Analysis of today's Budget which has been hailed by the Prime Minister as an Investment Budget and derided by National as The Bondi Budget because they say it will cause New Zealanders to leave the country to live in Australia. $1.3 billion will be spent on roads; $3 billion on health; $700 million on education Guyon Espiner (Political Editor); Michael Cullen (Finance Minister); Don Brash (National Leader); Helen Clark (Prime Minister); Annette King (Transport Minister); Michael Barnett (Auckland Chamber of Commerce); Maurice Williamson (National, Transport); Jeanette Fitzsimons (Greens Co-Leader); Ben Tornquist (Political Reporter); Francesca Mold (Deputy Political Editor); Tony Ryall (National, Health).
There have been more problems with Civil Defence's tsunami alert systems today when a trial of tsunami sirens went unheard by many in the Bay of Plenty. Erica Wood (One News); Barry Low (Civil Defence); Voxpop.
Two engineers have been cleared of any wrongdoing in a helicopter crash that claimed three lives. The two men were wrongly accused by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission. Jennifer Curtis (One News); Bill Jeffries (TAIC Chief Commissioner); Ken Mathews (TAIC Investigator in Charge); Mark Saunders (Air Repair Taranaki).
Fiji's military commander is vowing to fight any moves by the new Government to have him removed. Barbara Dreaver (Pacific Correspondent, Fiji); Commodore Frank Bainimarama (Fijian Military Commander); Laisenia Qarase (Fijian PM); Phil Goff (NZ Defence Minister).
A new health initiative has been launched in Primary Schools to try and prevent the spread of germs and diseases.
Money has been put aside in the Budget to boost New Zealand's national identity overseas and build national pride at home. Hannah Hodson (One News); Gary Kurukaanga (Holiday Park Owner).