Ask to use material, get more information or tell us about an item
**** CKPT FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 18 *******
****************************
1700 to 1707 NEWS
*******************************
The Northland woman who has gone into hiding with an orphaned baby has told Radio New Zealand she is the boy's nana and won't give him up to relatives he barely knows. The ten-month-old child was left without parents last week, when his mother, Reipae Dobson was stabbed to death, in Whangarei. Her ex-boyfriend, who police believe killed Ms Dobson was found dead in the garage. The baby's great -uncle was granted interim custody after a protracted family meeting failed to agree on who should have the child. But Emily O'Sullivan took the child away and police have warned her she could be prosecuted. Our Northland reporter Lois Williams tracked down Ms O'Sullivan. Lois joins us now. LIVE
Forest owners are furious they may face a tax of 13-thousand dollars a hectare - for turning forests into agricultural land. The planned proposed levy is part of the Government's drive to curb greenhouse gas emissions under its climate change proposals. But National says the options for slowing the rate at which forestry land is being cleared are 'disastrous'. More from our political reporter, Jane Patterson. PKG
As you heard, the foresters claims they're wearing all the penalties for climate change while the farmers are being let off because controlling emissions from agriculture is considered too hard. What's the reaction to that - Federated Farmers spokesperson for climate change is Frank Brenmuhl. He's with us now. LIVE
Swimmers are being told to stay out of the Pohangina River in the Manawatu - where three children were killed in a cliff collapse. 10-year-old Callum Langley, his 8-year-old sister Keryn, and their 13-year-old friend Michael Liengme [LIAM] died after the slip on Friday. Warning signs and fencing will be put up at the Totara Reserve Regional Park from tomorrow. Bryan Gibson reports from Palmerston North. PKG
Large areas of Rotorua are under water, with recent heavy rain in the area causing flooding this afternoon. The police say some parts of the Pukehangi area are KNEE deep in water. Senior segeant dennis murphy joins us now with the latest LIVE
****************************
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
************************
Workers on the lowest wages have received a boost today with the announcement the adult minimum wage is to go up by a dollar an hour from April, taking it to 11 dollars and 25 cents. The Government has also announced the minimum youth rate will rise from 8 dollars 20 cents an hour to 9 dollars, keeping it at 80 percent of the adult rate. This year's increase of almost 10 percent, is the largest by the Labour led government since it came into office in 1999. The Labour Minister Ruth Dyson says the wage boost will ensure lower paid workers share the benefits of economic growth. Joining us now are Carole Beaumont, the secretary of the Council of Trade Unions and Peter Townsend, Chief Executive of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce LIVE
**********************************
1730 HEADLINES
**************************
SPORTS NEWS WITH Richard Dwain
**************************
Air New Zealand's announced three new direct routes that it'll be running within 12 months. The new services will be flown by the airline's new planes, and will mean new jobs. And it seems none are happier than the people of Tauranga. Monique Devereux reports. PKG
A paramedic in Wairoa says people's lives will be put at risk if St John goes ahead with plans to cut ambulance services in the district. Adrienne Andresen joined more than a hundred people who marched in the rain to protest at restructuring which would mean only one ambulance in the district being on call day and night, seven days a week. From Hawke's Bay, Heugh Chappell reports. PKG
New Zealand's cricketers are now psyching themselves up for Twenty-20 games and one-dayers - after DRAWING the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The tourists won the second and final Test by 217 runs at the Basin Reserve in Wellington this afternoon. Former New Zealand medium-pace bowler Gavin Larsen joins us to reflect on the series. LIVE
********************************
WAATEA NEWS WITH ERU REREKURA
********************************
A review has begun today into why 11 New Zealand firefighters were injured in the Australian state of Victoria on Saturday. The firefighters sought refuge in a ditch when they were caught out by flames between a spot fire and the main blaze near Mansfield on Saturday. Seven of the injured firefighters are back at work today, while three remain in hospital with serious burns. A joint review between the New Zealand Rural Fire Authority and Victoria's Country Fire Authority and Department of Sustainability and Environment began today and will be completed by the end of December. Victoria's emergency services commissioner, Bruce Esplin announced the review today. He joins us now LIVE
Residents of the Tasmanian coastal town of Bicheno (BIH-cheh-NO) are on alert today as a bushfire rages to their north. With hot temperatures and strong winds forecast for this afternoon, firefighters fear the blaze which swept through the towns of Scamander and St Mary's last week, could jump a major access road and burn through a neighbouring National Park. A community meeting was held yesterday, and a letterbox drop has warned residents of homes on the coast between Bicheno (BIH-cheh-NO) and Elephant Pass to decide whether to activate their fire plans or to relocate. We're joined by Donna Stanley, a resident of Bicheno (BIH-cheh-NO) and a member of the area's fire incident management team LIVE
"A sad lasting memory of this country" is how police describe the rape of a tourist at a remote scenic spot near Raglan. It today emerged a 43 year old German woman was attacked on a walkway in Te Toko Gorge lookout reserve between Raglan and Ruapuke on Friday afternoon. Andrew McRae reports. PKG
In Suffolk in eastern England, some five hundred police officers are now working to build up a picture of the last movements of five women who've been murdered in the town of Ipswich. All five were prostitutes. There's been a huge public response to appeals for help. All five women were found naked -- the police say finding their clothes is a priority. The BBCs Michael Buchanan, has spent the day in Ipswich: PKG
*********************************