National Radio Midday Report

West Coast Deal - Fireworks Explosion - China Protests - Dairy Workers - Sierra Leone - Manufactured Exports - Sheep & Beef - Kiwishare Threat- Frozen Vegetables - Hostage Negotiations - Architecture Meeting - Sea Slugs

WEST COAST DEAL: The owner of a West Coast sawmill says he’ll have to shut down his business if the Government ends Rimu logging on the West Coast. The region’s mayors are waiting to hear about the finalised package from the Government today to compensate the area.

FIREWORKS EXPLOSION: Dutch rescue workers and forensic scientists are still trying to identify remains of bodies following the explosion of a fireworks warehouse in the city of Enschede.

CHINA PROTESTS: A Parliamentary committee is in Christchurch today to investigate the treatment of protestors during the president of China after APEC last year.

DAIRY WORKERS: The Dairy Workers Union has called on the right to take industrial action on behalf of employees overseas employed by the Dairy Board. A union spokesperson says the Dairy Board has a record of intimidating union employees overseas.

SIERRA LEONE: In Sierra Leone, rebels have handed over eighteen captive UN peacekeepers and observers to the United Nations. Pro-government forces in Sierra Leone have retaken important highways near the capital Freetown. Meanwhile Britain’s chief of Defence staff has visited Freetown for a short visit. He has rejected concerns that British troops may be drawn into the Civil War.

MANUFACTURED EXPORTS: A sharp increase in Manufactured Exports has helped narrow the gap between what New Zealand earns and it spends.

SHEEP & BEEF: Things are looking up for sheep and beef farmers with a 15 per cent lift for the sector predicted this year.

KIWISHARE THREAT: There are predictions that the internet may kill Kiwishare – the Government’s deal with Telecom which gives customers free residential calls.

FROZEN VEGETABLES: A nutrition specialist says frozen vegetables are better for getting Vitamin C and other nutrients, as they hold them better than fresh vegetables.

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS: The Philippine Government negotiating team has agreed to new terms for the 21 hostages held by Muslim separatists on the island of Holau.

ARCHITECTURE MEETING: Students and staff are meeting at design school in Wellington today over concerns that Victoria architecture students are moving away from their state of the art school buildings on Vivian Street.

SEA SLUGS: An Auckland scientist says the large number large of sea slugs on Auckland’s East Coast beaches indicates problems with sewages and storm water runoff.

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