0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY ARMENIA - ASSASSINATION - 4 gunmen who killed PM and 7 other leading politicians release hostages and are now in police custody. Defence ministry blames attack on security lapses and demands resignation of Interior minister. (BBC) PRESIDENTIAL RACE - DEMOCRATS - surprising battle between vice president Al Gore and former basketball star Bill Bradley. They're neck and neck in polls for Democratic nomination, appear together for first time in public and present very different images to voters. (Robin Brandt, Feature Story) MAYDAY CALLS - police, coastguard and search and rescue volunteers annoyed by illegible spate of hoax maydal calls in South Island. Latest occurred yesterday illegible police alerted by marine radio to distress call from Fiordland and spent 5 hours tracking down all boats in area before discovering none in any danger. (Karlum Lattimore)
0620 RURAL NEWS CATTLE SEMEN BAN - MAF proposing to lift ban on imports of British cattle semen, first imposed in 1989 following outbreak of BSE in Britain. MAF's national agricultural security manager, Stuart MacDiarmid, says it's clear there's no risk of transferring BSE through cattle semen. (Kevin Ikin) AUSTRALIAN DAIRY COMPANY National Foods confirms it wants to buy into NZ dairy market, has its eye on NZ Dairy Group's domestic marketing company Dairy Foods. Max Ould, National Foods, says outcome depends on what happen to mega merger plan. (Kevin Ikin) CROSSBRED WOOL PRICES rise across board as result of strong interest from buyers at CH and Napier sales. (Kevin Ikin) FARM BIKE INVENTION - Southland inventor Lochie Young comes up with device farmers can use to control 4-wheel bikes from the trailer. "Quad Commander" fits under bike's handlebars, with separate control unit farmers can either hold or attach to trailer. (Diana Leufkens) illegible SPORTS STORY illegible LEAGUE - Kiwis play Britain tonight at AK's Ericsson Stadium, favourites to win. Robbie Paul moves to halfback and brother Henry switches to stand-off. I/v with Henry Paul. (Barry Guy)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY CHECHNYA conflict beginnig to impact on neighbouring countries, especially Georgia. Georgian leaders trying to stay out of conflict but may not be able to for much longer. (BBC) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA MāORI PIRI MIRI TUA Party - Electoral Commission refuses to register it in time for election due to objections to name from Ratana church. EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY CLAIM - Waitangi Tribunal finds Crown confiscated land in breach of Treaty of Waitangi. TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS BRIERLEY INVESTMENTS new corporate structure unveiled along with strategy for way ahead by new chief exec Greg Terry. BIL aiminig to regain position as leading corporate investment group in Asia region through "Four Pillars" policy. (Helen Matterson) BUSINESS CONFIDENCE - National Bank's latest survey shows confidence has stopped slipping, for first time in 7 months. Signs are for more people to be hired, more goods sold overseas, and profits and investments to continue to improve. Live i/v with National Bank's Chief economist Brendan O'Donovan. FINANCE/MARKETS MARKET REVIEW AAPT - TELECOM makes takeover offer for Australian telecommunications compnay unconditional. Offer closes November 6. (Helen Matterson) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS TEENAGE CAR CRASH - Wairarapa coroner John Kershaw's findings into deaths of 4 teenagers in July says driver Nathan Stevenson was 6 times over legal alcohol limit for his age and not licensed to carry passengers. He and 3 of his 5 passengers died when car crashed off road near Carterton, had all been at supervised birthday party. Mr Kershaw i/ved. (Mng Rpt); live i/v with Det Sgt Graeme Reisima, Masterton police. ARMENIA - ASSASSINATION - gunmen surrender and release hostages, accuse govt of illegible disastrous political and economic policies. I/v with BBC's Moscow correspondent Andrew Harding. (Mng Rpt); live i/v with Armenian politics specialist, Dr Martin McCauley. CHILD CANCER SERVICES - future shape of services likely to be decided today at Health Funding Authority meeting. Services in WN< CH< and DN hoping to find out where they stand after months of uncertainty. Live i/v with Health correspondent Rae Lamb. COOKBOOK FRAUD - hundreds of people reportedly defrauded by mail order scheme involving "Australian Woman's Weekly" cookbooks. Scam is in flier offering 3 cookbooks for price of $24.95 but people using credit cards to pay were billed for $1,000 and no sign of the books. I/v with Consumers' Inst chief exec David Russell. (Mng Rpt)
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS TRAFFIC REPORT FINANCE UPDATE INFLATION - CPI figures due this morning expected to confirm inflation is gathering pace. CPI for 3 months ended September expected to reach arund 3-quarters of 1%, taking annual rate to just below 1.5%. Live i/v with Business editor Gyles Beckford. illegible WORLD CUP - ALL BLACK team to play France in semi final named. Justin Marshalal dropped as halfback and Byron Kelleher is in the starting 15. Live i/v with coach John Hart; live i/v with correspondent John McBeth MINORITY GOVERNMENT - PM Jenny Shipley's suggestion she could form minority govt relying on issue by issue support from NZ First is shot down by Winston Peters. And while Mrs Shipley is willing to leave the door open, ACT says it wouldn't work. Comment from Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark, Jim Anderton, and Richard Prebble. (Clare Sziranyi) EAST TIMOR - U.N. administrator speaks about his role in East Timor's transition to independence. Sergio Vieira de Mello arrives in Dili in a fortnight and will be in charge of setting up new civilian govt. (Georgina Cooper, Feature Story)
0800 NEWS/WEATHER TEENAGE CAR CRASH - Masterton police says drink-drive message still not getting through to young people in areas, 3 months after car crash that killed 4 teenagers. (Blair McLaren) FOOD LABELLING - Green Party considering taking legal action over draft standard for labelling genetically modified food. Australia and NZ Food Authority standard released for public comment, 2 of the 5 categories are "may be genetically modified" and "may contain genetically modified ingredients. Green Party list candidate Sue Kedgley says descriptions are misleading and confusing for consumers and thus would breach food regulations and Fair Trading Act. She's i/ved live; live i/v with Health minister Wyatt Creech. ELECTION - MAUNGAKIEKIE - geography, population mix, and political loyalties microcosm of sprawling AK region which holds key to next govt. National incumbent Belinda Vernon holds the seat with majority of just over 200 votes. Comment from Ms Vernon, Labour's Mark Gosche, NZ First's Gilbert Myles, Act's Angus Ogilvie and Cook Islands community worker Rama Isaia. (Stephen Harris) EAST TIMOR - NZ TROOPS - battalion commander Lt Col Kevin Burnett says decision on who leads UN force will make no difference to their job in territory. New UN transition teaem will eventually authorise 9,000 strong force to replace multinational troops although many of nations now involved will still play a part. Lt Col Burnett i/ved. (Mng Rpt) IRRIGATION SCHEME - huge North Canty scheme opens tomorrow, ending decades of anxiety and stress for farmers in drought-prone area. Scheme is biggest in NZ to be funded privately by irrigator shareholders. (Shona Geary)
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS AMERICAS CUP - first round of challenger series finally winds up. 11 teams competing for Louis Vuitton Cup and right to take on Team NZ now have 8 days before competition resumes with higher stakes. (Todd Niall) illegible FRAUD - hundreds of people reportedly conned by mail order scam involving "Australian Women's Weekly" cookbooks. Live i/v with Keith Falconer, operations manager for Australian Consolidated Press, which distributes the cookbooks in NZ. FRANCE/IRAN - Iranian president Mohammed Khatami braves storm of noisy protests by Iranian dissidents and human rights groups to meet French president Jacques Chirac. French concerns about fate of 13 Iranian Jews detained on spying charges among issues discussed by the leaders. Live i/v with Paris correspondent Elaine Cobb. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS CLIMATE CONFERENCE - at conference in Bonnm US and European Union appear to be at loggerheads over how to reduce greenhouse gases in accordance with targets agreed 2 years ago in Kyoto. NZ delegate Daryl Dunn, MFAT director of Environment division, says conflict is complex - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) CATHOLIC/LUTHERAN churches about to sign historic agreement recognising each other's right to exist and common ground between them. Signing of joint declaration on Doctrine of Justification takes place this weekend in Augsburg in Germany and is being marked with special combined service in Palmerston illegible (Jill Galloway) OZ SPOT - live i/v with correspondent Donna Demaio. (interest rates and inflation; some Kosovo refugees don't want to go home quite yet; man mistakes wheelie bin for car at carwash)