HEADLINES & NEWS
The Environment and Customs Ministers, Marian Hobbs and Phillida Bunkle, have been cleared of any wrongdoing in their claims for accommodation allowances. The two senior MPs have been the subject of a Parliamentary Service investigation into whether they should have received out-of-town allowances while signed up to the Wellington electoral role. Registering as a Wellington voter meant they had declared the Capital to be their place of residence. However, the Service, on the advice of the Higher Salaries Commission, has found they were within their rights to claim the allowances because they maintained homes outside the capital. That may not be the case in the future - the Commission says it will review the situation and may stop members doing the [illegible] thing again. Both Ministers say they'd welcome any clarification of the rules, but right now, they feel vindicated by the report. Ms Bunkle defends her ability to keep her family home in Waikenae while campaigning in Wellington. CUT Today's findings will come as a relief to the two Ministers who would have been under considerable pressure to go if found to be taking allowances they weren't entitled to. READER
National MP Roger Sowry says despite the report clearing both Phillida Bunkle and Marion Hobbs of any wrongdoing there is still serious doubt hanging over their characters and their suitability to hold office. He joins us now. LIVE
The Prime Minister Helen Clark joins us now. LIVE
Police today arrested a man in relation to the death of a Korean woman after an exorcism late last year. The man appeared in court this afternoon. Our reporter Sally Wenley was there and she joins me now. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS with CLARE SZIRANYI
[illegible] members of Fiji's Labour Party are meeting following revelations that some members want to remove Mahendra Chaudhry as its leader. Mr Chaudhry was Fiji's Prime Minister until he was toppled by the May coup.
But Labour's deputy leader, Dr Tupeni Baba, has said that Fiji will not accept Mr Chaudhry as its Prime Minister. Our Fiji correspondent Shalen Shandil joins us now. LIVE
A National Youth Counseling Group says there has been a surge in the number of young people seeking help for stress after getting their exam results. The increase comes after a secondary school student from Northland killed himself last week after receiving poor results. Jon Donnison reports. PKGE
US President Bill Clinton bade farewell to Americans today thanking them for working together for change, urging them to remain engaged internationally and advising continued fiscal prudence. Mr Clinton ends his eight year Presidency on Sunday - in his seven minute speech he said he was grateful to be able to be able to turn over the reins of leadership with America in a great position to meet the challenges of the future. CUT Our Washington correspondent Steve Mort joins us now. LIVE
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
Wellington psychologist says New Zealand bosses should be nicer to their staff, and this country has too many unpleasant workplaces.
The comments come as the Transport Ministry today confirmed it paid nearly 370-thousand dollars in staff bonuses last year - this follows revelations that Qualifications Authority staff got money for moving office, and that Housing NZ got extra holidays for working hard. The government has already ordered a review of the bonus and reward system but a psychologist who specialises in workplace management, performance and behaviour says there a clear benefits in making staff feel rewarded. Dr Mike Smith says pay and conditions in the public service are not great and bonuses are probably being used in lieu of actual wage rises - but he says there's nothing wrong with a practice of giving people days off. PREREC
[illegible] 25 people are expected to protest against the Waihopai communications base this weekend. The annual protest aims to publicise the role of the Waihopai base which is run by the Government Communications Security Bureau. The bureau is designed to intercept and evaluate electronic communications from around the Asia-Pacific region. Critics believe it's a tool of foreign intelligence organisations and operates mainly for the benefit of the US and Britain. Joining us now is the protest's organisor, Murry Horton. LIVE
The Blood Service is considering extending a ban on people donating blood, in the wake of further reports of BSE, or mad cow disease, in Europe. People who spent six months or more in Britain between January 1980 and December 1996 were banned from giving blood at the beginning of last year. The service is now considering whether to extend the ban to people who've visited other European countries affected by the human form of the disease, including Ireland, France and Germany. The Chief Executive of the Blood Service, Dr Robin Pratt says BSE has been a much bigger problem in Britain than in Europe. PREREC
In the Philippines, thousands of people are continuing to rally against the impeached President Joseph Estrada. The protests were triggered earlier this [illegible] by a decision by a Senate impeachment court to reject important evidence against Estrada, who is facing corruption charges. There have been demonstrations in 18 cities, including about 100 thousand people who rallied in Manila at the monument to the revolution that forced out the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Our Manila correspondent Girlie Linao joins us now. LIVE
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