National Radio Midday Bulletin

Fiji Crisis - Hostage Released - Waitara Shooting - Business Confidence - Reserve Bank Reaction - Farming Boom - Appeal Rejected - It Report - Northern Ireland - Bad Faith Employer? - Smoking Ban - Smoking Areas

FIJI CRISIS: The leader of the coup in Fiji, George Speight, has broken off the negotiations with the military because he says he doesn’t like who the military has appointed as the country’s president. The military’s choice Ratu Epilai dissatisfy Speight because he is related to the former President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and a cabinet minister held hostage by Mr Speight.

HOSTAGE RELEASED: Meanwhile one of the hostages was released to go to her husband’s funeral under unusual circumstances

WAITARA SHOOTING: Police have completed their preliminary report on the shooting at Waitara which has gone to the Police Commissioner. Within 24 hours the final report will be sent to the Crown law office for it to decide whether charges are to be laid against the policeman who shot and killed Steven Wallace.

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE: National Finance Spokesperson Bill English says the latest survey on business confidence reflects the growing perception that Government policies are anti-business.

RESERVE BANK REACTION: Meanwhile Deputy Reserve Bank Governor Murray Sherwin says he expects the economic outlook to remain good. He says the main reason for business confidence drop was the rising costs for business and a seasonal slump after last year’s high trading.

FARMING BOOM: An increased pay-out to Dairy Farmers is to be expected after record returns in the farming industry over the last year.

APPEAL REJECTED: The Court of Appeal has rejected the sentence appeal of the man who was convicted of murdering Beverly Bouma.

IT REPORT: An independent report into public sector management of IT projects says Government Department’s compare favourably with their counterparts in the private sector.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Northern Ireland’s political leaders have called for all sides to resolve their differences following the reestablishment of a power sharing government between the Ulster Unionists and Irish Republicans.

BAD FAITH EMPLOYER?: One of the companies which has been accused by the Engineers Union of acting in bad faith in Employment contracts, Independent Newspapers has denied the claims saying relations are better with employers under the Employment Contracts Act.

SMOKING BAN: Hutt Valley Health is taking a tough stance on smokers and will not allow cigarettes to be consumed anywhere on the hospital grounds.

SMOKING AREAS: Health Care Hawkes Bay has also adopted a smoke-free policy in line with International Smoke-Free Day setting aside smoking areas for staff.

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