HEADLINES & NEWS
NZ IMPOSES SANCTIONS AGAINST FIJI
The Cabinet has announced limited measures against Fiji. The actions are targetted at aid, defence and in some cases, individual Fijians who will be banned from travelling to New Zealand. However, it is holding off on imposing sanctions as it waits to see the make-up of the country's new administration. That is expected to be revealed tomorrow. The Foreign Affairs Minister, Phil Goff announced the steps against Fiji a short time ago - he joins me now. LIVE
The new president and government will be named and sworn in tomorrow - Barabra Dreaver joins us now. LIVE
Joining me now is the Fiji rebel leader George Speight/ a spokesman for George Speight, Joe Nata. LIVE
CLARK CONFIDENT OF NOMINATION BEING ACCEPTED
The Prime Minister is putting her own job on the line over the issue of who should be the next Minister of Māori Affairs. Helen Clark says if other Labour MPs do not agree with her nomination for the vacancy created by the sacking of Dover Samuels, then they can "look for a new leader". We're joined now by our Parliamentary Chief Reporter Kathryn Street. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALLBRIDGE
SUSPENDED SENTENCES HANG BY A THREAD
The Law Society and the Criminal Bar Association are critical of plans to do away with suspended sentences, saying the system works and should be retained. The Justice Minister Phil Goff wants to get rid of suspended sentences because he doesnt believe they have been a deterrant. He says they are likely to go as part of a review of sentencing already underway as Blair McLaren reports. PKG
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
BIGGEST INCREASE IN INFLATION SINCE 1994
Inflation is up, prompting a warning that it might not be held in check for long, as firms struggle to contain increases in their production costs. The warning comes from the director of the Institute of Economic Research, Alex Sundakov, who says today's inflation figures out today indicate many firms may soon start cutting back on investment or their workforce if they can't pass on the cost increases. Here's our Economics Correspondent, Stephen Harris. PKG
PATIENT ONE THANKED FOR PERSERVERANCE
A prominent Wellington pathologist says the woman who took the High Court case last year over the misreading of her cervical smear slides needs to be thanked for her perservance. Dr Clint Teague (PRON Teeg) has told the cervical cancer inquiry in Gisborne that Patient One's court case sped up the investigation into the reporting of cervical smears by now retired Gisborne pathologist Dr Michael Bottrill. Heugh Chappel is at the inquiry and joins us now. LIVE (interview interrupted - completed after Solomon Island interview)
OUTLOOK GRIM FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS
Prospects for peace talks in Solomon Islands are deteriorating after a series of ambushes by rival ethnic groups claimed at least half a dozen lives. The victims died during gunfights between the Malaita Eagle Force and the Isatabu Freedom Movement, which are struggling for control of the main island, Guadacanal. Hopes for negotiations are being further threatened by rampaging crime levels in the capital Honiara - police say the situation is now out of control. The New Zealand High Commissioner in Honiara, Nick Hurley, told me that the outlook is grim. PREREC
WARNING ABOUT HEAD INJURY
A neurosurgeon has told the Wellington coroner's court that sportspeople need to be warned of the dangers of playing with concussion or of concealing concussion. Graham Martin was giving evidence at an inquest into the deaths of two rugby league players, one of them Aaron MacDonald died in hospital in May last year, 3-days after receiving a head injury while playing league. The other [illegible] Leonardo Va'a died in 1998, after being warned by doctors and family members to get out of league because he had been in hospital several times with concussion. But Graeme Martin says there are other sports such as horseriding where people insist on continuing despite the risks associated with second or repeated concussions. PREREC
FIJI PRISON STORMED
In breaking news, returning to Fiji, the Naboro prison has been stormed by the military and police to free guards who had been held hostage by prisoners. Our reporter Barbara Dreaver joins us now. LIVE
MASSEY GETS INTO CHILDRENS PHENOMENON
The children's literary hero Harry Potter is taking the publishing world by storm - now he's to be the subject of a university course. The Potter books, by the English author, J. K Rowling have racked up millions of sales worldwide - the fourth book in the series sold out in many New Zealand stores when it went on sale last week. Now, Massey University is including the books in a new course on children's literature. Our Harry Potter fan Jill Galloway went along to find out PKG
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