1700 to 1707 NEWS
As we go to air world leaders at the trade and economic summit in Thailand are are putting the final touches to the agreement to make security and counter-terrorism a formal part of the APEC agenda. The US Secretary of State Colin Powell has argued that security and economic growth are inseparable. CUT Meanwhile the outspoken Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed has taken a swipe at rich nations for seeking to impose unfair trade deals on developing countries. CUT Doctor Mahathir says the developing world wants fair trade rather than free trade. He says fair trade can be free, but free trade can be unfair. CUT
Our economics correspondent Brent Edwards is in Bangkok - he's with us now. [illegible]
The Auckland District Health Board has come under sustained attack today from doctors upset that an orthopaedic surgeon may be discliplined for speaking out about the reduced number of beds at the city's new hospital. Bruce Twaddle said cutting bed numbers would compromise patient safety. He's been told that the board will be deciding today what action it'll take against him.
We'll hear more on that shortly. Ten other orthopedic surgeons at Auckland Hosptial have already written in support of the Mr Twaddle saying they may resign if he is censured. Now, the Medical Association's Chairperson Dr Tricia Briscoe, says the NZMA's code of ethics clearly identifies the responsibility that doctors have to speak up for their patients. CUT The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners' agrees. Its president Dr Jim Vause says the Auckland District Health Board needs to respect the views of health professionals. CUT And the Health and Disability Commissioner, Ron Patterson doesn't believe any doctor should be disciplined for speaking out about patient safety. CUT
Bruce Twaddle isn't talking to the media, and neither are his Auckland hospital [illegible]. The Auckland District Health Board also isn't commenting. Ian Powell from the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is acting as Mr Twaddle's union representative and has been in touch with the DHB. He joins us now. LIVE
An Auckland man has been fined 15 thousand dollars and sentenced to 350 hours of community service, for having hundreds of pornographic images of children on his work computer. The man was charged last year following an international undercover investigation by United States authorities who then notified the Department of Internal Affairs. The anti-child pornography group ECPAT is unhappy that the man did not receive a prison sentence - we'll hear from the group's spokesperson Denise Ritchie shortly. But first, Sarah Howison explains how the man was caught. PREREC
Denise Ritchie from the anti-child pornography group ECPAT says she was disappointed that the man did not receive a stronger sentence. PREREC
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
The 19-hundred residents of the Otago town of Milton are now having to boil their water after the water supply ran dry at last night. The Clutha District Council says a minor fault caused the pumps to the reservoir to stop working yesterday morning, and although the low water level alarm went off, a computer monitoring system failed to send a message through to staff. Council chief executive Ciaran Keogh (care-in Key-o) says no-one realised there was a problem until the reservoir ran dry at about ten o'clock last night. PREREC
Staying with water, thousands of Aucklanders could be stung by a huge increase in their water bills if landlords make use of a new court ruling. An Auckland District Court Judge has found landlords in Auckland and Papakura can make tenants pay for waste water charges under the Residential Tenancy Act. Before the ruling, these residents had only been paying for the water they use.
Anna-Louise Taylor has the story. PKGE
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
The High Court has today heard from the first of the prisoners taking legal action over a controversial behaviour management programme at Auckland's maximum security prison. Christopher Taunoa, who is serving a life sentence for murder, is one of nine prisoners taking legal action against the Department of Corrections, prison superintendents and the Attorney General. The prisoners allege they were subjected to psychological torture and inhumane conditions, involving long periods in solitary confinement. Elizabeth Brown was in court today. PREREC
It has been revealed that Whangarei drivers are some of the speediest in the country - and the most lethal. A report on road accidents in the district has found fault with the drivers - and the roads. Nationally, speed is the number one cause of road accidents but in Whangarei the major factor is losing control on bends. And it's increasingly risky being a pedestrian in Whangarei.
Lois Williams has been delving into the report: PKGE
Health officials are looking at whether enough money is being spent on [illegible] surgery following evidence that people in need are missing out. The officials are due to make recommendations to the Minister within a month. A study of Taranaki patients has found the impact of being taken off public hospital waiting lists can be devastating. Many were reporting more frequent doctors visits, medication side effects, injury from falls and depression. Dr Colin Feek from the Health Ministry joins us now. LIVE
Wellington has again won the bid to host a stopover of the Global Challenge yacht race. Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga were competing to host a stopover for the 12 crews of the Global Challenge race during January and February 2005. The Auckland City Council had earlier predicted the 42-day stopover would inject about six and a half million dollars into the city's economy and generate nearly 200 full time jobs for a year. Kevin Schubridge is based in Auckland and has sailed in five around the world yacht races and skippered Tyco in the last Volvo Ocean race. PREREC
New statistics show the rate of immigration into New Zealand is slowing down. The figures come from Statistics New Zealand. They show that while New Zealand is still gaining more people than it loses, it is doing so at a slower rate than previously. It also shows New Zealand falling behind its migration target of 45 thousand people a year. Eric Frykberg reports. PKGE
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