0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY SWITZERLAND - FATAL ACCIDENT kills between 19-21 people, including 2 NZers, after 53 caught up in flash flood while on river adventure trip. Waikato man John Rowe missing and believed dead while Rotorua man Andy Lee is confirmed dead. He was one of 8 guides escorting trip down river canyon. Rod Caldwell, white water rafter from Rotorua, says Mr Lee working for Swiss adventure company since early this year. (Mng Rpt) KOSOVO - AID - more than 100 wealthy nations and international organisations meet in Brussels to pledge funds to help province through Winter. Kosovo facing another humanitarian crisis if adequate shelter not provided for half million people whose homes were destroyed in war. (BBC) illegible RURAL NEWS PESTICIDES - visiting American expert, Prof Jim Whalon of Michigan State Univ, warns NZ fruit and vegetable growers they could be shut out of US market if produce doesn't meet new reduced limits for pesticide residues; Peter Silcock, chief exec of VegFed and FruitFed, says NZ apple and kiwifruit producers already operating programmes to reduce chemical use and are probably in better position than most to meet US demands. (Lauren McKenzie) BLUEBERRIES - new research presented to fruitgrowers' conference shows blueberries could both prevent and reverse some effects of aging. World expert Dr Jim Joseph says tests show diet high in blueberries effective against short-term memory loss and loss of balance, co-ordination and muscle strength. (Kevin Ikin) FRUIT LELVY - president of Fruitgrowers' Fedn Martin Clements wants industry's levy system rationalised so fruitgrowers only have to pay one levy, says duplication costly and inconvenient. (Kevin Ikin) INTERNET WOOL - Otago and Southland woolgrowers disappointed at losing local wool exchange will be able to get sale results through Internet. Reid Farmers chief exec Brian Bilas says aim to have service operating for first of merino wool sales in early September. (Diana Leufkens) illegible SPORTS STORY U.S. SPORTS - live i/v with Paul Witteman, "Sports Illustrated", (major league baseball umpires may have changed their minds about resigning en masse)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY CULTURE AND HERITAGE MINISTRY - govt launches new ministry to co-ordinate cultural and heritage roles but Labour and some members of arts and academic world question its worth when no extra funding for sector announced and minister will remain outside cabinet. Comment from minister Marie Hasler, actor/artist Grant Tilly, Labour's spokesperson Judith Tizard, actor/director Ian Mune, and former Turnbull librarian Jim Traue. (Mark Torley) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA Māori Māori LANGUAGE IN PARLIAMENT - political scientist supports Māori MPs and others in endorsing use of Māori in Parliament. TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS BANK PROFITABILITY - Massey Univ's Centre for Banking Studies says recent rise in profitability may not be sustainable and locally owned TSB in Taranaki particularly vulnerable. Comment from Centre's director David Tripe. (Paul Diamond) FERNZ CORPN chemical company moving head office from NZ to Australia, says it will benefit shareholders as well as company. Chief exec kerry Hoggard says decision to move inevitable as less than 10% of business based in NZ cf around 40% in Australia. (Paul Diamond) U.S. - FEDERAL RESERVE chair Alan Greenspan repeats warning Fed will act "promptly and forcefully" if inflation appears set to rise and holds firm in opposition to US tax cuts. FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW FLETCHER PAPER's trading profits suffer in second 6 momths of latest financial year, releases figures to coincide with earnings for Fletcher Canada which is 51% owned by Fletcher Paper and with which merger is planned.(Helen Matterson) PACIFIC RETAIL - fair value for shares between $1.83-$1.96, according to appraisal report commissioned by company after Logan Corpn expressed interest in buying up to 100% of ordinary shares; Stock Exchange still investigating remuneration package paid to former head Nick Lowe to see if it breaches exchange rules. (Paul Diamond) TRUSTPOWER - Australian Gas Light Co says it doesn't need controlling stake in TrustPower to build its energy business in NZ, but AGL spokesman Bill McLoughlin says it wants to build trading alliance with TrustPower as part of energy interests here. (Paul Diamond) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS SALE OF LIQUOR - MPs stop short of sweeping liberalisation; minimum legal drinking age drops from 20 to 18, liquor able to be sold on Sundays, beer but not spirits to be available in supermarkets but liquoe not able to sold by wider range of retailers such as dairies and video stores. Comment from MPs Dover Samuels, Robyn McDonald, Mark Peck, Bob Simcock, Ian Revell and Lianne Dalziel, and Rodney Hide. (Kathryn Street); comment from Sally Jackman, Drug Fndn, AA's George Fairbairn, and Medical Assn chair Dr Pippa Mackay; live i/v with Prof Sally Casswell, AK Univ's dept of Community Health. SWITZERLAND - FATAL ACCIDENT - Swiss police confirm at least 19 people dead after river canyoning tragedy. Interlaken investigating magistrate Martin Trapp says identification of dead and injured difficult because they weren't carrying any identification. (Mng Rpt) TAMIHERE PAYOUT - row over allegation made in Parliament by NZ First leader Weston Peters that Labour Party candidate John Tamihere will get $280,000 payout when he leaves job as Waipareira Trust chief exec to campaign for election. Mr Tamihere strongly denies he will accept figure quoted by Mr Peters although he confirms he's seeking $150,000, says any money paid to him will come from whanau Waipareira money not public money - i/ved live;NZ First leader Winston Peters i/ved live.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS TRAFFIC REPORT FINANCE UPDATE PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE - Speaker Doug Kidd rebukes MPs for making allegations about people under privilege without evidence to back remarks, says he'll raise matter at Standing Orders Committee with eye to new provision tightening rules. Live i/v with Political editor Al Morrison, with comment from Alliance MP Grant Gillon. KOSOVO - AID - at meeting in Brussels held by European Union and World Bank, around $4 billion in aid promised by US, Japan, Germany, Britain, EU and other nations and aid agencies. Top priority is housing thousands of homeless people before Winter. I/v with correspondent Oana Lungescu. CULTURE AND HERITAGE MINISTRY - new ministry will pull together National Library, National Archives, Historic Places Trust, NZ On Air, and NZ Symphony Orchestra under responsibility of one minister instead of five, will operate from September 1. Live i/v with Culture and Heritage minister Marie Hasler. COOK ISLANDS - COALITION govt led by PM Sir Geoffrey Henry on verge of collapse. 3 MPs belonging to his party withdraw support and join forces with opposition parties. Vote of no confidence in Sir Geoffrey expected on Friday. Live i/v with correspondent Florence Syme Buchanan.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER SALE OF LIQUOR - Parliament votes to lower drinking age from 20 to 18. Live discussion with 18 year old Nicholas Walbridge, 19 year old Tangi Utikere, and 17 year old Katy Bradford. AUCKLAND - BRITOMART - AK City Cl tonight makes key decisions on whether to proceed with what would be country's biggest urban construction project or face possible legal action. Live i/v with reporter Todd Niall. CULTURE AND HERITAGE MINISTRY - affected orgns worried funding for new ministry has not been explained. Live i/v with Historic Places Trust chair Dame Catherine Tizard and Jim Traue, former Turnbull Library chief librarian. SAMOA - ASSASSINATION - 34 year old man appears in court soon, charged with murder of Works minister Luagalau Levaula Kamu. I/v with correspondent Alan Ah Mu outside court.(Mng Rpt) AUSTRALIA - DEFENCE DISMISSAL - attempt by govt to sack Defence Dept's most senior official turning messy. Paul Barrett was phoned without warning by PM's office to say he'd been sacked as Defence Secretary but Mr Barret was granted injunction by Federal Court to stop move and says he'll go all the way to force govt to let him finish his contract. He's believed to have refused post of High Commissioner in NZ. Live i/v with correspondent Michelle Grattan. TRAFFIC REPORT
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS WEELINGTON HOSPITAL - debate over cost of new WN regional hospital hots up as officials weigh up relative merits of WN city site and Kenepury site in Porirua. Report commissioned by Porirua City Cl says it would be $40 million cheaper to build on Kenepuru site. Comment from Porirua mayor Jenny Brash, WN Central MP Richard Prebble, WN mayor Mark Blumsky, and Health minister Wyatt Creech. (Catherine Harris) ENGLISH DICTIONARY - Oxford Univ Press calls for English-speakers worldwide to contribute new words for new, completely revised edition of Oxford English Dictionary. I/v with deputy editor Penny Silver. (Mng Rpt) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS WORKFORCE AGE - Massey Univ reserachers says rate at which workforce in aging illegible of concern to older worker, predict half million more middle-aged NZers will be out of work in next decade. Live i/v with Prof David Thompson, History dept. INDIA/PAKISTAN - KASHMIR conflict seems to be winding down further. India announces guerrillas have now all been removed, killed or have retreated from its side of line of control. Has the dispute become an election issue in India? I/v with correspondent Ranjan Gupta. FRUIT AND VEG REPORT with Jack Forsythe.