National Radio Midday Bulletin

Waitara Shooting - Policeman’s Identity - Maori & Police - Tb Diagnosis - Photo Drivers License - Unemployment Up Slightly - Caa Hush Money? - Cervical Inquiry - Zimbabwe Elections - UN Out - Sulfide Poisoning? - Property Laws - Cottonfields Centre

WAITARA SHOOTING: Waitara police say Steven Wallace had repeately threatened to kill the police officer who fatally shot him. At a police briefing a spokesman said Mr Wallace threw golf club at police officer and still had a base ball bat when he was shot. They said he also approached a police car and smashed the car windows before the police returned armed.

POLICEMAN’S IDENTITY: A high court hearing to decide whether the policeman who shot Mr Wallace identity should be made public has been postponed until tomorrow.

MAORI & POLICE: The police say they have already taken steps to improve relations with the Maori community following a report which cast doubt on police dealings with Maori. A further report on the issue would be published next month.

TB DIAGNOSIS: Health authorities said the public should not be worried with Wellington man infected by tuberculosis who worked in the service industry. Four of his colleagues were infected with the disease but at a level which is too low to be passed on to others.

PHOTO DRIVERS LICENSE: A Lower Hutt District Court has heard the new photo drivers license were brought in to improve New Zealand’s road safety record. Lawyers for the Government said the Land Transport Safety Authority also made many moves to consult the public before the institution of the scheme. A Lower Hutt woman’s court case against the Government about the legality of the new licenses is continuing.

UNEMPLOYMENT UP SLIGHTLY: A Statistics NZ release showed the number of people in full time employment rose slightly this month although the number of out of work also rose slightly.

CAA HUSH MONEY? - State Owned Enterprises Minister Mark Burton is investigation whether a former employee Civil Aviation Authority employee was paid hush money to leave after claiming corrupt practices in the authority. Both the employee and NZ First leader Winston Peters have been asked to provide details on the matter. Mr Peters brought the issue up in Parliament yesterday.

CERVICAL INQUIRY: An overseas expert has warned the Cervical Cancer Inquiry in Gisborne it would be difficult but not impossible to ascertain whether former Pathologist Dr. Michael Bottrill under-diagnosed cervical smear cases.

ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS: The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Phil Goff has said he would like to have an NZ election monitoring team in Zimbabwe but said the team could only go if it was invited.

UN OUT: The United Nations peacekeepers have withdrawn from positions around a house of a rebel leader in Sierra Leone after seven UN personnel were killed in clashes with his Revolutionary United Front.

SULFIDE POISONING? - Rotorua police say an elderly woman who died in her hotel room earlier this year may have been killed by hydrogen sulfide gas poisoning.

PROPERTY LAWS: MPs will have a conscience vote in Parliament this afternoon on whether there will be an extension to property laws to include de facto and same sex couples. National and ACT are voting against the changes saying the changes have not been properly researched.

COTTONFIELDS CENTRE: A Manawatu child care centre, Cottontails, has been given a breathing space after a report alleging the mistreatment of young children at the crèche.

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