**** Checkpoint FOR WED 22 APRIL
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The Finance Minister Bill English has released details of a massive blowout in the Government's finances and cast further doubt on the promised tax cuts for next year and the year after.Speaking to a business audience in Auckland, Mr English said those cuts need to be viewed against the backdrop of the rapid deterioration in the Government's books. The Minister says the Government's gross debt is now predicted to hit 45 per cent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product by 2013 and be more than 70 percent by 2023. PRE-REC
The Crown says former MP Taito Phillip Field deliberately lied to the Ingram inquiry and got others to do the same, to derail any future police investigation. It's opened its case against Mr Field, who faces 12 charges of bribery and corruption, and 23 of obstructing or perverting the course of justice.He denies all charges. Kim Baker Wilson is covering the trial at the High Court in Auckland, he's with us now. LIVE
Inland Revenue has announced plans to slash up to 250 jobs and, at this stage, says it will be asking for voluntary redundancies.The department says it's tightening its belt because of the economic downturn and it's reviewing its resources as projects such as KiwiSaver wind down.But the Public Service Association's National Secretary, Richard Wagstaff, says the department's workload is actually increasing and the cuts have come as a real surprise to staff.
PRE-REC
Inland Revenue has announced plans to slash up to 250 jobs.The department is tightening its belt because of the economic downturn and it's reviewing resources as projects such as KiwiSaver wind down.At this stage it will be asking for voluntary redundancies. But the Public Service Association says the department's workload is actually increasing and this is part of cuts being made across the whole public service.IRD Commissioner Robert Russell is on the line now. LIVE
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH
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The High Court jury hearing David Bain's retrial has heard about the strange relationship between Laniet and David, and that she was considered to be obsessive about him. David's former girlfriend spoke of her own friendship with Laniet and her impression that Laniet was obsessive about him. And another woman told the court she was mesmirised by David Bain when he performed on stage. Mr Bain is accused of killing his parents Margaret and Robin, and his siblings Arawa, Laniet and Stephen, which he denies. Monique Devereux is covering the trial and she joins us now. LIVE
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17.30 HEADLINES
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Sri Lankan forces are reportedly within hours of ending the long running civil war with the Tamil Tigers.
The rebels are making their last stand in a small area in the north of the country.Both sides are accusing the other of having put innocent civilians in harms way. These developments are being closely watched by the Sri Lankan community in New Zealand as Clint Owens reports. PKG
The polls in South Africa have just opened in what is expected to be the most competitive general election since the end of apartheid in 1994.Turnout is predicted to be high and the ruling African National Congress Party is braced for a tough test. Andrew Geoghegan from the ABC is in Johannesberg and he joins us now...LIVE
The Government wants to settle all historical treaty negotiations by 2014 and has put forward a new plan to make this happen. The Prime Minister John Key and the minister of treaty negotiations Chris Finlayson presented seven proposals to a hui of around 120 Māori leaders at Te Wananga O Aotearoa in Mangere today. Laura Davis was there and filed this report. PKG
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17.45 TRAILS
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WAATEA
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Fiji's magistrates courts are back in business - but at the same time people in Suva are still feeling constrained in what they can say. Radio New Zealand reporter Philippa Tolley arrived in Suva this morning, and joins us on the line now: LIVE
Ports of Auckland plans to lay off thirty staff as part of major restructuring.The company presently has it's stevedoring staff split between two terminals and says it intends to move them all to one.Ports of Auckland is also still in an employment dispute with the Maritime Union.Leilani Momoisea reports: PKG
European Astronomers searching for Earth-like planets have zeroed in on two potential targets. They have found Gliese (GLEEZ-uh) 51 e, the smallest planet ever detected outside the solar system.It is 20 light years away and is about twice the mass of Earth - previous planets found have been closer to the size of the huge gaseous Jupiter.
While the latest discovery is too hot to support life, its neighbouring planet,Gliese 581 d, is in a prime habitable zone.
Dr Michael Albrow is a senior lecturer of Astronomy at the University of Canterbury. PRE-REC