National Radio Midday Report

Jogging Murder – Contact Shareholders – Lynx Close Call – Earthquake Relief – Child Register – Child Murderer – Plane Crash Victims – Douglas To Step Down – Drugs Act – Gold Frog Stolen – Law Changes Recommended – Waitangi Day – Drowned Man – Jump For Life

- JOGGING MURDER: Fresh charges have been laid over the killing of a Wellington woman, who went missing while jogging in Hastings. The 23-year-old man charged with her murder appeared in court today to face new charges of rape and abduction.

- CONTACT SHAREHOLDERS: Angry shareholders have hit out at the directors of Contact Energy. About 1000 largely individual shareholders turned out to a meeting today, with the thorny issue of directors fees at the forefront.

- LYNX CLOSE CALL: The Picton harbour master has launched an investigation into an incident between the Lynx fast ferry and a water taxi, where they nearly collided. The taxi captain said it appeared the Lynx was bearing down on his vessel. The Lynx captain said he had to take evasive action.

- EARTHQUAKE RELIEF: New Zealanders are giving hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the fund for the earthquake hit Indian region of Gudjarat. The New Zealand Government announced it would give $500,000 towards the aid effort.

- CHILD REGISTER: The Government is likely to set up a national register of children as one means of tackling the child abuse problem.

- CHILD MURDERER: A 13-year-old boy is due to appear in children’s court today, charged with the murder of a three year old girl in the New South Wales coastal town of Point Claire.

- PLANE CRASH VICTIMS: The names of the New Zealanders killed in an Australian light aeroplane have been released. They are Michael Lorigan of Wellington and Catherine Johnstone of Plimmerton.

- DOUGLAS TO STEP DOWN: The ACT founder and Party President Roger Douglas is to step down. He is to formally announce the decision and endorse a candidate on Friday.

- DRUGS ACT: The Ministry of Health says changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act will make it more difficult for drugs such as one4b, which was responsible for four admissions to hospital since the weekend, to make it onto the market.

- GOLD FROG STOLEN: The Auckland War Memorial Museum has confirmed that a replica of a pre-Columbian gold frog was the only item stolen in a burglary last night. The original of the frog is held in secure storage.

- LAW CHANGES RECOMMENDED: The Law Commission is urging the Government to simplify the way criminal charges are laid and moved through the court system.

- WAITANGI DAY: National leader Jenny Shipley says she’ll be attending the dawn ceremony at Waitangi, and says the Prime Minister should do the same.

- DROWNED MAN: Police have released the name of a Northland man who drowned in a Kaipara Harbour boating accident. He is Bruce Herbert Forsyth.

- JUMP FOR LIFE: A Top dressing pilot jumped from his plane just before it crashed into water. The man was not injured.

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