National Radio 8am Bulletin

Defence Shakeup - UK Elections - Sealord For Sale? - Foster Care - Apple Deregulation - GE Cows - Mallard Closes His School - Energy Crises

DEFENCE SHAKEUP: Opposition Parties have reacted to the Defence shakeup saying that NZ will be seen as a bludger. Jenny Shipley says the end of the Skyhawks is a huge change in the ability of NZ to defend itself. The PM responds saying the Skyhawks have never been deployed in 31 years. Meanwhile the Australian Defence Minister is welcoming the overall increase in expenditure on defence. He also says that it will be good for our army to be upgraded.

UK ELECTIONS: Britain's PM has called an election for June 7th. He says he will work hard for a second term. "We know that while we have striven hard for your trust, and we know there have been times of difficulty too". Labour is presently leading in polls.

SEALORD FOR SALE: Sealord is emphatically denying that it is stripping New Zealand assets. The CEO says he has not been dealing with the company responsible for a letter used in Parliament yesterday by Winston Peters.

FOSTER CARE: A new scheme to pay foster parents in Christchurch is being started by the Richmond Fellowship. The programme will provide intensive care to at risk children.

APPLE DEREGULATION: Some apple growers are predicting job losses and closures of orchards as a result of deregulation in the industry. ENZA chairman Tony Gibbs says the government is acting hastily.

GE COWS: The leader of a controversial study using GE Cows is leaving New Zealand. The Chair of the Life Sciences Network says that policy needs to assist research. Meanwhile AgResearch says the project may continue regardless.

MALLARD CLOSES HIS SCHOOL: Trevor Mallard is to close half the schools in his own suburb including his own primary school. He says it has been a heart rending process deciding the future of his own school. "It doesn't feel good".

ENERGY CRISES: Record high temperatures in California are causing power blackouts. Meanwhile Australia is now also facing power shortages according to warnings.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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