0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY PAKISTAN - POLITICAL CRISIS - Gen Musharraf expected to make statement today outlining his plans. People appear to welcome the change in power. (CNN) MILLENNIUM - LIQUOR LICENCES - special 24-hour licences granted for some premises for New Year's Eve celebrations. (Trudi Sheridan)
0620 RURAL NEWS LAMB EXPORTS - U.S. - NZ and Australia taking US to World Trade Orgn over tariffs on lamb, will lodge request with WTO today for disputes panel to hear complaint. Trade minister Lockwood Smith comments. (Kevin Ikin) MILK SUBSIDIES - NZ govt expects decisiosn today on Canadian appeal to World Trade Orgn relating to cross-subsidising milk subsidies. NZ and US took Canada illegible WTO last year, complaining it's using 2-tier milk pricing structure to provide low cost milk to processors for export. Trade minister Lockwood Smith says WTO decision important because it will discourage others from using subsidy schemes to undercut competitors in export markets. (q) (Kevin Ikin) APPLE PRICES - growers' representative Phil Allison dismisses ACT Party solution to price collapse of main export variety Braeburn. ACT's Agriculture spokesman Owen Jennings says bold solutions needed and ripping up the trees is one idea. (Trudi Sheridan) RURAL WOMEN NZ becomes official today, replacing former identity as Women's Division Federated Farmers. President Margaret Millard says WDFF was never really a division of Fed Farmers and new name embraces all rural women. (Trudi Sheridan)
0625 SPORTS STORY U.S. SPORTS - live i/v with Paul Witteman, "Sports Illustrated". (2nd round of baseball playoffs; death of former basketball star Wilt Chamberlain)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY I.R.D. INQUIRY - parliamentary inquiry into Inland Revenue Dept finds culture illegible fear and punishment in dept and makes 27 recommendations for change. Both National and Labour promising to implement changes. Comment from tax expert John Shewan, Ombudsman Sir Brian Elwood, Inst of Chartered Accountants tax director Jeff Owens, Sir Wm Birch and Labour's Mark Peck. (Blair McLaren) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA MāORI TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS BANKING - PROFITABILITY passes benchmark of 1% but question now is whether it can be sustained. Profits have been rising for last 3 quarters. Massey Univ director of Banking Studies, David Tripe, says main reasons are concerted efforts by banks to manage costs and fewer problem loans, and says several factors will determine whether profitablity will continue. (Helen Matterson) I.R.D. INQUIRY - tax expert John Shewan says Inland Revenue Dept needs new skills and people if it's to shake off current poor reputation. He agrees with parliamentary inquiry recommendations, particularly one calling for greater flexibility in applying rules and imposing penalties. (Gyles Beckford) FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXPO - industry displays itself and its future at Telecoms 99 in Geneva. Convergence in rapidly changing sector means participants include not only telephone companies but also internet, computer hardware and software companies, and equipment designers. (Gyles Beckford/Richard Quest) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS RADIO FREQUENCY DEAL - agreement believed to have been hammered out over multi-million dollar sale of high frequency radio spectrum, intended to permit frewuencies to be sold off for use by new-generation cellphones which can carry internet. Auction of the frequencies had been blocked by successful appeal to Waitangi Tribunal which argued it could thwart govt's obligation to protect Māori language. Māori Affairs minister Tau Henare has announced one-off payment of $15 million to support promotion of Moari language and culture. Radio NZ has learned money will come from proceeds of selling frequencies. Live i/v with Māori Issues correspondent Chris Wikaira; livei /v with Ernie Newman, chief exec of Telecommunications Users' Assn of NZ. FALSE DOCUMENTS - Pacific Island leaders furious their people targetted by Māori sovereignty group selling worthless documents promising citizenship. Police investigating allegations that residency documents being sold to overstayers on behalf of Confedn of Chiefs of United Tribes of Aotearoa. Comment from Rev Mua Strickson Pua of Pacific Island church, chair of Assn of for Migration and Investment David Besley, and Māori Council chair Sir Graham Latimer. (Barbara Dreaver) DOUBLE STABBING CASE - Napier jury finds 20 year old Arai Hema guilty of attempted murder of 76 year old Bruce Butler but not guilty of attempted murder of his 16 year old neighbour Lynley McBride in her home last December. Mr McBride was attacked when he responded to her screams for help. Heugh Chappell reports live. PAKISTAN - POLITICAL CRISIS - Pakistan appears calm following military take-over. Military spokesman Brig Rasheed Karishi describes it as totally opontaneous. Martial law has not been declared nor has parliament been dissolved or constitution suspended. I/v with correspondent Ali Zaidi re legal status of govt.(Mng Rpt)
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS TRAFFIC REPORT FINANCE UPDATE I.R.D. INQUIRY - Parliament's finance and expenditure select committee inquiry illegible up with 31 different recommendations for Inland Revenue Dept, including having Ombudsman scrutinise it and allowing taxpayers to read their own files. Inst of Chartered Accountants tax director Jeff Owens says it's important recommendations be implemented after election; IRD Commissioner Graham Holland says he accepts MP Peter Dunne's view that pendulum has swung too far towards sanctions and threats; live i/v with specialist tax lawyer Geoff Clews. ELECTION CAMPAIGN - NATIONAL Party preparing radio advertising campaign to discredit Labour by featuring Helen Clark impersonator. Actor Lorae Parry has turned down the role. Helen Clark calls foul and election broadcasting watchdog says the proposal's offside. Comment from Ms Clark, National's campaign manager Jeff Grant, and Dr Michael Stace, execdirector of Broadcasting Standards Authority. (Stephen Parker) ELECTION - HEALTH - LABOUR - Health minister Wyatt Creech releases what he claims is key part of Labour's policy, not due to be released until next week. Mr Creech says documents which appear to detail plans for structure of health system were sent anonymously to him. Live i/v with Health correspondent Rae Lamb, with comment from Mr Creech.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER RADIO FREQUENCY DEAL - what sort of deal has been struck to ensure frequency sale will go ahead? I/v with Māori Affairs minister Tau Henare. MILK SUBSIDIES - Trade minister Lockwood Smith welcomes World Trade Orgn confirmation of ruling that Canada has contravened trade rules by illegal export subsidies on dairy products. Dr Smith says decision very significant for NZ - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) PETER ELLIS CASE - Court of Appeal expected to deliver long-awaited second appeal decision today. Former CH childcare worker Peter Ellis serving 10 year sentence imposed in 1993 after jury found him guilty of sexually abusing several young children. Live i/v with Court reporter Merle Nowland re background to appeal. PAKISTAN - POLITICAL CRISIS - army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf holds talks with President Ragiq Tarar. Reports that PM Nawaz Sharif and several officials are still detained. NZ's Honorary Consul in Karachi, Moin Fudda, says there's a hint of panic in the military - he's i/ved. (Mng Rpt); INDIA'S REACTION - PM Vajpayee concerned about situation in Pakistan. Correspondent Ranjan Gupta says Indian govt doesn't want to antagonise the military there - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS ELECTION - HEALTH - LABOUR - Health minister Wyatt Creech releases what he says is key part of Labour party's health policy. He sas documents appear to signal return of Area Health Bosrdss, move to make Health Funding Authority part of Health ministry and alternative funding plans. Live i/v with Labour's Health illegible Annette King. illegible NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS CANCER PLAN - campaign for nationally co-ordinated plan to fight cancer comes under spotlight at inaugural NZ Cancer Conference in CH today. NZ rates of cancer are high, while in US the number of people affected is declining for first time. Live i/v with American Cancer Society chief exec John Seffrin, keynote speaker at conference. SCHOOL TRIPS - many children at schools in poor areas missing out on valuable education programmes because parents can't afford to pay for them. New study shows schools in rural and poor areas are most disadvantaged in getting programmes known as Learning Experience Outside the Classroom. (Gael Woods) COOK ISLANDS - POLITICAL TURMOIL again, with sacking of deputy PM Norman George and Education minister Jim Mrurae. PM Dr Joe Williams says they've been dismissed for openly negotiating with opposition Democratic Alliance Party; live i/v with Radio NZ International reporter Bruce Hill. AMERICAS CUP - Todd Niall continues series on Louis Vuitton cup challengers. (Americans and Japanese) AUSTRIA - FAR RIGHT POLITICS - controversial far right political leader Jorge Haider visiting Britain and France in attempt to counter view he's a neo-Nazi. illegible Austrian Freedom Party came second in last week's election after running anti-immigrant campaign, He's previously praised Nazis' "decent employment policies" and described former SS members as "men of character". Live i/v with correspondent Nigel Glass. FRUIT AND VEG REPORT with Jack Forsythe.