Top Of The Morning News Digest

Tuesday, 23 June 2015, 8:46 am
Press Release: NewsRoom_Plus

Top Of The Morning News Digest

June 23, RNZ 7am - Top 5 items

1. Colin Craig’s former Press secretary has tweeted that the former Conservative Party leader is trying to frame her as a mistress, after Craig gave a news conference yesterday at which he referred to inappropriate conduct occurring. The party’s chief executive Christine Rankin says she is very disappointed in Mr Craig and it’s time he moved on.

2. A state of local emergency remains in force in Whanganui and Taranaki three days after some of the region’s worst floods. Infrastructure is being assessed, water contamination and conservation is an issue for some communities and 420 housheolds are still without electricity. The Government has announced an initial contribution of $250,000 to help local authorities with the clean up.

3. CPAG, the Child Poverty Action Group, says unhealthy homes are creating what it calls ‘respiratory cripples’ - children with severe lung damage. At a meeting called by Labour MPs to discuss housing issues in Otara many of the 100 people present expressed concern about their state houses and private rental properties. CPAG spokesperson Nikki Turner says cold, damp houses weaken children’s immune systems.

4. President Barack Obama has used strong racially charged language to speak about the ongoing struggle against racism in the United States. In an interview five days after nine people were killed by a white man in a church in Charleston, South Carolina he said the legacy of slavery casts a long shadow over the nation.

5. The number of babies still born at term has fallen by more than 40 percent, from 117 in 2007 to 69 in 2013. The Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee attributes the reduction to initiatives taken in obstetrics.

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