National Radio Midday Bulletin

Goff In Fiji - Fijia-Indian Camps - Beehive Renovations- Selling The Budget - Selling The Budget- Contraceptives Study - Gisborne Hospital - Ferry Speeds - Swimming Register - Auckland Airport - Petrol Rises

GOFF IN FIJI: New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff says the four-member Commonwealth delegation to Fiji is hoping to persuade the military government to return to democracy as soon as possible.

FIJIA-INDIAN CAMPS: Meanwhile, Ethnic Fijian Indian families are continuing to flee to the first refugee camp that was set up five days ago. The families are seeking protection from armed masked hoodlums who have been attacking their homes.

BEEHIVE RENOVATIONS: The National Party says Labour tried to sneak in an $11 million budget plan to renovate the beehive without consulting the public.

SELLING THE BUDGET: Prime Minister Helen Clark is due to attend an Auckland business audience this afternoon as the Government steps up efforts to sell the budget to the business community.

CONTRACEPTIVES STUDY: A study into the safety of latest generation of oral contraceptive pills has found they may carry a higher than expected risk of causing fatal blood clots.

GISBORNE HOSPITAL: The Government should take action over unsafe medical practices at the Gisborne hospital says the hospital’s staff union.

FERRY SPEEDS: Cook Strait ferry companies are opposing a proposed council by-law that would halve the speed of ferries as they pass through the Marlborough Sounds.

SWIMMING REGISTER: A South Island coroner is recommending schools keep a register of students’ swimming ability following the deaths of two teenage boys who drowned during a school outing at Waimate in February.

AUCKLAND AIRPORT: Fog is affecting flights at Auckland's International Airport, which has been closed intermittently from about seven this morning.

PETROL RISES: Shell has joined several other petrol companies in increasing its petrol and diesel by four cents a litre.

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