Student Loans - Cop Killer - Teen Murder - Southland Train Crash - Train Stops - UK Train Crash - Stagecoach Strike - Clark Apologises - Indonesia - East Timor - Peeing In The Gulf

STUDENT LOANS: The government put on conciliatory face to students. Bradford was then heckled at the Rotorua polytechnic after his announcement. Little gratitude at the polytech. Bradford - "the benefit is to allow a significant earlier repayment and reduction in the amount that has to be paid". Changes mean 5.7% interest during study and 50% of repayments will be used to repay principle. Labour says the Nats are desperately trying to make up lost ground. Student leaders say it is too little too late.

COP KILLER: The killer of police officer Murray Stretch has pleaded guilty to the murder. 30 minute appearance. Prosecutor said that the accused repeatedly kicked and stomped on the head of the officer. He was copying the moves of a pro wrestler called "the rock". Mangakino community are terribly upset.

TEEN MURDER: 16-year-old youth begins a life sentence for stabbing to death of a fellow teenager who had made remarks about his girlfriend. The accused's mother has been jailed for washing his clothing.

SOUTHLAND TRAIN CRASH: One train driver is dead and another seriously injured after a train accident in Southland. Twisted wreckage on the tracks. The goods trains were supposed to pass but they crashed into each other. Black box recorders from the trains are being retrieved. Union says drivers were not to blame. Tranzrail hopes to have line operational tomorrow.

TRAIN STOPS: Passenger train stops for fallen power-pole in Auckland.

TRAIN CRASH: Another train crash in England when two nearly empty trains crashed.

STAGECOACH STRIKE: Striking stagecoach bus-drivers pelted police and buses with eggs on picketline in Auckland. Things got ugly after police moved in to let buses out. Police struggled to keep situation under control. The strike meant bus services operating at only 60% today. Talks resumed later and broke with signs of progress. Minutes ago Stagecoach has rejected the latest offer from the Union. The Union says more action is on the cards.

CLARK APOLOGISES: Labour Leader Helen Clark has made an unreserved apology in the High Court in Auckland to an Auckland Surgeon. TV3 also apologises unreservedly.

INDONESIA: President Habibe has been forced to step down after he lost in effect a vote of confidence. His opponent Megawati Sukarnoputri was jubilant at the decision by Habibe. Her paramilitary unit has since said it will destroy Jakarta unless she is appointed President. Meanwhile in East Timor more bodies have been found.

EAST TIMOR: The last group of NZ Air Force personnel bound for East Timor left today with a sixth helicopter.

PEEING IN THE GULF: Water police are cracking down on male boaters who pee off the back of their boats in the Hauraki Gulf - they say it is offensive behaviour. Lots of spectator boats out on the course. Police say their main concern is overloading on boats. Some boaties say they don't have toilets. Police say that if they want to pee they should move away from the main spectator fleet.

© 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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