National Radio Midday Report

Sydney Olympics – Kiwifruit Held Up – Global Warming Talks – Algal Bloom – Flu – ACC – Offender One Stop Shop - Tainui Settle – Mystery Dead Man – Rape Trial – Older Drivers – Liquor Packaging – Poison Water – 5c Coins

- SYDNEY OLYMPICS: The Olympic torch is winding its way through the streets of Sydney on it’s way to Stadium Australia, where it will light the Olympic cauldron tonight.

Troops have been called in to help sort out Olympic transport problems. Most troops will find themselves behind the wheel of a bus after dozens of bus drivers quit.

- KIWIFRUIT HELD UP: The New Zealand kiwifruit exporter is facing increasing distribution problems in Europe as petrol price blockades are stopping kiwifruit being transported. The exporter says it will investigate legal action to cover losses.

- GLOBAL WARMING TALKS: Trouble stemming from rising oil prices has put pressure on UN talks to curb global warming in France. Protests in Europe have highlighted the problem governments have trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

- ALGAL BLOOM: Mussel farmers are calling on all boaties to make sure they don’t inadvertently spread the toxic algal bloom into mussel growing areas with their ballast water.

- FLU: This year has seen the lowest levels of confirmed cases of the flu virus in five years.

- ACC: ACC staff are being asked to report medical errors to the Health and Disability Commissioner and other authorities in future.

- OFFENDER ONE STOP SHOP: A one stop shop for offenders is being opened in the Otara town centre in South Auckland today as part of a Department of Corrections initiative to amalgamate periodic detention and probation sites across the country.

- TAINUI SETTLE: A Settlement has been reached between ousted members of the Tainui executive and the Tainui tribal parliament.

- MYSTERY DEAD MAN: Police investigating the killing of the man found murdered in the Waitakere ranges still haven’t been able to identify the man.

- RAPE TRIAL: A high court jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of a Christchurch man accused of stupefying and raping a number of young women

- OLDER DRIVERS: A Grey Power member is demanding the government scrap the requirement for drivers over 80 to resit their license every two years, as figures show they are only responsible for 1 percent of accidents.

- LIQUOR PACKAGING: Retail chains and alcohol retailers have agreed not to stock products where the packaging appeals to underage drinkers or associates the product with the drug culture.

- POISON WATER: New York authorities are investigating the poisoning of bottled water, as four New Yorkers have fallen ill after drinking bottled water.

- 5c COINS: 5c coins are in short supply and the reserve bank is encouraging people to stop hoarding them and start using them.

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