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TV1 6pm News
Knife edge vote in Tauranga - Greens Vision - Chechnya -Holiday Job Ad's.
Knife edge vote in Tauranga - It's now official, Winston Peters has won Tauranga by just 62 votes following the count of special votes. Peters takes four other sitting MP's with him back into Parliament. However, National MP Katherine O'Reagan is not conceding and is taking advice on the possibilitiy of a recount.
It is also in Labour's interest to go for a recount because it wants a clear majority to govern. If that happens, the final makeup of Parliament could be delayed by some months. Labour will be considering its options overnight. A box containing over 600 Tauranga votes was discovered under a table at around five o'clock bringing voting counting once more into disrepute.
Labour and National are both likely to make a legal challenge in Rangitikei following 100 votes going missing from the Himetangi Beach polling booth. Police are investigating. There is is an election night National majority of only 68. Apart from the missing 100 votes a result is expected tomorrow after special's are counted.
Greens Vision - The six green MP's are pledging to work cooperatively but are refusing to back a key Labour initiative relating to party hopping by MP's unless there are changes. Too much power in the hands of Party's is said to be the reason. Sue Bradford also wants beneficiaries to receive a weeks benefit as a bonus as a gesture of good will. Labour says that is unlikely.
Chechnya - Over 40,000 people are still in Grozny and are frightened with Russians ultimatum to leave or die. Russia says they can still leave after Saturday's deadline but many may not even know of the deadline because of poor communications. Britain says it may cut aid.
Holiday Job Ad's - Young Christchurch job seekers are being warned that job ad's may have a sinister side. Job ad's may be being used by sex offenders to attract young people. Police say they can only warn people to be careful. The ad's are said to be bogus but no crime has been committed at this time.
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