0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 MāORI NEWS 1616 NEWS STORY SOUTH AFRICA - ELECTION - voting expected to deliver resounding endorsement of African National Congress govt. People began queuing at polling stations 6 hours before they were due to open. Live i/v with correspondent Emily Harris.
0620 RURAL NEWS DAIRY MEGA COMPANY - Dairy Baord finishes meetings with farmers, says it has overwhelming support for strategy that includes proposed mega merger. Chair John Storey says apart from suppliers of Waikato's Tatua Dairy Co, farmers voted in favour of strategy although they want more information. (Diana Leufkens) illegible IMPORTS - Meat Board supports pork industry efforts to get govt protection from imports. Chief exec Neil Taylor says linking that with US proposals to limit NZ lamb imports doesn't stand up to scrutiny because pork imports are subsidised, says both industries are fighting for fair trade. (Kevin Ikin) RICHARD PREBBLE - WOOL BOARD challenges ACT leader to check its records after he attacks in his book, "I've Been Writing". Mr Prebble accuses Board of trying to sabotage deal a Marlborough farmer made with Italian garment manufacturer during drought a couple of years ago. Board chair Bruce Munro says files show staff put huge effort into helping farmer promote his wool overseas, and Mr Prebble has not taken up offer to check files nor did he talk to Board before making his accusations. (Diana Leufkens) TREE DISEASE - Forest Owners' Assn warns new entrants into forestry of need to safeguard plantations against Doethestroma which causes conifers to lose needles, stunting growth. (Kevin Ikin)
0625 SPORTS STORY U.S. SPORT - live i/v with Paul Witteman, "Sports Illustrated". (NBA playoffs - Utah dead as doornail, down to 4 teams)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY illegible PRISON - Corrections Dept says proposal for Māori owned and operated prison has come from Ngati Hine hapu in Northland, where dept plans to build 300-bed prison. Corrections minister Clem Simich and Associate minister Tau Henare both supportive of idea, which would run prison on restorative justice principles. Comment from Labour's Phil Goff, Tariana Turia (q), Hone Harawira, a Tai Tokerau activist and opponent of the current penal system, Labour Party candidate and Waipareira Trust head John Tamihere, and chair of Nga Puhi runanga in Northland, Rudy Taylor. (Karlum Lattimore) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS OFFICE OF TREATY NEGOTIATIONS - minister Sir Douglas Graham praises work of the Office, says it has nothing to hide. PAKEHA-MāORI - new book looks at their history.
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS AIR NEW ZEALAND - Brierley Investments says it's prepared to spend more money increasing stake in Air NZ because it likes airline's prospects, lending weight to theory BIL will sell large stake in Singapore Airlines in return for Air NZ merging with Ansett. (Gyles Beckford) FINANCE MARKETS RULES - Labour Party releases discussion paper, suggests bringing in take-over code proposed in 1995 but dropped by govt after sustained pressure from business interests, and tougher insider trading rules. Commerce spokesman Paul Swain comments; company law specialist Stephen Franks says Labour may change its mind when it gets feedback on proposals and sees ramifications of certain measures. Govt firmly against take-over rules. Treasurer Bill Birch says rules have worked well and any move by Labour to re-regulate would be backward step. (q). (Gyles Beckford) FINANCE MARKETS MARKET REVIEW BANKERS TRUST - investment monitoring company MorningStar says it will look at downgrading rating of Bankers Trust in Australia if Westpac there buys it but it views NZ situation differently. (Helen Matterson) SOLID ENERGY could be in better position for privatisation as result of drastic restructuring announced yesterday. SOE sacking nearly quarter of workforce, closing several offices and postponing any building of a loading jetty on West Coast as it struggles to remain viable. (Gyles Beckford) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS SOUTH AFRICA - ELECTION - polling booths staying open late to ensure as many South Africans as possible can vote. Retiring president Nelson Mandela one of illegible first to vote, has final message for the public. No exit polls but recent surveys suggest ANC will win about 60% of vote. Live i/v with Tabo Msebe from ANC and Ryan Coetze from Democratic Party. HAMILTON KIDNAP - 21 year old Taiwanese woman kidnapped from home after 3 men wearing balaclavas broke into house. 6 hours later she flagged down truck driver on State Highway One near Meremere. Live report from Melita Tull. KOSOVO - DIPLOMACY - Russian envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin and Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari complete first round of talks in Belgrade with President Milosevic, trip seen as last chance to establish whether diplomacy can bring quick end to NATO's air strikes. I/v with Belgrade correspondent Mike Williams. (Mng Rpt) GERMAN MIGRANT FAMILY - latest attempt by Petra Schier and her 3 daughters to remain in NZ turned down. Immigration minister Tuariki Delamere declines her application for residency as entrepreneur under Business Migrant Scheme and family's removal now depends on opinion of ENY specialist who'll next week examine 6 year old Marina Schier to determins when she's able to fly after operation. I/v with Mr Delamere. (Mng Rpt); live i/v with Petra Schier.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS illegible UPDATE FURLAN MURDER INVESTIGATION - police say new information and need to ensure public confidence in original investigation behind review of 1996 Tania Furlan murder case. Mrs Furlan was beaten to death in her Howick home and her baby daughter abducted. Christopher Lewis charged with her murder but committed suicide in prison before trial. Live i/v with his lawyer David Jones. POLICE - INCIS - Police Commissioner Peter Doone refusing to resign over his handling of computer system. Police Assn says system, designed to revolutionise operations, worse than existing system. Mr Doone i/ved. (Mng Rpt) MāORI PRISON - Associate Corrections minister Tau Henare wants to allow Māori group to own and operate prison for Māori inmates only in Northlans. Labour's Justice spokesperson Phil Goff says idea doesn't make sense and disagrees with prison being run by privte group; Corrections minister Clem Simich supports idea - i/ved live. SOLID ENERGY - decision to make quarter of staff redundant follows substantial losses but that hasn't put State Owned Enterprises minister Tony Ryall off selling the asset; live i/v with Political editor Al Morrison, with comment from Mr Ryall.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER SOUTH AFRICA - ELECTION - independent Electoral Commission says election has been efficient and peaceful and is expected to deliver resounding victory to ANC. Live i/v with political commentator David Welsh. U.S. - ARKANSAS AIR CRASH - American Airlines jet trying to land in violent thunderstrom in Little Rock crashes off runway and bursts into flames, almost plunges into river. Live i/v with correspondent Robin Brandt. FINANCE MARKET RULES - Labour Party says it's time local markets were cleaned up, releases discussion paper which proposed take-over code and tougher insider trading rules. Live i/v with Commerce spokesman Paul Swain and Eion Edgar, chair of Stock Exchange. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS SAMOA - HEALTH - new $1.5 million NZ health project represents significant change of approach to aid in Pacific Islands. New child health project aims to prevent some illnesses becoming serious. (Rae Lamb) FAST FERRIES - Maritime Safety Authority and Marlborough District Council call special meeting of interested groups in Picton. Several close calls between vessels and increase in fast ferries crossing Cook Strait leads to safety review of Tory Channel. Live i/v with MSA director Russell Kilvington.
0830 NEWS/WEATHER U.S. - WEAPONS SUPPLY - US starting to run low on certain munitions because of air strikes in Kosovo and Iraq. Centre for Strategic and International Studies illegible analyst Jeffrey Lewis says 2 crucial types of weapons now in particularly short supply - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) THAI PROSTITUTES - Prostitutes' Collectiver sceptical of suggestions that so-called safe houses be set up in AK for Thai women lured to NZ to work in sex industry. AK mayor Christine Fletcher wants to set up safe havens so women can leave the sex industry without living in fear or being intimidated. Comment from Mrs Fletcher, Catherine Healy of Prostitutes' Collective and Michael Hall, manager of three massage parlours in Fort Street red light district. (Kristen Lee) MATHS EDUCATION - new reserach highlights importance of children knwoing basics and raises questions about use of calculators in classrooms. Massey Univ study says use needs to be carefully monitored so they don't stop children developing basic number skills and questions whether memory work has taken back seat to tasks concentrating on developing understanding. (Gael Woods) JAPAN - UNEMPLOYMENT RATE reaches record high as companies cut costs to cope with "prolonged recession". I/v with correspondent Peter McCutcheon. FRUIT AND VEG REPORT with Jack Forsythe.