0600 NEWS/SPORTS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 MāORI NEWS
0616 NEWS STORY: MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM under fire again with Health minister Bill English illegible investigation into case of Jacko Paki who repeatedly sought psychiatric help but was turned away each time and who has now been convicted of rape. Comment from Mr English and lawyer Mike Antunovic. (Stephen Hewson)
0621 RURAL NEWS
0626 SPORTS STORY: RUGBY - CHINA becomes member of International Rugby Football Board at ceremony at Hong Kong Football Club. (BBC)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0636 NEWS STORY: WOMEN/ARMED FORCES - former soldier and NZ First MP Ron Mark suggests send women and men to sea together is asking for trouble, has serious doubts about integration of women in combat roles. (follows sexual harassment claims agains Navy) (Marie Hosking)
0640 OVERSEAS NEWSPAPERS
0642 MANA NEWS
0649 NEWS STORY: PAPUA NEW GUINEA CRISIS - Australian expert Ted Wolfers, Univ of Woolongong, says recent PNG history has several similar incidents and problems likely to continue. Uneasy stalemate in PNG, with PM Sir Julius Chan insisting he's in charge after sacking Brig Gen Singirok. (Eric Frykberg)
0651 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS: FINANCE COOK STRAIT CABLE - Transpower and ECNZ reach agreement on paying for cable bu matter still not settled. Transpower has yet to reach agreement with Contact and both generators have then to decide what costs to pass on to power companies. (Bronwen Evans) INVESTMENT - Infratil changing strategy in electricity sector after forecastin short-term fall in wholesale prices, believes excess generation capacity will put downward pressure on prices and investment returns. Comment from spokesman Bruce Harker. (Mark Crysell) PARKING - Commerce Commission declines Wilson Parking's bid to buy WN City dominant position in long-term parking. (Gyles Beckford) BUSINESS ETHICS - KPMG international chair Colin Sharman says leading companie now actively incorporating ethical standards as part of business plans - i/ved (Gyles Beckford) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM/JACKO PAKI - lawyer Mike Antunovic says system ignored Mr Paki and allowed him to commit crime that should never have happened - i/ve live; Crown prosecutor Ben Vanderkulk says Mr Paki may be getting psychiatric treatment he needs but not being punished - i/ved live. PAPUA NEW GUINEA CRISIS - Brig Gen Singirok sacked and may be put on trial but some soldiers in barracks are not happy with situation. Meanwhile, issue sparking crisis - deployment of mercenaries on Bougainville - has gone full circle. Audio of PM Sir Julius Chan, Lt Clo Joseph Fabila, and govt spokesman Mark Lillyman. (Eric Frykberg); live i/v with correspondent Peter Niese. MENINGITIS - health authorities say latest outbreak highlights epidemic threatening country. Man has died (athlete Vance Latta) and another is in hospital after outbreak linked to party after National Track and Field Championships in CH. Not yet known how many people could be at risk. (Eileen Cameron); live i/v with Public Health Director Gillian Durham.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS FINANCE update with Gyles Beckford. MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM - questions asked about ability of service to provide adequate care for people like Jack Paki who are also at risk of committing crime and have alcohol and drug dependency problems. Dr Peter McGeorge, Mental Health Fndn, says service not equipped to deal with this growing group of mental health sufferers - i/ved live. BENEFITS/WORK TEST - changes to proceed on April 1, amid problems with impact of Privacy Act. New work-test means beneficiaries who don't turn up for i/vs o turn down jobs or training are likely to have benefits cut on sliding scale of penalties. Live i/v with Social Welfare minister Roger Sowry. ORGANISED CRIME - police arrest 50 people and recover property and drugs estimated to be worth more than $1 million in crackdown throughout country, Operation Vulpine. Are police keeping on top of organised crime? Live i/v with Asst Commissioner Ian Holyoake. FRACAS/PRIVILEGES committee meets this evening to hear evidence relating to confrontation between Winston Peters and John Banks. NZ First's and Mr Peters' fortunes have plunged in latest opinion poll. Comment from Mr Peters and Alliance leader Jim Anderton. (Kathryn Street) ISRAEL - EAST JERUSALEM - bulldozers begin clearing area to build new Jewish homes. Army on high alert across West Bank, PM Netanyahu accuses Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of giving green light to terrorist organisations planning attacks in Israel. Live i/v with correspondent Robert Berger.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM/PAKI - Health minister Bill English announces Investigation into case, says system appears to have let down both rape victim and offender - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) PAPUA NEW GUINEA - AUSTRALIAN REACTION - live i/v with correspondent Pru Goward. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS SEXUAL HARASSMENT/NAVY categorically denies it offered "hush money" to complainaints. Allegation raised in Parliament with Labour's Ross Robertson claiming to have informant who says complainant was offered $50,000 to keep quiet. Comment also from Defence minister Paul East. (Marie Hosking) WEST COAST TREETOP protestors say threats of legal action from Timberlands to get them out of logging area are bully tactics. Native Forest Action Group members have been perched in rimu trees in Charleston Forest for past 6 weeks in effort to stop Timberlands logging in area. Timberlands has issued them wit notices saying they may face charges for costs incurred should 600 tonnes of logs rot while protestors in forest. Live i/v with Planning manager Kit Richards; live i/v with Annette Cotter, Native Forest Action Group. REGIONAL BOUNDARY - group of Upper Waitaki residents want 3 towns and part of Waitaki River shifted out of Canty and into Otago. First significant challenge to boundaries since they were drawn up in 1988. (Raewyn Reese-Jones)
0830 NEWS/SPORTS BRITISH ELECTION - first day of campaign shows shifting stance of some newspapers. "The Sun" announces it's supporting Labour this time. Live i/v wit correspondent Des Fahy. KOREA DEFECTOR - most senior official ever to defect from North Korea now in Philippines after arriving from China. Transfer from South Korean embassy in Beijing to Philippines seen as attempt by China not to offend either Koreas. (BBC) UNITED NATIONS - Secretar General Kofi Annan proposes cutting staff and almost $200 million from budget as first step towards reforming organisation. Under pressure from US, also proposes cutting administrative costs by a third by 2001. Live i/v with correspondent Judy Lessing. KAKAPO - DoC staff on Codfish Island anxiously monitoring first chick to hatch there since 1992, part of national recovery effort aimed at saving rare birds. Live i/v with recovery manager Paul Jansen; reporter Robyn Cubie visits Maud Island in Marlborough Sounds to see how breeding programme is going there. HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA begins in Hamilton with 32 balloons from around NZ and overseas taking part. Jason Rhodes reports live.