National Radio Midday Report

Cervical Screening – Shoddy Training – Dairy Merger – Trade Surplus – Reported Rapes – Yellow Fever – Superpower Standoff – Scrub Fire – Cave Creek – Mallard Apology – man In Coma – Primary Teacher Claims – Bus Fares

- CERVICAL SCREENING: The results of the inquiry into cervical cancer screening in Gisborne have just been released. The report calls for an immediate national re-evaluation of the cervical screening programme within 6 months to ensure safety for women.

- SHODDY TRAINING: The head of the Teacher Registration Board is calling for more resources to monitor shoddy teacher training courses.

- DAIRY MERGER: A major supermarket operator says it may be harder to get good prices for milk if the dairy mega-merger goes ahead.

- TRADE SURPLUS: Strong growth in exports of primary products helped New Zealand to a $380m trade surplus in February.

- REPORTED RAPES: Rape Crisis believes that the arrest last year of several serial sex criminals may have led to a jump in reported rapes and sexual assaults in Auckland.

- YELLOW FEVER: The Ministry of Health is concerned yellow fever may be in the country after yellow fever mosquito larvae were found on an Auckland wharf.

- SUPERPOWER STANDOFF: American diplomats in China have made a fourth visit to the crew of the navy spy plane that made a forced landing in China after a mid air crash with a Chinese fighter jet, and tentatively say progress is being made. China has repeated that the US must apologise and says it is still not satisfied with statements from Washington.

- SCRUB FIRE: Police say a scrub fire on the outskirts of Christchurch has spread to some nearby residential properties.

- CAVE CREEK: The Government will introduce legislation this afternoon making Government departments liable for prosecution under the Building and health and Safety in Employment Acts. This comes after an inquiry into the Cave Creek Dept of Conservation viewing platform accident.

- MALLARD APLOGY: The Wife of National MP Max Bradford, Rosemary, says a written apology from Mallard has resolved her dispute with him.

- MAN IN COMA: Police say the condition of a man who lapsed into a coma after being restrained by police officers on Sunday night is improving and he is now able to breath without a ventilator. The Police Complaints Authority is investigating and Police are conducting their own investigation.

- PRIMARY TEACHER CLAIMS: Primary school teachers will seek a 3 ½ per cent pay rise when they lodge their claim with the Government today.

- BUS FARES: Fares on Auckland’s Stagecoach buses are set to increase next month by an average of 10 per cent.

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