National Radio Midday Report

Bradman Dies – Dodgy Rifle – Trans Tasman Benefits Agreement – Mark Lundy – Missing People – Borneo Violence – Tip Off Line – Gaza Strip – Auckland #7 – E Billing – Dumped Baby – Scott’s Hut – Driving Charges

- BRADMAN DIES: Australian cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman has died in his Adelaide home aged 92. His average of 99.94 in tests is likely to never be bettered.

- DODGY RIFLE: A rifle withdrawn from service by police, because of safety fears, has also been linked to incidents involving deerstalkers. The 223-calibre model 7 Remmington rifle can fire without the trigger being squeezed.

- TRANS TASMAN BENEFITS AGREEMENT: Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley says National wants to see the detail of the social security deal being signed with Australian before National will support it. Prime Minister Helen Clark will sign the detail with Australian Prime Minister John Howard this afternoon. The deal means New Zealanders in Australia will no longer get some social welfare benefits, and in return the New Zealand Government will be able to stop paying the Australian Government an amount to cover Kiwi beneficiaries in Australia.

- MARK LUNDY: Palmerston North Police say they have one reported sighting of Mark Lundy’s car. Mr Lundy is charged with the murders of his wife Christine and daughter Amber last year. He has not entered a plea. Police say they are still looking for a tomahawk, and clothes they believe he was wearing at the time.

- MISSING PEOPLE: Gisborne police have mounted a search for a 36-year-old woman, Leilani Campbell, and her 8-year-old son. Police have serious concerns for the safety of the pair, as the woman suffers from depression and has not been taking her medication.

- BORNEO VIOLENCE: Indonesian President Wahid says special forces will be sent to Calamantan on the Island of Borneo, to deal with the week long spate of ethnic violence.

- TIP OFF LINE: Christchurch police are launching a new initiative, a tip-off line, to help them fight crime in Canterbury. The number is 0800 4TIPOFF.

- GAZA STRIP: The Israeli army says it will remove military checkpoints dividing the Gaza strip into two. The announcement came just hours after visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Israelis and Palestinians to end the violence.

- AUCKLAND #7: Auckland has been judged the seventh best city in the world to live in an international survey comparing cities around the world for quality of life. Vancouver and Zurich were found to be the best cities to live in.

- E BILLING: Telecom is moving to compete with NZ Post in providing an electronic billing service, expected to be used mainly by large companies.

- DUMPED BABY: Police are looking for the mother of a newborn baby who was found dead in the Auckland domain on the weekend. Police say they are concerned for the woman’s safety, as she may suffer complications from the birth.

- SCOTT’S HUT: Heritage Expeditions, a company that runs tourist trips to Antarctica plans to seek compensation from the New Zealand Government after tourists were denied access to Scott’s Hut.

- DRIVING CHARGES: The hearing of driving charges against the driver of a stock truck that crashed into a Southerner train, derailing the train and injuring several people, has been adjourned until April.

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