0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 Māori NEWS 1616 NEWS STORY SECURITY INTELLIGENCE - govt plans to boost powers of SIS proving contentious, with opinion sharply divided on merits of Bill which would reverse Court of Appeal ruling barring SIS from breaking into people's homes. Comment from MPs Mike Moore and Rod Donald, defence analyst Jim Rolfe and activist Aziz Choudry. (Eric Frykberg)
0620 RURAL NEWS AFFCO closes night shift at Moerewa plant in Northland, laying off about 100 workers, because of shortage of stock. Chief exec Ross Townshend says farmers illegible to be holding on to stock. Chair of Fed Farmers Bay of Islands branch, Lindy Aitken, says there's not much sign of that although beef cattle numbers dwindling as more farmers quit industry. (Lois Williams) ANIMAL PRODUCTS BILL, intended to replace Meat and Dairy Acts, being rushed to Parliament to try and get it introduced before House rises this week. MAF deputy director-general Peter O'Hara says Bill is complex and contains fundamentally different approach to meat inspection. (Catherine Harris) CHERRIES - heavy rain at wrong time puts paid to 70% of Marlborough's crop. Ingrid Hofma, Summerfruit Exporters' Committee, says there's little fruit left for early exports. (Kevin Ikin) DAIRY MARKET - Irish Dairy Board says NZ's share of world market has grown dramatically at expense of European Union, says while EU controls 40% of world market, NZ's share has increased to 31% largely because of quota constraints on European milk production. (Catherine Harris)
0625 SPORTS STORY AUSTRALIAN SPORT - i/v with correspondent Tim Gavel. (Australia beats England in Ashes in 205 run victory)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY illegible - lawyers representing former Chilean dictator challenging ruling from Law Lords that Gen Pinochet is not immune from prosecution. First time judgement from Law Lords has been questioned, based on links one of the Law Lords has with Amnesty International. (Keith Chalkley)
0639 INTERNATIONAL PAPERS
0642 MANA NEWS
0651 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS TRANSMISSION PRICES - grid operator Transpower plans to cut overall price, wants to ensure pricing complements new competitive environment when ECNZ splits into 3 competing units. New price regime for electricity network companies will be revealed later today. Energy minister Max Bradford says controls will apply to lines companies believed to be extracting monopoly profits from consumers. (Chris Roberts) POWER NEW ZEALAND to change its name to United Networks Ltd following its decision to sell retail energy business to TransAlta. Attempt by Hutt-Mana Energy Trust to block sale was dismissed by High Court. (Chris Roberts) FOREIGN INVESTMENT - report commissioned by American Chamber of Commerce in NZ suggests foreign investors being put off from NZ by lack of political direction, high compliance costs, excessive regulation and MMP system. Live i/v with study's author, Prof Peter Enderwick of Waikato Univ. FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW DIAMONDS - De Beers says sales down by nearly third this year to around $US3 billion, lowest level in decade. Diamond industry analyst Roger Chaplin says much of slump is because of Asian crisis and diamonds not getting any cheaper. BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS ABORTION SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE calls for review of laws. One key issue is requirement that 2 authorised certifying consultants approve an abortion, making it very difficult for women in some regions. Committee head Dr Christine Forster says decision should be left with women and their GPs - i/ved live; live i/v with Justice minister Doug Graham. SECURITY INTELLIGENCE - PM Jenny Shipley says law change will be put to Parliament today to give SIS express authority to enter private homes to intercept communications. Mrs Shipley i/ved on why SIS should have legal right to break and enter. (Mng Rpt); Labour Party supports Bill going to select committee. Live i/v with leader Helen Clark. MIDEAST - PEACE PROCESS - President Clinton leaves after 3 day summit designed to get peace deal between Palestinians and Israelis back on track, fails to persuade Israel to withdraw on schedule from more of West Bank but says PM Netanyahu and President Arafat agreed to take more steps to push forward illegible-for-security deal signed in October. I/v with Jerusalem correspondent Laurie Neff. (Mng Rpt) U.S.- IMPEACHMENT - President Clinton heading back to Washington from MidEast to face bad news over impeachment crisis. Live i/v with correspondent Martin Kettle.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE BOUGAINVILLE - NZ Foreign Affairs minister Don McKinnon back in Port Moresby after meeting officials on Bougainville in effort to smooth problem in peace process after Papua New Guinea parliament failed to pass law establishing Bougainville Reconciliation Govt. Mr McKinnon i/ved live. LOCKERBIE - Libya reported to have agreed to try 2 Libyans suspected of bombing Pan Am flight in neutral country. Libyan People's Congress said to want trial to proceed as soon as possible. I/v with correspondent Barnaby Mason. (Mng Rpt) AFFCO - many families in Northland town of Moerewa facing grim Christmas following decision by AFFCO to lay off hundred staff because of stock shortage. AFFCO only major employer in town and Meatworkers' Union secretary Graham Cooke appalled at timing of layoffs - i/ved live; live i/v with AFFO chief exec Ross illegible
0800 NEWS/WEATHER ABORTION LAWS debate resurfaces with report of Abortion Supervisory Committee calling for review of Act. Live i/v with Health correspondent Rae Lamb. SECURITY INTELLIGENCE - Green Party co-leader Rod Donald says proposal to give SIS agents legal authority to break into people's homes is outrageous infringement of rights of NZers, but defence analyst Jim Rolfe says state has right to ensure its security. Both i/ved live. ATHLETES - new study by Univ of South Australia show gold medal haul over past 5 Olympics has come at hefty price, $51.8 million per gold and a nation of fat, inactive spectators. Live i/v with Univ's exercise science associate professor Kevin Norton; Hillary Commission chief exec Peter Dale listens to above - i/ved live. CUSTOMARY FISHING - govt passes regulations to manage customary fishing in North Island and Chatham Islands, will mean Māori nomineees known as kaitiaki can manage customary fishing in tribal areas. Regulations receive cautious welcome from Māori. (Paul Diamond) CELLPHONE TOWER - Environment Court gives Telecom go-ahead for cellphone tower on property only 14.5 metres away from playground at CH's Shirley Primary School. Judge says scientific evidence given to court shows risk posed by site is very low. Live i/v with school's principal Bryan Porteous and Telecom's Peter Brittenden.
0830 NEWS/SPORTS EAST COAST FOREST PROJECT - MAF delays submitting major review to cabinet until after Christmas. Govt initiated project in 1992 to reduce soil erosion, create employment and contribute to regional growth by planting trees on moderate to severe eroding land. Review handed to ministry in July but cabinet still hasn't discussed recommendations. (Heugh Chappell) CARAVAN FIRES - Fire Service says people more likely to die in fires in caravans, mobile homes or campervans than in house fires, launches campaign to raise awareness. Live i/v with national commander Bob Sampson. PINOCHET - lawyers for former Chilean dictator mount unprecedented legal challenge to Law Lords' ruling re extradition proceedings and are also seeking permission to overturn Home Secretary's decision to support ruling. Live i/v with correspondent Dominic Waghorn. RACE RELATIONS conciliator Dr Rajen Prasad says it's time NZers prepared themselves for great difference in population in 50 years' time when only half expected to be of Pakeha descent, number of Māori will be double and Asians almost treble. He's i/ved live. GREECE - STRIKE - country thrown into chaod as workers take widespread action against govt's planned economy drive. Live i/v with correspondent Louis Economopoulos.