HEADLINES & NEWS
FIJI MILITARY OPEN FIRE
In Fiji, the military has opened fire on a car carrying rebel leader George Speight.
It's the first attack on Speight since he led the attempted coup more than three weeks ago, taking the prime minister and more than 30 people hostage at Parliament. I'm joined now by our reporter in Suva, Shona Geary. LIVE
Joining me now is the Foreign Affairs Minister, Phil Goff. LIVE
ORGANISER OF CANCELLED MARCH PLANS TO GO AHEAD
[illegible] while the organiser of postponed march against Speight says he will go ahead with another one next week despite death threats against his mother who is one of the politicians being held hostage at Parliament. Ben Padarath, is the son of Lavenia Padarath a minister in Mahendra Choudrey's administration. His protesters were due to leave this morning from Lautaka on a 200 kilometre walk to Suva, but were stopped by the police and military who said Speight supporters were planning to disrupt the march. Mr Padarath told me the authorities then detained him at the police station. PREREC IV
VIOLENCE IN THE WEST SPARKS FURTHER FEAR
In Solomon Islands, there are growing fears the civil war between Malaitans and Gaudalcanal people has brought in a third faction - former rebel troops from the neighbouring island of Bougainville. Known as the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, or BRA, the militants have fought a secessionist war with Papua New Guinea. Already, one member of the Malaitan militia has been killed by BRA guerillas when they attacked the police station on the tiny western Solomon island of Gizo, which is close to Bougainville. Questions are being asked about the Bougainvillean involvement - VSA worker Phil Clarke works in the area says the men are armed with automatic weapons and told me they were [illegible] invited in by the provincial government. PREREC IV
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EVACUATION OF HONIARA CONTINUES
The third flight by New Zealand defence aircraft ferrying evacuees from Solomon Islands is expected to touch down at Townsville in Australia about now. The Air Force is using a Boeing 727 and a Hercules, complete with medical staff, to airlift evacuees from Honiara, and started flying people out yesterday. Joining us now from Townsville is Wing Commander John Cummings who is the Commanding officer of the air transport squadron. LIVE
FIJI FIRE FANS FLAMES OF UNREST
Returning to our earlier story, in Fiji, the military has opened fire on a car carrying rebel leader George Speight. It's the first attack on Speight since he led the attempted coup more than three weeks ago, taking the prime minister and more than 30 people hostage at parliament. The army's Lt Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini joins us now. LIVE
STORMY BLAST BRINGS UNEXPECTED BONUS
The south island is shivering as a wintery blast closes schools and roads and disrupts traffic. Up to half a metre of snow has fallen in Central Otago, with 18 centimetres falling in downtown Queenstown. The snow's forced all schools in the region to close, as well as blocking some minor roads. In Canterbury, high winds have closed the summit road over Christchurch's Port Hills. The Lindis Pass is closed by snow and while the Arthurs Pass remains open, it's snowing heavily there. The bad weather's the result of a storm blasting up from the Southern Ocean near Antartica. Mal Gazzard is the principal of Queenstown Primary School - he says that while the school closure and the snow makes the students think Christmas has come early, safety comes first. PREREC
CROWN APPEALS SENTENCE
The Crown is to appeal against the 6 year jail sentence imposed on Christchurch doctor and former deputy-Mayor Morgan Fahey after he admitted sexually attacking several women patients. Although at first he strongly denied the [illegible], Fahey - a long-time GP and highly respected accident trauma expert - admitted 13 charges involving 11 women. Several of his victims have said they believe the six year sentence is far too low. Our Court reporter Merle Nowland has been looking at the case. LIVE
CRIME VICTIMS GET $5 MILLION
The Government has just announced a second justice initiative, aimed at helping crime victims. It's the second justice initiative in 24 hours - yesterday it unveiled a five million dollar restorative justice package. Our justice reporter Tony Reid looks at both the initiatives. PKG
AIR PILOTS FLY THE COOP
The Prime Minister says she's not concerned about the resignations of seven senior pilots from the Airforce. Two commanding officers and three flight instructors resigned from the force last week, while two other flight instructors left last month. As Claire Silvester reports, the uncertainty surrounding the future shape of New Zealand's defence forces appears to have played a part in the decisions. LIVE
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