The Government has given the go ahead for Qantas to buy almost a quarter of Air New Zealand, saying on balance the deal is in the national interest. Under the proposal Qantas will invest 500 million dollars in the Air New Zealand taking a 22-and-a-half percent stake in the company and reducing the Government's shareholding to 64-percent. The deal now has to gain approval from the Commerce Commission and it Australian counterpart the A-triple C. Finance Minister Micheal Cullen has dismissed public concern over the buy-in which will significantly reduce airline competition in New Zealand. CUT
The National Party leader Bill English says the government has been bullied into the deal because Qantas has threatened to put Air New Zealand under if under if it doesn't go ahead. Mr English says the government has failed to accurately assess whether the merger is in the national interest. CUT
Joining us now is Transport Minister Paul Swain. LIVE
Our economics correspondent Brent Edwards joins us now. LIVE
Masterton man Bruce Howse may well serve the rest of his life behind bars after receiving the heaviest sentence ever for murder. Howse stabbed his stepdaughters, 12 year old Saliel Aplin and her half sister, 11 year old Olympia Jetson, in a sleepout at their home. Justice Goddard told Howse that he must serve a minimum of 28 years before he can be considered for parole - but that she would recommend he never be released. She told him he should be given no mercy for the suffering he inflicted on the two girls. CUT And she told Howse that his lack of remorse was beyond understanding. CUT Outside the court the head of the investigation Senior Sergeant Mike Oxnam welcomed the sentence, saying it refelected Howse's evil crime. He says that Saliel and Olympia's mother Charlene Aplin can now get on with grieving for her daughters. CUT Charlene Aplin, supported by family members, wept throughout the sentencing. Afterwards she thanked the media. CUT A brother of Bruce Howse was also in the public gallery and doubled up and burst into tears when the sentence was delivered. Meanwhile Howse's defence lawyer Ken Daniels says he is awaiting instruction from his client about whether to appeal the sentence. CUT
Robin Brown is president of the Criminal Bar Association which represents [illegible] lawyers. He say the new sentencing laws introduced in July give courts the ability to come down very hard on offenders whose victims have been particularly vulnerable. PREREC
BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
Fiji expatriate groups and media were today humming with speculation that the armed forces had been placed on alert over fears of a repeat of the November 2000 army mutiny in which eight soldiers died. The dark forces of unpaid debts, tax payers money and a battle of words to rival Helms Deep has proved their's little fellowship among two of New Zealand's key names in film. As the stars gather in Wellington's Courtney Place for the tonights premier of the second film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, a row over other unfinshished movies is threatening to overshadow this latest epic of hype. In one tower sits Lord Peter Jackson, who has banned Film Commission staff from the premier accusing them of burrying their heads in the sand over the collapse of film comapny Kahukura Productions. He says the commision an afford to pay debts run up by the failed company and which are preventing the release of New Zealand made films. CUT
In the other tower sits Barrie Everard, the chair of the Film Commission, who says Jackson is guilty of throwing his weight around and using vitriol to get his own way. He says paying Kahukura's debts is the wrong way to use taxpayers money. CUT
Meanwhile a massive street party is underway in Wellington as the city gears up for the Australiasian premiere of the second film in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. In just over an hour around 800 specially invited guests including stars from the film will sit down to a special screening of The Two Towers at the Embassy Theatre. Our reporter Patric Lane is looking down on the crowds outside the theatre and joins us live now. LIVE
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SPORT with RICHARD CROWLEY
A Christchurch man convicted of abducting, raping and assaulting a 17 year old woman has been sentenced to preventive detention with a minimum jail term of seven and a half years. Jason John Cumming was last month found guilty on eight charges after defending himself at his nine day High Court trial. Our reporter Katy Gosset was in court and joins me from our Christchurch studio. LIVE WITH DROPINS
In Fiji, a soldier is in military custody after being caught with a petition demanding the removal of the Pacific Island's military commander, Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama. The army has denied reports that it is on high alert over the incident, but armed troops have been stationed at all the entrances to the main army camp at Nabua. The police yesterday stormed the Fiji Peacekeepers Association's offices - I asked our correspondent in Suva Shiu Singh why. PREREC
Lets return to Courtney Place in Wellington where thousand of people are gathering for tonight's premier of the second in Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy. The red carpet is out and the hype machine has gone into overdrive for tonights Australasian premier of The Two Towers. Our reporter Patric Lane is overlooking the crowds gathering outside the Embassy Theatre - he joins us live now. - ALSO MICHELLE HOLLIS LIVE
A new campaign to stop the growing problem of using spiked drinks in sexual assaults has been launched by the police today. The initative called " Watch Yourself, Watch Your Friends" comes at one of the busiest social times of the [illegible].
Robyn Cubie was at the launch at a bar in Wellington today. PKGE
MANA NEWS
Within the next few minutes Peter Jackson and stars from the Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers are due to arrive at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington for tonights premier of the film. Thousands of people have gathered in Courtney Place to greet them - our reporter Patric Lane is among them..... LIVE CROSS
CLOSE & THEME