1700 to 1707 NEWS
A judge has jailed a woman who left her children at home alone the night two of them died in a fire, saying a message must be sent to stop parents from leaving their children unattended. In the Papakura District Court today Judge David Carruthers sentenced 25 year old Louana Patuwai to eighteen months imprisonment on three counts of failing to provide the necessaries of life. The court heard how Patuwai left her three children all aged under six alone at their home near Gisborne with a pot boiling on the stove, while she went to the pub to pick up her partner. But she stayed drinking and playing pool. The couple returned sometime later to find the house on fire - two children died along with their father Harry Grant who tried to save them. In a letter to herself read out in court Patuwai said she smiles by day and cries by night but feels she is falling apart piece by piece and that the world she is living in has exploded. Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Scott led the investigation into the fire - he's happy with sentence and doesn't object to Patuwai being allowed to apply [illegible] home detention. PRE-REC
The government is defending how it successfully outbid eight other competitors for the purchase of Auckland's Westhaven and Hobson West marinas. It is buying the marinas from Ports of Auckland for 54-million dollars, and plans to onsell them to Auckland City Council for 46-million dollars. ACT has called the deal shonky following confirmation the Auckland Mayor John Banks passed on information concerning the marinas to the government. Ports of Auckland says it gave permission for the Auckland City Council and the Crown to talk, prior to final bids closing in late March. The chief executive, Geoff Vazey, says as far as he's aware, Mr Banks was only sharing information with the government, about the council's bid and not third parties. DROP IN
Another bidder for the Auckland marinas, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, says most players had a fair idea of the offers on the table. And Commodore Bill Endean says, good on any bidder that dug up any extra information. DROP IN John Banks hasn't revealed what information he shared with the government in the weeks leading up to the marinas sale. But he says it was on a commercially secret basis. DROP IN
[illegible] Finance Minister Trevor Mallard says Mr Banks told him Auckland City Council's bid was about ten million too low - but denies the mayor was passing on information about the other bids. PRE REC
North Island fans of country rock musician Steve Earle are being assured they will not suffer the same fate as hundreds of concert goers in Christchurch. Last night, about 500 people were barred from Earle's gig at Christchurch's Civic Theatre, after organisers sold twice as many tickets as the venue can accommodate. Those who failed to get in are being promised refunds, although some fans who came from as far afield as Nelson and Invercargill look likely to be left out of pocket for travel and accommodation costs. The manager of Echo Records, Garry Knight, who's shop sold about 200 tickets to the show and was himself left out in the cold last night, says many in the crowd were very unhappy.
DROP IN The Fire Service - which took the action due to safety concerns - says it's not the first time it's had to deal with potentially dangerous overcrowding at the same venue.
Fire Saftey officer, Allan Taylor says two previous concerts which had been oversold were allowed to go ahead, after the Fire Service made sure the theatre met strict additional safety measures. DROP IN. Q and A with Patric Lane.
Australia's indigenous affairs minister Amanda Vanstone has compared the funding system for indigenous Australians under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission to the apartheid era in South Africa. She is defending the government's decision to abolish atsic and replace it with a government appointed body to advise on indigenous isues. Under the changes the government will redistribute Atsic funds across all departments for it then to spent on indigenous programmes. Senator Vanstone denies it deprives indigenous australians of elected representation. DROP IN
Joining us now is the ABC's Political correspondent, Stephanie Kennedy LIVE
Beam me up Scottie ... the trekkies, nerds and neophytes are gathering in Auckland for the country's largest science fiction and fantasy expo - Armaggedon. Up to 30 thousand people are expected to attend the annual event which begins today at the Aotea Centre, with some fans queuing since half past five this morning to meet their heroes. PKG
[illegible] BUSINESS NEWS WITH TODD NIALL
Statistics New Zealand says business profits are being driven up by investment in research and development and other innovation. The innovation survey has found 44 percent of firms have adopted innovations over the past three years and most of them report it has led to a rise in profits. Our economics correspondent Brent Edwards has more. PKG
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, says he is seeking a new UN resolution on Iraq to ensure the handover of power in June. He made the comments after holding talks with the United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan, in New York. He will meet with President Bush at the White House tomorrow to discuss [illegible] and the situation in the Middle East. Karen Roe reports. PKG
Thousands of people are being evacuated in Fiji as the country braces itself for more heavy rain this evening. Ten people have died and eleven people are missing, after the second severe storm in a week damaged homes and destroyed crops in the central and western parts of the main island of Viti Levu. Evacuation centres have been set up and the navy and army are continuing to transport people to the centres and the hospital in the capital, Suva. The Liaison officer for the Ministry of Information, Viliame Tikotani (Vill-e-ar-me Tea-co-tar-knee), says the emergency services are on stand-by. DROP IN Joining us now from Suva is Nicky Wrighton, the manager of the New Zealand Agency for International Development LIVE
Child Youth and Family says a female caregiver from a Levin Family Home has been charged with assault after a complaint from a youth in their care. The woman, a former social worker, and her husband were removed from the 6-bed home last month following the allegations of physical abuse. Child Youth and Family became aware of the allegations on March the 25th and the police were informed the following day. It says immediate steps were taken to ensure the safety of the children in the family home.
Regional manager for Child Youth and Family, Bev Markham joins us now. LIVE
Truckies on either side of the Manawatu Gorge are breathing a sigh of relief with the news that the gorge, closed by massive slips for the last 63 days, will partially reopen on Sunday. Five slips brought down by heavy rain in February blocked the road and in four places, the road fell away into the river below. Transit New Zealand says from midday on Sunday trucks will be allowed through but only travelling from Manawatu to Hawkes Bay and only during daylight hours. PKG
Environmental science has been under the microscope at Lincoln University this week as 100 secondary students from around the globe take part in the Youth Enviro-School. Formed in 1990, the bi-ennial programme was designed to raise awareness of environmental issues and to attract young minds to this growing field of science.
Katy Gosset visited the Enviro School and filed this report. PKG
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