National Radio Midday Report

Doctor Strike - Samuels Cleared - Christchurch Shooting - Petrol Prices - Benefits Scrutinised - Export Figures - Woman Charged - Robson On Probation - West Coast Logging - Local Govt NZ - Russian Bombing - Maori Health - Principle Dies

- DOCTOR STRIKE: A second Health Authority, Midland Health centre, is facing strikes by junior doctors who seeking a 20 per cent pay rise.

- SAMUELS CLEARED: There is widespread relief in Northland for Dover Samuels Northland, after police announced they would not prosecute Mr Samuels on charges of rape and statutory rape.

- CHRISTCHURCH SHOOTING: Police are investigating for the culprits of Christchurch man shot in the head and chest by in a drive-by shooting after he finished a rugby league match, which was believed to be gang-related.

- PETROL PRICES: The Shell Oil company has this morning joined BP and Mobil in increasing its prices for petrol and diesel by 3 cents a litre this morning, saying higher international prices gave it no alternative.

- BENEFITS SCRUTINISED: The practices of the Department of Work And Income are under scrutiny in Parliament this morning as a Select Committee examines claims the Department is not paying beneficiaries special benefits they were entitled to.

- EXPORT FIGURES: The latest trade figures showed exports continued to close the gap over imports in June, although the country’s export-led deficit is still large.

- WOMAN CHARGED: A woman has appeared in a Carterton court charged with assault on a toddler, in a case police say is related to a case where another 23-month-old toddler was found dead.

- ROBSON ON PROBATION: The Minister of Corrections Matt Robson says the gaps in the probation service will need Government resources to help it cope with handling difficult repeat offenders.

- WEST COAST LOGGING: The Government has claimed that a Timber company should not be allowed to contest its end to of West Coast logging as any ruling by the high-court would interfere with Parliament's sovereign right to pass laws.

- LOCAL GOVT NZ: The Mayor of the Buller District is concerned that the president of Local Government New Zealand has not acted appropriately in the treatment of departed chief executive Carol Stigley.

- RUSSIAN BOMBING: The Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally taken charge of the investigation of a bomb-blast which took place in the Moscow city centre, killing over 20 people.

- POLICE SHOOTING: Auckland police will carry out an inquiry into the accidental shooting of a police officer in a training exercise early this morning.

- MAORI HEALTH: A leading Maori health researcher says there is only one health statistic which should be focussed on if the Government was committed to closing the gaps in health - the low Maori life-expectancy rate.

- PRINCIPLE DIES: The principle of Avondale College and former councillor has died from leukemia early this morning.

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