Checkpoint. 2007-05-28

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Year
2007
Reference
35554
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
2007
Reference
35554
Media type
Audio
Item unavailable online
Duration
01:00:00
Credits
RNZ Collection

**** CKPT FOR MON 28 MAY ******************************
1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The State coal mining company Solid Energy has been told to stop using paid spies to infiltrate a protest group but the company is refusing to say publicly whether it will obey. The State-owned Enterprises Minister Trevor Mallard says he has met Solid Energy's acting chairman and told him using a paid informant is not acceptable for an SOE. CUT
Neither the acting chairman nor the chief executive would be interviewed but a spokeswoman told us the company had said enough.
Frances Mountier is a spokesperson for the Save Happy Valley Coalition LIVE

The Police have revealed they won't be investigating claims of police corruption, violence and intimidation in Dunedin and Christchurch. Investigate magazine published the allegations two weeks ago, including details of rape and harrassment by officers in the 1980s and 90s. And it accused the Police Commissioner Howard Broad of screening a bestiality film as a young police officer in Dunedin - a claim Howard Broad denies. Our police reporter Kathryn Jones joins us now. LIVE

The country's first private radiotherapy centre is to be built in Auckland by MercyAscot and Southern Cross Hospitals.The owners of the joint venture say the facility will complement the public system and could help reduce waiting lists. Monique Devereux filed this report. PKG
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BUSINESS NEWS
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The Finance Minister Michael Cullen is admitting the obvious - that the Labour Party is trailing National in the polls - but says it's a long way from throwing in the towel.Last night's One News Colmar Brunton poll had Labour on just 31 percent, well behind National which recorded 56 percent support. Other polls have also had National well ahead.Dr Cullens says a range of factors are behind Labour's poor showing. CUT And he says most voters aren't considering seriously what an alternative National-led Government would look like. CUT
But he thinks the Government's workplace savings scheme KiwiSaver could help reverse Labour's poor fortunes.The seven-and-a-half million dollar advertising campaign for KiwiSaver starts tonight. Dr Cullen says the advertising campaign is not about promoting the Government. CUT
Our political editor Brent Edwards has been following the issue and joins me now. LIVE

The President of the Philippines is defending her country's attempts to turn around its record on human rights, after her arrival in Wellington today was greeted with protest. President Gloria Arroyo will hold talks with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and travel to Waitangi tomorrow for an Interfaith Dialogue meeting.While she was inside Parliament holding a media conference, a small group staged a protest outside to draw attention to the high number of political killings in the Philippines.Here's our parliamentary chief reporter Clare Pasley. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The former captain of a Bluebridge ferry which came within a hundred metres of hitting rocks near the entrance to Tory Channel has escaped conviction over his operation of the Santa Regina. Maritime New Zealand laid two charges of operating a vessel in a manner which caused unnecessary danger to people or property against David Birchall following the June 2005 sailing.They also charged him with failing to notify them of the incident in a timely fashion. Judge John Walker delivered his reserved decision today and our Court reporter Ann Marie May joins us now. LIVE

More than 300 defence force civilian staff throughout the country rallied at lunchtime in protest at a zero percent pay rise offer.The Defence Force says it can't boost salaries this year due to financial constraints, but says its civilian personnel are already well rewarded in comparison to the rest of the private sector.The Defence Force also denies accusations by the PSA, which represents more than 800 civilian staff, that its trying to persuade staff to go onto individual contracts.Joining us now is the PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff LIVE

A study has identified four genes that may increase the risk of women developing breast cancer.Scientists say it's too early to screen women for the genes, but they hope that this latest finding will take them further down the track to determine what role genetics play in causing cancer.The ABC's Gavin Fang reports PKG

An award winning baker is defending the kiwi staple - the pie. The Green Party's third survey of school tuckshops has found that the majority are still selling pies, sausage rolls and other sugary fatty food.It says the results are disappointing, and this sort of food shouldn't be sold in schools considering the childhood obesity problems in New Zealand.But Jason Heaven of Heaven Bakery in Hawkes Bay, says it's the change in lifestyle that's the problem, not the pies.He joins me now, along with the Green MP Sue Kedgley LIVE

Genetically-modified broccoli, cabbages and cauliflower could be sprouting up in Canterbury in the next six months, despite overwhelming opposition.Critics say the technology is bad because the plants will also kill non-pest insects such a bees. A public hearing held in Christchurch last month to consider the field test application attracted almost a thousand submissions, with the vast majority opposed to the plans.The Environmental Risk Management Authority has given the crop the all clear. Its General Manager New Organisms - Libby Harrison - says the authority did listen to the opponents and imposed stricter controls on the trial. PREREC
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WAATEA
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It was an event that shocked New Zealand - 257 people killed when an Air New Zealand tourist flight crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica in 1979.As the rest of the country mourned, several hundred people were quietly working to identify the victims. Today in Auckland, 94 Special Service medals were awarded to mark their efforts. Amanda Strong was there, and filed this report. PKG
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