National Radio Midday Report

Lav IIIs – Reefton Mine – Health Services Cut – Phone Bills – Earthquake – Sky City – Middle East – Officer Charged – Prison Escape – Young Dentists – Drink Driving – Red Cross Appeal

LAV IIIS: The audit office says the army bought the right vehicles when they purchased the LAVIIIs, but has slammed defence planning processes and the tendering for the vehicles. The report says the LAVIII is such a technically superior vehicle that there was little point in tendering.

REEFTON MINE: West Coasters are still coming to Wellington next week to petition Sandra Lee, despite the Minister of Conservation saying she will not reverse her decision not to allow the Reefton mine to go ahead.

HEALTH SERVICES CUT: Industrial action planned by more than 1000 Christchurch health workers has forced the Canterbury District Health Board to reduce some mental health and older person services for next week.

PHONE BILLS: Telephone bills for calls from land lines to mobile phones are set to fall following an agreement reached between Telecom and Clear.

EARTHQUAKE: The Insurance Council says there has been a small number of claims following last night’s earthquake off the East Coast of the North Island. EQC says there has been several reports of damage, including moved chimneys and cracks in walls.

SKY CITY: The Problem Gambling Foundation says it is inappropriate for a casino to get the tourism industry’s supreme award. The Tourism Industry Association says the award went to Sky City because it has the foundations of business excellence.

MIDDLE EAST: Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has overshadowed a new push to resume peace negotiations by suggesting Israel will seriously limit their scope and has also restated Israel’s claim to sovereignty over all of Jerusalem.

OFFICER CHARGED: A former Whangerei police officer appeared in court this morning on assault and burglary charges. The off was arrested yesterday afternoon after police investigated a complaint by the public. The officer resigned last night.

PRISON ESCAPE: The management at the Hawkes Bay regional prison are reviewing security systems after two prisoners escaped last night.

YOUNG DENTISTS: More than half of student dentists are leaving New Zealand when they graduate and the Dental Council says student debt is a major contributing factor to the trend.

DRINK DRIVING: Police are calling for a lower blood alcohol limit for drivers in a bid to dramatically cut the road toll.

RED CROSS APPEAL: The Red Cross is warning people to be aware of bogus collectors sabotaging their annual appeal.

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