0611 Māori NEWS 1616 NEWS STORY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS - investigations underway into systems failures affecting Fire Service and Poice communications for upper North Island over weekend.(Eileen Cameron)
0620 RURAL NEWS AGRICULTURE MINISTRY restructures this weel. MAFQuality restructured into 2 SOEs, Assure and Agriquality nZ. Assure's chief exec Terry Pierson says launch of new SOE won't see many changes for customer. (Catherine Harris) FRUITFLY - fruitgrowers and govt welcome dropping of last ban on NZ fruit in wake of 1996 fruitfly scare. China has announced it's dropping ban. Food and Fibre minister John Luxton says ban is reminder of how important border security is to NZ economy. (Catherine Harris) FRUITGROWERS' CONFERENCE takes theme of Fresh Thinking. Fedn chief exec Peter illegible says conference will encourage people to look at their businesses in different way. (Catherine Harris) LAKE OPUHA opening celebrated in South Canty. Country's newest lake created during construction of Opuha Dam, covers 700 ha and included wetland reserve. (Lauren McKenzie)
0625 SPORTS STORY RUGBY LEAGUE - NZ wins first test victory against Britain in controversial and tough game at Huddersfield. Live i/v with British league journalist Peter Ward.
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY EXTREME WEATHER characterises NZ climate over last month, detailed in latest summary from NIWAR. Live i/v with senior climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger.
0639 INTERNATIONAL PAPERS
0642 MANA NEWS TREATY OF WAITANGI - Justice ministry published book suggesting future new direction. Māori ELECTORATES - Labour Party discusses tactics for recapturing all the Māori seats.
0651 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS BRIERLEY/SHAMROCK - Shamrock says it won't back away from fight at next week's annual meeting. Company had been due to meet BIL director Richard Longes tomorrow but meeting called off after Shamrock went public with its move to dump 3 directors, including Mr Longes. Shamrock says it went public amid growing frustration at delay in BIL's responding to detailed proposal. (Gyles Beckford) U.S. ECONOMY - several Wall St firms alter view, now think economy will be in recession next year. Robert Brusca, Nikko Securities, doesn't agree, says pessimists have jumped the gun. (Judy Lessing) FINANCE/MARKETS WEEK AHEAD TAX - INDUCEMENT PAYMENTS - Privy Council decision appears to have deprive Inland Revenue of millions of dollars of potential tax take. Council has ruled inducement payments offered by commercial landlords to tempt tenants are not liable for tax, ruling in favour of accountants Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Live i/v with partner John Shewan.
0700 INTRO/NEWS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS - Fire Service and Police investigating systems failutes affecting communications in upper North Island yesterday. Acting National Fire Cdr Bob Sampson comments; Firefighters' Unin says 2 major fires occurred while system was down, resulting in serious delays. Live i/v with union president Mike McEnaney. FLOODING - OHURA - tiny King Country settlement's fate hangs in balance with health and safety inspectors deciding today whether 20 houses will be condemned after being severely damaged by last week's floods. State of emergency remains in place, with many resident unable to return to homes. (Sharon Brettkelly);live i/v with Ruapehu District mayor Weston Kirton. CENTRAL AMERICA - HURRICANE MITCH - death toll from flooding and mudslides rises to more than 800. Red Cross officials say 467 people killed in Nicaragua alone where massive landslides buried entire villages. Live i/v with spokesperson in Guatemala, Macarena Aguilar. WEATHER RECORDS - NIWAR statistics show last month was extremely wet in western areas of North Island as well as Buller region, Nelson and Marlborough in South Island while other regions recorded drier and warmer conditions. Live i/v with MetService chief forecaster Augie Auer.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE COURT FINES - Courts Dept promising to use new powers to get tough with people who owe it more than $170 million in fines. Summary Proceeding Amdt Act enables Courts to recover unpaid fines directly from pay packets and obtain information not previously available. Comment from Murray Short, Courts Dept, illegible Neilson of budgeting service, Nicky Saffrey of Mothers Alone and Bruce Davidson, Law Society.(Blair McLaren) PAINT TOXIN - World Wildlife Fund says it has evidence that toxic chemical used in ships' paints is posioning marine life and birds in Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, urges maritime authorities to ban use of tributylin, used in anti-fouling paints to stop marine creatures sticking to hulls. Live i/v with head of British WWF marine programme, Sian Pullen. CHINA - FAMILY PLANNING - China joins 9 other developing countries in programme which reaffirms right of couples to decide how many children they will have. Reports of forced abortions and sterilisation of women have fuelled perception that policy of one child per family is being enforced by coercion. (Rae Lamb) MONDAY OZ SPOT - live i/v with correspondent Phil Kafcaloudes. (Queenland cruise ship captain has to be restrained by crew and passengersl; Opera House refit)
0800 NEWS/WEATHER FLOODING - OHURA - Civil Defence and council workers today assessing full extent of flood damage to township. Last week's floods covered township in 20 cms of silt. Live i/v with Civil Defence controller Chris Ryan. FISHING INDUSTRY - CONTROL - govt denies suggestions it's about to hand over control of industry to commercial trawling companies. Green Party and Labour say it will be considered by cabinet agenda but says there will be further consultation and any changes will be introduced gradually with aim of more local input in setting rules. Comment from Mr Luxton, Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, and Bob Burstall, president of NZ Recreational Fishing Council. (Eric Frykberg) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS LABOUR ELECTORATES - race on for people wanting to stand as electorate candidates for Labour at next election, with indications of stiff competition especially in Māori seats which Labour is determined to recapture from NZ First. Live i/v with Political reporter Sarah Boyd. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS - Firefighters' Union president Mike McEnaney says management knew there were problems with system; live i/v with acting national cdr Bob Sampson who replies to claim. INTERNET SHOPPING - Woolworths supermarkets to extend scheme allowing customers to use internet site to place grocery orders. Scheme has been working in AK for 2 years so successfully it's being launched in WN today amid plans to introduce it into other areas soon. (Kiri Coughlan)
0830 NEWS/SPORTS TRIATHLETE Hamish Carter looks set to win men's world title, wins second-to-last World Cup race in AK over weekend and is ahead on points table. Final to be held in Queensland next Sunday. Live i/v with Hamish Carter. BUSINESS/SPORTS - Waikato Univ researchers and Saatchi and Saatchi advert agency study teams that have been at top of their sport for at least a decade and present results to international forum in US, in terms of inspiration of how to get to the top and stay there. Live i/v with Prof Michael Pratt, dean of Waikato Management School. IRAQ - WEAPONS INSPECTION - Iraq ceases co-operation with UN inspectors until UN reviews lifting of sanctions imposed after 1990 invasion of Kuwait, also renews calls for removal of Richard Butler, chair of UN Special Commission in charge of dismantling Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. I/v with correspondent Richard Downes. (Mng Rpt) PINOCHET - human rights activists stage vigil at Westminster ahead of this week's appeal by Crown for power to arrest and detain former Chilean dictator although many legal experts fear House of Lords committee will not overturn High Court decision giving Gen Pinochet immunity from prosecution and arrest in Britain for human rights abuses he's alleged to hve committed while ruler of Chile. (Keith Chalkley) RUSSIA - ECONOMIC CRISIS - PM Yevgency Primakov seeks parliament's support this week for plan to pull country out of economic crisis but IMF has already criticised his programme as shift away from market economy. I/v with correspondent James Rodgers.