0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 MāORI NEWS
0616 NEWS STORY: ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIES - report by Pacific Economic Co-operation Counil forecasts sharp downturn throughout region. Arthur Anderson accountancy firm helped sponsor report - senior NZ partner Rob McLeod says there are great opportunities despite pessimistic outlook. (Bronwen Evans)
0620 RURAL NEWS ELECTRICITY CO-OP - NZ's sole electricity supply cooperatives asks for protection under proposed electricity reforms. Otago Power Ltd covers isolated rural consumers from South to North Otago, and at three consumers at kilometre of line it has the lowest density of any electricity supplier. (Al Morrison) WOOL PRICES continue to fly high at Napier sale. Average price shown in market indicator end at 495 cents a kilo, the highest price sicne March 1996. But it was a small offering of about 10-thousand bales towards the end of the season, and Wools of New Zealand suggests the short supply was the main major factor in the price rise, although the falling dollar may have played a part as well. (Catherine Harris) SHEEP INDUSTRY - Wools of New Zealand director Tom Mandino predicts new millenium rennaissance of industry, says while sheep farmers might be struggling now, they're well placed to take advantage of new changing consumer trends. (Barry Crump) FIELD DAYS - significant international presence again at this year's National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek. Fieldays Society's general manager Barry Quayle says British there in greater numbers than ever before, with 17 companies exhibiting their wares; more than 40 exhibitors have packed out the Australian pavilion; New Caledonia also has a strong presence. (Kevin Ikin) PERU PRESIDENT Alberto Fujimori stopping off at the Agricultural Field Days during his two day state visit to New Zealand. (Catherine Haris)
0625 SPORTS STORY SOCCER WORLD CUP - Barry Guy live.
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0636 NEWS STORY: POLICE REVIEW - draft review proposes leaner structure with 115 fewer policeofficers, 330 fewer civilian staff and non-core police work to be contracted out. Some community sectors concerned about proposals. Comment from owen Cox, Federated Mountain Clubs, Geordie Cassin of Automobile Assn, and North Shore mayor George Gair. (Andrea Rush)
0639 INTERNATIONAL PAPERS
0642 MANA NEWS
0651 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS: SHARE MARKETS - downward slide on world markets continues. London falls sharply in response to increasing worries about Asian situation and Wall St down for 3rd day running. (Chris Roberts) NZ SHARE MARKET - brokers see almost 3% fall as a "cage rattler" rather than something more serious. John Rattray, Ord Minnett, says weakness has been building for some time. (Rodney Joyce) DOLLAR - economists still say Kiwi could go lower despite move back above 50 US cents. David Plank, Bankers Trust, warns bounce could be extreme when direction does change. (Rodney Joyce) DOLLAR - Australian economist Saul Eslake, ANZ Bank, touts NZ as object lesson in how not to react to sharp currency fall. Wholesale interest rates have spiked as markets try to balance lower dollar and increasing number of banks cancelling floating mortgage rate cuts and putting up fixed rates. (Rodney Joyce) FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIES - Inst of Economic Research input into report says NZ exports will slow but there's no talk of recession. NZIER forecasting manager Diana Cook exports to continue to grow at rate of 1-2%. (Rodney Joyce) TRADE FIGURES - analysts surprised by figures. Terms of trade rose by 2% during March quarter, lifting index to highest point sine September 1996. (Bronwen Evans) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIES - Arthur Anderson senior partner Rob McLeod says businesses are clearly worried about forecast slowdown throughout region. Is NZ sliding towards another recession? Comment from Finance minister Bill Birch, who says it isn't. (Mng Rpt); forecast singles out exporters as group that will be hit especially hard by downturn, but with lower dollar, can exporters find new, more profitable markets instead? Live i/v with ManFed president David Maloney. POLICE REVIEW recommendations range from axing 4 regional offices to contracting out non-core police activities, as well as loss of nearly 450 jobs. Review proposes what's seen as challenge to police independence, giving Police minister power to issue written instructions to Police Commissioner as long as they're publicly table in Parliament. Live i/v with review author Doug Martin; live i/v with president of Police Managers' Guild, Supt John Reilly. KOSOVO - NATO Defence ministers order military authorities to draw up plans to "halt or disrupt" violence in Kosovo, also decide to conduct air exercise over Serbian province as soon as possible. Live i/v with BBC's Oana Lungescu.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE CLOTHING INDUSTRY CLOSURES - 4 manufacturers announce closure, put much of blame on tariff reductions. Closures cost Masterton, Hawera, Marton and Newton in WN communities 130 jobs. Live i/v with Syd Hayes, managing director of Masterton's Plastalon Sportswear. COLD REMEDIES - some GPs prescribing more traditional remedies for coughs and colds rather than antibiotics. (Rae Lamb) DOOMSDAY CLOCK - "Bulletin of Atomic Scientists" moves its clock forward 5 minutes following nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. Live i/v with editor illegible Moore. PAKISTAN - NUCLEAR TESTS - Pakistan announce unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing, says it's ready to reach no-nuclear test agreement with India. I/v with correspondent Zaffar Abbass. CATHERINE COOKSON, one of world's most widely read authors, dies aged 91. Home town of South Shields has set aside gallery in museum to tell her story. Live i/v with curator Alistair Wilson.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIES - live i/v with NZIER's Diana Cook who was involved in writing report for Pacific Economic Co-operation Council. NZ ECONOMY - Pacific forecast caps off shocking week in which dollar fell below 50 US cents for first time in decade, share market index plunged below 2,000 points and mortgage rate cuts were reversed. Live i/v with Economics correspondent Bronwen Evans. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS POLICE REVIEW - CH reporter Lauren McKenzie tries to discover what police on the ground think about the reviewm but finds them not very talkative; i/v with Police Commissioner Peter Doone re review. POLICE REVIEW - CONTRACTING OUT - AK security firm Store Watch already working with police in trials, providing prisoner escorts. Do security firms have the integrity and high standards needed for that sort of work? I/v with manager David Birchall. (Mng Rpt) CHATHAM ISLANDS - Education minister Wyatt Creech visits country's most remote school, Pitt Island School. (Gael Woods)
0830 NEWS/SPORTS AGRICULTURAL FIELD DAYS - live report from Bryan Crump at Mystery Creek. GISBORNE - RUBBISH PROBLEM - council's landfill site almost full, adjacent block unable to be used because of dispute now before Environment Court. Help could come from local authorities in Hawkes Bay. (Heugh Chappell) RUGBY - England plays NZ A side in Hamilton tomorrow. Coach Graham Henry dismisses any thought of similar scoreline to England's thrashing by Australia, but correspondent John McBeth says England could well be in for another big loss. (Mng Rpt) HENLEY BRIDGE - century old bridge near DN saved from demolition and will be officially re-opened tomorrow. Comment from DN mayor Sukhi Turner et al. (Graham McKerracher) WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY FEEDBACK OZ SPOT - live i/v with correspondent Phil Kafcaloudes. (dollar;unemployment up; Pauline Hanson could hold balance of power in Q'land)