National Radio Midday Bulletin

FIVE STEPS AHEAD: The government has just announced a $223 million package to boost a knowledge economy. Most of the money is being reallocated, with $50 million of new money. The programme involves scholarships and improving links with universities and businesses and secondary schools and businesses. It basically scraps the Tertiary White Paper.

QUAKE: Over 2,000 people have died, 10,000 are injured and more and more bodies continue to be found after a 6.7 scale quake rocked Turkey yesterday.

RESERVE BANK: Interests rates should start rising by the end of the year according to the Reserve Banks quarterly statement today.

EDUCATION: A Ministry of Education report says some schools are hiding children’s under-performance from their parents, often to protect children from beatings at home.

TIMBERLANDS: The chairman of Timberlands provoked angry responses in a select committee by saying Timberlands do not lobby parliament today.

CHUBB: The security company has won the $6.5 million contract to run the government’s home detention programme. Alarms will be worn by offenders sentenced to less than two years or less than three months out from being available for parole. Correction Minister Clem Simich says it is not a soft option.

COURT: The North Shore District Court heard that a man accused of killing a Whangaparoa woman last year left work and disappeared for two weeks immediately after the killing.

POLICE: A homicide inquiry has been launched by Tauranga police after a body of a woman was found on a semi-rural property this morning.

LEGAL: The WINZ manager who was suspended over jet charters has filed papers in the Employment Court for unjustified dismissal today.

JUSTICE: Phil Goff is asking why a prison officer has been dismissed and re-employed in another prison.

BLOOD: The organisation that takes blood from babies says there is no open door policy on how the samples are used saying there is no need for concerns over a DNA databank for criminal matters.

SHOOTING: A man shot by police after an incident in Auckland two weeks ago has been charged with a number of offences while he recovers.

NZL 57 – The New Zealand boat NZL-57 has been revealed wrapped in plastic but a spokesperson says it will be two minutes faster.

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