0700 NEWS/WEATHER MāORI FISHING RIGHTS - some commercial fishers threaten to stop paying levies in protest against what they say is abuse of customary fishing rights. Comment from Maurice Ashby, AK Inshore Commercial Fishermen's Assn, Māori Affairs minister Tau Henare, and Greg Reid, Fisheries ministry, (Clare Sziranyi); live i/v with Fisheries minister John Luston and WN barrister Maui Solomon, one of 4 Māori representatives on Customary Fishing Group set up by Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission. All 4 resigned last year. FREE DOCTORS' VISITS policy for under 6 year olds may not be working as intended. AK's Starship hospital says policy accompanied by explosion in numbers of young people seekig non-urgent treatment. (Rae Lamb); live i/v with former Associate Health minister and policy architect Neil Kirton. MISSING COUPLE - shoreline search today in Marlborough Sounds for Olivia Hope and Ben Smart. Police divers searching Endeavour Inlet have found no trace of them and there's been no sign of mystery ketch. (Tama Muru); Det Insp Rob Pope says police can't rule out any possibilities about their whereabouts - i/ved. (Mng Rpt)
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS FINANCE UPDATE ASIAN CRISIS in stock markets and currencies continues. David Podwell, Jardine Fleming analyst in Hong Kong, says recovery unlikely, in short term at least; live i/v with Bancorp's exec director Peter Cavanagh. CLONING - Chicago scientist Richard Seed plans to offer cloning to infertile couples who want babies. (NPR Chicago) SOUTH AFRICA - FORMER PRESIDENT P W Botha to be prosecuted for defying subpoena to appear before Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Commission's chair Archbishop Desmond Tutu wants him to testify about imposition of emergencyrule in 1980s during which time thousands of blacks died in clashes with police and soldiers. Live i/v with correspondent Brett Hilton Barber.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER MāORI FISHING RIGHTS - concern voiced over alleged abuse of customary fishing rights. Live i/v with Tony Craig, spokesman for seafood Industry Council, umbrella body for fishing industry; live i/v with Ngai Tahu elder and chair of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, Sir Tipene O'Regan. WHITEBREAD YACHT RACE - 3 of 9 boats sponsored by tobacco companies. Yachts exempt from ban on cigarette advertising and can display sponsors' logos, but anti-smoking group ASH wants them to cover-up while in port. (Lisa Owen) WHITBREAD YACHT RACE - first yachts due to round Cape Reinga later today and should arrive in AK tomorrow. Grant Dalton's Merit Cup currently miles behind leader Swedish Match. Live i/v with Grant Dalton. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS FREE DOCTORS' VISITS - Health director general Karen Poutasi says it's too early to say scheme is failure - i/ved live. illegible NEWS/SPORTS PACIFIC - CYCLONES - Niue residents battening down as Cyclone Ron heads towars it, with weather officials predicting winds of up to 70 kms an hour. Steve Reidy, Tropical Cyclone Committee for South Pacific says 3 cyclones in Pacific at same time is unusual; live update from Marc McNaught, Weather Workshop. UNIVERSITIES - PRIVATISATION - British expert urges caution on how far NZ goes towards privatisation. Issue being discussed by delegates from almost 80 countries attending conference in AK. (Mary-Jane Aggett) TENNIS - ASB WOMEN'S CLASSIC - all quarter-finalists decided, with top 3 seeds all making quarters. Live i/v with commentator Matt Brown. KINDERGARTENS say they're feeling financial pinch as they compete with schools for fundraising dollars. (Cushla Managh) US - OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING - jury considering fate of convicted conspirator Terry Nichols fails to reach verdict, effectively sparing him from death sentence. Sentence will now be decided by Judge Matsch. Live i/v with correspondent Meg Alexander. TRUFFLES now big business in NZ. Oakfield Truffiere near Gisborne moving to raise $1.8 million share equity issue. Live i/v with Oakfield's Alan Hall. FRUIT AND VEG REPORT with Jack Forsythe.