0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY BANK ROBBERY SUSPECTS - 3 men who allegedly used screwdrivers to hold up 5 AK banks, nettingmore than $100,000, arrested along with a woman yesterday. All 4 charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and police say further charged will be laid when they appear in court this morning. (Mary-Jane Aggett) WAITANGI - BAN - marae trustees lift controversial ban on activist Titewhai Harawira but will tell her she isn't welcome. Mrs Harawira says she'll still be using celebrations to draw attention to women's speaking rights. (Karlum Lattimore) DIABETES - Health ministry working on proposal to screen whole populations to illegible risk of all sorts of serious health problems including diabetes. Health Funding Authority developing project to improve services and are planning to test whether more screening for diabetes would be effective. I/v with Stephen, in his mid-40s, who discovered year ago that he has diabetes. (Rae Lamb)
0620 RURAL NEWS MEGA MERGER - business plan for proposed mega dairy company should be ready to present to dairy company directors later this month. (Diana Leufkens) PRODUCER BOARDS - Agriculture minister Jim Sutton has made it clear he won't impose further reforms on remaining producer boards but want to see how main non-trading boards - meatand wool - can operate under legislation which removed most statutory powers. MEAT BOARD chief exec Neil Taylor says that doesn't mean there won't be further changes in Meat NZ's operation. (Kevin Ikin); WOOL BOARD says it'll take future direction from outcome of independent study on restoring profitability to ailing wool industry. Project team leader Jo Wills comments. (Diana Leufkens); Fed Farmers still prefers to see both Meat and Wool Boards shed remaining statutory powers and use Commodity Levies Act to raise funds. Meat and wool chair Chris Lester comments. (Kevin Ikin) WOOL PRICES MIXED at sales this week. Strong demand for good colour crossbred wools in CH but fleece prices fell by 2-3% in Napier. (Kevin Ikin) illegible SPORTS STORY: RUGBY SEVENS - 5th round of international competition begins at WN's WestpacTrust stadium today, with 16 teams competing from around world. NZ Sevens team will be first NZ rugby side to play at new stadium. Live i/v with commentator Grant Nisbett.
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY: WAITANGI - SPEAKING RIGHTS - Māori Language Commissioner Dr Pat Hohepa, expert in Nga Puhi traditions, says initial point raised by Titewhai Harawira, re women's speaking rights on marae, is correct and marae trustees are wrong. (Chris Wikaira) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA NEWS TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS MOBILE PHONE MERGER - Britain's Vodafone AirTouch and German conglomerate Mannesmann reported to have agreed friendly merger. (AAP) UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS from 6.8% to 6.3%, economists data adds significantly to Reserve Bank's inflation worries. Westpactrust chief economist Bevan Graham says so much employment so soon has downside. (Helen Matterson) ELECTRICITY INQUIRY - energy industry taking cautious approach to govt inquiry into sector. Inquiry headed by former Labour cabinet minister David Caygill and expected to report by mid-June, and will focus on distribution and retailing, wholesale market and transmission grid. Energy minister Pete Hodgson says some recent changes irrevesible but changes possible in others. Alan Jenkins, consultant to Electricity Networks Assn, comments. (Helen Matterson) FINANCE/MARKETS BRITAIN - EURO CURRENCY - single currency's abysmal performance causes many to wonder if joining was a good idea and British sceptics winning debate to keep the pound. Comment from London currency strategist Steve Barrow. VIRGIN AIRLINES - Singapore Airlines expected to decide within 2 months if it will take part in Virgin's new Australian domestic operation. Virgin's chief of Australian operations, Brett Godfrey, says decision may hinge on whether Virgin Australi would modify planned "no frills" operations to include business class services. (Helen Matterson) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS WAITANGI - BAN - marae trustees lift ban on Titewhai Harawira but will tell her she isn't welcome. Live i/v with Waitangi Marae chair Kingi Taurua; Nga Puhi traditions expert Dr Pat Hohepa comments on views of trustees on right of owmen to speak on Te Tii marae; live i/v with Titewhai Harawira; live i/v with Northland reporter Lois Williams re latest developments. BANK ROBBERY SUSPECTS - "Screwdriver gang" arrested. 3 men and a woman will appear in court this morning, all 4 charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. Live i/v with officer in charge of case, Det Sgt Craig Turley; men's lawyer Chris Comeskey has been in contact with them by cellphone over past few days - i/ved live. AUSTRALIAN COCAINE HAUL - investigation focussing on abandoned boat in Bay of Islands. Police suspect ketch Bora Bora 2 may have been involved in shipping cocaine and drugs may have been transferred to Ngaire Wha in NZ waters. Live i/v with Det Supt Bill Bishop, Police National Crime Manager.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE: illegible EMPLOYMENT - govt agency Skill NZ says increasing number of young people workin in low paid jobs which offer few career prospects. Agency says of 15-19 year olds in work, more than 60% are in part-time or casual work characterised by irregular hours, limited career structures and few opportunities to train. Skill NZ releases discussion paper, "Building A Future For Young People" - live i/v with general manager Max Kerr. AMERICAS CUP - CHALLENGERS - racing resumes today, after being called off yesterday because of lack of wind. AmericaOne and Prada tied at 3-all with only 3 races to go to decide winner. I/v with AmericaOne chief operating officer Bob Billingham. (Mng Rpt) AUSTRIA - FAR RIGHT - President Thomas Klestil has agreed to swear in new centre-right coalition which included Freedom Party. Conservative leader Wolfgang Schuessel will be chancellor but latest reports suggest Freedom Party leader Jeorg Haider won't have cabinet post. Schuessel's decision to go into coalition with Freedom Party has put Austria on collision course with rest of European Union which is threatening to isolate Austria politically. Live i/v with Vienna correspondent Nigel Glass.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER WAITANGI - BAN lifted on Titewhai Harawira but Te Tii marae trustees say she's not welcome. Mrs Harawira intends to be at gates tomorrow morning and isn't worried she'll be told to leave. Live i/v with Māori Issues correspondent Chris Wikaira, with comment from PM Helen Clark re attendance at future Waitangi celebrations. KAPA HAKA - annual Māori Performing Arts competition attracts 37 teams to Turangawaewae marae this weekend, also cultural groups from Hawaii, Canada and Taiwan. Live i/v with Doug Hauraki, chief exec of Aotearoa Traditional Performing Arts Society. DIABETES - services struggling to deal with number of diabetics. More than 120,00 diagnosed, and estimated up to 60,000 more people may be affected without knowing it. (Rae Lamb) 'SCARFIES' VIDEO ROW - Video Dealers' Assn annoyed by deal entered into between NZ Film Commission and Video Ezy chain which Assn says effectively prevents 75% of video stores from carrying the film. Film Commission says deal only gives Video Ezy exclusive rights for 4-month period. Live i/v with Film Commission's Lindsay Shelton and Steve Dods, president of Video Dealers' Assn and manager of Blockbusters. TRAFFIC REPORT illegible NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS RUGBY SEVENS - NZ hoping home advantage and 2 All Black superstars will put it back at top of table. Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen drafted onto NZ side. (Chris Reid) NORTHERN IRELAND - DISARMAMENT - British govt to start legislation to suspend powers of power-sharing executive after report reveals IRA has made no efforts to hand in weapons. Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson believes it's still possible to rescue peace process but is preparing Bill to suspend executive unless IRA makes immediate moves to disarm. Live i/v with correspondent David McKittrick. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS ALGAL BLOOM - more than 80 scientists from around world gather at Cawthron Inst in Nelson to discuss ways of detecting toxic algal blooms with their deadly environmental effects on marine life. (Brian Crump) WEEKEND WEATHER MASTERS GAMES - more than 7,000 mature athletes pouring into DN for 11th NZ Masters Games this weekend. Most admit they're past their peak performance years but competitive spirit hasn't diminished. (Graeme McKerracher) OZ SPOT - live i/v with Phil Kafcaloudes. (hot Melbourne weather; German illegible champion swimmer Ian Thorpe is using drugs; aid worker Steve Pratt, earlier imprisoned by Serbs - may be some substance to spying charge; Virgin Airlines to be based in Brisbane)