Television New Zealand (TVNZ), Network News

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TVNZ Network News.

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NATIONAL WOULD SCRAP NUCLEAR BAN

Opposition leader Jim Bolger today called for the removal of the ban on nuclear ships to New Zealand waters. Mr. Bolger said that the National Party would seek to repel the legislation if elected to government this year. He called the ban ridiculous and damaging to New Zealand's relationship with the United States and its closest neighbor, Australia.

Prime Minister Palmer said that a majority of New Zealanders were happy with the country's anti-nuclear stance and any move to scrap it would be met with fierce opposition. Palmer also says that the nuclear debate could be a deciding issue in this year's general election.

National rejects the government's claim that the majority of New Zealanders support the ban. Mr. Bolger believes that support is largely refined to 'a few radicals'.

- TVNZ Network News

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NAVY TO END RUM RATION

The Royal New Zealand Navy has officially declared that it will discontinue its daily ration of rum to sailors as of March, describing the practice as 'no longer appropriate'.

- TVNZ Network News

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CHINA'S REACTION CAUSES EMBARRASMENT FOR BOLGER
Palmer says 'anything possible' under National

Reaction from China to Jim Bolger's recent call for the nuclear ban to be over-turned has caused embarrassment for the opposition leader and his party.

Chinese state news quoted government officials saying that removal of the ban would result in New Zealand becoming a base for American nuclear-armament, and a platform for future aggression towards Asia.

Greenpeace and other similar organizations have accused Bolger of damaging New Zealand's credibility and of submitting to 'imperialistic' American pressure. A spokesman for Greenpeace told TVNZ that Bolger was prepared to the country at risk simply to chase a free trade agreement.

Mr. Bolger strenuously denied this, saying that removal of the ban was a sensible move if New Zealand wished to maintain a strong and stable relationship with its traditional western allies. He said that New Zealand had not been an American nuclear base before the anti-nuclear legislation, and would not become one if it was repealed. He said a free trade agreement was a priority, but removing the ban was only in part related.

"We just see this legislation as being hugely hurtful towards our standing in the international community, and in many ways it has alienated our closest allies."

Labour says it will fight to keep the ban, and says it is the best interests of all New Zealanders. "We are a clean, green country and have no need what so ever for nuclear weapons or power," Prime Minister Palmer said today. "We are also a very strong and independent voice in the world. Mr. Bolger is apparently prepared to throw all of this away."
Palmer added that under National anything was possible and voters should think carefully about the direction the country would be taking by electing it to government.

- TVNZ Network News

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BOLGER THROWS PEN AT PALMER

Opposition leader Jim Bolger today threw a pen at Sir Geoffrey Palmer across the parliamentary chamber. The NZ made Biro narrowly missed the prime minister, and the incident sparked laughter from both sides of the House, though Speaker Kerry Burke said he felt it was unfunny and called on Bolger to apologize.

- TVNZ Network News

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PALMER CERTAIN RMB WILL BE PASSED BEFORE ELECTION '90

The Prime Minister is confident that the Resoruce Management Bill will be ready to pass into law before this year's General Election. The bill, which seeks to condense 57 Acts of Parliament into a single piece of legislation, will control the use of land, air and water and attempt to minimise the impact of human activity. The 'RMB', as it has been dubbed, would require the application for a resource consent for any activities that relate to resource use.

Sir Geoffrey, who also holds the Enviroment portfolio and has invested much effort into the bill, says that it will ensure the sustainable use of resources for the forseeable needs of the present and future generation, and also recognise the importance of indigenous rights in the mitigation process.

Opposition leader Jim Bolger has meanwhile criticised Palmer for devoting too much time to the bill and not facing the real issues that New Zealanders are concerned about, pointing to rising unemployment rates and other effects of the radical market reforms carried about by Labour in its previous term of government.

"It [the RMB] is hardly the priority for a demoralized country in economic crisis," Mr. Bolger said.

- TVNZ Network News

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EXPLOSION ROCKS CAPITAL, THREE INJURED

An alleged suit-case bomb has detonated at Parliament Buildings in Wellington. The first confirmed reports say that three people have been seriously wounded. Armed police and emergency services are at the scene.

TVNZ understands that the House Representatives was sitting for question time when the explosion occured, though nobody in the Chamber was injured. MPs, staff and visitors are being evacuated.

- TVNZ Network News

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BOMB AFTERMATH: 1 DEAD, 2 IN CRITICAL CONDITION
POLICE INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED - NOTE FOUND AT SCENE

A fullscale police investigation has been launched into yesterday's suitcase bombing, while Parliament has been closed indefinitely. The blast killed security guard David Smith, and seriously injured journalist James Newton and a first floor secretary. Parliament has been closed indefinitely.

Commissioner Jamieson says that police are appealing to anybody with any information to come forward immediately. He says that investigators are already following a number of leads.

It has since been revealed that a note was discovered at the crime scene, though the contents of the note are being kept secret at this time.

Both Prime Minister Palmer and National Party Leader Jim Bolger have condemned the attack, offering condolences to Mr. Smith's family and the two other victims.

Security has meanwhile been stepped up around other government buildings and landmarks across the country, with fears that the person or persons responsible may carry out similar attacks.

- TVNZ Network News

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NATIONAL LEADS POLLS

With less than two months to go until the 1990 General Election, three independent polls conducted this week have placed the National Party on 35%, ten points above Labour.

National leader Jim Bolger says he is delighted; while Prime Minister Palmer has reminded New Zealanders that the only poll that counts is the one on election night.

- TVNZ Network News