TV1 6pm News Bulletin (First Segment)

African Floods - Cyclone Steve - Labour Popularity - Travel Rights - Wanganui Bodies - Freak Accident - Plane Crash - America’s Cupx2

AFRICAN FLOODS: Flooding in the African nation of Mozambique has suddenly worsened, leaving many people fighting for their lives as South African military rescue crews work around the clock. Floods have also badly affected Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

CYCLONE STEVE: Cyclone Steve has squarely hit the city of Cairns in Queensland, with winds over 140km per hour, cutting electricity to 40,000 homes and causing widespread damage to houses and businesses.

LABOUR POPULARITY: Labour’s honeymoon period has turned into an all out love affair as the Government’s popularity has skyrocketed in the polls with Prime Minister Helen Clark’s personal rating rising to an all time high. However political analysts say the Government’s popularity is likely to dip once it starts passing laws which affect people’s lives.

TRAVEL RIGHTS: Prime Minister Helen Clark has said that New Zealand may have to pay most of the $300 million it costs Australians to support New Zealanders on the dole. However Prime Minister Jenny Shipley says the Government should not make any concessions to Australians over New Zealand’s travel rights. Miss Clark flies to Australia on Wednesday where she will negotiate the issue with Australia’s leaders.

WANGANUI BODIES: The bodies of two schoolboys have been pulled from the Whanganui River today. The boys are believed to have been hit by a motorist while cycling over a bridge near the township-. Police say postmortems of the two boys will be made tomorrow.

FREAK ACCIDENT: A 61 year old Hawkes Bay truck driver has died in a freak accident when his truck plunged off a bridge into a gulley. The fire department had to dowse the paper products which caught alight after the crash.

PLANE CRASH: A pilot and his daughter survived a plane crash today in a rural airfield in the North Island. The pilot, who broke his arm in the crash, dragged his unconscious 20-year-old daughter to safety and then alerted rescue teams.

AMERICA’S CUP: The long drawn out America’s Cup race is starting again tomorrow after being delayed three days because of lack of wind. However those in the America’s Cup Village say they make even more money each day the race is delayed.

AMERICA’S CUP: If the Italians win the America’s Cup the next race series would be in the coastal town of Punta Ala. The locals are currently transfixed by the yacht racing action in Auckland.

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