National Radio Midday Report

Dioxin Standards – Middleton Sentencing – Child Sex Complaints – Telecom Result – Vet Strikes – Video Evidence – Middle East Situation – El Salvador Earthquake – Ford Faulty Part – NZSO Sponsorship – Work And Income Services – Shooting – Vehicle Accident – Chocolate health Supplement

- DIOXIN STANDARDS: A Government report has called for immediate action in the form of safety standards to address an unacceptably high level of dioxins found in new Zealanders. Dioxins accumulate in human and animal tissue. The report found New Zealander’s dietary intake of dioxins is 70 times the limit recommended buy the US Environmental Protection Agency.

- MIDDLETON SENTENCING: The Auckland District court is planning special security arrangements tomorrow for the sentencing of Mark Middleton, convicted of threatening to kill Paul Dally, the murderer of his Stepdaughter, Karla Cardnow. Protests are planned outside the court. Large numbers are expected to want to attend, and places in the court will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Placards will not be allowed in the court, but peaceful protests outside will be tolerated.

- CHILD SEX COMPLAINTS: Wellington Police and child welfare authorities are being criticised for how long it takes them to investigate complaints of child sex abuse. A study says it takes about seven weeks between the laying of a complaint and the completion of interviews of the child.

- TELECOM RESULT: New Zealand’s largest company, Telecom, has seen its profits slashed by a quarter in the second half of last year.

- VET STRIKES: In a last minute bid to avert the MAF vet strike, the Employers Federation has filed an appeal against the Employment Court’s ruling that upheld the union’s right to be registered before the Employment Relations Act was passed.

- VIDEO EVIDENCE: Police investigating the killing of Nicholas Clarkson in Auckland say they have established crucial movements of his killer from video surveillance footage.

- MIDDLE EAST SITUATION: Israel is again enmeshed in a spiral of attack and reprisal, and has blocked off the West Bank and Gaza by sea and air after a bus driver mowed down a cue of Israelis near Tel Aviv.

- EL SALVADOR AFTERSHOCK: The president of El Salvador has appealed for international help to help rescue hundreds of people trapped in rubble by a large aftershock of last month’s huge earthquake.

- FORD FAULTY PART: Ford New Zealand is recalling more than 5000 cars, mainly Falcons, to replace a faulty part that, if it failed, would stop all power to the vehicle.

- NZSO SPONSORSHIP: The NZSO says the movement overseas of many company headquarters is thwarting its attempt to gain corporate sponsors.

- WORK AND INCOME SERVICES: People seeking work or income support have been given a charter listing the services they can receive from the Department of Work and Income. The department has previously been accused of obstructing customer’s access to entitlements.

- SHOOTING: The victim of shooting near Wellsford is now in a critical condition in Auckland hospital. The man was shot in the stomach with a shotgun in the doorway of his home. A man has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

- VEHICLE ACCIDENT: Police have released the name of a 14-year old boy killed in an all terrain vehicle accident on the Otago Peninsula yesterday. He is James Archie Rogers.

- CHOCOLATE HEALTH SUPPLEMENT: The American Chemical Society has spelled out why eating chocolate may prevent heart disease and cancer. They say chocolate contains antioxidants that thin the blood.

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