National Radio Midday Bulletin
TIMBERLANDS: The government has officially ended plans for a beech logging scheme on the West Coast. The new ministers have asked Timberlands to withdraw from an ongoing consent hearing and the government is bracing itself for legal action.
RE-COUNT: National has had a change of heart and is no longer going for a re-count in Tauranga. Labour on the other hand is lodging their own application for a re-count. If they overturn Winston Peter’s victory Labour and the Alliance will have a full majority again.
FISHING: The argument over Maori fishing assets is heading back to the Privy Council after a finding that these resources should be only distributed to iwi and not urban Maori.
SWEETWATERS: The director of the failed Sweetwaters concert has pleaded guilty to five charges of fraud in the Thames District Court today.
AUCKLAND: Auckland leaders say dismantling the $1 billion Auckland funding body – Infrastructure Auckland – is crucial to the city and the new government should leave it alone.
YOUNG AMERICA: Young America are out of the America’s Cup challenger Series after America True will not sail their last race against the French as they have enough points to go through to the semis.
CHECHNYA: There are reports from Chechnya that the Russians have ended a respite from their shelling of Grozny and are shelling it again.
TUGS: Tug Boats are battling wind and rain to keep a tanker with a cargo of 20,000 tonnes of oil off rocks near
CALL CENTRE: Plans for a call centre in Northland employing 200 people have excited the region about an economic strategy for the region.
SOCIAL WORKER: A Christchurch social worker assessed a manic depressant man as posing no risk to others two days before he killed his eight year old daughter. The killers trial is underway today.
BURGLARY: Auckland police and the Insurance Council have launched Operation Snap – a campaign against burglary in the city.
ends