Throng

ONE News:

1. GST increase (Heather du Plessis-Allan)
2. John Key's speech (Live cross, Guyon Espiner)
3. Reactions to Key's proposals (Catherine Loft)
4. Property tax changes
5. Eden Park funding (Nicole Bremer)

3 News:

1. John Key's speech (Live cross, Duncan Garner)
2. Property changes (Rebecca Wright)
3. GST increase (Dan Parker)
4. Burnside High principal hate site (Lachlan Forsyth)
5. Man rescued in Haiti

Commentary:

Both bulletins incorrectly calculated GST wrongly tonight if it is raised from 12.5% to 15%.

ONE News calculations listed first with ours in brackets:

$5 becomes $5.12 ($5.11)
$2000 becomes $2050 ($2044)
$40000 becomes $41000 ($40889)
$61790 becomes $63335 ($63163)

Here's what 3 News calculated first with ours in brackets:

Prime Minister, John Key was asked to draw his version of an alternative NZ Flag by TVNZ’s Pippa Wetzell on Breakfast at 7:15am this morning.

By the time the programme went off-air at 9am, TVNZ had received many pledges of money for the A4 sized doodle, the highest being $1000.  Mr Key gave his consent for the drawing to be auctioned for charity and it has been listed on Trade Me this afternoon with all proceeds going to the children’s charity, Cure Kids.

Mr Key described his drawing as a “silver fern”.  Pippa Wetzell described it, perhaps more accurately, as a “lop-sided Christmas tree”.

ONE News:

1. Murder accused walks away a free man (Live cross, Michael Parkin)
2. Teen denies classmate's murder (Melissa Stokes)
3. Harsher penalties - knives
4. Proposed tax changes (Live cross, Nicole Bremner)
5. Proposed tax changes (Live cross, Guyon Espiner)

3 News:

1. Proposed tax changes (Live cross, Duncan Garner)
2. Marac irregular loan
3. Teen denies classmate's murder (Live cross, Kate Lynch)
4. Harsher penalties - knives (Jane Luscombe)
5. Tourists injured at Franz Josef

Commentary:

Nothing really to note tonight that we noticed.

Verdict:

Tie.

What did you think of tonight's news bulletins?

After Rachel Glucina outed Alison Mau on the front page of the Herald on Sunday yesterday it all seems to have hit the fan.

GayNZ.com have called the outing reprehensible after the front page of the Sunday paper featured paparazzi shots of the supposed new partner of the TVNZ news reader.

The Edge's Morning Madhouse this morning broadcast a jingle for Alison Mau which has seen Dom Harvey post this comment on facebook afterwards

No work for me tmrw. Boss Leon has suspended me for 1 day for writing and singing a song about Alison Mau being lesbian. Quote: 'you cannot rap about f***ing rug munching at 7 minutes past f***ing 8am!' the song will never be broadcast again. Ever. I think it is on today's podcast

Many comments have been disgusted at the Herald's tabloid-like reporting but there are those who don't think there is any problem with it at all.

TV3's Sunrise presenter, Carly Flynn, was gently corralled into announcing that she and her husband Dave Flynn are expecting their first child this morning by co-host Oliver Driver.

TV3 haven't had any discussions regarding who will cover for her when she takes maternity leave.

Travel Channel International and SKY Television confirmed today the launch of the Travel Channel on SKY on Saturday 1 May 2010

Travel Channel, on SKY Digital channel 77, will provide viewers with quality programming on all aspects of the travel experience, from luxury getaways to backpacking adventures. The new channel will not only provide practical advice in selecting and planning real holidays but will also allow viewers to just sit back and enjoy experiencing fascinating places in the company of engaging presenters from all across the world. It is a ‘must see’ for those with a desire to venture beyond their front door.

Since its launch in London in 1994, Travel Channel has grown to serve cable and satellite audiences across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, transmitting on 20 satellites in 18 languages. The deal with SKY Television makes the channel’s entertaining and inspirational mix of programmes available in New Zealand for the first time.

Veteran British actor Ian Carmichael - best known for his role as Bertie Wooster - has died at the age of 89.

Danii Minogue is filming a reality series about her pregancy.

Former Westlife star Brian McFadden will host a new TV show competition to make a boyband.

Big Love has been renewed for a fifth season.

A repeat of the first episode of Masterchef last night drew in more people than its first screening with 473,000 tuning in.

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