Plans by a proposed new Māori University to defy the state education system are being described as unrealistic by a student union. The university - or Wananga - would not NOT be bound by the Education Act - nor will it seek New Zealand Qualifications Authority status. But the Aotearoa Tertiary Students Union says without NZQA accreditation students would be disadvantaged. Liz Banas has more. PKGE
The final two hopefuls to challenge for the America's Cup have been decided. OracleBMW will sail off against Alinghi next month, after Oracle defeated One World for the fourth consecutive time in the semi-finals. That means the Louis Vitton finals will both feature yachts skippered by New Zealanders - Chris Dickson on Oracle BMW and Russell Coutts on Alinghi.
Our America's Cup correspondent Todd Niall joins us now. LIVE
Overseas - the United States is continuing its military buildup in the Gulf as Iraq launches a public relations offensive, saying it has nothing to hide from [illegible] Nations inspection teams looking for evidence of weapons of mass [illegible]. President Saddam Hussein and his officials say Iraq is doing all it can to cooperate with the UN teams - one senior Baghdad adviser is even calling on Washington to send CIA agents to direct the arms inspectors to suspect sites. Our Washington correspondent Jessie Brandon prepared this report. PKGE
BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
The Land Transport Safety Authority is backing away from making it an offence to talk on a cellphone while driving. But the LTSA stance has put it at odds with the police and the Automobile Association, which both want use of hand-held cellphones by drivers banned for safety reasons. Karen Brown reports. PKGE
Parliament's health select committee wants warning labels on all alcoholic drinks stating that drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects. It's estimated that up to 500 babies born each year in New Zealand suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome, or its less severe form, fetal alcohol effects. The health committee chairperson, Steve Chadwick says warning labels are not the total [illegible], and should be combined with other health promotion and education activities. CUT
The recommendations come in response to a petition signed by more than seven-thousand people, and will be referred to the Ministry of Health for consideration. The petition was organised by Christine Rogan of Alcohol Healthwatch and she joins me now. LIVE
In Canterbury, boaties around Banks Peninsula are being warned to watch out for pods of Hector's dolphins and their young. The dolphins are amongst the world's rarest but boaties are reporting an increase in their numbers around the region.
Department of Conservation spokesperson Naomi Hannah-Brown told me the increased numbers could be due to less pollution in the harbour and because of a set net ban. PREREC
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SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
The Government is being taken to court over the introduction of its controversial tougher English language test for immigrants. The new rules introduced last month require immigrants in the general skills category to score 6-point-5 in the English test - up from five. Applicants in the business category have to score five - up from four. The Association for Migration and Investment has been at loggerheads with the Government over the changes which it claims unfairly affect people who've already filed immigration applications. The Association's chairman Bill Milnes join us now. LIVE
To Venezuela now, where the large-scale strike paralysing the nation is now into its third week, with both sides claiming to have the upper hand. The embattled President Hugo Chavez says his government is turning the tide against the strike, with the military helping force a loaded oil tanker to dock at the weekend. But strikers insist their shutdown of the vital oil industry is holding firm, affecting the majority of oil wells, refineries and port terminals. As well as hurting oil exports, the BBC's correspondent in Caracas Adam Easton told me the strike is also starting to bite in Venezuela. PREREC
A high court judge has found TV3 breached privacy standards by identifying Fijian child sex abuse victims in a case that could have implications for broadcasters around the world. The 20/20 documentary on child poverty and [illegible] in Fiji screened last year. The programme clearly revealed the [illegible] of three children - a girl who had been sexually abused and two boys who were identified as prositutes despite their denials. The child advocacy group ECPAT complained TV3 had breached privacy standards under the Broadcasting Act - and that's been upheld by Justice Chambers. Denise Ritchie from ECPAT joins us now. LIVE
Manawatu is predicted to experience an economic boom as a result of the government decision to expand the region's Ohakea airforce base and close Auckland's Whenuapai airbase. Relocating Whenpuapai staff to Ohakea will see the base's population more than double and create up to nine hundred jobs in Manawatu. Ohakea staff say some Aucklanders are already buying Palmerston North houses before the expected price rises hit. Jill Galloway visited Ohakea and filed this report. PKGE
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