National Radio Midday Report

Gisborne Hospital Report – Fletcher Shareholder Meeting – School Shooting – Tramper Found – Northland Prison –Inpatient Unit – Summer Drownings Down – Simpson Killing – Fire Ants – Muslim Stampede – Cheney’s Heart - Census

- GISBORNE HOSPITAL REPORT: The health and disability commissioner has found serious problems with the care of patients at Gisborne Hospital in 1999 and 2000. The report portrays an unhappy organisation where relations between management and staff had broken down.

- FLETCHER SHAREHOLDER MEETING: This afternoon’s key Fletcher Challenge shareholder meeting can now go ahead as planned, following a court of appeal decision this morning. Shareholders will be voting on a take-over offer from Shell and Apache.

- SCHOOL SHOOTING: In the United States, two people are dead after a school shooting in Southern California. The gunman was a student who was picked on in school.

- TRAMPER FOUND: Searchers have found the 55-year-old tramper who was 10 days overdue from the bush. He was found with a serious leg injury in a gully, but is otherwise in good health.

- NORTHLAND PRISON: The Corrections Department has rejected claims it has been buying support from Maori for a new Northland prison.

- INPATIENT UNIT: The Mental Health Commissioner says a new inpatient unit for adolescents in Christchurch is a great leap forward for young people.

- SUMMER DROWNINGS DOWN: Water Safety NZ says television ads featuring famous lifesaver Cory Hutchings helped reduce the number of drownings for summer.

- SIMPSON KILLING: A scientist giving evidence at the hearing of depositions against a doctor accused of killing his terminally ill mother Marjorie Simpson said the levels of morphine in Marjorie Simpson’s body were 10 times higher than the recommended dose.

- FIRE ANTS: Another exotic insect pest has been found in the country. A nest of Red Fire Ants, from South America, was found at Auckland Airport.

- MUSLIM STAMPEDE: In Saudi Arabia the pushing and shoving of Muslims has triggered the latest in a string of tragedies to have befallen the Hague or pilgrimage in recent years. Pilgrims surged forward at a site near Mecca to hurl pebbles at three pillars representing the devil. Several people were crushed in the incident.

- CHENY’S HEART: US Vice President Dick Cheney has checked into hospital for the second heart operation in four months, after complaining of chest pains. Mr Cheney, 60, has had four heart attacks.

- CENSUS: Five yearly census forms are due to be filled out by every New Zealander tonight, but thousands of people are yet to receive their forms.

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