0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY RUSSIA - ELECTION - polling in presidential election ends, first exit polls show Vladimir Putin capturing around half the vote but with possibility of run-off after strong performance from commuist rival Gennady Zyuganov. I/v with BBC correspondent Paul Anderson. (Mng Rpt) SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS - from start of next school term, more than 130 primary and intermediate schools will have part-time social worker on staff. James Family, division of Presbyterian Support Services, has had workers in 3 Hamilton schools over last 3 years, in what it describes as successful trial of idea. (Andrew McRae)
0620 RURAL NEWS MEGA MEGER COLLAPSE - dairy farmer action group, Farmers For Control, suggests farmers look at regaining direct shares in Dairy Board following collase of industry's mega merger plan. Spkesperson Catherine Bull says most farmers feel they can't allow industry to continue as is, without a merger, says one option is for farmers to ask for referendum on possibility of reverse take-over to place voting aspect of Dairy Board shares back in farmers' hands. (Diana Leufkens); Kiwi supplier and former dairy farmers' chair Mark Masters says silent majority of farmers will be relieved mega co-op plan has failed, says absence of competition within NZ under mega company was concern for many farmers. (Kevin Ikin) MEGA MERGER - National's Agriculture spokesman Gavan Herlihy calls on Kiwi and NZ Dairy Group to front up with their alternative plans for future now they've called off merger negotitations, says structural change in dairy industry is inevitable with Dairy Group controlling majority of NZ's milk supply but unable to exercise that dominance in the Dairy Board. (q) (Kevin Ikin)
0625 SPORTS STORY RUGBY - live i/v with commentator John Mcbeth re Hong Kong Sevens final won by NZ and the Super 12 matches over weekend.
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY U.S. - OSCARS - Academy Awards get underway later today. Who's likely to win what? (BBC) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA NEWS MāORI LANGUAGE COMMISSION - new head appointed, i/ved.
0650 BUSINESS NEWS AIR NEW ZEALAND - QANTAS reported to be looking at acquiring controlling share in Air NZ to stymie increasing threat of domestic competition. (AAP) OIL PRODUCTION - OPEC starts key meeting in Vienna today, will discuss how much more oil it and its allies will produce after year of stringent quotas which has seen world price treble. Senior energy analyst with Centre for Global ENergy Studies, Julian Lee, says world's motorists will be disappointed if meeting agrees to produce another 1.5 -1.7 millions of barrels of oil a day. (Gyles Beckford) GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT figures expected this morning for December quarter, should show levelling off of growth after strong spurt in September. Average forecast is for increase of 1.1% for quarter, taking level of growth for last year to 3%. Comment from ANZ Bank's chief economist. (Gyles Beckford) FINANCE/ MARKETS WEEK AHEAD TARIFF FREEZE alone not enough to encourage growth and new investment in local industries, according to Apparel and Rextile Fedn. Managing director of Designer Textiles, Kerry Harding, says current tariff rates lower than in Australia and most western countries and says freeze is welcome respite although local industry needs more help to develop export markets. (Catherine Walbridge) INFRATIL SHARES - ongoing sharemarket weakness forcing another company, Infratil, to contemplate share buy-back to boost flagging price. Chief exec Lloyd Morrison say company examining how it can best boost shareholder returns. (Catherine Walbridge) ASIA - CHILDREN - TECHNOLOGY - Cartoon Network-A C Nielsen survey of children between 7-18 finds them getting richer and wanting to spend money on high-tech products. (Catherine Walbridge) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS RUSSIA - ELECTION - exit polls show acting president Vladimir Putin has captured around half vote, has to win 50% plus 1 to be declared clear winner and avoid second round of voting. Live i/v with correspondent Charles Maynes. COMMUNITY WAGE - Social Services minister Steve Maharey releases evaluation report on work-for-dole scheme which he says confirms scheme is failure. Report completed for Work and Income last year by research group finds no evidence scheme helps participants get jobs or training. Former Social Services minister Roger Sowry says report is flawed and accuses Mr Maharey of using it to justify Labour's p lans to "go soft" on unemployed. I/v with both. (Mng Rpt) MUSEUM REVIEW - Culture and Heritage ministry appoints team to review way Te Papa displays its art and conducts research. Review team includes former director of Australian Museum, Des Griffen, Chris Sains of the Auckland Art Gallery and a vocal critic of Te Papa, Rodney Wilson of the Auckland Museum. Concern expresses about make-up of the team and whether review has come too late. (Mark Torley) MIDDLE EAST - PEACE PROCESS - Syrian and US presidents meeting in Geneva in effort to restart Syrian-Israeli peace talks. Live i/v with correspondent John illegible. ALEXANDRA FLOODS - at special meeting, flood victims endorse interim report identifying Crown and Contact Energy as parties responsible for causing flooding problems in Clutha District and says $12 million worth of property should be bought to reduce threat of future flooding. Report doesn't say who should pay. Comment from Alexandra residents' spokesman Laurence O'Connell, deputy PM Jim Anderton and Queenstown mayor Warren Cooper (Tony Reid)
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE TAX EVASION - NIUE - govt concerned at number of NZ companies it says are using Niue's tax haven to avoid paying taxes in NZ. NZ and Niue set up working party which meets for first time next week, following international concern Niue's offshore financial centre being used for money laundering. (Barbara Dreaver) MIDDLE EAST - HOLY LAND - POPE John Paul II makes unprecedented pilgrimage to most hallowed ground of Judaism, Christianity and Islam in Jerusalem, vists Al-Aqsa mosque, Wailing Wall and Chruch of the Holy Sepulchre. He makes momentous gesture to Jews, for forgiveness for the church's ill-treatment of Jews over centuries; i/v with BBC correspondent Jeremy Bowen. (Mng Rpt) CHILDREN - TELEVISION - Office of the Commissioner for Children hosting seminar this week on children's rights in the media, while Broadcasting Standards Authority organising symposium examining television standards in relation to protection of children. Both coincide with review of Code of Broadcasting Practice for Free-to-Air Television. Comment from Children's Commissioner Roger McClay, Ursula Cheers, lecturer in law at the University of Canterbury, Broadcasting Standards Authority exec director Michael Stace, and Ruth Zanker, lecturer on media issues at the University of Canterbury. (Karen Gregory-Hunt) U.S. - OSCARS - "American Beuaty" tipped to win best film award. Live i/v with correspondent Richard Arnold.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER RUSSIA - ELECTION - still not clear if Vladimir Putin will win presidential election outright or have to go to run-off. Communist challenger Gennady Zyuganov making surprisingly strong showing with about 31% of vote. Live i/v with correspondent Charles Maynes; live i/v with Dr Reuben Azizian, AK Univ political scientist and former Soviet diplomat. WAR CRIMINALS - Associate Foreign Affairs minister Matt Robson to meet cruicials from International Court of Justice at The Hague to discuss Court's request for NZ to hold convicted war criminals in its prisons - he's i/ved. (Mng Rpt) AUCKLAND - LOCAL GOVERNMENT - concept of one pwerful local body to run entire region back on agenda. AK region mayors agree for first time to take serious look at that and other possible re-shapings of local govt in region. Comment from mayors David Hawkins and Bob Harvey, Auckland local body historian Graham Bush, and Phil Warren, the chairman of the Auckland Regional Council. (Todd Niall) ARTS FESTIVAL - NZ Festival 2000 estimated to have pumped between $20-30 million into WN regional economy. Comment from Totally Wellington chief executive Trevor Hall. (Blair McLaren); live i/v with festival exec director Carla van Zon.
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS CRICKET - 4th day of 2nd test between NZ and Australia. Chris Cairns has saved NZ, Black Caps now on 189 for 5 in 2nd innings. Live i/v with commentator Martin Crowe. INJURY INQUIRY - AK police following up number of reported sightings of 37-year old Stephen Ian Byrne, found critically injured in alley in AK's red light district. Live i/v with Det Sgt Kevin Hooper. OIL PRODUCTION - PRCE - how much is the cost of petrol in NZ realyy determined by the OPEC cartel? Comment from Deputy PM Jim Anderton, Challenge retail development manager, Graham Peters, Mobil spokesperson Rowan McRae, and analysts Chris Stone and Alan Jenkins. (Stephen Harris) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS BRITAIN - HACKER - newspapers reporting that 18-year old arrested for allegedly hacking into e-commerce websites obtained credit card details of Bill Gates. Microsoft head and world's richest man. I/v with correspondent Katia Michael. (Mng Rpt) OZ SPOT - live i/v with Phil Kafcaloudes. (Democrats want Queen to apologise for Crown's treatment of Aborigines; Olympic torch to be taken past Barrier Reef underwater in a case of oxygen; new nuclear power plant is planned for the suburbs south of Sydney)