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Checkpoint FOR FRIDAY 2 MARCH 2012
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The debt stricken Otago Rugby Union has won a week's reprieve as last ditch talks carry on to save it from liquidation. But the New Zealand rugby union says negotiations are very delicate, the financial position remains very bleak and there are significant hurdles. The 131 year old provincial union owes more than two-point-three million dollars, and had been due to ask the High Court today to place it in liquidation this afternoon. The Otago union's chair Wayne Graham held a news conference in the last hour CUT Wayne Graham says he hopes the week's reprieve is the right call CUT Our reporter Ian Telfer has been at that news conference and joins us now. LIVE
After months of speculation, it's been announced that Christchurch Cathedral will be mostly demolished. But the Anglican church hasn't decided on a new cathedral yet, and the demolition decision has already sparked horror among some locals. Katy Gosset reports. PKG
A prominent Kapiti Coast man and his wife have been found dead in their Paekakariki home.
Family members found the bodies of Adrian and Marei [muh-RYE] Webster this morning, just days after word of Mr Webster's terminal cancer became public. Tim Graham reports. PKG
They've held out for four long weeks but now Syrian opposition forces are withdrawing from the besieged city of Homs. As government troops take their place, alarm is growing about the civilians still trapped there - although the Red Crescent and Red Cross are being allowed into the city tonight. The BBC's Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen has our report : PKG
This country's largest ever rowing squad has been named to compete at the Olympic Games in just 20 weeks time. 39 rowers were today named at Karapiro to represent New Zealand in London. Heading the team is five times world champion, Mahe Drysdale, who is desperate to pick up an Olympic Gold medal. Our Waikato reporter, Andrew McRae was at Karapiro for the announcement. PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Jonathan Mitchell
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More now on the price hike in landing fees by Wellington Airport. Air New Zealand is angry and its seeking a meeting with the Minister of Commerce to change the law because it says airports are abusing their monopoly. Eric Frykberg reports. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The debt stricken Otago Rugby Union has won a week's reprieve from being liquidated as last ditch talks carry on to try to save it. The provincial union owes more than two-point-three million dollars, and had been due to ask the High Court this afternoon to place it in liquidation. We're joined now by the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union Steve Tew. LIVE
Pharmac has decided to fund a new treatment for those with aggressive breast cancer, as an alternative to Herceptin. But patients and medical specialists say very few patients will receive the drug, and not when they most need it. Our Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, reports. PKG
The country's newest Trades Training Academy, aimed at creating careers for students soon to finish school, has opened in Nelson. 100 students have enrolled in the Nelson-Tasman's Academy, one of 13 around New Zealand Geoff Moffett reports. PKG
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17.45 MANU KORIHI
Kia ora Susie, e te marea tēnā koutou katoa,
The Wairoa District Council has been forced to backtrack on a decision not to hold a poll until next year's local government elections, on whether to introduce Māori wards.
46 per cent of the electoral population in northern Hawke's Bay are Māori, which is one of the highest percentages of any region in New Zealand.
Heugh Chappell reports:
WAIROA MAORI VCR
IN.......LAST YEAR THE
OUT...IS HEUGH CHAPPELL.
DUR...44"
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The head of the Midland Iwi Relationship Board says the creation of Whānau Ora will greatly help the central North Island meet its goal of making the region smokefree by 2025.
The five District Health Boards covering the region - along with the Iwi Board - have signed a statement to work together.
The Chair of the Iwi organisation, Punohu McCausland, says Whānau Ora ties into its aim of cutting smoking, in a part of the country where smoking rates among Māori are high.
Mrs McCausland says the service provides a family first approach - meaning services fit the family and not the whānau having to fit the services.
SMOKE-PUNOHU-TP
IN:........MANY OF THE WHANAU...
OUT:....OUR WHANAU ARE SAYING.
DUR:...20"
Punohu McCausland of the Midland Iwi Relationship Board.
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The body overseeing the fishing quota owned by Māori is poised to advise iwi on the implications of the ministerial inquiry into the use of foreign charter vessels.
Te Ohu Kaimoana says it's likely to support the Government's decision to accept the first six of the fifteen recommendations put forward by the ministerial panel.
They include updating the code of practice, strengthening the immigration approval process and placing an observer aboard all foreign charter vessels.
The Chief Executive of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Peter Douglas, says they need more time to assess the other recommendations in the 130-page report.
One suggestion is to ensure all fishing crews are subject to New Zealand employment law.
The reports authors warns such a significant policy change may well have an impact on the economics of fishing.
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The winning Māori cultural group at last year's Polyfest will be opening the biggest celebration of Pacific culture in Auckland in a week's time at Western Springs Park.
The event organiser, Ole Maiava, says the Western Springs College kapa haka group won the Māori stage at last year's ASB Polyfest - and their passion and energy will set the tone for the big two day event.
He says Western Springs Park will be transformed into ten Pacific villages from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue, Tahiti, Kiribati kiri-buhss Tuvalu and Aotearoa - and all will offer food, dance, music and art.
That's Te Manu Korihi news I'll have a final bulletin in an hour.
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Iranians go to the polls tonight to elect a new Parliament. It's the first vote since the violent crackdown on protests following the disputed presidential election of 2009. The BBC's Iran correspondent James Reynolds was denied a visa to travel there to cover the vote, so he reports now from London : PKG
The Black Caps are being warned that Jesse Ryder's drinking antics are damaging their reputation. The international cricketer and his team mate Doug Bracewell have been punished for going out drinking and arguing with patrons in a bar following their loss to South Africa in Napier on Wednesday. Amelia Langford reports. PKG
A Wellington central city bar owner says the council's proposed hike in the cost of parking is outrageous and could put off customers . An increase in the cost of parking is just one of a raft of rising fees which the Wellington City Council is proposing to introduce to meet its own rising costs. Kate Gudsell spoke to some people parking in the city. PKG