1. HOSPITAL PLAN: Controversial plan to cut patient admissions to Capital Coast Health has been approved. The association of salaried medical specialists says it is a "slash and burn" exercise. Capital Coast Health says it will improve patient care. Medical specialists says it will reduce staff across the board

2. KOSOVO: Russian and American negotiators are continuing negotiations over Russia's role in Kosovo. Western officials say a Russian plan could lead to partition.

3. KOSOVO: Belgrade authorities are trying to discourage Serbian civilians from leaving Kosovo. 30-50,000 Serbian refugees so far. Refugees being stopped outside Belgrade.

4. CURRENT ACCOUNT: Current Account figures show the trade deficit has worsened. The March quarter figures show a $500 million worsening in the deficit. Since 1995 imports have risen 16% while exports have risen just 6%.

5. TARIFFS: PM says government remains committed to reducing tariffs. She was responding to Auckland Chamber of Commerce spokesman Michael Barnett. On lamb Shipley said the tariff proposal of the Americans was not that bad.

6. NZQA: State Services Commissioner says he had concerns about Dr Blackmur. Rejects allegations that the payment was hush money.

7. POOL DEATH: Two Auckland Lawyers have been fined $10,000 in connection with the death of a toddler in a pool on a property they rented.

8. SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: Launch owner at Scott Watson trial has told court about meeting Scott Watson at Furneaux Lodge. Watson was talking to his friends. Watson was not intoxicated and not offensive. The witness was sober.

9. STOCK EFFLUENT: A code of practice for truckers has been put in place to deal with stock effluent on highways. Federated Farmers say a majority want changes.

10. NELSON SEWAGE: Emergency measure of sewage dumping has been proposed in Nelson after the bacteria that broke down effluent died suddenly.

11. HOUSING: Housing statistics show more than 25% of homes sold by Housing New Zealand were sold to tenants.

12. TAPU CONCERNS: DOC says it will not be changing its staff employment practices after complaints from some Maori who are concerned about a woman weeds officer who cannot enter some areas because they are tapu.

13. RACE RELATIONS: Race Relations office in Christchurch will reopen at the end of the month with two new staff. The office closed last year.

14. DOC OUTRAGE: DOC is angry at the killing of a rare bird in the McKenzie Basin.

© 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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