1700 to 1707 NEWS
Hundreds of passengers on board the Cook Strait ferry have spent several hours this afternoon stuck in rough seas outside Wellington harbour. The ferry is now heading slowly into port - the problem appears to be some kind of mechanical failure. Paul Garaty (Garret-ee) the Divisional general Manager for Toll Shipping joins us now. LIVE
The father of Mark Burton has delivered a stinging attack on the country's mental health system but says he's not interested in a witch-hunt against individual doctors. The Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has dismissed a charge of professional misconduct against Dr Tom O'Flynn who was accused of failing to properly supervise a junior doctor, Peter Fisher, who was caring for Mark Burton. The patient was discharged from Southland Health a day before he killed his mother Paddy, in March 2001. The Tribunal has found Dr [illegible] Flynn was a good doctor with a huge workload who could not possibly provide one-to-one supervision for his staff. Mark Burton's father Trevor agrees with the finding even though he's been calling for someone to be held accountable for the the failings. PRE-REC
Around 100 people in the flood-stricken Bay of Plenty will spend tonight at local marae, following the closure of the Civil Defence evacuation centre in Whakatane. More than 15-hundred people were evacuated following the weekend's heavy flooding, but most have now been able to return to their homes or to temporary accommodation. Building inspectors have so far ruled that 66 homes in Whakatane and 11 in Edgecumbe are un-inhabitable because of structural damage. Some roads in the district are still blocked due to slips and work is underway to clear highways that have left the towns of Ruatahuna and Te Kaha isolated. Catherine Wilson has been out talking with Whakatane resident's who's homes have been damaged in the floods. PKG
Around two thousand people living in and around Te Kaha north east of Whakatane have been cut off and supplies have had to be flown into the area. State [illegible] 35 between Opotiki and Omaio has been closed because of slips. And a [illegible] on the highway at Maraenui is preventing Te Kaha residents driving to Opotiki. CUT
The principal of the Te Whanau A Apanui area school, Nehumona Gage says people in Te Kaha are starting to run out of fresh produce. CUT
The Mayor of Opotiki John Forbes says while State Highway 35 is being fixed, contractors are looking to open an old road to gain access to the town. CUT
Peter Davies is the flood recovery manager for the Whakatane and Opotiki Districts. He joins us now. LIVE
There does appear to be some political and corporate support for the idea of New Zealand having a dedicated Prime Ministerial jet. The Prime Minister Helen Clark flagged the idea in the wake of public concerns over her high speed motorcade from Waimate to Christchurch, to catch a plane in time for an All Black game. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and businessman Sir Robert Jones are both backing the idea, saying a Prime Ministerial jet would be more efficient and save time. PKG
1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
Two of three men charged with the murder of Pakuranga pizza worker Marcus Doig and Mangere bridge bank teller John Vaughan went to the Court of Appeal today to challenge their 20-year plus prison sentences. Mr Doig and Mr Vaughan were shot dead within a week of each other in May 2002 by Ese Junior Falealii, who is serving a minimum jail term of just under 18 years. Joseph Samoa and William Johansson were ordered to serve a minimum of 22 and 23 years respectively for their part in the murders, for the attempted murder of Mr Doig's boss, John Bell, and for a string of aggravated robberies in Auckland. Here's our court reporter, David Venables. PKG
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
The panel probing the September 11 attacks will release its findings later [illegible] - it is expected to recommend extensive reforms to the United States intelligence service and point to missed opportunties to detect the terrorist plot in the years leading up to the attacks, according to leaks to the Washington Post the commission highlights ten instances where the US government could have unravelled the plans. The Commission, is also expected to lay out new claims about possible links between al-Qaeda and Iran. A video has also emerged showing security checks on one group of September 11 hijackers, prior to boarding the plane they crashed into the pentagon. Our Washington correspondent, Owen Fay reports. PKG
The decision to cut the number of Christchurch City Councillors by half is facing a judicial hearing. In April the Local Government Commission decided to cut the number of elected members from 24 to 12, and the number of wards from 12 to 6. But three people, one a former city councilor, claim locals have been denied their right to fair and effective representation. Erina O'Donohue has been following the case at the High Court in Christchurch. Q + A
Farmers in the flood ravaged eastern Bay of Plenty are working around the clock to pump water from their properties. Up to 500 farms in the region have been [illegible] by flooding, with about 175 on the Rangitaiki Plains still under water after the river burst through stopbanks. The regional council has managed to stem the flow in the 100-metre wide breech and the flood water is now beginning to recede. But Brian Power, who farms near Edgecumbe, says farmers are now faced with a huge job to remove the water. PRE-REC
Meridian Energy has hit back at opponents of wind farms, saying wind is a cost effective and pollution free way to produce more power. At a seminar on renewable energy - organised by Meridian - proponents of wind power painted a rosy picture of its benefits, but some people are still not convinced. Bryan Gibson reports. PKG
The Commerce Commission is warning that great deals on mobile phone cards may not be all they're cracked up to be. As many as 50 different phone cards are on the market, but the Commission says up to 40 of the smaller operators could be breaching the Fair Trading Act with practices such as failing to advertise that prices don't include GST. The Director of Fair Trading, Deborah Battell (elle) says she's had 250 complaints about the hidden costs of the cards - but as the Commission is still investigating it won't yet be naming the companies involved. In the meantime she says there are a number things people should be on the look out for. PRE-REC
A coroner's inquest in Christchurch has heard how an elderly woman who suffered from agoraphobia died of starvation after the death of her son, who lived with her. The bodies of 75 year old Joyce Irene Riley, and 43 year old Timothy Riley were found in their state house in Fendalton last September. The inquest also heard how the pair how refused offers of help from Housing New Zealand. Katy Gosset was there. Q + A
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