National Radio Midday Report

Kyoto Protocol – Economic Growth – Property Relationships Act – Middle East Conflict – Rail Buy-Back – Road Tolls – Monteith’s Resolution – Marie Jamieson – Foot And Mouth – Navy Death – Youth Dentistry – Fire Closes Road – Margaret Stroke – Mobile Phone Radiation – Christchurch Smog – New Jet

- KYOTO PROTOCOL: The Greenhouse Policy Coalition, representing big industry, wants the Government to slow down on greenhouse gas curbs now the United States has pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol, and says New Zealand should reconsider ratifying the protocol.

- ECONOMIC GROWTH: Record growth in agricultural production increased economic activity by 0.5 per cent despite poor showings from other areas of the economy. Finance Minister Michael Cullen says there is no sign the global economic slowdown hasn’t shown any sign of affecting New Zealand yet.

- PROPERTY RESLATIONSHIPS ACT: A family lawyer says de facto and same sex couples who don’t want to be affected by the new Property Relationships Act should have one last chance to act.

- MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT: The United States is blaming Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for the cycle of Middle East bloodshed. President George W. Bush said Mr Arafat needs condemn Palestinian violence so peace talks can resume.

- RAIL BUY-BACK: The Government isn’t ruling out the possibility of buying back New Zealand’s privatised rail network.

- ROAD TOLLS: The Business Round Table is renewing calls for the roads to be run commercially with a system of road tolls.

- MONTEITH’S RESOLUTION: The Service and Food Workers Union representing workers in the Monteith’s dispute says DB has agreed to re-employ all the Greymouth Monteith’s brewery staff.

- MARIE JAMIESON: Police investigating the death of Marie Jamieson have confirmed they have identified semen samples from two different men.

- FOOT AND MOUTH: British farming leaders are meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss whether Britain should introduce foot and mouth vaccination. Introducing vaccination will mean Britain will not have disease free status.

- NAVY DEATH: The Navy and Police are investigating a naval technician’s death on the frigate Te Mana yesterday.

- YOUTH DENTISTRY: The Dental Association says a new contract to provide free dental care for people under 18 should stop young people from slipping through the system.

- FIRE CLOSES ROAD: The stretch of State Highway 1 between Rolleston and Templeton south of Christchurch is closed to traffic because of a large grass fire.

- MARGARET STROKE: Britain’s Princess Margaret is being cared for at Kensington palace following a stroke.

- MOBILE PHONE RADIATION: Research by Australian academics suggests radiation from mobile phones may actually be good for you.

- CHRITCHURCH SMOG: Environment Canterbury has made what is says is the strongest move so far to end the winter smog problem in Christchurch. It wants to ban fires by 2020.

- NEW JET: Boeing has halted development of a 520 seat super jet in favour of a smaller air craft that they hope to have flying by 2006-2008.

© Scoop Media