0611 Māori NEWS
0616 NEWS STORY: JENNY SHIPLEY faces Opposition in Parliament for first time today as PM. Opposition parties sceptical of her govt's professed new commitment to social policy. Comment from Helen Clark, Jim Anderton, and Richard Prebble. (Clare Sziranyi)
0621 RURAL NEWS
0626 SPORTS STORY: EUROPEAN SPORT - live i/v with John Daniell. (rugby; tennis)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0636 NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE - KYOTO - developing countries, including China, shrug off request by US vice president Al Gore to join fight against global warming. Mr Gore rejects European appeals for industrialised nations to make bigger cuts, s saying US will not promise what it can't do. (BBC)
0639 INTERNATIONAL PAPERS
0642 MANA NEWS
0651 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS: TOWER GROUP to demutualise next year prior to listing on Stock Exchange, depending on agreement on members and High Court. Live i/v with managing director James Boonzaier. TOWER - GUINNESS PEAT GROUP says demutualisation announcement doesn't derail its rival, unwelcome to Tower, proposal of merging Tower with its funds manager Tyndall Australia. Comment from GPG director Tony Gibbs. (Rodney Joyce) FINANCE/MARKETS JOB ADVERTS - latest ANZ Bank survey shows fall in number of adverts again. Many provincial areas continue to find number of jobs on offer are low and some are as much as 16% down on this time last year. (Gyles Beckford) REGIONAL ECONOMIES - National Bank's September quarter report shows economic imbalance between north and south is growing. (Rodney Joyce) SWISS BANK MERGER - trillion dollar bank to be formed through merger of Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss Bank. (AAP) NATIONAL MUTUAL financial services company expected to report robust bottom illegible annual profit of around $320 million, thanks to strong investment earnings. (AAP)
0700 INTRO/NEWS SOCIAL POLICY - Labour leader Helen Clark says when Jenny Shipley suggests people take more personal responsibility, it's code for state cutbacks; Alliance leader Jim Anderton says Mrs Shipley failed to deliver social benefits in her ministerial roles; Mrs Shipley i/ved live. COALITION - PM Jenny Shipley wants to develop new co-opertive relationship with NZ First. Live i/v with NZ First leader and Deputy PM Winston Peters; live i/v with Political editor Al Morrison.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE (Tower demutualisation) CLIMATE CHANGE - KYOTO - US shows signs it may be prepared to change its existing proposal of stabilising greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels. I/v with NZ's Environment minister Simon Upton. (Mng Rpt) CHRISTMAS SHOPPING - CHECKOUT RAGE becoming serious problem for some supermarkets. Some operators not only verbally abused by customers but have groceries thrown at them by angry shoppers. Comment from Lesley Meek, New World supermarket, and psychologist Ian Geary. (Caitlin Cherry); "Retail Today" magazine's latest editorial puts checkout rage on level with shoplifting and tagging as major problem. Live i/v with editor Peter Mitchell. COOK ISLANDS - CYCLONE PAM heads towards Rarotonga. Last night its storm force winds and heavy rains brushed by Aitutaki. Live i/v with local priest Fr Don Manning.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER SOCIAL POLICY - PM Jenny Shipley puts family and social responsibility at top of policy priorities. What can be expected from her govt? Live discussion with Richard Buttle, AK City Mission, Canty Manufacturers' Assn chief exec Michael Hannah, and Children's Commissioner Laurie O'Reilly. MP NUMBERS - PM Jenny Shipley hints referendum may be held, wants to reduce number from 120 to 100, getting rid of 20 list MPs. Live i/v with VUW professor of Public Policy, Jonathan Boston. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS CLIMATE CHANGE - KYOTO - Green Party co-leader and Alliance's Environment spokesperson Jeanette Fitzsimons attending conference - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) EL NINO - "Time" magazine commentator Charles Krauthammer claims "there is no evidence" to link El Nino with carbon burning and other exploitation of planet, but Kevin Trenberth, NZer at Colorado's National Centre of Atmospheric Research, has no doubt there is a connection. He's i/ved live.
0830 NEWS/SPORTS BOUGAINVILLE - most of NZ military personnel in peace-keeping mission, have arrived on island. Live i/v with Maj Fiona Cassidy. PACIFIC ISLANDERS' HEALTH - extreme shortage of health professionals in AK of Pacific origin and familiar with culture and language of Pacific Islands. Moves under way to encourage people of Pacific origin to pursue medicine as career but turning situation around is slow process. (Lisa Owen) GISBORNE POLICE CASE - unprecedented security and high public interest in preliminary hearing in Gisborne District Court. Police officer Barry Woon and former policeman David Neilson facing 25 charges relating to supply and theft of drugs, attempting to pervert course of justice, and in Barry Woon's case, being parpty to aggravated robbery. Live report from Heugh Chappell. BUSES/ALCOHOL - bus charter companies warned they could be prosecuted if they allows alcohol to be drunk on their buses but companies say heavy-handed approach in conflict with idea of taxiing partygoers around so they don't drink and drive. I/v with Insp Derek Davison, AK Police, and Gary Williams, president of Bus and Coach Assn. (Mng Rpt) BRITAIN - SOCIAL POLICY REFORMS - govt struggling with policies that are not what voters expected, announces it's considering taxing welfare benefits collected by middle class, in attempt to cut ballooning welfare budget. I/v with correspondent Peter Russell. (Mng Rpt)