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Blueprints detailing a working prototype for the World's first sniff based telecommunications system have been let
loose. The blueprints, called The Guz, are being snapped up by subscribers from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City. Get
The Guz before the Stiff Necked Goots do, from: http://www.spungo.com
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TOP SCOOPS
Unemployment At Lowest Level For Three Years
- Unemployment dropped to 6.3 per cent, according to Statistics New Zealand's Household Labour Force Survey, the
official measure of unemployment. See... Unemployment Rate Falls to 6.3 Per Cent [1] in the Business wire. The figures show that the previous Government’s policies were working and making a real difference for New
Zealanders, says National. See... Job figures Show National Made A Difference [2] . Employment Minister Steve Maharey has welcomed the figures but says they are not low enough. See... Unemployed drop welcome but not good enough [3] . ACT agrees, see... Govt. must do better for long-term unemployed [4] both in the Parliament wire. For Deutsche Bank's perspective see... Household Labour Force Survey - December Q 1999 [5] in the Business wire.
Scoop Opinion: Hawkesby World Famous In NZ
- By what criteria does television pay its newsreaders? One criterion is star quality. Keith Rankin's weekly Thursday
collumn. See... Rankin: John Hawkesby: World Famous in New Zealand [1] in the Headlines wire.
UN Bills
- Scoop's UN sources say only 43 of the 188 member states had paid their bills to the UN in full for 2000 by the 31
January deadline. 45 have lost their voting rights in the General Assembly. John Howard reports. See... UN Bills Not Paid [1] in the Headlines wire.
Scoop Opinion: Sustainable Logging, A Scientist’s Perspective
- The recent resignation of a top Timberlands manager has put the issue of sustainable logging on the West Coast back
into the public consciousness. Dr Henrik Moller, a senior lecturer at the University of Otago, says environmentalists
have misrepresented the impact of Timberlands' logging. See... A well-meaning step backwards for conservation? [1] in the Science wire.
No Racing Today In Americas Cup Challengers Series
- There was no racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup today due to lack of wind. Prada and AmericaOne are currently neck and
neck in the nine race series with three wins each.
MORE SCOOPS
Bean-Counters Get Wired
- KPMG Consulting has signed an alliance agreement with Internet solutions provider Clearview Zivo to implement
Internet-based business solutions. See... KPMG Consulting Forms Internet Alliance [1] in the Business wire.
Greens Mad About Electricity Inquiry
- Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says she is “very disappointed” the government did not consult with Greens
on it’s planned inquiry into the Electricity industry. See... Electricity Inquiry Misses Important Point - Green [1] . The Minister of Energy announced a Ministerial Inquiry into the electricity industry today after concern that
National’s electricity reforms had led to increased prices for the consumer. See... Ministerial Inquiry into the Electricity Industry [2] . National says the inquiry will be nothing more than an expensive junket for highly paid consultants. See... Electricity Inquiry Work Already Done - Nats [3] all in the Parliament wire. Former Labour Minister David Caygill says he is delighted to lead the Inquiry. See... Hon David Caygill, Chairman On Electricity Inquiry [4] in the Business wire.
Scientists Offer Moratorium
- A group of scientists involved in genetic engineering say they will not apply to commercially release genetically
modified organisms while the Royal Commission inquiring into genetic engineering completes its business. See... Scientist Group Offers Voluntary GMO Moratorium [1] in the Science wire. The Minister for the Environment, Marian Hobbs, has welcomed the move. See... Moratorium Offer Appreciated [2] in the Parliament wire.
ACC Changes
- The New Zealand Manufacturers Federation is to make an oral submission to government Select Committee today on the
proposed changes to remove competition from accident compensation. Over 900 submissions, mostly opposing the change,
have been sent to the committee. See... Manufacturers Fed Address Select Committee On ACC [1] in the Politics wire. Meanwhile, unions have come to the government's defence saying they support the legislation. See... Accident Insurance Bill Stops Overseas Takeovers [2] , while Manufacturers had previously asked the government to take more time considering the issue. See... Go Slower on ACC Reform - Manufacturers [3] , both in the Politics wire.
Car Rip-Offs
- Car dealers are ripping off consumers by increasing their prices for "sale" and trade-in promotions says the body
regulating retail trade, the Commerce Commission . See... Car Dealers Increase Prices For "Sales". The Motor Vehicle Dealers Institute of says this practise is unacceptable.
See... MVDI - Breaches Of The Act Not Acceptable [1] in the Business wire.
Tatoo Televised
- Because of NZ On Air funding assistance, all New Zealanders will have ringside seats for the Edinburgh Military
Tattoo, being held at the Wellington Stadium on March 10-13. See... Edinburgh Tattoo: Kiwis To Have Frontline Seats [1] in the Business wire.
NZQA Role -
The new Government has a clear new role for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the Associate Minister of
Tertiary Education, Steve Maharey, says, when releasing its post-election briefing papers. See... NZQA’s Years Of Indecision Over [1] in the Parliament wire. New Zealand’s largest association of private education institutes says it welcomes the move. See... Maharey's Decision on NZQA Supported [2] in the Education wire.
“New” Apple Plan Approved
- The Minister of Agriculture, Jim Sutton, has approved the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Boards’ revised
restructuring plan after initially saying no. See... Sutton Approves New ENZA Share Plan [1] . Apple growers will be deeply concerned at reports they will not receive proceeds from the sale Frucor Ltd, says
National. See... Keep Your Promise To Apple Growers - ACT [2] both in the Parliament wire.
Report from the Battlefront - Chechen Ghost Fighters
- Russian government reports say forces are continuing to storm the Chechen capital of Grozny engaging the Muslim
independence fighters still resisting. But, according to the official rebel Kavkaz newswire, any fighting in Grozny is a
product of Russian millitary imagination. See... Kavkaz News: Grozny (Dzhokhar) Evacuated By Rebels [1] in the General wire.
PNG Corruption
- A Papua New Guinean anti-corruption advocate has warned that the construction and arms industries have the greatest
propensity to pay bribes to government officials. See... Arms, Building Sectors Prone To Giving Bribes [1] in the General wire.
Healthy Changes
- THE Government has agreed on a plan and timetable to implement improvements to the public health system including
more support for Mental Health, Maori, and the Disabled. See... Changes In The Health Sector [1] . See... Mental Health Commission Given New Lease of Life [2] and… Maori Health Issues [3] and… Disability Strategy Underway [4] , all in the Parliament wire.
Defence Meeting
- Defence Minister, John Moore, and New Zealand Defence Minister, Mark Burton, will meet in Brisbane on Friday, 4th
February, for discussions on regional security issues such as East Timor, and bilateral defence relations. See... Defence Minister to Meet New Zealand Counterpart [1] in the Parliament wire.
Peter Ellis's Fight
- Convicted child molester Peter Ellis said he would continue attempts to clear his name on his release from prison
today. Ellis spoke to media on his release from Prison after serving six-and-a-half years for indecently assaulting
children at a Christchurch creche. See... Ellis Vows to Continue The Fight [1] in the Headlines wire. Meanwhile Minister of Justice Phil Goff is seeking ministerial advice for a possible commission of inquiry.
See... Phil Goff: The Peter Ellis Case [2] in the Parliament wire.
Petrol Goes Up Again
- Petrol and diesel prices in New Zealand service stations will move above $1 a litre with all four main oil retailers
making the move. See... Another Petrol Price Rise [1] in the Headlines wire.
WINZ Board Scrapped
- The Minister of Social Services and Employment, Steve Maharey has axed a WINZ Advisory Board made up of the business
representitives, which Cheif Executive Christine Rankin has set up. See... Board goes as Maharey sets new direction for WINZ [1] in the Parliament wire. The move has been welcomed by UNITE!, the community based union representing unemployed, casual and low paid
workers. See... Union Delighted At Maharey Move To Axe Ideologues [2] in the Politics wire.
GE Food Debate
- Officials are urging the Government to break an election promise on genetic engineering, Green Party Safe Food
Spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today. See Labour Must Keep GE Election Promise - Greens [1] in the Parliament wire. Also see… Greens Not Opposed to GE for Medical Research [2] in the Parliament wire.
Timberlands & Bogus Greens Press Releases
- A group of scientists who support Timberlands sustainable logging on the West Coast have hit out at the government
and the Green Party for making anit-scientist statements. See... Scientists Refute Government Spin-Campaign [1] in the Science wire. Could this be partly in response to a bogus, and highly satirical press release purportedly from Green Co-Leader
Jeanette "Fitsimmons" saying she would exile all scientists to a Pacific island? See... Bogus Jeanette Fitzsimmons PR Attacking Scientists [2] in the Politics wire.