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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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In Tonga hundreds of desperate relatives have gathered throughout the day at the wharf in Nuku'alofa, waiting for news of those missing at sea. Many are angry and demanding answers. 53 people survived the sinking but 64 remain unaccounted for and are feared dead . Tonight dozens of families are still at the wharf singing songs and comforting one another. There have been claims the boat, the Princess Ashika was unseaworthy, and should not have been operating. But the Minister of Transport, Paul Karalus emphatically denies this.
However one local says there are unofficial reports that the captain of the boat had left the helm before the accident happened. CLIP Tonga's Prime Minister Feleti Sevele says he holds out little hope more survivors will be found and says the impact on his country has been palpable. CLIP And he's down-playing the decision by King George Tupou V to leave Tonga for an extended Scottish holiday, despite knowing, before he left, that the ship had sunk.
Tonga's Transport Minister is rubbishing claims the ferry was not licensed and shouldn't have been operating because it was unseaworthy. He's hit back at criticism from MP Akilisi Pohiva (Akil-isi Po-hiva) who says he was told the vessal should not have been sailing because it didn't meet safety requirements and that the Transport Minister knew this. Mr Pohiva says his source came from within Tonga's Marine Department.
CLIP Transport Minister Paul Karalus says Mr Pohiva is wrong. PRE-REC Tonga's Transport Minister Paul Karalus
John Dixon from the Rescue Coordination Centre joins us now: LIVE
The Labour MP, Chris Carter has come out swinging in his own defence over his use of taxpayer funded travel.
In the first six months of the year, the Te Atatu MP racked up more than 57-thousand dollars in airfares.
And in the same period last year, when he was Education Minister, his overseas travel bill was 83-thousand dollars, and his use of cars, taxis and Government limousines cost another 83-thousand.Until today, Mr Carter has allowed the party's chief whip to speak in his defense, but this afternoon he broke his silence, speaking to reporters outside his West Auckland electorate office...Our political reporter, Julian Robins has been covering the expenses row all week, and he joins us now...LIVE
The ACT MP David Garrett is in hot water again, this time he accused of challenging Labour MP, Clayton Cosgrove to "take this outside." During a closed session of the law and order select committee on Wednesday there was a testy exchange between the two MPs. Now for the second time in a week Labour has laid a complaint against Mr Garrett for breaching Parliamentary privilege. Here's our political reporter, Catherine Hutton. PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH
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Rotorua Airport is going trans-Tasman, with Air New Zealand beginning twice-weekly flights to Sydney in time for Christmas. The service, which starts on December the 12th, can't come soon enough for local businesses who rely heavily on the tourist dollar. Matthew Farrell reports. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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An airforce Hercules will leave for Tonga shortly (6pm) with a navy dive team on board as the focus of the ferry sinking now turns to the recovery of those trapped inside the vessel. More than 60 people are still missing including at least 21 women and 7 children who would have been below deck sleeping when the boat suddenly capsized. New Zealand will also send a victim identification team. Here's the Prime Minister John Key PRE-REC
One in five public hospital medical consultants are suffering from burnout, according to research published today.But medical unions fear the study under-estimates the national picture and say the real situation is in fact much worse. Naomi Mitchell reports. PKG
Work and Income is getting 303 more front line staff as the number of people on the unemployment benefit tips over 55 thousand. Since July last year the numbers on the dole has soared by 169 percent and the Minister of Social Development Paula Bennett says the government is now invest 17.2-million dollars to hire more staff to help people find jobs. She expects the number of jobless to continue to rise - but not at a rapid rate. PRE-REC
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17.45 TRAILS
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WAATEA
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Pacific leaders have agreed to push ahead with regional free trade talks, although Fiji won't have a seat at the table. Fiji's particpation has been a sticking point for leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns which finished today. Prime Minister John Key says it's in the interests of the wider region for the discussions to get underway. But the Executive Director of Oxfam, Barry Coates, says rushing into any free trade agreement is risky and could easily undermine the Pacific economies. Mr Coates has been at the Forum and joins us now.
LIVE
Scientists at the World Health Organisation say the first batches of a new vaccine to protect against swine flu will be ready for use in some countries as early as next month. Manufacturers around the world have been rushing to develop and test the new vaccine. But individual governments now face tough decisions about who will get it - and how soon. Jill McGivering has the details: PKG
One of Auckland's most popular, but notoriously dangerous, streets is about to become a go-slow-zone.
The Auckland's City Council's approved a plan to cut the speed limit on Ponsonby Road.
Georgina Ball visited the cafe mile. PKG