TV3 NEWS. 18/05/2007

News, sport and weather.
Main stories:.

The son of murdered teacher Lois Dear gave his victim impact statement out in court today, telling her killer exactly what he thought of him. Fletcher Pilditch (Crown Prosecutor); Justice Chisholm (Hamilton High Court); Kevin McNeill (Dear's Son); Jan Armstrong (Dear's Daughter); Keith Bedford (ESR Forensic Program Manager); Detective Inspector Garth Bryan (Inquiry Head); Page McElhinney (ESR Senior Forensic Scientist).

Samoa is in mourning for their deceased Head of State. Whena Owen (3 News); Michael Jones (Manu Samoa Coach); Fiame Naomi Mata'afa (Samoan Cabinet Minister).

The Prime Minister has visited the Auckland Chamber of Commerce the day after the Budget. Helen Clark (Prime Minister); John Key (National Party Leader).

Finance Minister Michael Cullen is the architect of the KiwiSaver Scheme, and spent today selling it to ordinary wage earners. Michael Cullen (Finance Minister); Beelah Bleakley (Working Mother); Voxpop.

Pressure is mounting on British Prime Minister Tony Blair to step down now rather in six weeks. Blair is in America where US President George W. Bush has lauded him. George W. Bush (US President); Tony Blair (British Prime Minister).

For the second day in a row, Israel has launched attacks on Hamas leaders in Palestinian territory.

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz will now resign over his role in a massive payrise he organised for his girlfriend.

The regional petrol taxes mentioned in the Budget will not save road users from some toll roads. Voxpop; Annette King (Transport Minister.