John Tamihere today stood down from his Ministerial portfolios after allegations he misled the public over, and did not pay tax on, a large 'golden handshake' from the Waipareira Trust. John Tamihere (Labour MP); Winston Peters (NZ First Leader); Eynon Delamere (Waipareira Trust Chairman); Michael Cullen (Acting Prime Minister); Mark Sainsbury (One News - live).
An Australian IT worker, John Dennison, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of trying to steal almost $25 million from the Ministry of Health. Greg King (Dennison's lawyer); Judge Robert Kerr (Sentencing Judge); Jeannie Bathgate (Ministry of Health); Constable Christiaan Barnard (Wellington Police).
About a quarter of Air NZ's ground staff went on strike today. Alastair Duncan (Service and Food Workers Union); Rob Fyfe (Air NZ spokesman).
Petrol and diesel have gone up another 3 cents per litre. In addition, the nationwide housing market remains strong, meaning the Reserve Bank is likely to raise interest rates at least once more before the end of the year. Roger Perry (AMP); Andrew Brodie (Leaders Agent Wellington).
Report on further violence in Iraq. Qasim Daoud (Iraqi Minister of State for National Security).
Over 400 rural firefighters and others in the South Island have gathered to share ideas about fighting rural fires. Tim Sheppard (Principal Rural Fire Officer); Tony Teeling (Dept of Conservation).
Update on the trial of seven Pitcairn Island men accused of sexual abuse.
The Serious Fraud Office is refusing to comment on the sudden collapse of a high-profile case it bought against 4 Auckland businessmen. David Bradshaw (SFO Director).
Leading NZ artists and writers have farewelled author Maurice Shadbolt at his funeral today.