NEWS AND WEATHER
One man is missing, homes and schools have been evacuated, roads cut and a state of civil emergency declared on the Kapiti Coast after torrential rain deluged the lower North Island and South Island's West Coast. Another state of emergency around Karamea on the West Coast was lifted a short time ago, but flooding is also causing problems in Lower Hutt, Wairarapa and Taranaki. Huge quantities of rain have fallen - over half a metre in the Tararua Ranges, which feeds the Hutt, Otaki and Waikanae Rivers, and even more is forecast.
For many areas, it's the second flood in a week and the storm is sweeping north. We'll be looking at all affected regions - the worst as we go to air is Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast. There, a man's missing, feared swept away, 40 [illegible] have been evacuated and frantic efforts have been going on through the afternoon to save houses threatened by floodwaters eating away the ground they stand on. Joining me now from the scene is our reporter Melita Tull. LIVE IV
For the latest on the region's emergency, I'm joined by Kapiti's Civil Defence Controller, Fergus Power. LIVE IV
In the Hutt Valley, the Hutt River has been running about five metres above normal, blocking roads, flooding homes and businesses and forcing some schools to be evacuated The Hutt Golf Club is underwater - the General Manager Paddy Wells describes the scene. AUDIO CUT
Joining me now from the banks of the Hutt River is our reporter Eric Frykberg. LIVE IV
The state of emergency was lifted this afternoon in the Buller District on the West Coast. At the height of the emergency, more than 200 people were evacuated from the townships of Karamea, Seddonille and Mohikinui. Many farms in the district are still underwater - our reporter Helen Shea has been out [illegible] the damage. LIVE IV WITH DROPIN
Late this afternoon Buller civil defense asked for the army to be brought in to help in the cleanup. Tom Finnimore is the National Operations Manager for the Ministry of Civil Defense - he joins me now. LIVE IV
The Minister of Justice Doug Graham has asked for a second legal opinion on the decision to decline compensation for David Dougherty. After spending three years in jail, Mr Dougherty was freed when a retrial found him not guilty of abducting and raping an 11-year-old girl in 1992. Doug Graham says the question of compensation was very carefully considered and he does not believe the criteria for payment have been met. But he's asked for a second opinion from an independent Queens Counsel. Mr Graham declined to appear on Checkpoint - but joining me now is David Dougherty's lawyer, Murray Gibson. LIVE IV
1715 BUSINESS HEADLINE
The political party being formed by the Māori Affairs Minister, Tau Henare, will be launched in an hour-and-a-half. The party is being launched at the Lakeside Convention centre in South Auckland, at a paid dinner which organisers expect will attract 600 people. Our Māori Issues Correspondent Chris Wikaira is in Auckland for the launch and joins us now LIVE IV WITH DROPINS
1730 HEADLINES
Back to our lead story - and the flooding affecting the lower North Island and South Island's West Coast. A state of emergency exists on the Kapiti Coast around Waikanae - flooding is also causing problems in the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa. Further north, Taranaki is cut off from the north by a big slip in the Awakino Gorge - the weather has also flooded farms and forced schools to be evacuated. Mokau School evacutated pupils as the Mokau and Awakino Rivers rose - principal Carmel Hoetawai says it's the first time rain's forced them to evacuate. AUDIO CUT
Meanwhile, Awakino farmer Angela Hammond fears the second heavy rain within a week could cause river banks to break and bring down slips to isolate Awakino [illegible] further. AUDIO CUT
Joining me now is New Plymouth's Civil Defence Duty manager Bev Raine. LIVE IV
Earlier today there were concerns about the rising Ruamahanga river in the Wairarapa. Joining me now is the Southern Wairarapa Civil Defence Manager, Bill Gibson. LIVE IV
How much longer is the deluge going to last - and how much rain has still to fall? Joining me now is weather forecaster Mark McNaught from the Weather Workshop. LIVE IV
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is in the country on his first state visit since Fiji earlier this year implemented a racially balanced constitution, replacing an earlier document which favoured indigenous Fijians over Indo-Fijians. Eleven years ago Rabuka staged the first of two military coups, ousting the government at the point of a gun. Once villified as a rascist dictator, General Rabuka has over the past few years gained a measure of political respectability. I asked him about next years elections and [illegible] his government has done enough to educate the Fijian electorate on the new constitution. IV
The controversial Māori trout fishing case was today heard by a full bench of five Court of Appeal Judges. Kirk McRitchie is appealing against a High Court ruling that he did not have a customary Māori fishing right to catch trout without a licence. Mr McRitchie's appeal is vigorously opposed by the Taranaki Fish and Game Council which maintains that Māori fishing rights NEVER extended to trout, an introduced sporting fish. Our Court reporter Merle Nowland has been listening to the day's arguement. LIVE IV
SPORTS
Eric Rush, the man who lead New Zealand's rugby sevens to victory at the Commonwealth Games, today admitted in court to causing a motorist's death. In the Pukekohe District Court, Rush pleaded guilty to three of five driving charges relating to a fatal car accident in August. The car Rush was driving hit another at Mangatawhiri, south of Auckland, killing Brendan Malcolm and injuring two others. Our reporter Mary-Jane Aggett was at court today - I asked her what happened. LIVE IV
1750 MANA NEWS
Police and Māori have begun talks which could eventually see the Crown acknowledge the wrongful arrest of a controversial Māori leader 82 years ago. The Tuhoe Prophet Rua Kenana was jailed after he was convicted in 1916 of treason, selling alcohol and resisting arrest. Last week, some of Rua's descendants met police in Waimana in the Bay of Plenty, to discuss the gunpoint arrest, in which his son was killed and daughter raped. PKGE EX Paul Diamond
1800 NEWS