Checkpoint for Tuesday 31 MARCH 2009
******************************
1700 to 1707 NEWS
****************************
The Justice Minister is promising tougher bail laws. This follows revelations that an Auckland student was killed by a teenager who was on bail for aggravated robbery and assault. Haiden Davis was yesterday found guilty of murdering Augustine Borrell in 2007.The victim's family says the justice system has let them down. This report from Belinda McCammon. PKG
Here's the Justice Minister Simon Power. PRE-REC
The credibility and reputation of a former top police officer has come under intense scrutiny in the David Bain retrial today.The defence case is that the police investigation that resulted in David Bain's arrest for the murders of five members of his family, was not carried out properly.It says Robin Bain was the real killer, but the police ignored the evidence against him and focused on David Bain instead. Monique Devereux is covering the case. LIVE
Pakistan police are interrogating four suspects captured during the storming of a police academy in Lahore. Eight police cadets and four attackers died in the commando-style assault. It's fanned Western fears about the Islamic extremism in the nuclear-armed state. The ABC's South Asia correspondent Sally Sarah reports : PKG
***********************
BUSINESS NEWS
************************
The Internal Affairs Minister has admitted he had ministerial assistance and received an official briefing while on a personal trip to India. Richard Worth has already received a dressing down from the Prime Minister over the visit -- and was today on the back foot in Parliament as he defended his actions. Here's our political reporter Danya Levy: PKG
A procession of potential Olympic host cities have been doing their best to impress at a meeting in Queenstown, with the hope of staging the Games in 2016.They've been putting their cases at the opening day of the Oceania National Olympic Committee General Assembly. Steve Wilde reports. PKG
***********************
17.30 HEADLINES
***********************
Rural New Zealand is questioning the Government's plan to roll out ultra-fast broadband to 75 percent of households but leaving them out.The plan outlined today covers 25 main centres, but nowhere smaller than Oamaru which has just under 13 thousand people.The Government will make 1.5 billion dollar investment over ten years, which it wants matched by the private sector. Emma Lancaster reports. PKG
North Korea is just days away from launching a rocket into space, triggering a rise in tensions in the region. Some countries such as South Korea, the United States and Japan believe it could be a ballistic missile test and have warned the North not to fire the rocket. Pyongyang says it's putting a communications satellite into orbit. CNN's Chris Lawrence reports : PKG
The Labour Party says the new-look Board of the Accident Compensation Corporation has been selected to help smooth the way for privatisation.The ACC Minister, Nick Smith today swept aside more than half of the Labour-appointed Board - saying more financial skills were needed to deal with ACC's escalating costs. Sacked board members contacted by Radio New Zealand declined to be interviewed.Our political reporter, Julian Robins, has the story. PKG
***************
WAATEA NEWS
****************
Tramping in rugged bush can be hard enough in normal circumstances - but try it with a broken ankle. That's what Matthew Briggs had to do after falling down a bluff in South Westland, badly injuring his ankle, breaking his wrist and suffering deep lacerations. Despite his injuries and knowing it would be almost impossible for searchers to find him he made it to the Horace Walker hut where two other trampers then set out on a 13 hour hike to get help.The Search and Rescue coordinator, Constable Sean Judd, says friends of Mr Briggs' had told police he was overdue but had no idea where he might be. PRE-REC
Matthew Briggs was picked up by helicopter today and flown to Grey Base Hospital in Greymouth where he's undergone surgery. Dennis Bowers of Middlemarch where Mr Briggs lives says he first raised the alarm at the weekend. PRE-REC
A sole New Zealand nurse is en route to Tokelau as the islands battle an influenza-like outbreak. About 10 percent of the population of 15-hundred people have been reported ill since the first case appeared in the middle of the month. Wellington Hospital nurse Bronwen Markham will tonight meet the World Health Organisation in Apia, before travelling 36 hours by boat to Tokelau. She spoke to me before leaving New Zealand today. PRE-REC
It's been a whirlwind year of award nominations for the wildly popular New Zealand act, Flight of the Conchords.The duo have a slew of high-profile gigs coming up in Canada and America, including at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Tonight, though, they'll perform a fundraiser in Masterton for Jemaine Clement's former high school - Makoura College. Our reporter Clint Owens is at the venue and joins us now. LIVE
**************