TV One News

Television One News

Flooding hits south of North Island - Electoral Office Under Examination - Coalition Talks To Continue - TV One Poll “spot on” - Mt Eden Hunger Strikers Receive Hope

Floods - The south of the North Island has faced massive flooding with rivers overflowing banks and flooding towns and farms. Homeowners and school children have been evacuated and farmers are fareful of stock losses. In Wanganui flooding is widespread. The Whanganui River has burst its banks and is flowing through farmland and homesteades. Five families have been evacuated. A youth group had been stranded and was forced to wait for the water torrent to ease. All are now safe.

Electoral Office - The Electoral Office is being questioned as to why it took so long for votes to be counted once polls had closed on election night. While it says polling staff are competent, National leader Jenny Shipley says someone needs to be held accountable, and Prime Minister elect Helen Clark says the returns were too slow and a review needs to be conducted.
Meanwhile an Ashburton vote counter says she wants compensation. She worked for 15 hours on election day and went without a break for eight hours. She was paid $250 for her day’s work.

Coalition Talks - Alliance leader Jim Anderton says he and Prime Minister elect Helen Clark have a government to form this week. Mr Anderton wants a good share of MPs in Cabinet for providing a supportive campaign base for Labour.
Labour Caucus - Labour MPs will be gathering at Parliament Buildings tomorrow for a caucus meeting.
Smooth Transition - Both Labour and the Alliance are promising a smooth transition to forming the second MMP coalition government.
Vote Counts - Around 211,000 special votes will be counted on December 7.
Cabinet Announcement - The first Labour/Alliance Cabinet will be announced on Wednesday or Thursday next week.
MPs will be sworn in on Friday December 10.

Poll Spot On - TV One’s Colmar Brunton Poll was spot on last week in predicting the outcome of Party percentages in Parliament. It predicted the percentage of the top four main parties.

Asylum Seekers Receive Hope - A High Court judge says the asylum seekers imprisoned in Mt Eden Prison may have rights to remain in New Zealand under refugee laws. The 16 asylum seekers have been on a hunger strike for over one month. Some of the men have been passing blood in their urine. Prime Minister elect, Helen Clark, says their applications must be considered urgently. She has been talking to Auckland deputy mayor Bruce Hucker who wants the seekers released. Helen Clark says it is wrong that they have been waiting in prison since APEC in September to have their appeals heard. The hunger strikers called off their fast today and had their first meal this evening. They may be released from prison tomorrow.

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