HEADLINES & NEWS
BOARD SACKED AFTER ANOTHER CANCER SCANDAL
The Health Minister Annette King has sacked the board of Tairawhiti Healthcare after Gisborne again emerged at the centre of another cancer scare - this time over prostate cancer tests. One hundred and eleven men are now being told to get further checkups because their results may have wrongly indicated they had nothing to worry about. The tests were carried out at a Gisborne Hospital laboratory, and are used to decide if a patient should have further tests. We'll be hearing from Annette King later in the programme.
Earlier, I talked to the chief executive of Tairawhiti Healthcare, Sheryl Smail about the problem. She told me that a total of four-hundred and sixty-five patients have received incorrect results, but for the majority the error will [illegible] any clinical consequences. PREREC
VARROA BEE MITE HERE TO STAY
The government won't try and wipe out the Varroa bee mite, and instead it will try to prevent it spreading. The honey bee mite has invaded thousands of hives throughout the upper half of the North Island since April. Beekeepers had wanted the pest wiped out - I'll talk to them shortly. But first I'm joined by the Biosecurity Minister, Marion Hobbs. LIVE
Joining us now with his reaction to the decision is a spokesperson for the Beekeepers Association, Lin McKenzie. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS with GILES BECKFORD
FIJI UNREST
Unrest spreading, with indigenous Fijians taking over hotels, airport and a prison. Barbara Dreaver reports live.
WINDFALL PROFITS CRITICISED
[illegible] Minister of Energy, Max Bradford says his electricity price control legislation which was abandoned last year would have stopped the huge windfall profits now being made by line companies. An independent report released today concludes that monopoly lines companies are using an inappropriate accounting practice to revalue their assets, resulting in excess profits of more than 200-million dollars a year. The Government is now facing calls for price regulation of the lines companies. Patrick O'Meara has more. PKG
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
VALUABLE INFORMATION TOO EXPENSIVE
The health bureacracy has come under further attack today at the cervical screening inquiry in Gisborne, with accusations it is just too difficult getting access to vital medical information. Gisborne's Clinical Director of Public Health Dr Bruce Duncan has told the inquiry there is valuable information available from a section of the Health Ministry but it costs too much to get it.
Our reporter Heugh Chappell is at the inquiry and he joins us now. LIVE
BOARD SACKED BY MINISTER
The Health Minister Annette King has sacked the board of Tairawhiti Healthcare after Gisborne again emerged at the centre of another cancer scare - this time over prostate cancer tests. One hundred and eleven men are now being told to get further checkups because their results may have wrongly indicated they had nothing to worry about. The tests were carried out at a Gisborne Hospital laboratory, and are used to decide if a patient should have further tests. Annette King joins me now LIVE
DON'T IGNORE FIJI WARNINGS SAYS MINISTRY
Returning to our earlier story on the continuing crisis in Fiji. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned some travel agents are ignoring its warnings not to go to Fiji and are telling travelers the country is still safe to visit. Last night, a New Zealand family of four along with dozens of other tourists were briefly detained at the Turtle Island Resort by villagers who took over the hotel. Corin Dann reports. PKG
[illegible] CLOSED, JOBS LOST
Carter Holt Harvey has told the workers at its Mataura paper mill in Southland that it will close the mill next month, with the loss of 155 jobs. The staff were told the news at a special meeting this morning. The company's chief executive Chris Liddell says the mill has been running at a loss for four years, largely because it's a small plant producing lower quality paper that is not getting good prices. He says the cost of the main ingredient, pulp has gone up sixty percent. I asked him if the mill couldn't have moved to a high quality product. PREREC
FIRST KIDS IN KIDZ FIRST
A new specialist children's hospital in South Auckland has started admitting its first patients. Kidz First has been built at Middlemore Hospital - our reporter Melita Tull went out to see the new ward and its first patients. PKG
JUST BEFORE WE GO...
Two residential buildings collapsed following an explosion in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Tuesday night, according to officials and witnesses. More than 200 rescue workers were searching into Wednesday morning [illegible] under the rubble. City officials said they did not know the cause of the collapse. However, police officers on the scene said they smelled gas at the location. Officials said witnesses heard a large explosion moments before the buildings went down. Three people were believed missing. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani told reporters at a media briefing.
CLOSE & THEME