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CKPT FOR MON 30 JULY 2007
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Auckland's local government could be in line for a shake-up - but not at the hands of voters. In the last hour the Government's announced a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the governance of Auckland. In the meantime the Auckland Regional Council will be strengthened to take on extra responsibilities such as tourism promotion and economic development. And while it won't affect October's local government elections, it could mean fewer mayors, councillors and council staff in future. One the line now is the Minister of Local Government - Mark Burton. LIVE
Auckland's mayor Dick Hubbard has been a vocal supporter of moving Auckland towards a simplified "super-city" structure - he joins us now. LIVE
Former terrorist suspect Doctor Mohamed Haneef says he was "victimised" by authorities during his time in custody in Australia. He's now back in his home town of Bangalore in India. But before he left Australia, he gave a paid interview to the Nine tv network. Doctor Haneef says he never had anything to do with terrorism and would like to return to Australia some day. His lawyers plan a court battle to have their clients' visa re-instated so he can return to Australia to work. From Canberra, here's the ABC's Alexandra Kirk : PKG
Three men and a woman have appeared before a judge at the Rotorua District Court, charged with assaulting a three-year-old girl. Nia Marie Glassie remains in Auckland's Starship Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Our Bay of Plenty reporter Matthew Farrell was in court and he joins us now. LIVE
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BUSINESS NEWS
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Investors are breathing a sigh of relief after the local sharemarket showed its resilience against problems in the US. The NZX 50 index has seen only modest losses on a day when some market watchers were expecting much more fallout from the Dow Jones index fall of four and a half percent last week, it's biggest weekly fall since 2003. To discuss this I'm joined by our business reporter Baden Campbell. LIVE
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The new British prime minister Gordon Brown has touched down on U.S. soil for his first talks with President George Bush. On arrival at Camp David, Mr Brown was immediately whisked away by his host for a private dinner. The BBC's Duncan Kennedy reports PKG
The trial of a would-be police officer has begun in the Christchurch District Court. The man, who has name suppression, is accused of raping a prostitute in 2003 but was arrested two years later when he was at Police College. Christchurch reporter Monique Devereux has been in court this afternoon.....and joins us now LIVE
A Green Party MP's attempt to give workers the legal right to ask for more flexible working arrangements has won the support of a parliamentary select committee.The Transport and Industrial Relations Committee has issued its report today on Sue Kedgley's Employment Relations Flexible Working Hours Bill. The Committee is recommending the member's bill be passed with some changes. Here's our parliamentary chief reporter Clare Pasley. PKG
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WAATEA NEWS
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A prominent Hawke's Bay farm is defending its right to cut down hundreds of hectares of native trees in the face of a challenge from the Department of Conservation. DOC has gone to the Environment Court to appeal a Wairoa District Council decision, to give resource consent for 350 hectares of kanuka on Waikatea station to be felled. Heugh Chappell reports PKG
A man who Police describe as a 'predator' targeting cars at tourist spots, has been jailed for 2 years 9 months at Christchurch District Court. Marek Wrobel (ma-wreck row-bell) had just been released from jail for a similar offending spree when he stole from cars in Nelson, Banks Peninsula and Kaikoura over the Christmas period. The officer in charge of the case Detective John Nicholls says Wrobel operated at night and targeted the vulnerable. PREREC
Opponents of a planned multi-storey hotel on a unique part of Wellington's waterfront have likened it to the Ritz - saying the proposed building will only be open to those who can pay. The comments come on the first day of an appeal hearing against the Hilton hotel which was granted resource consent by the Greater Wellington Regional Council last year. Kathryn Jones has been at the hearing at the Environment Court in Wellington, and joins us now. LIVE
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