HEADLINES & NEWS
Opposition calls for two parliamentary select committees to probe what the government knew about the controversial Ross Armstrong proposals could be thwarted by the Greens and United Future. New Zealand First and ACT are seeking the inquiries into what involvement ministers or officials had with Dr Armstrong's proposals concerning public-private partnerships. A letter Dr Armstrong signed offered business leaders advantages in obtaining government contracts if they joined his group. The resultant outcry has forced Dr Armstrong to resign from his government appointments. The United Future leader Peter Dunne says his party is unlikely to support an inquiry which he sees as unnecessary. IV
The police are asking for public help in tracking down a man convicted of manslaughter in Samoa who has slipped into New Zealand. Ropati Nauer was found guilty of manslaugher in Samoa late last year after a young girl who he abducted died after jumped out of his moving car. Nauer travelled to New Zealand on his brother's passport in January before he was sentenced - police [illegible] he is dangerous. The Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel is working closely with the police and joins us now. LIVE IV
A hunger strike by a rural doctor and two nurses at a practice at Taumarunui has now seen the town's Mayor pleading for government help to resolve a battle over money. Dr Suresh Vatsyayann divides his time between a GP practice in Hamilton and one at Taumaranui's Community Kokiri Trust. He started a hunger strike last week over the Waikato District Health Board's refusal to give him the usual GP subsidies for under six year olds, community service card holders and pregnant women. The Board says the trust has to provide 24 hour seven day a week cover to qualify. A worried Ruapehu District Mayor Sue Morris has been in daily contact with the hunger strikers since the action began on Friday. IV
BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK OMEARA
An independent review of New Zealand's rail system has found that parts of the system are being pushed to the limit with South Island coal trains being overloaded and improperly laid tracks buckling on hot days. Australian engineers Halliburton KBR were commisioned by the Land Transport Safety [illegible] to review the rail network after politicians and unions raised concerns over Tranz Rail's contracting-out of maintenance work. The report says while the network is generally safe, Tranzrail does not have enough engineering staff and has to bring in outside contractors. The Land Transport Safety Authority's director David Wright told me it also highlights the overloading of coal trucks on the route between the West Coast and Canterbury. IV
Despite the problems, Tranzrail's engineering manager Lloyd Major says the review shows the rail network is generally safe. AUDIO CUT
The Rail and Maritime Union's general secretary Wayne Butson says the review endorses the union's concerns about deferred maintenance and a pressurised workforce. He joins me now. LIVE IV
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
Asia-Pacific customs officers are being warned to move quickly to tighten security at their borders in the wake of the Bali bombings. The warning's come at the Asian Pacific Customs conference in Auckland - 22 countries are represented as Sharon Brettkelly reports. PKGE
In Washington, hopes of a breakthrough in the hunt for the sniper terrrorising the American capital have been dashed. Two men taken into custody after an undercover police stakeout have been found not to be involved in the case. The sniper has killed nine people and injured three since the beginning of the month. Police are now appealling for a mystery phone caller thought to be involved in the attacks to ring them back. Our Washington correspondent Steve Mort says the appeal is another extraodinary twist to the investigation. PKGE
Meanwhile in Australia, a man has briefly appeared in court charged with yesterday's shootings at Melbourne's Monash University. Two people died in the rampage and another five people were wounded. Our reporter Donna Dimaio has been following the story and joins me now. LIVE
Local Government New Zealand is warning local bodies to take heed of the latest growth in immigration figures, saying they have to start planning at least a decade ahead to make sure there is adequate infrastructure to support a growing [illegible] Statistics New Zealand figures show a net population gain of 37 thousand people this year - the first time permanent arrivals have exceeded departures for five years. Jane Patterson reports that one notable feature is that the number of New Zealanders heading for Australia has more than halved since last year. PKGE
A new programme has been developed to help older people stave off osteoporosis. The condition affects more than 200-thousand New Zealanders over 60 - leaving them with brittle bones. The programme was today demonstrated at a Wellington rest home - our reporter Nathan Mills went along. PKGE
MANA NEWS
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