National Radio Midday Bulletin

Fiji Crisis - Speight Turndown - PM Reaction- Aussie Reaction - Airways Inquiry- Health Settlement - ERB Appraisals: - Firefighters Experience- Auckland Public Transport- Cup Fever

FIJI CRISIS: Fiji’s military is hoping for a quick breakthrough in the constitutional crisis and are hopeful the hostages may be released soon. The army has imposed martial law in the capital of Suva and the situation is normalizing in the capital.

SPEIGHT TURNDOWN: However the latest news says coup leader George Speight, does not accept the military deal. A NZ correspondent there says this makes the likelihood of violence higher.

PM REACTION: The Prime Minister Helen Clark says any rewriting of the constitution would be likely to have serious results in the international community. But she says New Zealand’s first priority is the welfare of the hostages which she says should be released.

AUSSIE REACTION: Meanwhile Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard says he is not hopeful that democracy will be restored on the islands.

AIRWAYS INQUIRY: Two New Zealand Cabinet Ministers have written to the Auditor General to ask for an independent inquiry into Airways Corporation and their dealings with an international syndicate tendering for British air traffic control systems.

ERB APPRAISALS: The Prime Minister Helen Clark has said she will carry out her own appraisals of the Employment Relations Bill after employers complained the Act was unclear. Attorney General Margaret Wilson has also made some changes to the Bill but she says she is comfortable with the PM looking at the legislation.

HEALTH SETTLEMENT: Waitemata Health has settled out of court with a man whose wife died while giving birth to a still-born child three years ago.

FIREFIGHTERS EXPERIENCE: In a report the professional fire fighters union says a lack of experience in the fire fighting services has led to dangerous situations for fire fighters.

AUCKLAND PUBLIC TRANSPORT: More than 100 proposed plans for a new public transport system went on display in Auckland today after the old Britomart plan was rejected.

CUP FEVER: In Christchurch Bledisloe Cup fever is at an all time high after the Crusaders returned home with it over the weekend.

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