News, sport and weather.
The Government has announced a comprehensive program for flood recovery and rehabilitation in the Bay of Plenty following recent heavy flooding in the area. But some locals today said they needed more, and quickly. Len Fowell (Matata Local); Helen Clark (Prime Minister); Ali Ikram (Reporting from the Bay of Plenty); Tony Ryall (National, Bay of Plenty); Colin Holmes (Whakatane District Mayor); Don McMillan (Matata Local).
New Zealand's top trade negotiator and head of the World Trade Organisation's Key Agriculture Committee, Tim Groser, has been dropped from his post after declaring he will be a parliamentary candidate for the National Party at this year's Election. Helen Clark (Prime Minister); Terence O'Brien (Former New Zealand Ambassador to the United Nations); Don Brash (National Leader); Guyon Espiner (Reporting from Wellington).
The Prime Minister has confirmed that Stephen Ching, who was likely to become Labour's first Chinese MP, is unlikely to get into Parliament following allegations he took cash in returning for making a friend a Justice of the Peace. Helen Clark (Prime Minister).
There are renewed calls for a speedy law change regarding the sale of party pills. Most calls are for the sale of the pills to be restricted to those over the age of 18. Erica Wood (Reporting from Christchurch); Dr Paul Gee (Christchurch Hospital); Steve Chadwick (Health Select Committee).
New Zealand police officers have fled the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville after receiving death threats on the eve of a historic election. Ewart Barnsley (Pacific Correspondent, Auckland); Superintendent Tony McLeod (Police Headquarters); John Momis (Bougainville Election Candidate); Commander Joe Bemu (Bougainville Police).
American First Lady Laura Bush is in the Middle East as part of a goodwill tour to promote world peace. But today in Jerusalem she came face to face with protesters from both sides of the conflict. Michelle Dunne (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace); Laura Bush (US First Lady).
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was greeted by hundreds of angry protesters during a visit to America. The protesters were angry at Sharon's plans to move Jewish settlers out of the Gaza Strip.
An Iraqi court has handed down the first death sentences since capital punishment was reinstated nine months ago.
A murder in Afghanistan has highlighted concerns about the safety of women in the predominantly Muslim state. The women murdered was the host of a popular MTV-style channel in Afghanistan. Masuda Sultan (Women for Afghan Women); Rubina Mukimyar (Friend); Saad Mihsini (Tolo Television); Professor Barnett Rubin (Committee for International Cooperation).
Otago University has announced a new scholarship that puts every secondary school in New Zealand on an equal footing. A one year scholarship of $3500 will be available at the University for every secondary school student who makes Dux at their school. Gareth Jones (Otago University); Megan Martin (Reporting from Dunedin); Roger Moses (Wellington College Principal); Colin Donald (Kings High School Principal); Hayley James (Otago Girls' High School Student); Alex Latu (John McGlashan College 2004 Dux).