**** CKPT FOR WED OCT 10 2007
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Tax cuts next year have all but been confirmed with the Government announcing a larger-than-expected Budget surplus for the past year. And the Finance Minister Michael Cullen says surpluses are likely to be larger this year and beyond, giving plenty of scope for tax cuts. Here's our political editor Brent Edwards PKG
With us now to take a closer look at the state of the government's books is our Economics Correspondent Corin Dann. LIVE
The All Blacks have come home - and they say they'll be scarred for life after failing to get through to the semi-finals of the Rugy World Cup. But if they thought fans were going to shun them, they were wrong. Players returned to a heroes' welcome - with about 1-thousand supporters out to greet them. Our reporter Monique Devereux waited with the crowds at Christchurch International Airport. PKG
Monique is with us now with more on the news of Doug Howlett's arrest in London LIVE
One of Auckland's biggest Real Estate companies has sacked three of its agents who are accused of inflating house prices to borrow money from banks. Barfoot and Thompson launched an internal investigation after it found discrepencies in some property transactions. A former salesperson who is no longer employed in the industry, is also involved, along with a sales assistant. The Real Estate Institute has suspended all five people - until it rules on their case. The Director of Barfoot and Thompson - Peter Thompson is with us now LIVE
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BUSINESS NEWS
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17.30 HEADLINES
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Tax cuts next year have been all but confirmed with the Government announcing a larger-than-expected Budget surplus for the past year. The Finance Minister Michael Cullen says surpluses are also likely to be larger this year and beyond, giving plenty of scope for tax cuts. Dr Cullen announced an 8-point-7 billion dollar surplus for the year ending June - well up on the Budget forecast of 6-point-five billion dollars. The Minister joins us now. LIVE
A woman involved in a high-profile case where she was caught drink driving with a young child in her car two years ago has again been sentenced after committing a similar offence. During the 2005 incident a truck driver was forced to jack-knife his truck to stop Karina Coburn as she cut through traffic in the King Country with her two year old daughter in the car. The 45-year-old has been disqualified from driving and must apply for special permission before she's allowed to get behind the wheel again. Our reporter Lisa Thompson was at the Pukekohe District Court for the sentencing...LIVE
Fiji's Football Association is venting its anger at New Zealand's refusal to grant an entry visa to its goalkeeper and strongest player. The Fiji soccer team is playing the All Whites on Saturday in Auckland but the Government has refused to grant an entry visa to Simione Tamanisau because his father-in-law is in the army. New Zealand introduced travel bans on the Fiji military and their families following December's coup. The president of the Fiji Football Association, Muhammad Shamsund-den Sahukhan says the team will only play under protest on Saturday and he wants the match to be replayed. PREREC
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WAATEA NEWS
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There was a rowdy exchange in Parliament today over John Key's statement that the Iraq War is "over". The National Party leader said last week that the war was over in a very short time, and that the main coalition forces are now looking to withdraw. He later clarified that answer, saying he had been talking about the invasion of Iraq, and never suggested there wasn't an ongoing conflict. But those words "the war is over" keep coming back. Here's our parliamentary chief reporter Clare Pasley. PKG
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