. PKG
With us now is the Māori Party MP, Hone Harawira. LIVE
A former rest home worker accused of taping an elderly resident's mouth shut has told the Auckland District Court that the woman did it herself. The accused, who has name suppression, is charged with common assault over the incident at the Belhaven rest home in Auckland last year. The facility has since closed. Reporter Laura Davis joins us now. LIVE
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BUSINESS NEWS
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A fire at the oldest school in Hamilton has gutted a classroom and seriously damaged another in a suspected arson this morning. Firefighters were called to a block of classrooms at Hamilton East primary at six o'clock this moring. About 300 pupils attend the school which opened in 1872 and is part of the Hamilton East Heritage trail. The Hamilton East deputy principal is Linda Woolhouse. PREREC
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17.30 HEADLINES
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A pathologist has told the High Court in Christchurch that the bullet wound in Robin Bain's head was not a close contact wound. David Bain is charged with murdering his father Robin and four other members of his family in 1994. But the defence maintains that Robin Bain shot his family before turning the gun on himself. Matthew Peddie has been at the retrial and joins us now. LIVE
The country's main business lobby group is urging the Government to take its time over climate change policy.The call follows the release of new figures which show the country's liability under the Kyoto Protocol has turned into a surplus. The Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says not too much should be read into the turnaround in the country's Kyoto obligations. Here's our political editor Brent Edwards. PKG
Fiji's military-led government has forced the shutdown of ABC Radio Australia's local transmitters. The broadcaster says it has been ordered to close its FM relay stations in the capital Suva and in Nadi. The clampdown comes a day after ABC correspondent Sean Dorney was deported from Fiji. John Westland is the manager of partnerships at ABC Radio Australia, and he's on the line now. LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS
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The Prime Minister, John Key is set to meet the Chinese Premier Win Jiabao later this evening for the first major discussions during his trip to China. Mr Key met the President, Hu Jintao last night in Beijing. Our political reporter, Chris Bramwell, is travelling with the Prime Minister. LIVE
Auckland's mayors have agreed on a number of points to put forward to the local government minister, Rodney Hide, when they meet him and the regional council chairperson tomorrow to discuss the Government's super-city plans. With us now is the Rodney mayor and chair of the mayoral forum, Penny Webster. LIVE
Travel operators fear tourism in Fiji will be hit because of the tense political situation. At the same time, they say there's never been a better or cheaper time to visit. Catherine Hutton reports. PKG
The Department of Conservation has accused Meridian Energy of undermining a hearing into a controversial hydro dam project on the West Coast. It's the first day of a resumed resource consent hearing in Westport. Our reporter Geoff Moffett is there. LIVE
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