0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY NATIONAL PARTY CONFERENCE - delegates say Treasurer Bill English's promise of further tax cuts gives them weapon they've been waiting for to fight election. Comment from PM Jenny Shipley, Mr English and delegates Mark Kunnen, Percy Wellington, and Cliff Bedwill. (Stephan Harris) NORTHERN IRELAND - PEACE PROCESS - PM Tony Blair says it's make or break week, pleads with politicians not to throw away best chance for peace in a generation. Correspondent Keithy Chalkley sounds out republican opinion in Londonderry.
0620 RURAL NEWS illegible MERGER - cabinet gets first look today at draft legislation paving way for dairy industry's proposed mega merger Graham Calvert, chair of dairy industry committee setting up merger, says it won't become law without 75% dairy farmer approval and Commerce Commission clearance; Coalition of Concerned Dairy Farmers wants govt to hold off legislation, says it could jeopardise legal action it's taking against Kiwi Dairies, one of companies at centre of mega merger negotiations. Coalition taking action on behalf of more than 600 Manawatu and Wairarapa dairy farmers who believe they were unfairly treated when their dairy company, Tui, was merged with Kiwi nearly 3 years ago. (Kevin Ikin) WOOL MARKETING - Peter Crone, president of Wool Exporters' Council exasperated at state of ailing wool industry, says he's still waiting to hear single idea about how NZ wool might be better marketed. He suggest industry might learn from studying wine industry's international marketing model. (Kevin Ikin) PORK IMPORTS - pork producers on both sides of Tasman hoping for more pragmatic approach from respective govts following US decision to impose tariffs on lamb. Both want protection from cheap pork imports. (Kevin Ikin)
0625 SPORTS STORY RUGBY - ALL BLACKS defeat Springboks at Carisbrook 28-0. Live i/v with illegible John McBeth.
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY ISRAEL - PEACE PROCESS - PM Ehud Barak has first official meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to try and reinvigorate peace process. (BBC) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA Māori: LOCAL BODIES - Māori questioning direction of local government.
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS MEGA MERGER - draft legislation looks at tax implications of dairy merger plan and rights of farmers to own quotas. I/v with Graham Calver, chair of steering committee, re what alternatives there are for supplies if mega company doesn't live up to expectations. TAX CUTS - Manfed says while personal tax cuts proposed by National Party are good news, reduction in business rate is also needed to improve export fortunes. Chief exec Simon Carlaw comments. (Paul Diamond) FINANCE/MARKETS WEEK AHEAD INTERNET CHARGE - Clear Communications says it still hasn't ruled out legal action against Telecom over its controversial charge for residential Internet users. Public Affairs manager Clayton Cosgrove says company refusing to join
0867 service as it believes it will reduce quality and level of service for users. (Paul Diamond) HOME BUYING more affordable now than has been for 10 years, according to June quarter figures. Senior lecturer in real estate at Massey Univ, Graeme Clews, says low interest rates, slight drop in prices and small increase in average weekly wage have played a part. (Helen Matterson) TRUSTS - new book, "Public Ownership and the Community, looks at the $5 billion now being held on behalf of NZers after restructuring of trustee savings banks and electricity distributors in late 1980s into series of trusts. Author Peter McKilay, of McKinlay Douglas consultancy firm, believes present situation excludes community from decision-making. (Helen Matterson) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS TAX CUTS - Treasurer Bill English tells National Party conference that party would cut personal tax from April 1 next year, promising to leave up to $10 a week more in pockets of middle income earners. Effective middle tax rate wouls fall from 21 cents to 20 in dollar while level at which top rate of 33 cents illegible in would rise from $38,000 to $40,000 a year. Labour's Finance spokesman Michael Cullen says move is irresponsible in face to large current account deficit and promises to scrap the cuts if Labour wins election. (q). ACT says cut is merely election carrot which won't boost jobs and investment, while Alliance says $400 million a year in lost revenue could remove tertiary education fees. I/v with Bill English. (Mng Rpt) NATIONAL PARTY CONFERENCE - live i/v with Political editor Al Morrison. INDIA/PAKISTAN - KASHMIR - Pakistan announces truce with India to allow anti-Indian militants to withdraw from northern peaks in disputed Kashmir and end worst stand-off between two countries in 30 years. India correspondent Ranjan Gupta says there's been no announcement of ceasefire from Indian side but progress has been made. ANTARCTIC FLIGHT - 15 hour flight into Antarctic darkness ends safely and successfully. Mission involved 2 US planes, one carrying fule, while other airdropped drugs and diagnostic equipment for female staff member wintering over who's found lump in her breast. I/v with Col Richard Saburro, mission spokesman. (Mng Rpt)
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS FRANCE UPDATE ROWING - NZer Rob Waddell named joint world champion with Czech Vaclav Chalupa after winning final round of single sculls at World Cup event in Switzerland. He's i/ved. (Mng Rpt) ISRAEL - PEACE PROCESS - Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat have first official meeting. Correspondent Hilary Anderson says meeting substantive - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) COOK ISLANDS TAX INQUIRY - latest chapter in "Winebox" drama centres opens today in High Court in AK. NZ First leader Winston Peters arguing that findings of Commission of Inquiry headed by Sir Ronald Davison were invalid. High Court decision last year denied Mr Peters the right to challenge findings but that was overturned by Court of Appeal in November. Live i/v with Economics correspondent Bronwen Evans. MONDAY OZ SPOT - live i/v with Phil Kafcaloudes. (Federal Employment minister Tony Abbot says any job is better than dole and anyone on dole should accept any job offered to them, unless they're illegal or immoral; plan to make people pay for treatment in public hospitals if they can afford it to be put to state and territory leaders later this month)
0800 NEWS/WEATHER TAX CUTS - National Party says it will cut personal taxes from April 1 next year will put up to $10 a week in pockets of most taxpayers and cost govt $400 million a year. Other political parties not impressed; i/v with ACT leader Richard Prebble. (Mng Rpt); live i/v with Labour's Finance spokesman Michael Cullen. INDIA/PAKISTAN - KASHMIR - India denies it's agreed to ceasefire although it says there's some evidence of withdrawal by Pakistani forces from Indian side of military line of control. I/v with Pakistan correspondent Zaffar Abbass. (Mng Rpt) LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE - local authorities today launch new push to give communities greater role in areas previously exclusive domain of central govt. Comment from Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey, Kerry Marshall, Local Government NZ, and Jeremy Harris, mayor of Honolulu. (Todd Niall) MEGA MERGER - Marlborough Cheese Co-op shareholders vote to join Waikato's Tutua Dairy Company in deciding against dairy industry mega merger. Live i/v with Rick Carmont, Marlborough's chief exec.
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS BRITAIN - TOXIC BREAST MILK - hundreds of potentially serious contaminants found in breast milk of British women, following special study commissioned by Worldwide Fund for Nature. One finding say 2 month old babies may be taking in 42 times safety level of dioxin in breast milk. Live i/v with WWF's senior pass and campaigns officer, Anita Neville. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS HEALTHY ECONOMICS- Australian public health expert says NZ's economic policies may be harming nation's health. Prof Fran Baum keynote speaker at NZ Public Health Assn conference, will speak on social capital and its link to public health - i/ved live. N.Z. YOUTH CHOIR wins top prize at International Music Eisteddfod in Wales. Live i/v with manager Jackie Simpson. NORTHERN IRELAND - IRA THREAT - "Brighton bomber" Patrick Magee, recently released from jail, threatening life of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams if he agrees to IRA surrendering its weapons. Live i/v with correspondent Paul Newman.