**** Checkpoint FOR THURS 21 MAY
****************************
1700 to 1707 NEWS
****************************
The Government is admitting the electriticity industry reforms of recent years have largely failed after an investigation showing massive over charging by power companies. The Commerce Commission's inquiry out today says the four biggest electricity companies made four point three billion dollars more than they should have. But it also finds they did not do anything illegal. This was the reaction to that on the streets of Wellington today. CUT In a moment we'll hear from the Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee. But first our reporter Eric Frykberg has been studying the 500 page Commerce Commission report and joins us now. LIVE
The Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Government accepts the Commerce Commission report and IS taking action to fix things. PREREC
Police in Rotorua are working to track down a couple who've fled the country after Westpac mistakenly deposited ten million dollars into their bank account. The bank says a considerable amount of the money has been recovered. Radio New Zealand understands the bank's error followed an agreement to provide the pair with a 10-thousand dollar overdraft for their business. Our reporter Matthew Farrell has been on the case in Rotorua. PKG
The police investigation into former National Party leader Don Brash's stolen emails is to be investigated - by the police. The original inquiry did not find out who took the emails which formed the basis of the book The Hollow Men about National's 2005 election campaign. And today Dr Brash said he wanted a Commission of Inquiry into what he suggested was police incompetence or political bias in the handling of the case.
But the Prime Minister John Key has ruled that out, saying it would cost too much in money and police recommending instead that Dr Brash complain to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
Mr Key says he believes Police wanted to solve the case but couldn't. CUT However the Police Commissioner Howard Broad late this afternoon released a statement saying that Dr Brash's continued expression of concern has the potential to undermine public trust and confidence in the police. And he says that a senior police investigator - Auckland Assistant Commissioner Steve Shortland - will now look into the case. Mr Broad says an independent advisor - likely to be a Queens Counsel - will also be appointed after consultation with Dr Brash. Dr Brash joins us on the line now: LIVE
***********************
1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Patrick O'Meara
************************
Victoria University has expelled three students for what the students say was a flag burning anti-war protest. The men burned the flag in front of the Kelburn campus bar on Anzac Day. The University says the trio aren't being punished for their anti-war protest but because the flag burning caused a significant health and safety issue. Two of the flag burners Alistair Reith and Joel Cosgrove join us now....LIVE
Listening to that is the Dean of Humanities at Victoria University Deborah Willis and she joins us now...LIVE
***********************
17.30 HEADLINES
***********************
Back to our lead story now - and a Commerce Commission investigation has found the four big electricity companies have overcharged by 4.3 billion dollars - with wholesale prices between 2001 and 2007 18 percent higher than they should have been.
The report says it's likely these prices have been passed onto consumers. It says Meridian Energy, Genesis, Mighty River Power and Contact Energy used their market power to maximise profits particularly in dry years when prices where higher than they should have been. The only company which would talk to Radio New Zealand was Meridian - it's spokesman is Alan Seay. CUT
The executive director of the Major Electricity Users' Group Ralph Matthes says the Commission's findings are no surprise. CUT
The chief executive of Consumer New Zealand, Sue Chetwin, is on the line now. LIVE
Iran appears to have successfully test fired a missile that military experts say is capable of hitting Israel. The move has dramatically raised tensions in the Middle East over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The launch has also raised renewed questions about the American President Barack Obama's strategy of using diplomacy to win concessions fromTeheran. From Washington the ABC's Michael Rowland reports : PKG
***************
17.45 TRAILS
****************
WAATEA
****************
A forensic expert from the UK has told the High Court in Christchurch that he found blood stains on top of Robin Bain's shoe - where other scientists had found none. David Bain is being retried for the murders of his parents and three siblings in Dunedin in 1994, but he maintains his father Robin Bain killed three of his children, his wife, and then himself. Dr John Manlove, a forensic scientist, has given the court an analysis of blood patterns from the crime scene that contradicts the evidence of earlier crown witnesses. Matthew Peddie has been at the High Court and joins us now. LIVE
The principal of Hamilton's Fraser High School has gone on leave while the police invesitgate allegations of financial irregularity. It's understood the police inquiry relates to school money allegedly being spent on private work. The Principal, Martin Elliott has said he'll be vigorously defending the allegations. Our reporter Andrew McRae has been following the story and joins us now: LIVE
A Fiji government consultant has made an appeal to New Zealand government officials, to lift its sanctions on the coup stricken nation.
John Samy, who helped formulate the People's Charter and Jone Dakuvula (pron: JOR-NEH DAH-KUH-VUH-LAH ), who manages two committees aimed at bringing political parties together, spoke at Victoria University today. Our reporter Christine Gounder was at the seminar. PKG
An entrepreneurial summit in Auckland has decided possum fur and leather could be the key to beating the recession. The summit chose the best recession beater from more than a hundred ideas and then presented their final choice to the Commerce Minister Simon Power. Greg Howard the CEO of Planet Green Ltd is the entrepreneur behind the possum leather sports accesories and he joins us now.... LIVE