LOCKOUT: The scene is now set for a protracted and bitter Cook Strait ferry dispute after New Zealand Rail today issued notice for a lock-out. Stephen Parker
MAHAREY: Labour's industrial relations spokesperson, Steve Maharey, is condemning the attitude of New Zealand Rail employers in the ferries dispute. Janice Rodenburg i/v Steve Maharey - Labour's industrial relations spokesperson
ANDERTON: Alliance leader Jim Anderton wants to see the government step in to the ferries dispute. Jim Anderton
LADLEY LIVER: Final results from South Africa's first all-race elections are expected in a few hours after a marathon vote count. Andrew Ladley
HEADS:
TODAY IN AUSTRALIA:
PENNING: It's been reported that a former head of a white supremacist South [illegible] group has immigrated to New Zealand. Ralph Penning - chairman of the charitable trust "South Africans in NZ"
FISCAL FILLIP: Figures released today show the government's on track to achieve a surplus at the end of the financial year. David Jones
PHARMAC-DRUG: The RHA's drug management agency Pharmac is concerned about over-enthusiasm for a new asthma drug "Serevent". Paula des Tombe
SPORTS:
NEWS:
BOUGAINVILLE: International attempts to resolve the Bougainville crisis have taken a new twist this week with a dramatic appeal for peace by leading Papua New Guinea opposition MP Joseph Onguglo. Jonathan Schwass
FRANGLAIS: It's ironic that on the eve of the official opening of the tunnel under the Channel, linking France and Britain the French National Assembly passed a controversial bill that aims to preserve the purity of the French [illegible] against an onslaught of English. Janice Aplin
BUSINESS NEWS:
NEWS:
CORAL: The coral bleaching in the Tahiti lagoon is the latest evidence that something is very wrong with the earth's coral reefs. Judy Lessing
LESSING PRE RECORD: To follow coral story - Judy Lessing from the small Island conference in Babados
WORLD UPDATE:
MANA NEWS:
FINAL HEADS: