National Radio Midday Report

Murdered Jogger – Waterfront Dispute – Contact Director’s Fees – Galapagos Oil Spill – Raft Death – Cervical Cancer Case – Bush Blocks Abortion Funds – Oil Prices – LabPlus Woes – Face Peel Case – GM Commission – Baby Ads – Marion’s Furtune

- MURDERED JOGGER: The death of a Wellington woman, found in the boot of a car after she went missing while jogging on the outskirts of Hastings, has taken a sinister turn, with a major development in the inquiry. Police can now confirm that Margaret Lynne Baxter didn’t die when she was hit by a car. She was taken to an address after being hit, where fatal injuries were inflicted. A 23 year old charged with her murder entered no plea at the Hastings District Court yesterday.

- WATERFRONT DISPUTE: All three parties in latest waterfront dispute say they are happy to go to mediation to try to resolve the issue of the loading of logs in South Island ports.

- CONTACT DIRECTOR’S FEES: The Head of the Institute of Directors said the case of small shareholders putting pressure on Contact Energy over the issue of Directors fees is a positive development that follows global trends.

- GALAPAGOS OIL SPILL: An oil spill less than a Kilometre off the Galapagos Islands is being brought under control, but it is still approaching the coastline, where it threatens many rare species of wildlife. A film of oil covers about 1000 square kilometres of ocean.

- RAFT DEATH: The company operating a raft, which flipped on the Rangitaiki River yesterday, drowning a Dutch woman, has suspended all trips on the river. Rotorua police are investigating the drowning, and are trying to contact the family of the woman.

- CEVICAL CANCER CASE: Colleen Pautsmer, the Northland woman dying of cervical cancer, is pleased with a court decision allowing her to sue her doctor, Graham Parry, for punitive damages.

- BUSH BLOCKS ABORTION FUNDS: New United States President George W. Bush has signed an order to block federal funds from going to international family planning groups that give counselling or services for abortions.

- OIL PRICES: Oil companies are continuing to watch world oil markets before deciding to increase their prices at the petrol pump.

- LABPLUS WOES: Further problems are facing LabPlus, the Auckland Health Board’s new laboratory. LabPlus failed an inspection last month, losing its international accreditation in three areas - now staff retention problems are forcing them to pay staff pathologists more money.

- FACE PEEL CASE: A British plastic surgeon told the Christchurch District Court he believes a woman who died of a cardiac arrest after using a chemical face peel could have been monitored better. The peel contained the chemical Phenol, a known cardiac toxin.

- GM COMMISSION: The Biotechnology Association has told the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification that New Zealand is already losing business, because other countries are producing genetically modified organisms more quickly.

- BABY ADS: The British Government has warned Internet service providers that they could face prosecution if they carry advertisements for babies for adoption.

- MARION’S FORTUNE: The BNZ admits it made as mistake in crediting $62m to a Canterbury woman’s bank account. The woman, Marion Fortune, got a surprise when she was credited with the money, which has subsequently been withdrawn.

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