1700 to 1707 NEWS
A twenty-two year struggle for justice by victims of the former Catholic priest Alan John Woodcock was brought to a close today at the Wellington District Court. Fifty-four year old Woodcock has been jailed for a total of seven years after admitting 21 charges of indecently assaulting eleven boys between 1978 and 1987, largely committed while he was teaching at St Patrick's College, Silverstream near Upper Hutt. Our court reporter, David Venables, was in court. PKG
One of Woodcock's victims, Terry Carter, first complained to the police in 1994 about the abuse. He was in court for today's sentencing. PRE-REC
A spokesperson for the Catholic Church, Lindsay Freer, rejects Mr Carter's claim that the church continues to cover up sexual abuse. She says complaints are dealt with in a thorough and transparent way, and the Church is now setting up a National Office for Professional Standards to ensure that the process is of the highest standard. READ
A 20 year old man who complained he'd been abducted from a Hasting's street and held in the boot of a car for seven days has been arrested and charged with making a false statement. The man was found on the side of a road in Havelock North early last Sunday morning, with his feet and hands tied with tape.
Police interviewed the complainant three times, and this morning they visited a house close to where he was found, recovering his cellphone and tape similar to what he'd been bound with. Here's Detective Sergeant Stu Fleming. PRE-REC
An Auckland businessman is defying a city bylaw on sex advertising and has this afternoon, at a prominent spot next to the north western motorway, put up a billboard promoting an erotica expo. The City Council says the billboard advertises a commercial sex premises contravening a new bylaw, and the company that put it up faces a 20 thousand dollar fine. But Mr Steve Crow is undeterred saying he will erect more and more advertisements before next month's show. CUT [illegible] Moncia Holt watched the billboard go up. Q + A
Family and friends of the late Sir Peter Blake hope a new trust will inspire young people to continue the yachtsman's work for the environment. The Sir Peter Blake Trust was launched at his old school, Takapuna Grammar, this morning with a government grant of three point eight million dollars. Jennifer Dann was there. PKG
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
One of the most controversial films for years opens today in the US. Fahrenheit 9/11 is a savage indictment of the Bush administration produced and directed by American film-maker Michael Moore. The movie won the prestigious Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival a few weeks ago. But as our Washington correspondent, Simon Marks reports, American opinion on the film is bitterly divided. PKG
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
Latest figures show the economy is performing better than expected with a growth rate well above that of other developed countries. Statistics New Zealand says in the first three months of this year the economy grew 2 point 3 percent, surprising most experts who had expected something much lower. The figures also show for the year ending March business investment was up nearly 13 percent - the highest annual rise since 1996. I asked our economics correspondent Brent Edwards why the pessimists got it wrong. Q + A
Northland and Wairarapa communities are dealing with dashed hopes - and big losses after WOOSH Wireless pulled out of a deal to provide broadband services to the regions. The Far North Development Trust says it backed WOOSH as the preferred provider of broadband services to schools and rural communities because the company promised fast cheap internet and toll-free zones. It says WOOSH boosted its profile by promising the earth to the regions - but when it came to the crunch it couldn't deliver. Lois Williams reports. PKG
In Otago people with symptoms of the infectious norovirus, such as [illegible] or vomiting are being asked to stay at home after a further 16 cases have been confirmed at Dunedin Hospital in the past 24 hours. The Otago District Health Board says laboratory testing has confirmed 12 new norovirus cases among [illegible] staff, and four cases in patients. That's on top of about 40 patients and staff already reported to be infected. The chairman of the board's Infection Control Committee, Dr John Holmes, joins us now. LIVE
Transpower says a new scheme being put in place today, will significantly reduce the risk of forced power outages in the upper South Island this winter. Urgent industry meetings were held in May, after the national grid owner and operator revealed there could be transmission problems during peak hours. Work is starting today to set up inter-trip schemes, which will increase the amount of electricity that can be sent through the grid. Transpower's spokesperson, Chris Roberts, says it will help avert a winter power crisis. PRE-REC
Wellington's mayor, Kerry Prendergast is defending a decision to spend almost half a million dollars of ratepayers' money on an electronic billboard for the Stock Exchange. The sign will grace the outside of a historic building on the Wellington waterfront which will house the Stock Exchange once a current refurbishment project is completed. But as Patric Lane reports, not everyone is convinced the 480 thousand dollar bill for the banner is money well-spent. PKG
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