EYEWITNESS NEWS. 05/05/1988

In Noumea just an hour ago, rescuers of the French gendarme held hostage on Ouvea met the world’s press to tell the story of of a dramatic rescue. It is now said 15 of the Kanak kidnappers and two military troops were killed in two sessions of bloody fighting. All the hostages are alive and well.

Richard Long presents the news. A large police team has assembled at Ruatoria to investigate the latest arson in the district. Farmers Jeremy and James Williams have been hit for the second time. Service stations are considering court action against the Government following it’s petrol price cut, as they are selling old petrol for the new price. Oil companies say they will have to put the price up again when deregulation occurs. The union ban on loading out export meat is to be lifted at midnight to allow talks to resume. [Foreign news] Financial and sharemarket news.

Rob Neale presents the issues of the day in depth. The Government has come under fire for another energy decision - giving itself mining rights for a possible oil field at Waihapa in Taranaki discovered by Petrocorp. In New Caledonia, Richard Harman backgrounds recent events in New Caledonia. Two months after Cyclone Bola, people are still facing hardship in the East Coast district, particularly Ngati Porou people. Api Mahuika explains the problems.

[World Watch]

Richard Long presents the headlines and the weather.