0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY APPLE GLUT - ENZA predicting average payout for Braeburn apples to fall by as much as 50% on earlier expecttions because of glut on international market. Braeburn NZ's main export variety but has never been patented, allowing other countries to grow and export it freely. Hawkes Bay growers could be hardest hit. I/v with Rex Graham, grower and orchard manager, and member of Independent Pipfruit Growers which is seeking to end Apple and Pear Board export monopoly. (Mark Torley) LOCAL COUNCIL BATTLE - small community of Ahuriri on south side of Waitaki River loses battle to switch councils. It's currently under Canterbury Regional Council but wants to come under jurisdiction of Otago Regional Council, but Local Govt Commision rules existing boundary will remain. (Melanie Logan)
0620 RURAL NEWS APPLE GLUT - apple growers likely to delay new development work in orchards as result of price collapse of NZ's main export variety, Braeburn. Cut-price apples swamping world markets from South Africa and South American have forced down prices for NZ Braeburns as well. Comment from Pipfruit Growers chair Richard Easton; ENZA chief exec Gary Smith acknowledges price collapse could force some growers out of business, but points out export varieties other than Braeburns have fared a lot better. (Kevin Ikin) KIWIFRUIT growers offered first chance to buy 5 million shares in new venture aimed at making NZ's kiwifruit marketing a year-round business. Share offer will fund new company, Kiwifruit International Ltd. Zespri will contract growers in northern hemisphere countries to supply kiwifruit in NZ's off-season so it can serve key customers all year round. Zespri chair Brian Armstrong says venture will take about 3 years to fully bear fruit. (Kevin Ikin)
0625 SPORTS STORY NETBALL - Silver Ferms coach Yvonne Willering keeping international Silver Ferns players on sidelines in national championships. World netball champs now only a month away. She's i/ved. (Stephen Hewson)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY BRITAIN - GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD - govt announces new trials of GM crops as part of investigation into effect such plants may have on environment in which they grow. Self-styled eco-warriors have destroyed several test crops already and say they'll oppose new trials too. (Alistair Wanklyn, Feature Story) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA MāORI FISHERIES ASSETS - Independent MP Tuariki Delamere outlines his ideas on how assets should be divided up. TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS AMP, transTasman financial services giant look set to be hard hit by massive losses of subsidiary GIO Holdings. AMP says it's looking at legal options against GIO's directors involved in take-over talks between the companies last year. Standand and Poors has placed AMP Group, including NZ, on negative credit watch. (Gyles Beckford) MONETARY POLICY - Reserve Bank releases quarterly review tomorrow, with no change expected to official cash rate of 4.5%. Comment from HSBC Market's analyst Stefan Dunatov. (Gyles Beckford) CULTUS - OMV, Austria-based industrial firm raises offer for transTasman petrol company Cultus which is now advising shareholders to accept offer. OMV Australian managing director Wolfgang Zimmer explains why price increased by 8 cents to 84 cents Australian. (Gyles Beckford) FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW AMP OFFICE TRUST, commercial office building investor, says sharply lower than projected profit is disappointing but sees improvement in property market, especially at top end. Net result for year to June is $18.9 million, down 13.7 million on forecasts. Comment from exec manager Anthony Beverley. (Helen Matterson) DAEWOO, giant South Korean industrial group, to be broken up. Creditors of debt-laden group have agreed to leave just 6 automotive related business units with company from current 22 groups. (BBC) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS APPLE GLUT - ENZA predicts average payout for Braeburn apples will be halved because of glut on international market. Braeburn has never been patented, allowing other countries to grow and export it freely. Comment from ENZA chief exec Gary Smith, Rex Graham of Independent Pipfruit Growers, and Bill Lynch of United Fruit. (Mark Torley); Phil Allison, deputy chair of Pipfruit Growers of NZ, i/ved. (Mng Rpt); live i/v with ENZA chair John McCliskie. ALLIANCE - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY launched, proposes setting up $200 million economic development fund to provide grants, loans, and joint venture research money as way of stimulating economic and job growth. Labour's Industry spokesman Pete Hodgson says policy along lines of what Labour wants to do but is more expensive and bureacratic model. Treasurer Bill English says idea of centrally planned economies with bureaucrats making investment decisions discarded long ago.(q). Live i/v with Alliance leader Jim Anderton. STRIKES - ANSETT pilots strike for 3rd time today over proposed new contract. They fear redundancies and longer flying hours, while company says it needs changes to stay competitive; MEDICAL LABORATORY WORKERS at AK Healthcare begin 3-day strike today. Comment from Ansett chief exec kevin Doddrell, Pilots' Assn's Adam Nicholson, Trish Lush of Medical Laboratory Workers' Union, and Prof Brian Parry, AK Healthcare surgical services. (Christine Cessford)
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS TRAFFIC REPORT FINANCE UPDATE CRICKET - South Island fans angry they'll miss out on test cricket this Summer. 5 tests scheduled but none in South Island. NZ Cricket chief exec Christopher Doig says clash between rugby and cricket seasons made it impossible to schedule South Island match; live i/v with former test cricketer and coach Glenn Turner and Tony Murdoch, chief exec of Canterbury Cricket. RUSSIA - NEW PM - Duma approves former KGB officer and spy Vladimir Putin as new PM, avoiding conflict with President Yeltsin. I/v with correspondent Andrew Harding. (Mng Rpt) SAMOA - ASSASSINATION - NZ REPORT - NZ Foreign Affairs ministry trying to discover how confidential diplomatic report into death of Works minister Laugalau Levaulu Kamu was leaked to media. Report claims another govt minister and Chief Justice were also being targetted. Michael Field, Agence France Presse, received copy of report, says reaction from Samoa muted so far - i/ved. (Mng Rpt)
0800 NEWS/WEATHER APPLE GLUT - low priced, good quality Braeburns from South Africa and South America blamed by NZ for plummeting world prices for the variety, but Peter Dell, chair of South African Deciduous Fruit Producers' Trust, says Braeburn not a big variety in South Africa, says apple consumption falling internationally. He's i/ved. (Mng Rpt) BLOOD SAMPLES/DNA - AK lawyer Francis Joychild concerned routine blood samples taken from babies are being used to build up virtual DNA bank which could be used in court proceedings. A Guthrie test sample, taken to screen for diseases, used to provide DNA evidence in paternity suit despite mother's objection on grounds of privacy. Comment also from Diane Webster, national testing, and Rowan Patterson, medical law specialist. (Luke Henshall) MEXICO - DRUGS ATTACK - top anti-drugs official escapes unharmed from attack by gunmen on motorcycles, says it was security lapse that put him in non-bullet proof car for drive through Mexico City. Live i/v with correspondent James Blears. UGANDA/RWANDA - diplomatic efforts underway to end fighting between the two countries in Democratic Republic of Congo. Former allies battling for control of strategic northern city of Kisingani, supporting rival rebel factions in war against Congolese president Laurent Kabila. Live i/v with correspondent Chris Simpson. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS LOCAL COUNCIL BATTLE - small South Island community of Ahuriri loses battle to come under jurisdiction of Otago Regional Council rather Canterbury. I/v with campaigner Ken Anderson and Richard Johnson, Canty Regional Council. (Mng Rpt) TRAFFIC REPORT
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS HEPATITIS C - medical researchers say spread of disease now reaching epidemic proportions, cutting across all levels of society. International experts gathering in CH this week for 2nd Australasian Conference on Hepatitis C, to try to find solutions for the "hidden epidemic". I/v with conference speaker Matthew Dolan, who has the virus and who's written "The Hepatitis C Handbook". (Mng Rpt) NORETHERN IRELAND - IRA CEASFIRE - Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam to make decision on state of ceasefire in next few days, says she hasn't come to any firm conclusions as to who's responsible for recent violence. Live i/v with correspondent David McKittrick. MIR SPACE STATION to return to Earth early next year, likely to pass over Chatham Islands before bursting into ball of flames. Live i/v with Jeff Green, national secretary of NZ Spaceflight Assn. MILLENNIUM BISCUIT - the humble Anzac biscuit wins over 25,000 other entries to be NZ's official millennium biscuit in Griffin's competition. Why is it such a winner? Live i/v with cooks Alyson Gofton and Alison Holst. BRITAIN - SAD LIFE QUALITY - new European Union survey shows Britain as saddest place in Europe, lists overwork, unhealthy living, pollution and crime among weakest points. Correspondent Paul Chapman finds it hard to believe - i/ved. (also talks about Mohammed Al-Fayed's continuing belief Dodi and Princess Diana were murdered) (Mng Rpt)