National Radio Midday Report

Christopher Simpson – Housing Project – Fletcher Energy Shareholders – Prison Assault – Real IRA – Samoan Elections – Thai Plane Fire – Meat Exports – Electricity Cancer Risk – Global Warming Strategy – Lillybing Trial Youth Health – Head Injuries – Tertiary Education – Missing Tramper

- CHRISTOPHER SIMPSON: Depositions are being heard in the case of a doctor alleged to have killed his mother. The court heard the doctor, Christopher Simpson, told ambulance officers he thought she had strangled herself.

- HOUSING PROJECT: The Government has unveiled a $60m housing project in Auckland, aimed at addressing South Auckland’s high incidence of infectious diseases from families living together in cramped houses. Prime Minister Helen Clark blames the introduction of market rents and the sell off of state houses under National for much of the overcrowding.

- FLETCHER ENERGY SHAREHOLDERS: It now appears unlikely the Court of Appeal will hear today a request by Peak Petroleum over delaying a meeting tomorrow of Fletcher Energy shareholders.

- PRISON ASSAULT: The President of the Howard League for Penal Reforms says he has no confidence in an internal investigation into the alleged assault of a prisoner in the country’s only private prison last week.

- REAL IRA: Police in Britain fear there could be a new wave of terrorist bombings in London, after the explosion of a bomb outside the BBC headquarters. The bombing is being blamed on the Real IRA.

- SAMOAN ELECTIONS: Samoa’s Prime Minister says his Human Rights Protection Party is supported by 30 of the 49 winners of the general election over the weekend.

- THAI PLANE FIRE: The Thai Prime Minister says he will wait for an official investigation before determining whether Saturday’s fire on a plane he was about to board was an attempt on his life.

- MEAT EXPORTS: The New Zealand Government will not be seeking an increase in the amount of meat the country can supply to Europe.

- ELECTRICITY CANCER RISK: TransPower says it will look into a British study correlating proximity to power pylons with high cancer risk, but says there is no cause of concern.

- GLOBAL WARMING STRATEGY: The G8 nations have renewed their commitment to push ahead with an international strategy to fight global warming.

- LILLYBING TRIAL: The trial of three people charged in connection to the death of the Wairarapa toddler known as Lillybing in July last year is scheduled to begin in late may at the High Court in Wellington.

- YOUTH HEALTH: The first comprehensive survey of youth health in New Zealand is to get underway today.

- HEAD INJURIES: ACC says increased publicity and awareness is needed to persuade people not to take the field too soon after sustaining a head injury.

- TERTIARY EDUCATION: Universities say the release of a report from the Tertiary Education Advisory Commission will have little effect on their immediate problems.

- MISSING TRAMPER: Police in Hamner have serious concerns for a missing tramper who is now 9 days overdue from his tramp on the St James Walkway. He is 55 year old Harry Smith.

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