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HEADLINES & NEWS
The Government's using its election year budget to seek to portray itself as a prudent economic manager, that has earned a second term in office. The Finance Minister Michael Cullen told Parliament it's not a traditional election-year lolly scramble to buy votes, but an attempt to meet high standards of economic management. Our Parliamentary Chief Reporter Kathryn Street filed this report on the afternoon so far in the House. PKGE
Michael Cullen warned his budget would be boring. He's also describing it as a conservative document that builds for the future with investment in skills and innovation. PREREC
I [illegible] the National Party leader Bill English for his response to the budget. PREREC
With me now is our economics correspondent, Brent Edwards. LIVE
Students will get another year of relief from rising course fees as a result of a funding offer in the Budget. The deal is part of a 400 million dollar package for tertiary education which will see the Government putting money into courses it thinks are important and refusing funding to those it doesn't rate. The Government will also be putting a cap on the level of fees tertiary institutions can charge students. Joining me now is the co-president of the New Zealand University Students' Association, Andrew Campbell. LIVE
We're joined now by our political editor, Al Morrison. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
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SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
Frustration among teachers over their proposed pay settlement is continuing to spread. The wildcat action has now moved to the South Island where teachers at Queen Charlotte College in Picton have voted to walk off the job tomorrow. More than 20 schools have already gone on strike or are planning action against the deal the teachers' union, the PPTA, reached with the government last week. Sarah Azam has been following developments. PKGE
Police in Washington have confirmed that they've found the body of Chandra Levy, a 24-year-old woman who disappeared last year. The case has prompted intense media interest because of Miss Levy's links to the Californian congressman, Gary Condit. Police said her skeletal remains were found in a heavily wooded area of Rock Creek Park, where Miss Levy was known to jog. I asked our Washington correspondent Vicky Ford how the body was found. PREREC WITH DROPINS
The Crown has failed to get the Court of Appeal to increase the sentence of the self-confessed ring-leader in the Taradale High School broomstick sex attack case. The Court says it will not change the two-and-a-half-year jail term imposed on Andrew Castles, although it agreed with the Crown that the usual sentence for sexual violation with an object would be heavier. Castles was sentenced after admitting his part in the late night attack on a sleeping fellow seventh former by seven classmates at a party in October. Our Court Reporter Merle Nowland has been looking at the decision and joins me now. LIVE
At least ten people, including a number of primary school children, have been taken to hospital after a van carrying children, and another vehicle, collided in central Dunedin this afternoon. The accident happened soon after school got out at three o'clock, near the corner of London and Stuart Streets, and roads have been closed while the police investigate. We're joined by our reporter in Dunedin, Maureen Lloyd. LIVE
The Tourism industry is ecstatic at news that spending by international visitors to New Zealand is up by thirteen per cent - an increase of over six hundred million dollars.
Tourism New Zealand's international visitor survey figures for the year ending in March, and new trade research results were released at a trade show in [illegible] Anna-Louise Taylor was there and compiled this report. PKGE
The Ministry of the Environment is to begin testing for dioxin in the soil of the New Plymouth suburbs of Paritutu and Moturoa next Monday. Residents have for years complained about contamination from the Dow Agrosciences plant which has been making pesticides since the 1960s. They claim they've suffered from multiple scelerosis, cancer, diabetes and birth defects as a result. The plant was the last in the world to make 245T and also made the ingredients for Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Joining me now is Simon Buckland who is a policy analyst with the Ministry for the Environment which is overseeing the testing. LIVE
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