0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY TAINUI FINANCES - Tainui in financial mess. Assets officially worth $245 million but independent financial review finds that value unjustified afte some high risk investments fail to perform. All investments are to be reviewed. Michale Stiassney, AK accountancy firm Ferrier Hodgson, explains the tribe's financial difficulties. (Eric Frykberg) U.S. - HILLARY STANDS - Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes first wife of US president by formally announcing she'll stand for the Senate. (Feature Story)
0620 RURAL NEWS illegible withdraws its application to field test genetically modified, illegible-resistant wheat, says it will wait for results of gvot's planned Royal Commission of Inquiry into genetic engineering before proceeding. (Diana Leufkens) FEDERATED FARMERS - NORTHLAND BRANCH - agreement reached to settle protracted dispute over financial and policy issue but there are signs of tension with Northland branch wanting to overhaul structure of national organisation. Comment from national president Alistair Polson and branch president Ian Walker. (Diana Leufkens) KIWIFRUIT CROP - Zespri International expecting bigger crop to export this year. Chair Doug Voss says it expects increase on last year's crop which was down 14% on previous year and market conditions expected to be similar to past season with no dark clouds on horizon. (Kevin Ikin) N.Z. WOOL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL achieves $1.6 million turnaround on loss of year ago, announces half million dollar net profit for first 6 months of financial year. (Kevin Ikin)
0625 SPORTS STORY: RUGBY - 6 NATIONS TOURNAMENT - Italy causes major upset in first appearance in tournament, beats last year's winners Scotlan 34-20. Live i/v with correspondent Adam Mynott. illegible NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY: BRITAIN - ASIAN WOMEN/MARRIAGES - govt looking at way of enabling consular official in some Asian countries to give more help to women with British nationality who are forced into arranged marriages. (BBC) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA NEWS TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS MACQUARIE BANK - ECONOMIC FORECAST - Australian investment bank says near term growth outloook for NZ raised but it thinks growth will taper off earlier than expected. Comment from fiexed income strategist David Bassanese. (Helen Matterson) A.C.C. REWVEIW - PM Helen Clark says there's chance private insurance companies could be involved with employers who manage their own injury claims under accredited employers scheme, but repeats ACC will be main insurer. Ms Clakr says there's no evidence to show private insurers do better or more cost-effective job that single, state-run scheme. (q) Gyles Beckford) SKILL SHORTAGES - manufacturers worried they won't be able to raise or sustain export growth because of staff and skill shortages. Comment fom Bruce Goldsworthy, Northern Emplouers and Manufacturers' Assn. (Helen Matterson) FINANCE/MARKETS STAFF RECRUITMENT with help of "psychometric" computer packages promoted as way to start dealing with high staff turnover. Selector Group develops software to measure human behaviour ranging from ability, reasoning style and performance under stress. Consultant psychologist Grant Amos says traditional i/ving method can be expensive because they more often than not don't work out. (Helen Matterson) YEAR OF THE DRAGON - Chinese communities around world celebrating Lunar New Year, ushering in Year of the Golden Dragon, most powerful and lucky of the Chinese zodiac beasts. Credit Lyonnais' annual Feng Shui investment index suggest finance markets will have something of rollercoaster ride. BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS illegible/HAWKESBY ROW - Television NZ board and management under pressure from govt followin confirmation that company was ordered to pay former neewsreader John Hawkesby more than $5 million in compensation for dismissing him. PM Helen Clark and Broadcasting minister Marian Hobbs attack size of settlement and corporate culture that allowed such high salary packages to develop. (Julian Robins); live i/v with PM Helen Clark. WELLINGTON WATERFRONT - WN City Council votes to review controversial waterfront development plan after widespread public opposition, but opponents of Variation 17 fail to convince councillors to scrap plan completely. Comment from mayor Mark Blumsky, councillors Alick Shaw and Mary Varnham, and Frances Williamson, organiser of petition against the proposal. (Catherine Walbridge) AFGHAN HIJACK - British police spend night negotiating with hijackers holding more than 160 people hostage on Afghan passenger plane at Stansted Airport near London. Hijackers have released another 3 hostages, who report there are between 7-10 hijackers armed with pistols and automatic weapons. They're believed to be demanding release of Afghan opposition leader Ismail Khan who's imprisoned by Taleban. Live i/v with correspondent Alistair Wanklyn. TAINUI FINANCES - major restructuring of Tainui's assets and investments, designed to get it out of financial difficulties, doesn't satisfy long-standing critics. One of those critical of way leadership has managed funds, Angeline illegible, says latest financial difficulties are no surprise - i/ved. (Mng Rpt)
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE: TAINUI FINANCES - live i/v with Tainui spokesman Shane Solomon. TIMBER POISON CLAIM - Health minister Annette King says she's happy to talk to union representing ex-timber workers who believe they've been poisoned by chemical PCP. Engineers' Union has register of 80 workers who fear they've been poisoned by the preservative and is expecting another 2-300 to come forwars. Comment from Mrs King and union organiser Andrew Little. (Corinne Ambler) U.S. - HILLARY STANDS - Hillary Rodham Clinton formally announces her candidacy for Senate. Live i/v with correspondent Mary Tillotson. NORTHERN IRELAND - BOMB ATTACK by IRA dissidents on rural hotel adds to political tensions. Bomb planted by Continuity IRA, splinter group opposed to peace accord, but nobody killed. Live i/v with correspondent David McKittrick.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER TVNZ/HAWKESBY ROW - PM Helen Clark signals she may reshuffle board so it can meet govt's objectives of public service, critical of board following confirmation company ordered to pay former newsreader John Hawkesby more than $5 million, (q)' live i/v with Wayne Hope. AUT senior Communications lecturer. WELLINGTON WATERFRONT - WN City Council forced to modify plans for waterfront development in face of stiff public opposition. Live i/v with mayor Mark Blumsky and Waterfront Watch president Lindsay Shelton. AFGHAN HIJACK - hijackers reported to be demanding release from Taleban jai of key opposition figure Ismail Khan. Live i/v with BBC Asian Affairs correspondent Sanjiv Butto re who Ismail Khan is. PRIMARY PRINCIPALS' CONTRACTS - School Trustees' Assn angry about new employment contract arrangements for primary school principals which it says undermine boards' role in running schools. STA says allowing principals to opt out of individual contarcts will mean boards can no longer decide on performance-related salary increases. I/v with STA president Owen Edgerton; live i/v with Principals' Fed president Geoff Lovegrove. TRAFFIC REPORT
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS TAINUI FINANCES - financial advisor appointed to help Tainui restructure its finances, Michael Stiassny, says grants to Tainui people will be substantially reduced this year. Live i/v with Māori Issues correspondent Chris Wikaira. KOSOVO-NATO - US-based Human Rights Watch says last year's NATO strikes on Kosovo resulted in deaths of around 500 civilians, says it's far higher than NATO govts have admitted, and it accuses NATO of violating international humanitarian law. Live i/v with exec director Kenneth Roth. FILM DEVELOPMENT FUND - govt considering putting $10 million into fund to help local film inudstry. NZ Film Commission wants to use combination of govt, international and private funding to establish fund for film-makers to develop their 2nd and 3rd projects. Comment from PM Helen Clark, directors Peter Jackson and Vincent Ward, and Film Commission head Ruth Harley. (Mark Torley) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS ITALY - SPORT SUCCESS - Italy wins Louis Vuitton Cup and causes upset at 6 Nations Rugby Tournament by easily beating last year's winners Scotland. Live i/v with correspondent David Willey.