National Radio’s Midday Report

Trade Deficit – HEP B – Golden Handshakes – Accident Inquiries – CAA or CIA? – Nuclear Cancers – Water Wars – Maori Citizenship – Samoan Murders – Timor Sex – Israeli-Syria Talk - Chechenya

TRADE DEFICIT: New Zealand Has Worst annual merchandise Trade Deficit in 13 years, imports outstripped exports with a deficit of 13 million dollars.

HEP B IN BOP: New Hepatitis study has shown more than 700 Hepatitis B cases exist in the Bay of Plenty, and experts say the rate is higher elsewhere.

GOLDEN HANDSHAKES: State Services Minister Trevor Mallard wants an investigation into the golden handshakes given to Victoria University vice-Chancellor Michael Irving.

-ACCIDENT INQUIRIES: The Automobile Association says a parliamentary select committee inquiry into road accident deaths is timely but won't solve the road toll.

-CAA OR CIA? The Civil Aviation Authority has admitted it uses covert tactics to monitor suspect aviation operators but denies that it systematically victimises and attempts to entrap companies.

-NUCEAR CANCERS: Kiwi veterans applaud a new British decision to expand a study of radiation related diseases for health on servicemen who are veterans of nuclear testing.

-WATER WARS: Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard has criticised Metrowater’s heavy handed disconnection’s of protesting water suppliers and has declined to launch a Metrowater project today.

-MAORI CITIZENSHIP: A Pacific Island overstayer was deported last night to Kiribas despite claiming citizenship under a controversial Maori citizenship scheme. The Confederation of Chiefs of the United Tribes sold passport like documents to other pacific island nationals.

-SAMOAN MURDER: The trial has begun in the trial of the two Samoan cabinet ministers have pleaded not guilty to the murder of another Samoan cabinet minister last year.

-TIMOR SEX: NZ’s defence head in Timor says NZ soldiers are watching their behaviour after allegations of a sexual harassment involving Australian soldiers from West Timor.

-ISRAELI-SYRIA TALKS: The Israeli Prime Minister is having an unscheduled peace negotiations with the leader of Syrian after fears that the peace process was

-CHECHENYA: The Russian Foreign minster has reacted angrily against international criticism by nations in the Council of Europe about their human rights abuses in Chechenya.