HEADLINES & NEWS
New Zealand is being warned that it could become a destination for people-smugglers, following the granting of refugee visas for 130 asylum seekers Australia rejected.
The Australian Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock says the people smuggling rings have noted the high number of refugee visas New Zealand granted to the refugees from the ship, The Tampa. Mr Ruddock told Sky News Australia he now has reports the smugglers are looking at setting up more complex operations, including buying larger vessels to transport asylum-seekers to New Zealand. Philip Ruddock joins us now. LIVE IV
Mr Ruddock's warning has sparked concern from the National Party here, which is [illegible] New Zealand is now seen as a soft touch as a result of what it claims is the government's short term thinking. New Zealand's Immigration Minister Leighanne Dalziel joins me now. LIVE IV
As the threatened Canterbury health strike draws closer, the Corrections Department is confirming that it has made two facilities available to the Canterbury District Health Board to house acute mental health patients from Hillmorton Hospital. The Department made the commitment after it was approached by the Health Board as it prepares contingency plans for Hillmorton's possible closure during the strike. In the meantime, mediation talks between the board and health unions are continuing - Nathan Mills reports. PKGE
BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
Falling petrol prices have helped push inflation down to its lowest level for nearly two years. According to Statistics New Zealand the consumer price index increased one point eight percent in 2001 - the previous year inflation reached four percent. The latest inflation figure is in line with market expectations [illegible] comfortably within the Reserve Bank's zero to three percent target range. Next week the Reserve Bank reviews the key benchmark interest rate, which dictates interest rates charged on mortgages, personal loans and business loans. Our economics correspondent Brent Edward has been looking at the latest inflation figures and joins me now. LIVE
Japan is firmly denying accusations of vote buying at the International Whaling Commission, calling them inaccurate and insulting. Greenpeace claims Japan has given more than three quarters of a billion New Zealand dollars in overseas development aid to countries in exchange for voting support at the Commission. Jane Patterson has the story. PKGE
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with ANDREW GREENWOOD
New Zealand is being warned that it could become a destination for people-smugglers, following the granting of refugee visas for 130 asylum seekers Australia rejected. The Australian Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock says the people smuggling rings have noted the high number of refugee visas New Zealand granted to the refugees from the ship, The Tampa. Mr Ruddock says he has reports the smugglers are looking at setting up more complex operations, including buying larger vessels to transport asylum-seekers to New Zealand. Joining us now is Bill Smith from Auckland's Refugee Council. LIVE
In Fiji there are calls for an independent inquiry into a multi-million dollar vote buying scam. The allegations centre around the Prime MInister Laisenia Qarase's SDL Party which has been accused of using the MInistry of Agriculture to buy votes from indigenous Fijian farmers during last year's election. Last week the permanent secretary for agriculture and his two deputies were suspended pending a government inquiry but there is skepticism it will achieve anything. Our reporter in Fiji Shui Singh says the alleged abuses involve a scheme set up by the post coup interim-government two years ago. PREREC
The government is reluctant to change the law to accomodate disasters like the Wahi land cave-in, saying such a move could mean insurance premium increases for all land owners. Last month, one house in the Coromandel town fell into a large hole after land subsided, and 12 other properties were damaged or [illegible]. After initial concerns the home owners might not get any compensation, it's been announced the residents will recieve a total of up to one-point-six-million dollars from the Earthquake Commission and the Waihi Gold Mining Company.
Patric Lane reports. PKGE
A west Auckland community group trying to stop a chemical aerial spray to eradicate the painted apple moth from going ahead this weekend has just emerged from a meeting with MAF officials. The pest which threatens forestry and horticulture was discovered in West Auckland in 1999 but ground operations to get rid of it have been unsuccessful. MAF plans to begin spraying 560 hectares of West Auckland on Saturday provided weather conditions are clear. Kubi Witten-Hannah who represents the community group joins us now. LIVE
The United States self-declared war on terrorism is changing its focus from the battleground in Afghanistan to the courtroom. Eight al Qaeda and Taliban suspects are currently being held in Cuba, while charges have now been brought against the so-called shoe bomber Richard Reid and American Taliban fighter John Walker. Our Washington correspondent Vicky Ford reports. PKGE
The Nelson Coastguard would like to see stiff penalties for people who need to be rescued after they go to sea completely unprepared. This follows the rescue of three men who set out from Nelson to trawl for scallops yesterday. But two hours later they phoned police on a mobile phone to say they could not start their motor, because the key had broken in the ignition. The police alerted the Coastguard and I asked the Nelson's coastguard president Ian Shaw how prepared the men were. PREREC
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