In Papua New Guinea all rescue teams have been pulled out of the lagoon area where three deadly tsunamis hit last week. Only about a third of the villagers from the coast where the tsunamis hit have been found alive but many survivors are believed to have fled to the hills. About 15 hundred people are confirmed dead. IV WITH Andrew Sterns from the Emergency Controller's Office
In Japan - voting began a few minutes ago to select a new Prime Minister to replace Ryutaro Hashimoto, who resigned after his party's disastrous result in this month's Upper House elections. There are three candidates for the job of leading the world's second-largest economy out of its worst recession in 50 years. Tokyo's financial markets are said to be on red alert for the result - IV WITH Pelham Smithers from sharebrokers ING Baring in Tokyo
[illegible] BUSINESS HEADLINE
New Zealand has experienced its worst trade balance in 13 years. For the month of June the deficit was 15 million dollars, at a time of the year normally noted for substantial trade surpluses.
For the year as a whole the deficit was one billion dollars, which economists say doesn't augur well for the current account deficit.
Economic correspondent Bronwen Evans Big job losses have been announced at Telecom.
Six hundred jobs are to go after Telecom decided to contract out operator services. The decision will affect staff working in emergency services, directory and tolls assistance in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. A firm called SITEL Asia Pacific will now provide the services for Telecom, and says customers shouldn't notice any change.
But what about the 600 losing their jobs - I'm joined now by Engineers Union spokesman Mark Brownsie.
Tenants of the country's second largest landlord are threatening a rent strike. Willington City Council is planning a ten percent rise in council flat rents and will use the money to hold down rates.
The council met today to confirm the increase, provoking a tenants protest - our reporter Karen Gregory-Hunt was there.
1730 HEADLINES
Back to our lead story, the Papua New Guinea tsunami. Exhausted doctors have been working 24 hours a day at a tent hospital in the town of Vanimo, 70 kilometres north of Sissano treating the injured. IV WITH Our reporter Bruce Hill
The campaign to get the Government to hold a referendum on health spending has been SCRAPPED. One of the organisers, former Auditor-General Brian Tyler says they were relying on voluntary groups to help collect the 300,000 signatures needed by December. But, Mr Tyler says, these groups have been unable to do this because of heavy demands on their staff and financial resources. LIVE IV WITH Brian Tyler
New Zealanders' rights to catch a feed of fish from the ocean have been fiercely debated at a forum in Hamilton today, with proposals for a licence being thrown out. The Recreational Fishing Council annual meeting attracted a high-powered shoal of politicians, including the Fisheries Minister John Luxton, the Māori Affairs Minister Tau Henare, ACT MP Owen Jennings, Labour's Fisheries spokesperson Jim Sutton and United Leader Peter Dunne. All announced they wouldn't support licencing - a stand likely to win approval from the million New Zealanders said to go fishing every year. Our reporter Tama Muru is at the meeting - IV
1745 SPORTS
Yesterday's test firing of a medium range missile by Iran has led to renewed security concerns in the Middle East. But the Americans say the missile was of North Korean design, indicating the continuing sale of high tech weapons to the Middle East by North Korea. It also focusses attention on flagging efforts to curb nuclear risks on the Korean peninsula. PKGE FROM Eric Frykberg
1750 MANA NEWS
A New Zealand play which has wowed audiences here for the past four years is now heading for the world stage. Skin Tight premiered in Wellington in 1994 and is based on Denis Glover's poem, The Magpies. The play returned this week to Christchurch for a last kiwi fling before heading to the Edinburgh fringe festival - Lauren McKenzie was at opening night PKGE