Ask to use material, get more information or tell us about an item
0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY MINIMUM WAGES increased for adult and youths, govt will also review youth pay rates next year. Trade Union Fedn and Council of Trade Unions say they'll puah for age of eligibility for minimum wage lowered from 20 to 18 and higher rates for those aged 16 to 18, but employers and Opposition predict higher costs and fewer youth jobs if govt heeds the unions. Comment from CTU president Ross Wilson, Green Party MP Sue Bradford, Employers' Fedn's Anne Knowles, supermarket manager Ivan Jones and Graeme McCann, PPTA. (Catherine Harris) BALANCE OF PAYMENTS due to be released today. Current account figures for September quarter widely topped to show country's overall trading position is deteriorating. National Bank's chief economist Brendan O'Donovan explains what balance of payments really means - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) illegible RURAL NEWS PPCS - MEATWORKERS from canty sheep and lamb processing plant given reprieve from redundancies. National Meatworkers' Union secretary Tiny Kirk says company has sent workers a letter saying there will be no immediate job losses, and after Christmas break a second chain will be brought in according to stock availability, (Rory Newsam) SHAREMILKERS advised not to rush into new contracts for next season. Fed Farmers' sharemilkers chair Michael Pallesen says with mega merger negotiations takingp lace, no-one knows what payment structures will be in place when new contracts take effect. (Kevin Ikin) OTAGO/SOUTHLAND FLOODING - govt increases funding for Task Force Green workers to help with clean-up and repair work in areas swept by floods earlier this month. (Kevin Ikin) FEDERATED FARMERS increasingly seeing itself as rural lobbying organisation of future as it expands its membership and changes its structures. Fedn and other organisatgions such as Vegetable Growers' Fedn promoting idea of umbrella organisation to unite rural interests and represent them on wide range of issues. Fed Farmers' chief exec Tony St Clair feels way organisation is widening its memberhsip, it could be body best place to take on that expanded illegible in future. (Kevin Ikin) ORGANIC FERTILISER - Ravensdown joins growing move to organic production. Number of farmers seeking Bio-gro organic certification has more than doubled to 700 in past 18 months. Chief exec Rodney Green says it has responded to those farmers' needs by releasing 7 organically certified fertilisers. (Kevin Ikin)
0625 SPORTS CRICKET - NZ scores first test win over West Indies since 1987, win first test in Hamilton by 9 wickets. I/v with commentator Martin Crowe. (Mng Rpt)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY: VENEZUELA - FLOODS - huge rescue operation underway after floods and mudslides devastate large part of Caribbean coast. President calls on Venezuelans to open their homes and take in some of the 150,000 people left homeless. (BBC) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA Māori TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS CARTER HOLT HARVEY hoping to find new acquisitions in Asia and Australasia now it's finally got out of its troublesome Chilean joint venture. Chief exec Chris Liddell says end of dispute with Angelini group over control of Copec will open new doors. (Helen Matterson) PHONE FREQUENCIES -govt further delays planned auction of 2-gigahertz mobile phone frequencies. Commerce minister Paul Swain says he has concerns about competition in telecomms sector and he wants to look further into those before deciding on any new auction. (Gyles Beckford) UNITED NETWORKS looks like having best of both worlds with sale of controlling stake in Eastern Bay of Plenty lines company Horizon. Local consumer trust has bought United's shares for neawrly $27.5 million and paid it a further $5.2 million for ending agreement between them. United given pre-emptive rights to buy all Trust's Horizon investment and also first refusal to buy Horizon's assets if it decides to sell. (Gyles Beckford) FINANCE/MARKETS AIR NEW ZEALAND and US alliance partner United Airlines file for immunity from American anti-trust laws. Air NZ spokesman Alistair Carthew says immunity will help strengthen Star alliance of which both are members. (Gyles Beckford) VIRGIN AIRLINE - Richard Branson to sell off half his airline in 600 million pound deal under which Singapore Atlantic will acquire 49% of Virgin and Mr Branson will invest in Singapore Airlines. (Helen Matterson) illegible GOLD - GUINNESS PEAT GROUP closely watching events following resignation of its chief exec Tony Radford who was earlier forced to step down as chair. (Gyles Beckford) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS MINIMUM WAGES - Opposition warns govt's decison to increase minimum ages may cost jobs. Comment from ACT leader Richard Prebble; Trade Union Fedn secretary Michael Gilchrist says not all businesses would be adversely affected; Opposition Labour spokesman Max Bradford says tampering with youth rates will have disastrous effect on youth employment - i/ved live; Youth Affairs ministry and Labour Dept wil report back to cabinet by end of February on options to improve youth minimum wage. Live i/v with Labour minister Margaret Wilson. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS - today's figures for 3 months to September expected to show worsening if overall trading position, although GDP figures due out later in week expected to show economy starting to grow strongly. Live i/v with Business editor Gyles Beckford. CRICKET - NZ team celebrates historic 9 wicket test match win over West Indies. Comment from bowler Chris Cairns, Windies captain Brian Lara. I/v with player illegible McMillan. (Mng Rpt) RUSSIA - DUMA ELECTION - PM Vladimir Putin emerges as big winner from electon. Unity Party, backed by him and President Yetsin, breaks Communist Party's clear majority in Duma for first time and boosts Mr Putin's hopes of becoming president. Live i/v with correspondent Owen Fay.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Jonathan Hunt promises firm but fair rule over MPs. Mr Hunt has taken on the position he's wanted for 2 decades of his 33 year political career - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) VICTORIA UNIVERSITY Vice-Chancellor Michael Irving resigns after only 20 months in job and after months of simmering discontent among university staff. Univ council tightlipped about reasons for Prof Irving's departure. Live i/v with Education correspondent Gael Woods. ROAD CRASH CASE- John Donderwinkle, man at centre of fatal road crash blamed on police, considering legal action. Mr Donderwinkle was charged with careless driving causing death after he swerved to avoid hitting police officer who'd stopped car on SH1 in Waikato, ploughed into another car and killed the driver. He was acquitted on all charges by District Court 16 months ago and Cambridge coroner Jocelyn Cooney has now ruled police are to blame for the accident, saying it would not have happened had the officer not stopped the other car where he did and in the manner he did. Live i/v with Mr Donderwinkle. AUCKLAND TOURISM - predictions of boom on back of Americas Cup appear to be coming true. Tourism Auckland's latest quarterly figures show 17.7% increase in number of nights visitors spend in region of same period last year., (Eileen Cameron)
0800 NEWS/WEATHER MINIMUM WAGES - govt to complete urgent review of youth rate of pay by end of Feburary, has already agreed to new minimum wage for full-time workers aged 20 and over of $7.55 an hour and increased youth rate to $4.55. Live i/v with deputy chief exec of Employers' Fedn, Anne Knowles; supermarkets and fast food outlets, which employ large numbers of people on youth rates and lower end of wage scale, most likely to be affected by rise in wages. New World supermarket owner Gary Baker says he already pays his staff above minimum wage but might have to raise wages to be competitive and that could ultimately have flow-on effect to customers - i/ved live. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS - expected that deficit for year ended September will reach $6.8 billion, about $500 million up on previous deficit. Annual deficit running at more than 6% of value of economy, high level tipped to see NZ facing credit illegible by international rating agencies. (Paul Diamond); live i/v with NZIER director Alex Sundakov. SWEARING IN - MP Tariana Turia attempts to add pledge of allegiance to Treaty of Waitangi, has to repeat oath of affirmation without mention of the Treaty. Mrs Turia says right to govern granted by Treaty and she's like to see refernce to it included in oath taken by all MPs - i/ved live. QUEENSTOWN - FLOOD PROTECTION - community urged to put pressure on local district council to improve flood protection in area if it wants continued insurance cover against floods. Insurance Council of NZ says latest flood has cost insurance comapnies over $50 million in flood damage claims. But District Council puts onus back on businesses, says it may tighten its resource consent regulations for premises near lake front so that flood-prone businesses use specific building materials. Live i/v with Insurance Council chief exec Chris Ryan and Queenstown District mayor Warren Cooper. TRAFFIC REPORT
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS HOLIDAY HOT SPOTS - planning well underway by local authorities and police to ensure New Year celebrations are safe in holiday centres around country. Ban on alcohol and holding of organised events being used to try and minimise illegible. (Luke Henshall) MINIMUM WAGES - Opposition MP Max Bradford says reducing age of eligibility for minimum wage could frustrate chances of young people finding work. Live i/v with CTU president Ross Wilson re unions' view. VENEZUELA - FLOODS - NZ film crew caught in middle of devastation following massive storms that swamped country. Natural History NZ crew filming 2 nature documentaries, say situation is dire and they are struggling to protect valuable film equipment. Live i/v wit managing director of Natural History NZ, Michael Stedman. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS CHRISTCHURCH - CATHEDRAL SQUARE officially re-opens today after major spruce-up. Reporter John MacDonald looks at the history of the Square, includes comment from mayor Garry Moore. HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - 7 astronauts aboard space shuttle Disccovery due to meet up with telescope more than 500 kms above Earth tomorrow. It's struggled from mechanical failure since November and astronauts due to conduct repairs and upgrade some hardware. Live i/v with NASA spokesperson Joel Wells.