National Radio Midday Report

Stop The Hurt Conference – Guilty Plea – Hydroponic Pot – Drug Trial – Economy Class Syndrome – Global Warming – Turkey Trade Delegation – Suicide Bombing – US Military Conference – Maori Occupation – Compulsory Land Purchase – Hewitt Criticism – Ivory Coast Clashes – Protector Of Politicians

- STOP THE HURT CONFERENCE: The Commissioner for Children Roger McClay has criticised groups who chose not to attend a conference on mandatory reporting of child abuse for political reasons. Social Services Minister Maharey says he sees no need to attend because it is a think tank for National policy and the government already is in contact with all the groups attending.

- GUILTY PLEA: The woman at centre of the collapse of the Auckland Regional Staff Friendly Society has pleaded guilty to charges of theft and forgery. Shelly Donald appeared in the Auckland District Court today.

- HYDROPONIC POT: Police are concerned that a major increase in hydroponic production of Cannabis is restricting their ability to police the drug, with detection more difficult in indoor growing.

- DRUG TRIAL: A Whangarei man appeared in court on drug charges today, after police busted an indoor growing operation in August. Denver O’Sullivan is charged with cultivation and possession of cannabis for supply.

- ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME: Travel doctors say it is difficult to judge if the number of passenger developing blood clots from cramped economy class seats in planes is increasing. The infrequency of reporting of cases makes it difficult to study.

- GLOBAL WARMING: A new report on global warning predicts that some Pacific countries could lose up to 20 percent of their economies in the next 20 years. The forecasts are based on lost tourism and fisheries industries and higher social and health costs.

- TURKEY TRADE DELEGATION: The New Zealand trade delegation led by Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton to Turkey has already led to sales for at least on e of the companies involved.

- SUICIDE BOMBING: The militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing attack on an Israeli checkpoint in the Gaza strip.

- US MILITARY CONFERENCE: US Military commanders around the world have been in conference over threats to their forces. All forces have been on alert since the bombing of the USS Cole two weeks ago.

- MAORI OCCUPATION: A group of Maori occupying the site of the Mere Mere power station in Northern Waikato are determined to hold out until they gain ownership of the site, which they say rightfully belongs to the tribe.

- COMPULSORY LAND PURCHASE: The Christchurch City Council is considering the compulsory purchase of land owned by the Ngai Tahu Property Group. The group has announced they are going to build a retail centre on the site but the Council wants the land for a roading development.

- HEWITT CRITICISM: The Assistant ACC minister Ruth Dyson hopes her criticism of Norm Hewitt for playing the NPC final with a broken arm will foster the same safety attitudes to sports injuries as there is to road safety.

- IVORY COAST CLASHES: Security is being reinforced in the Ivory Coast after violent clashes between rival political factions over the outcome of Sunday’s election.

- PROTECTOR OF POLITICIANS: Politicians and statesman around the world are to have their own patron saint – the Pope is to make Sir Thomas Moore, Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII, protector of the world’s politicians.

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