National Radio Midday Report

America’s Cup Parade - United US Challenge - Queen’s Message - Police Arrests - Pinochet Returns - Turoa Recievership - Reading Inquiry - Christchurch Election - New Pilot Scheme - Kayaker Missing - WWF Challenge- Mozambique Aid - House Bombed - NZ Festival 2000

AMERICA’S CUP PARADE: Plans are underway for tomorrow’s America’s Cup victory parade along Queen Street. Four hundred Italian flag wavers will be part of the events. Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate.

UNITED US CHALLENGE: The Commodore of the New York Yacht club believes the United States should form one syndicate to challenge the America’s Cup.

QUEEN’S MESSAGE: The Queen has sent a message of congratulation to Sir Peter Blake and Team New Zealand for the win of the America’s Cup.

POLICE ARRESTS: The Police say over 70 people were arrested in the Viaduct Basin at America’s Cup celebrations for disorderly offences.

PINOCHET RETURNS: The Chilean President Augusto Pinochet has returned to his native country where human rights groups wish to challenge the ailing dictator’s immunity to prosecution. Pinochet supporters celebrated his release from custody in Britain drinking champagne.

TUROA RECIEVERSHIP: Whakapapa ski resort management has said it is interested in buying Turoa Ski Resort after Turoa went into recievership today. However the Commerce Commission may not let this happen

READING INQUIRY: A Government inquiry has been launched into teaching reading at schools, with a select committee hearing concerns over the “whole reading” approach.

CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION: The elections for the ward seat of Christchurch Councilor Dr. Morgan Fahey began today. Mr. Fahey resigned after sexual abuse and rape allegations became public.

NEW PILOT SCHEME: The Corrections Minister Matt Robson has said recognising the needs of both offenders and victims is central to a new pilot scheme for sentencing offenders.

KAYAKER MISSING: Police say they fear the worst for a missing kayaker, thought to have fallen out of his canoe on a North Island river.

WWF CHALLENGE: The World Wide Fund for Nature will issue a “climate change challenge” to Environment Minister Marian Hobbs this afternoon. The Fund says New Zealand should be the region leader in legislation to prevent global warming.

MOZAMBIQUE AID: No decision has yet been made on how New Zealand’s official donation of $200,000 to the flood victims of Mozambique will be spent.

HOUSE BOMBED: Israeli soldiers have blown up a house in Tel Aviv after suspicions that the house held Hamas terrorists and bombs.

NZ FESTIVAL 2000 : The New Zealand Festival 2000 begins today in Wellington with over one hundred events planned.

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