National Radio Midday Report

Kaikoura Crash - Fire - Cold South – Trampers Found – Middle East – Marina Debris – Lamb Prices – Social Breathalizing – Maori Queen – Dash-8 – Picket Manslaughter Trial – Constable Breaks Neck

- KAIKOURA CRASH: The Maritime Safety Authority has put out a warning for vessels to avoid the Kaikoura coast after a truck crashed and fell into the sea, releasing rat poison. Police say some fish and eels are dying in the area.

- FIRE: A team of fire safety officers is examining the scene of last night’s fatal house fire in the far north, in which three children died.

- COLD SOUTH: The South of the country continues to be gripped by a wintry blast, which is forcing roads and schools to close.

- TRAMERS FOUND: Eight trampers have been found in Nelson Lakes National Park after spending a night in freezing temperatures and heavy snow. Three of the trampers are being treated for varying levels of frostbite.

- MIDDLE EAST: Israel’s Defence Ministry has ordered the army not to take any offensive action against Palestinians and to respond to attacks only if there is a risk to life. Israel says this is the first stage of implementing the recommendation of the Mitchell Report on ending the violence, but Palestinians have said the report, which also called for Israel to cease building in occupied areas of the West Bank, should not be implemented piecemeal.

- MARINA DEBRIS: The Canterbury Regional Council is demanding urgent action to remove chunks of breakwater debris still anchored in the Lyttleton Marina, which is a threat to maritime safety in the area.

- LAMB PRICES: The cost of lamb has risen by a quarter in the last year, with a carcass now worth, on average, $77. A leg of lamb is costing as much as $28.

- SOCIAL BREATHALIZING: A Waikato college plans to randomly breathalize students at its next school social, after some turned up drunk to the last one.

- MAORI QUEEN: About 1500 people have lined banks of the Waikato River at Turangawaiwai Marae to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the coronation of the Maori queen, the longest serving leader of the Kingitanga movement.

- DASH-8: A meteorologist has told the High Court in Palmerston North that the down drafts in the Tararua Ranges were much greater at the time of the Dash-8 crash 6 years ago than the Crown’s expert had estimated, at the manslaughter trial of pilot Gary sutheran.

- PICKET MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL: The High Court in Christchurch has heard from a witness who said she saw Christine Clark get stuck of the bonnet of a vehicle before disappearing, as a 4-wheel drive drove straight through a picket line at Lyttleton. Derek Paul Powell is charged with the manslaughter of Mrs Clark.

- CONSTABLE BREAKS NECK: An Auckland police constable has broken his neck during a training exercise. He’s been hospitalised for 5 days but is not paralyzed.

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