National Radio Midday Report

Double Murder – School Enrollment Ballots – Doctors’ Strikes – Rest Home Fire – GE Commission – Petrol Prices – Oil Production – Colombian Bombers – Christchurch Murder – Fiji Government – Medication Study – Building Industry – Homicide Inquiry

- DOUBLE MURDER: In Palmerston North a homicide inquiry team of three police forensic experts and a photographer have begun examinations in the house where the bodies of a mother and child were found murdered.

- SCHOOL ENROLLMENT BALLOTS: The Ministry of Education has taken steps to ensure that school enrollment ballots will be fair and transparent. A scrutineer will supervise the ballots.

- DOCTORS’ STRIKES: There is no word yet on whether public hospitals will make a new offer to the striking junior doctors.

- REST HOME FIRE: The Auckland Fire Service is continuing investigations into the cause of a fire in the St Catherine’s rest home in Herne Bay. The fire is not thought to be suspicious. The lack of a sprinkler system has been criticised by firefighters. The evacuation went well.

- GE COMMISSION: Animal rights group Save Animals From Exploitation is considering a high court appeal after not being granted interested person status in the Royal Commission Into Genetic Engineering. A spokesman for the group said they are the only animal rights group conducting research into genetic engineering. Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says some of the most important groups have not been granted interested person status.

- PETROL PRICES: Challenge has announced a 4c petrol price increase, effective from 2pm.

- OIL PRODUCTION: A possible rise in oil production has been indicated by Saudi Arabia.

- COLOMBIAN BOMBERS: Colombian police have arrested two alleged Marxist rebels as they were preparing a 2kg bomb about 400m from a building that US President Bill Clinton was due to visit later in the day. Bill Clinton is in Colombia to support Government’s multi million dollar drive against cocaine production and to end almost four decades of civil war.

- CHRISTCHURCH MURDER: Three men charged with the murder of Christchurch man, whose body was found on the Godley Head walking track, have appeared in Christchurch district court.

- GREENHOUSE EFFECT: Alpine areas in New Zealand are the most vulnerable to greenhouse warming, a World Wildlife Fund report has said.

- FIJI GOVERNMENT: The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Phil Goff has said he will continue to put pressure on Fiji to restore a democratically elected government sooner than it has planned.

- MEDICATION STUDY: The Health Funding Authority is funding a new study for pharmacists to review the medication of senior citizens and patients with chronic conditions.

- BUILDING INDUSTRY: A Whangarei building certifier says the industry seems to be recovering from a slow June quarter.

- HOMICIDE INQUIRY: Taumaranui police are revealing few details of a homicide in the King Country on Tuesday. The identity of the middle-aged Maori woman found dead will be released after her relatives have been notified.

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