National Radio Midday Report

Race Deaths – Rates – Hartner Creditors – Mob Informer – Royal Massacre – British Election – Book Awards – Sport Agency – Wainuiomata Prowler – Psych Patient – Timor Militiaman – Bus Crash

- RACE DEATHS: All charges against four volunteers involved in the fatal Queenstown Classic Road Race in which two spectators died have been dropped. In turn, Motorsport NZ has pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal nuisance and will be sentenced tomorrow.

- RATES: The Retail Merchants Association says it will oppose any law change to save local councils having to pay back millions of dollars illegally collected rates.

- HARTNER CREDITORS: The Minister of Commerce says authorities dealing with the collapse of Hartner Construction are doing all they can under the current law, but cannot assure unsecured creditors will get their money back.

- MOB INFORMER: An Auckland High Court judge ruled that police broke an agreement to relocate a Mongrel Mob member who became an informer.

- ROYAL MASSACRE: The editor and publisher of Nepal’s largest daily newspaper have been charged with treason following Friday’s Royal massacre.

- BRITISH ELECTION: British PM Tony Blair has made a plea To Britons not to use an opinion polls saying his Labour Party will sweep to power as an excuse to stay home and not vote. Polling opens at 7pm NZ time, and the result is expected to be known by midday tomorrow.

- BOOK AWARDS: The finalists for the Montana Book awards have been confirmed.

- SPORT AGENCY: The board of the new Recreation and Sport agency has been announced.

- WAINUIOMATA PROWLER: Police hunting a prowler who has been breaking into children’s bedrooms in Wainuiomata say they have no firm leads.

- PSYCH PATIENT: The Court of Appeal has been told a Mental Heath Review Tribunal was not careful enough when it decided a dangerous psychiatric patient should be released.

- TIMOR MILITIAMAN: An East Timor militia leader has been set free, only weeks after an Indonesian court sentenced him to six months jail.

- BUS CRASH: Members of the police’s commercial vehicles investigation unit will be interviewing a Christchurch bus driver after he ploughed into a bus shelter, injuring two girls.

© Scoop Media