National Radio Midday Report

Hobbs And Bunkle – Kiwi Bank – Saltmarsh Mosquito - Iraq Weapons – TransAlta Changes – Adolescent Mental Health – Foot and Mouth – Borneo Beheadings – Sport In School – Rex Hague Petition – Smoky Mill - Grape Concerns

- HOBBS AND BUNKLE: Prime Minister Helen Clark has confirmed that she advised Marion Hobbs and Phillida Bunkle, the two ministers at the centre of the out of towns allowances controversy, to resign. Their responsibilities have been picked up by other ministers. Opposition leader Jenny Shipley says the resignations are a victory to the opposition.

- KIWI BANK: The High Court hearing of NZ Post’s request for an order restraining ACT leader Richard Prebble releasing more details from his leaked copy of the NZ Post Kiwi bank business plan has resumed.

- SALTMARSH MOSQUITO: The Ministry of Health says the discovery of Southern Saltmarsh mosquito larvae in Kaipara Harbour north of Auckland tips the balance against the introduction of a full scale eradication programme.

- IRAQ WEAPONS: US President George W. Bush has again warned Iraq against developing weapons of mass destruction. The warning comes after a second air raid against Iraq.

- TRANSALTA CHANGES: The new owner of TransAlta, The National Gas Corporation, says customers will notice changes within the next month, beginning with a name change to On Energy.

- ADOLESCHENT MENTAL HEALTH: A new report on the state of mental health services shows children and adolescents are still receiving only a fraction of the services needed.

- FOOT AND MOUTH: British Prime Minister Tony Blair says his government is considering assistance for farmers affected by the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

- BORNEO BEHEADINGS: More than 75 people are reported to have been killed, many decapitated, in a revival of ethnic violence in the remote Calamantan province in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo.

- SPORT IN SCHOOL: The question of whether schools are spending enough time on sport is being investigated by the Education Review Office, following a ministerial review into sport fitness and leisure last month.

- REX HAGUE PETITION: A petition by convicted murderer Rex Hague to have the Governor General refer his case back to the court of appeal has been turned down. Mr Hague has always maintained his innocence.

- SMOKY MILL: A timber company is to spend millions of dollars on anti pollution equipment for its mill in Kaitaia, after neigbours complained of breathing problems from smoke and odour from the mill.

- GRAPE CONCERNS: Some grape growers in Hawkes Bay say the prolonged spell of humid weather is causing fruit to split and botritis mould, which rots the fruit. Meanwhile, in Marlborough, where it has been hot and dry, the main concern is ensuring the vines are irrigated.

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