National Radio Midday Report

Almost Deported – Power Prices – Escaped Prisoner - Fighter Pilots – Lisa Blaikie – McVeigh Execution - Southern Cold – Brain Drain – Plane Crash – Duncan MacIntyre – Middle East - Joyride

- ALMOST DEPORTED: Two cousins in Hamilton have narrowly avoided deportation but have now had their removal orders cancelled. They’ve been in New Zealand since the middle of last year, but both of the residency permits had expired.

- POWER PRICES: Meridian Energy believes that poor management is behind some power companies considering raising retail power prices. Meridian says low hydro-electric lake levels and a cold snap raised wholesale prices, but other power countries should have been better prepared.

- ESCAPED PRISONER: Police believe escaped prisoner Kevin Polwood may have gone bush in Manawatu after several sightings of him in Palmerston North.

- FIGHTER PILOTS: The Royal Airforce in Britain is eyeing New Zealand combat pilots in a recruitment drive.

- LISA BLAIKIE: The preliminary hearing of the murder charge against Timothy David Taylor, the man accused of killing Timaru hitchhiker Lisa Blaikie, has opened at the High Court in Christchurch.

- MCVEIGH EXECUTION: The US Supreme Court turned down a last minute request to allow the videotaping of the execution of Oklahoma City Bomber Timothy McVeigh. Meanwhile, more than 1300 members of the media have descended on Indiana for the first federal execution in 38 years.

- SOUTHERN COLD: Conditions are starting to ease in the south after a morning of treacherous roads because of bad weather, with snow freezing to ice. Many people decided to walk instead of drive in Dunedin, and Dunedin Hospital’s emergency department treated dozens of people who have slipped on footpaths. Meanwhile, Christchurch City Council road maintenance team says the entire Summit Rd still closed due to snow. The Desert Road is now open in the north.

- BRAIN DRAIN: TVNZ says it views seriously an investigation into the Holmes Show on the so-called Brain Drain. The BSA has upheld a complaint about the item, where it found the Holmes show lacked balance and failed to take sufficient steps to authenticate the story.

- PLANE CRASH: Police told the Wellington coroner they believe carbon monoxide from a faulty heater played a significant part in the fatal crash of freight plane in the Tararuas.

- DUNCAN MACINTYRE: Hundreds of people have paid their respects to former Deputy Prime Minister Duncan MacIntyre, who died on Friday aged 86.

- MIDDLE EAST: International mediators have increased their efforts to persuade the Israelis and Palestinians to step back from violence and agree on peace.

- JOYRIDE: Police in Whangarei are waiting to talk to the parents of eight Auckland children who took a car for a joyride.

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