TV1 6pm News (first segment)

1. PM'S EXPLANATION - A dramatic start to a dramatic day in Parliament. Jenny Shipley makes the explanation this week, she refused to make last week. MPs were waiting to grill the PM, but she got in first and made a personal explanation saying she could not recall making the "I made it up" comment. But she did not deny saying it. Later the Deputy Speaker ruled out further questions on the matter. However it is not the end of the matter, Labour says the PM misled Parliament when she said at no stage did TVNZ try to contact her before running the story. TVNZ asked her questions about the story at a press conference and she refused to answer them. PM's office has since responded and says they were not contacted prior and the press conference was on a different matter, there was a barrage of questions and the PM was not aware of the subject matter until the story was run on TVNZ. TVNZ says they contacted her press secretary at 4pm to say the "I made it up" allegations were true and the press conference was an hour later.

2. APEC - The controversy took the gloss over the Government's preferred showcase - APEC meetings in Auckland. Protesters were outnumbered by police. Inside APEC trade ministers tried to get free trade dialogue going again amidst questions about the WTO and lamb exports. Ministers met without officials in an attempt to kick start the process. APEC officials say the the free trade process has stalled and they blame the US, Malaysia and Japan. There are fears that some countries only want free trade when it suits them. However Lockwood Smith has just told a press conference that Ministers have agreed to move forward, he says it is a positive step "Industrials are being sent to the WTO".

3. GMFS - Three Northland grannies took their protest about genetically modified food to Parliament today and they were joined by about 200 others. They are calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry. Jenny Shipley didn't come down to speak to them, but Alliance and Green MPs did. There was also a protest in Christchurch.

4. AIRPORT - Wellington's new airport terminal went into operation today.

5. RADIATION - A new study has shown that frequent flyers are exposed to as much radiation as nuclear plant workers. Those in the industry say they are not worried.

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