National Radio Midday Report

Post Board – Christine Rankin – Shooting – Cervical Smears – Maori Fisheries – Fraud Trial – Fiji Murders – Milosevic Trial – Crane Collapse – Long Stay – Probation Workers – PI Health – Health Complaints

POST BOARD: The board of New Zealand Post is to offer the Government a solution to the bitter boardroom row in a bid to save the jobs of chair Dr Ross Armstrong and his deputy Syd Bradley.

CHRISTINE RANKIN: Social Services Minister Steve Maharey has begun giving his evidence in the Christine Rankin case at the Employment Court, rejecting some of the claims she made earlier in the trial that he had made unacceptable comments about the way she dresses. Mr Maharey said he did say the public’s view of the department was coloured by her personal style. Meanwhile, the merger of the Department of Work and Income with the Ministry of Social Policy has dominated opposition questions at a parliamentary select committee.

SHOOTING: A Kaitaia teenager has been charged with murder after a shooting last night in the far North.

CERVICAL SMEARS: The Ministry of Health says it is concerned by the case of a Northland woman whose cervical smears are now being reviewed by ACC to see if they were misread.

MAORI FISHERIES: Labour MP John Tamihere is urging traditional Maori leaders to end legal challenges so that all Maori can benefit from nearly $1 billion in fisheries assets, after the Privy Council rejected an appeal by urban Maori groups over the allocation of fisheries assetts. The Minister of Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia has been urged to take a stronger role in resolving the dispute.

FRAUD TRIAL: The trial of Michael Anthony Chappel, a former member of Christchurch police fraud squad who is facing theft and fraud charges, has opened in the Christchurch District Court.

FIJI MURDERS: Amnesty International has called for full and fair investigation into the murder of Red Cross director John Scott and his New Zealand partner in Suva.

MILOSEVIC TRIAL: The trial of former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic is due to get underway later today at the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.

CRANE COLLAPSE: A crane has collapsed in central Wellington, falling across two traffic lanes on Cambridge Terrace, bringing traffic to a standstill.

LONG STAY: Lawyer for a convicted rapist who was set free after being kept in jail for longer than he should have says his client wants to sue the Corrections Department for $100,000 damages.

PROBATION WORKERS: The PSA union is meeting with the Corrections Department in a bid to make progress on the probation staff industrial dispute, as they strike for a sixth day.

PI HEALTH: Fifty percent of Pacific Island children born in South Auckland are admitted to hospital at least once in their first year.

HEALTH COMPLAINTS: A record number of complaints have been made to the Health and Disability Commissioner in the last year.

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