National Radio Midday Bulletin

Samuels Stands Down - Lange Defamation - Sally Cocaine - Whangarei Arson - Flatmate Murders - Fiji Coup - Fiji Aid - Cargo Death - Who Study - Transmission Gully - Todd Allegations - Lisa Blakie - Vic Deficit

SAMUELS STANDS DOWN: The Minister of Maori Affairs Dover Samuels is expected to stand down this afternoon over allegations made about his sexual misconduct over 14 years ago.

LANGE DEFAMATION: The former Prime Minister David Lange has lost a second stage of his long legal defamation battle against North & South Magazine. The Court of Appeal has found the defence of qualified privilege was allowed to be used by the magazine.

SALLY COCAINE: The Salvation Army is standing by the family of a 61 year old man who has been arrested for allegedly smuggling over 5 kilograms of cocaine out of Peru.

WHANGAREI ARSON: The police are appealing that a boy who caused over $1 million arson damage to a Whangaerei school is kept in a secure lock up.

FLATMATE MURDERS: A psychiatrist has told a coroners inquiry into the death of two flatmates that the mentally disturbed killer had heard voices telling him to kill himself.

FIJI COUP: Fiji coup leader George Speight and the military have reached a draft agreement for an interim government which is now being looked at by lawyers from both sides.

FIJI AID: An Auckland church fellowship group has joined with a Fijian community group to make food parcels for workers affected from sugar cane plantation closures following the Fiji coup.

CARGO DEATH: British police are still trying to locate the families of 58 Chinese immigrants who died in a lorry at the port of Dover.

WHO STUDY: There are inaccuracies in some of the data admits a United Nations spokesperson after a WHO report ranked New Zealand health system 41st behind Columbia Costa-rica and other OECD nations.

TRANSMISSION GULLY: The controversial Wellington transport plan Transmission Gully has passed another stage of approval and the proposal is expected to be put in front of a Wellington regional council vote next months.

TODD ALLEGATIONS: Equestrian Mark Todd has issued a public statement regarding the sex and drugs allegation level at him by a British newspaper. He asks the media to leave him and his family in peace.

LISA BLAKIE: Forensic specialists have continued to carry out tests at a Christchurch gang headquarters in the search for a suspect for the murder of Timaru woman Lisa Blakie.

VIC DEFICIT: Victoria University of Wellington has announced a budget deficit of around $12 million and staff fear this may lead to further redundancies.

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