0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 MāORI NEWS
0616 NEWS STORY: ELECTRICITY CRISIS - BIG BUSINESS may not move back into inner city AK today despite assurances of 90% power from Mercury Energy. Comment from AK Chamber of Commerce chief exec Michael Barnett, Roger France of Coopers and Lybrand, Power For the People spokesperson Paul Fraser, Mercury Energy's general manager for future planning, Dr Patrick Strange, and Merury spokesperson Matthew Bolland. (Mary-Jane Aggett)
0620 RURAL NEWS
0625 SPORTS STORY UK SOCCER - live i/v with correspondent Rick George.
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0636 NEWS STORY: illegible - KOSOVO - British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook chairing meeting today of "Contact Group" (Britain, US, Russia, Germany, France and Italy) on how to stop Serbian onslaught against Kosovo. (Keith Chalkley)
0639 INTERNATIONAL PAPERS
0642 MANA NEWS
0651 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS: INSURANCE MERGER - Royal and Sun Alliance buys large part of Norwich Union's interests in NZ, ready to buy more. Comment from NZ managing directr Tim Sole. (Rodney Joyce) FINANCE/MARKETS WEEK AHEAD MONETARY CONDITIONS - Reserve Bank's MCI drop almost 300 points in past 6 months but does that mean conditions have really eased? Jason Wong, Credit Suisse First Boston economist, not sure it does and questions Bank's 2:1 MCI ration. (Rodney Joyce) ACCOUNTING FIRMS CHANGE - head of KPMG in NZ, Alan Isaace, says big accounting firms will have different structures in next century and do everything except file tax returns. (Gyles Beckford) illegible SALES in NZ increase almost 14% in 6 months to end Decembr. Wine Inst chief exec Philip Gregan says biggest increase cam from wine imported in bulk. (Heugh Chappell) PUBLIC DEBT - Bankers Trust warns it may rise next year, says govt projections of continued slight decline may change once Asian crisis factored in and in absence of asset sales, govt will be unable to claim it's repaying debt next year. (Rodney Joyce)
0700 INTRO/NEWS ELECTRICITY CRISIS - BIG BUSINESSES sceptical of Mercury Energy's assurances of 90% power. Mayor Les Mills says AK through worst of crisis, but what guarantees can Mercury give? I/v with spokesman Patrick Strange. (Mng Rpt); live i/v with AK Chamber of Commerce chief exec Michael Barnett. WAIKATO POWER - some homes still without electricity after power surge just south of Huntly at weekend. WEL Energy surge occurred when 11,000 volt line fell on to another line, causing fires and explosions. Live i/v with WEL Energu spokesperson David Peddie. GAS SABOTAGE - Enerco says only handful of Manawatu homes should now be without gas after Friday's sabotage of supplies. More than 5,000 homes in Palmerston North and Levin were affected. (Gay Cavill) ACC PILOT SCHEME - about 20 Timaru doctors and practice nurses to take on potentially controversial new role which may later be extended to other parts of country. GPs and staff will manage patients' treatment and rehabilitation and also be responsible for negotiating return to work. COmment from Timaru GP Dr Ian Bell, ACC spokesman Alan Seay, and Ross Wilson, spokesman for the Coalition on ACC. (Rae Lamb); live i/v with Dr Alistair Scott, Coalition for Public Health, and ACC's Alan Seay.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE SERBIA - KOSOVO - dozens of people have died over past week after Serbian army'ws crackdown on Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army. I/v with BBC's Belgrade correspondent Jon Devitt. (Mng Rpt) TE PAPA CONTROVERSY - MONZ accused on spiritual insenistivity for not removing controversial exhibit, small statue of Virgin Mary encased in condom. Christian Heritage Party leader Rev Graham Capill says if it were offensive to Māori, an exhibit would probably be removed. Live i/v with Rev Capill and Te Papa's chief exec Cheryll Sotheran. POLICE/ASSAULTS - police staffing levels in metropolitan AK under scrutiny following complaints that 2 serious assaults were not given sufficient priority. Alliance Justice spokesperson Matt Robson goes public wih details because he believes they're just the tip of the iceberg. (Karen Mangnall); live i/v with AK Police Asst Commissioner Bruce Scott. MONDAY OZ SPOT - live i/v with correspondent Phil Kafcaloudes. (Melbourne Grand illegible; Native Title legislation and prospects for early election)
0800 NEWS/WEATHER ELECTRICITY CRISIS - SMALL BUSINESS group Power for the People concerned about backlash if they continue to seek compensation from Mercury Energy. Spokesperson Reg Newcombe says some people complaining that their efforts will cause power bill to rise. He's i/ved live. ACC PILOT SCHEME in Timaru involves doctors organising treatment and rehabilitation for patients who can return to work within 8 weeks. Aim is to reduce costs and allow ACC to concentrate on more expensive, long-term cases. Live i/v with Prof Murray Tilyard, chair of Southilink Health, group of GPs involved in pilot. INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL now into 2nd week, with some jazz and cabaret performers drawing big audiences. I/v with Arts correspondent Paul Bushnell. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MALCOLM REWA CASE - trial set to resume in AK High Court today. Rewa has pleaded guilty to 15 of 44 charges, excluding rape and murder of Susan Burdett. (Eileen Cameron) COOK ISLANDS TAX INQUIRY enters High Court in AK today. NZ First leader Winston Peters attempting to overturn findings of Commissioner Sir Ronald Davison. Sir illegible has applied to court to have Mr Peters' claim struck out. Live i/v with Economics correspondent Bronwen Evans. SERBIA - KOSOVO - international pressure mounting for diplomatic solution to and onslaught against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. I/v with Martin McCauley, London School of Slavonic and East European Studies re why Kosovo is a flashpoint. (Mng Rpt)
0830 NEWS/SPORTS CRICKET - NZ team wins 5th one-dayer at Eden Park, marking end of international cricket season. Live discussion on team's overall performance with commentator Bryan Waddle, Sir Richard Hadlee, and John Morrison. OASIS band arrives in NZ for concerts this week. Australian tour plagued by bad behaviour, one of them arrested for assault, controversy over remarks about Princess Diana, loutish behaviour on flight and poor concert reviews. (Mark Henderson) FOREIGN AFFAIRS -AFRICA - Foreign Affairs minister Don McKinon in southern Africa as part of efforts to explore new trading links and strengthen relations, has so far visited Zambi and Zimbabwe and is now is South Africa - he's i/ved live. STINKY BOOKS - British printing firm Stanley Press producing 20,000 children's books that smell of elephant dung, school dinners and sweaty socks. I/v with spokesman Paul Ingham. (Mng Rpt) ITALY - NAZIS - 2 former Nazis to appeal to Supreme Court against convictions for war crimes in Nazi-occupied Rome in 1944. Live i/v with correspondent Frances Kennedy. (also talks about cancer treatment protest)