0600 NEWS/SPORTS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPER
0611 MāORI NEWS
0616 NEWS STORY: COALITION - Neil kirton's resignation from NZ First means vote is split 60-60 in House. Unless govt enters into more formal arrangement with ACT, United or independent MP Alamein Kopu, it will have to negotiate support for legislation on issue by issue basis. Comment from PM Jenny Shipley, NZ First leader Winston Peters, ACT leader Richard Prebble, and MP Alamein Kopu. (Clare Pasley)
0620 RURAL NEWS SHAREMILKER - Northland Fed Farmers President, Ian Walker, negotiates verbal illegible with both farmer Barry Barfoote and sharemilker Russell McDonald, says local benefactor has agreed to put up money to cover Mr Barfoote's security need. (Kevin Ikin) PORK INDUSTRY BOARD and Agriculture ministry join forces to investigate what Resource Management Act is costing pig farmers. Chair Rob Jeffrey says study will provide hard information about compliance costs. Associate Agriculture minister John Luxton hopes any changes arising from review of Resource Management Act will be introduced later this year. (Kevin Ikin) DAIRY EFFLUENT - Fed Farmers taking AK Regional Council to task over plans for effluent disposal. Policy analyst Glenys Kroon says there's concern a proposed annual charge would not just cover inspection costs but also activities like research and data work. (Catherine harris)
0625 SPORTS STORY U.S. SPORTS - live i/v with Paul Witteman, "Sports Illustrated". )(drugs in athletics)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0636 NEWS STORY: BANK MERGER - National Bank buying Countrywide Bank, will merge networks oradually over next couple of years. Thousands of bank staff face uncertain illegible. comment from National Bank chief exec Sir John Anderson, FINSEC secretary Raul Goulter, and Iain Siddes, Bank of Scotland, owners of Countrywide. (Tama Muru)
0639 INTERNATIONAL PAPERS
0642 MANA NEWS MANUKAU City Council launches policy to help its 22 marae get ahead. NORTHLAND SCHOOLS - group of Māori woman in AK try to prevent closure of 2 small country schools
0651 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS: BANK MERGER between National and Countrywide will eventually create NZ's second biggest retail operation. I/v with National Bank chief exec Sir John Anderson re logic and driving force behind move; will new bank have competitive clout to match it with Australian-owned banks? Comment from Massey Univ senior lecturer in Banking, David Tripe. (Gyles beckford) FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES - nearly 30 million shares worth $60 million traded any one broker expecting higher volumes today. Peter Hansen, Access Brokerage, says there's been confusion over financial identification number. (Adam Hollingworth) AMP ASSET MANAGEMENT - latest report highlights contrasting fortunes of overseas sharemarkets, which have earned more than 50% in past year, of local sharemarket which fell 19%. (Gyles Beckford) WORLD COMMODITY PRICES - figures releases by ANZ Bank show decline is easing but is not sure sign that worst of NZ's economic crisis is over. (Adam Hollindgworth) U.S. TELECOMMS MERGER - GTE and Bell Atlantic agree to mega-merger, creating company with combined revenues of $NZ100 billion and one of world's biggest illegible communications companies.
0700 INTRO/NEWS COALITION - Neil Kirton leaves NZ First. PM Jenny Shipley talking to possible supporters. but deputy PM Winston Peters doesn't believe formal arrangement with 3rd party is needed, insists coalition has majority despite 60-60 split in Parliament - he's i/ved. (Mng Rpt); Labour leader Helen Clark gives her view of Mr Peters absence from negotiations with potential coalition supporters. (Mng Rpt) COALITION - govt will look to independent MP Alamein Kopu and United MP Peter Dunne for help in getting legislation through House. Mrs Kopu says govt can rely on her support for votes on confidence and suppy. (Clare Pasley); Peter Dunne declines i/v but negotiate more formal arrangement over next week. (q); govt also appears to be relying on support of ACT on matters of confidence and Apply, but ACT leader Richard Prebble says there will be times when ACT will vote against govt. He's i/ved live. U.S. CLINTON SCANDAL - former White House aide Moniea Lewinsky reaches deal giving her immunity form prosecution in exchange for testimony in sex and perjury allegations against President Clinton. Live i/v with correspondent Simon Marks.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS NZ PAPERS BANK MERGER between National bank and Countrywide will mean fruther job losses and branch closures in banking industr. Live i/v with FINSEC secretary Paul Goulter and Massey Univ lecturer David Tripe. AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES open at $2.05, netting investors small profit on opening day. Access Brokerage's Peter Hansen warns float is no short-term bonanza for investors - he's i/ved live. POWER COMPANIES - govt considering law change giving consumers more right when dealing with negligent companies. Move comes as Transpower and Bay of Plenty Electricity argue over who's obliged to pay compensation for this week's power failure. comment from Consumer Affairs minister Robya McDonald. (Eric Frykberg); Transpower declines i/v, live i/v with Rob Baldey, chief exec of Bay illegible Plenty Electricity. PATIENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - doctors and hospitals taking first step towards sharing patient information via computer technology. Pilot project linking GPs belonging to WN independent Practitioners' Assn and Capital Coast Health hospitals. Commment from Capital Coast chief exec Leo mercer, Privacy Commissioner Bruce Slane and Drs Chris Fawcett and John Durham. (Rae Lamb)
0800 NEWS/WEATHER COALITION - govt seems to have difficult time ahead as it tries to manage legislative programme without a majority. ACT, United and independent MP Alamein Kopu will support govt on confidence and supply - political commentator Colin James says that should be enough. He's i/ved live. U.S. CLINTON SCANDAL - deal made with Monica Lewinsky understood to involve her telling grand jury she had sex with President Clinton but was not pressured to lie about it. Live i/v with correspondent Simon Marks. CAMBODIA - ELECTIONS - opposition leaders threaten to boycott new parliament, blame vote-rigging for apparent defeat. Hun Gen and his ruling Cambodian People's party claiming victory, based on provisional results. I/v with NZer Tony Timms, member of UN observation group. (Mng Rpt) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS BANK MERGER - giant British banks Lloyds-TSB, owner of NZ's National Bank, buying out Bank of Scotland-owned Countrywide Bank, reflecting international trend as bank seek to cut costs and absorb competition. I/v with Jill Treamor, "The Guardian" banking correspondent, re how Lloyds-TSB views NZ. (Mng Rpt) PAPUA NEW GUINEA - TIDAL WAVE - AID organisations urging people to stop donating to tsunami relief fund and channel money into other aid projects there. Non-governmental Organisation Disaster Relief Forum says there's now enough money to fund immediate needs and some rehabilitation of survivors. Live i/v with spokesperson Pat Webster.
0830 NEWS/SPORTS TOUR DE FRANCE - drugs scandals continue to overshadow some outstanding racing. Italy's Marco Pantani continues to wear yellow jersey. I/v with correspondent Simon Brotherton. (Mng Rpt) CAVE RESCUE - Waikato Hospital doctor Yuresh Naidu clambers through chest-high water in waitomo Caves to rescue caver John Bale who'd fallen onto stalacmite and lost a lot of blood. Live i/v with Dr Naidu. CHRISTCHURCH - SEWAGE - City Council considering discharging treated sewage illegible ocean in move some say is giant environmental step backwards. CH facing multimillion dollar bill to bring its treatment system in line with Resource Management Act. (Tania Oolders) TEACHERS'S pay TALKS between PPTA and Education ministry could be back on track following unusual overture from union. PPTA promises not to take any industrail action, in response to request from Education minister. Live i/v with PPTA vice president Bernadine Vester. PIPE BANDS - bands from DN and Invercargill to perform at this year's Edinburgh Tattoo. (Graham McKerracher) GERMANY - ELECTION CAMPAIGN - both main political parties promising get-tough measures against foreigners, both bowing to sings of waning tolerance towards immigrants among some Germans. Live i/v with correspondent Philip crookes.