0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 Māori NEWS 1616 NEWS STORY MISSING TEENAGER - formal identification of woman's body found at Rakaia Gorge expected to be announced today. Det Snr Sgt Lance Corcoran says search of site where body found will continue for several days. (Lauren McKenzie) U.S. - IMPEACHMENT - White House lawyers preparing President Clinton's legal defence in 2nd session of impeachment hearing, due to start shortly. Later today, President Clinton gives State of the Union address. Live i/v with correspondent Judy Lessing. illegible RURAL NEWS ILLEGAL APPLES - Apple and pear Board says action to stop illegal propagations of unique NZ apple varieties in Chile is about protecting NZ's intellectual property rights. Comment from Pat Murray, Apple and Pear Board, and Richard Easton, Pipfruit Growers' Assn. (Kevin Ikin) DROUGHT - NORTH CANTY farmers facing 2nd season of drought to brief Food and Fibre minister John Luxton today. Mr Luxton says meeting will help prepare him for year's first cabinet meeting when he'll brief colleagues on drought conditions that are persisting or returning and likely impact on economy. (Kathryn Street) RABBIT VIRUS - rabbit numbers rising in some regions but pest controllers say it's too early to judge whether RCD is working long-term. John Parkes, co-ordinator for much RCD research, says it was always going to be balancing act with other, competing factors. But Manawatu-Wanganui pest management co-ordinator George Robinson says there are doubts RCD is going to thrive in his region. (Catherine Harrison)
0625 SPORTS STORY AUSTRALIAN SPORT - TENNIS Open dogged by controversy, Peter Korda snubbed by other players because of his having used performance-enhancing drugs. I/v with correspondent Tim Gavel. (Mng Rpt)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY KOSOVO - NATO's 2 top generals arrive in Belgrade to deliver virtual ultimatum to Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic. Wesley Clark and Klaus Naumann will demand Mr Milosevic stops the killing in Kosovo and permits inquiry into latest massacre of ethnic Albanians or face possible air strikes. (BBC)
0639 INTERNATIONAL PAPERS
0642 NEWS STORY MOSQUITO - Health ministry to start spraying waterways near Napier at weekend in effort to eradicate some Australian mosquitoes, taking advice from Australian experts. (Mark Torley) FOG - FLIGHTS - another foggy night in WN disrupts flights again but skies looking clearer for passengers this morning. Live i/v with WN Airport communications manager Clare Wood.
0651 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS TOWER CORPN ssays volatile investment climate made last financial year a challenging one. Managing director James Boonzaier says returns to members still good, particularly when seen in context of almost no inflation; TOWER ASSET MANAGEMENT says it's nervous in its outlook, particularly for global equities markets. Chief exec Paul Bevan comments on concerns. (Clare Sziranyi) HOME AFFORDABILITY - AMP Home Mortgage Affordability report finds nation affordability levels improved by 37% over last year, largest rise since survey began. Graham Crews, Massey Univ real estate lecturer, says dramatic cuts im mortgage interest rares have had huge impact. (Clare Sziranyi) TELECOMMUNICATIONS - $120 billion deal between Vodafone and AirTouch sparks investor interest in telecomms stocks around world but Bell Atlantic could put spanner in works. It wanted to buy AirTouch but was outbid and still has agreement with AirTouch to deliver eachother's traffic across US; Merger cost - Prof Michael Knowle, Univ of Southern California, says value put on AirTouch far too high. FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW ZIMDADWC - SHAREMARKET trading comes to complete halt, with investors and brokers angry about govt plans to levy 5% capital gains withholding tax at point of stock sale. BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS FIJI ISLANDS - FLOODS causing chaos, record 356 mls of rain has fallen in just 24 hours in Nadi and almost 400 mls in Lautoka. Deluge follows drought, forming double blow to fragile economy. Live i/v with correspondent Shiu Singh. MISSING TEENAGER - delay in formally identifying body of woman found in Rakaia illegible, believed to be that of Kirsty Bentley, should be ended today. Live i/v with reporter Lauren McKenzie. ILLEGAL APPLES - estimated 65,000 trees of new Pacific Rose and Southern Snap varieties believed to be growing illegally in Chile. NZ developed and has exclusive rights to both varieties. Live i/v with Dr Ian Warrington, chief exec of HortResearch which developed the varieties. TOBACCO EDUCATION PACKAGE - educationalists and anti-smoking groups say package dealing with health choices, designed for 11-14 year old school children, raises ethical questions because it's sponsored by Philip Morris tobacco company. Comment from Barbara Langford, Smokefree Coalition, Aotea College's Brent Lewis, School Trustees Assn president Owen Edgerton, and Dr Kevin Donnelly from the Melbourne consultancy Education Strategies who designed the pack on Philip Morris's behalf. (Diana Leufkens) U.S. - IMPEACHMENT - defence of President Clinton opens in Senate. Mr Clinton soon to deliver State of the Union address. Live i/v with correspondent Martin Kettle.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE illegible - search under way in Hawkes Bay for larva of Southern Saltmarsch mosquito in attempt to contain it, carrier of Ross River fever and Murray Valley encephalitis. Spraying of waterways planned to begin shortly but mosquito's breeding grounds must be established first. Live i/v with Health ministry's deputy technical officer in Napier, Henry Dowler. BIODIVERSITY - NZ's draft national strategy released, almost 7 years after govt promised to write one after signing Global Convention on Biological Diversity at Rio Earth Summit in 1992. NZ now has more than 1,000 at risk species, estimated 70 million possums and tight conservation budget. Live i/v with Dr Glen Lauder, DoC, member of strategy team. RUGBY - ENGLAND team reinstated to Five Nations championship after being kicked out yesterday in row over television rights. Live i/v with rugby correspondent for British Press Assn, Andrew Baldock. WAITANGI DAY - Governor General Sir Michael Hardie Boys confirms he's in full agreement with programme of events for this year's commemmorations and that he'll be taking active part.(q). Waitangi marae chair Kingi Taurua says he's disturbed PM Jenny Shipley hasn't yet consulted him about ofer by activist Titewhai Harawira to escort her at Waitangi. PM's office says she hasn't yet made decision on offer. Live i/v with Māori Issues correspondent Chris Wikaira.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER FIJI ISLANDS - FLOODS - 8 people reported missing in raging waters. record-breaking rainfall hits main centre of sugar belt, no let up in sight with Weather Bureau predicting heavy rain until Thursday. Live i/v with tourist lodge operator John Gray. KOSOVO - NATO commander Wesley Clark meets Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade to discuss recent massacre of ethnic Albanians, earlier announced NATO forces ready to take action against Serbia within 24 hours if necessary. I/v with correspondent Jackie Rowlands. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS POWER CABLE - Talleys fishing company sends open letter to Transpower protesting at linking of fishing industry to damage to Cook Strait cable last October. Fishing industry believes it's being unfairly targetted and Transpower should blame itself for the damage. Comment from Peter Talley, Clive Bull of Transpower and Andrew Branson, Hoki Fishery Management Co. (Caitlin Cherry) DROUGHT - Food and Fibre minister John Luxton to visit farm in Cust, Canty, today to discuss worsening drought. Live i/v with Cust farmer Murray Taggart, those property will be visited by minister. ILLEGAL APPLES - ENZA plans to take action against Chilean nurseries and orchards which it says are growing around 60,000 trees of new NZ Pacific Rose and Southern Snap apples. Live i/v with Richard Easton, chair of Pipfruit Growers NZ.
0830 NEWS/SPORTS CRICKET - Chris Cairns helps NZ to 70 run victory over India in final 1-dayer in CH and square series. Live i/v with commentator Glenn Turner. OTAGO FISH - hot dry weather having devastating effect on fish in Taieri River. River at lowest level in 30 years and thousands of brown trout dying as result of high temperatures and reduced river flow. Live i/v with Fish and Game officer Monty Wright. AMPUTEES - Health and Disability Commissioner to produce preliminary report in few weeks on complaints made against artificial limb service RML. For next 4 months, health Funding Authority allowing amputees to choose between RML and the old provider, Artificial Limb Board, to relief of AK and Northland amputees. Comment from Commissioner Robyn Stent, HFA's carol Searle, amputee Matt Jones, Ray Newton of Amputee Society, and RML's Robert Gilmour. (Karlum Lattimore) TOBACCO EDUCATION PACKAGE - resource pack aimed at schools and funded by Philip Morris tobacco company raises ire of health groups. Live i/v with Smokefree Coalition chair Dr Boyd Swiburne, and Australian consultant Dr Kevin Donnelly, who wrote the material in the pack. JORDAN - KING HUSSEIN returns home to tumultuous welcome after 6 months' cancer treatment in US. I/v with Ramzi Khouri, "Arab Daily" editor.