HEADLINES
Bye-bye Brian
WINZ Muzak
Roger Awards Announced
Nandor Is Ok – Mild Greens
Scoop Opinion: Doing A Dennis
Erotic Encounters In Outer Space
Cullen On A Tax Dodge
Maori TV Stays
Visitor Numbers Up
Generation-Y Study
Hero Gala Begins Today –
CYF Fails Maori
Kofi Annan’s Timor Visit
Chechnya Human Right’s Abuse
A Broadcast On Broadcasting
America’s Cup Eve
Drunk In Charge – Of A Superyacht!
Dying In Iraq
Loans Frozen
Listeria Warning
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TOP SCOOPS
Bye-bye Brian
- Broadcaster Brian Edwards has rejected a new contract offer by Radio New Zealand for his ‘Top of the Morning’
Saturday morning show effectively ruling out his further participation in the programme. See... The Life Of Brian [1] in the Headlines wire. Meanwhile National says Broadcasting Minister Marion Hobbs' statement in Parliament today that Brian Edwards
salary was “an operational matter” shows that Labour has double standards when it comes to broadcasting issues. See... Labour supports some media stars' salaries [2] in the Parliament wire.
WINZ Muzak
- “The time for the culture of incompetence is over, it’s about time that WINZ came to campus to face the music,” says
Auckland University's Students Association President. See... Auckland Students Say WINZ Must Face The Music [1] in the Education wire. Yesterday WINZ Head Christine Rankin met with the media, refusing to apologise or to resign. See... Rankin Won’t Apologise [2] in the Headlines wire. Social Services Minister Steve Maharey’s obsession with WINZ chief executive Christine Rankin means he is missing
the point about who is responsible for the student loans fiasco, according to United New Zealand. See... WINZ Buck Stops With Maharey - United NZ [3] in the Parliament wire.
Roger Awards Announced
- Canadian power company, TransAlta, which owns energy retailers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch (Southpower),
has the dubious honour of being the winner of the Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation in New Zealand in
1999. See... Transalta Wins Roger Award As Worst Transnational [1] in the Business wire.
Nandor Is Ok – Mild Greens
- The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party is now commending the Green Party's marijuana reform advocacy this week after
last week criticising Green MP Nandor Tanczos for not saying enough on the issue. See... Stop The Abuse Say ALCP [1] in the Politics wire.
Scoop Opinion: Doing A Dennis
- The people of this country have always been told that we can do anything. That we have the ability to not only match
the achievements of the rest of the world but beat them. We are a country whose abilities are way larger than our tiny
landmass. A Young Nat reports. See... On The Right: More Arrogant Than Dennis Conner! [1] in the Politics wire.
Erotic Encounters In Outer Space
- The Corrective Party, New Zealand's only corporal punishment party, today condemned NASA's “salacious encounter” with
an asteroid named Eros. See... Lewd and Perverted Asteroid Encounters! [1] in the Politics wire.
MORE SCOOPS
Cullen On A Tax Dodge
- High wage earners can legitimately avoid paying tax by putting their money into superannuation schemes says Finance
Minister Michael Cullen in a speech this morning. See... Government fleshes out tax plans [1] . The Finance Minister has come up with more unfair and complicated ideas to try to limit the damage from his
ill-thought through tax laws, National said. See... Damage control exercise unfair and complicated [2] . ACT called the tax changes “draconian, costly and unnecessary”. See... Tax changes draconian, costly and unnecessary [3] all in the Parliament wire.
Maori TV Stays
- A committee on Maori broadcasting has agreed to allow contracts for Maori television programmes to run for the next
12 months. Previously there was speculation that all Maori programming would be taken off air while a long term Maori
broadcasting strategy was worked out. See... Te Mangai Paho's Tendering Process Approved [1] in the Parliament wire.
Visitor Numbers Up
- There was a record 1.607 million overseas visitor arrivals in the December 1999 year, up 8 per cent on the 1998
total, said Statistics New Zealand. See... Rebound of Overseas Visitors in 1999 - Stats NZ [1] in the Business wire.
Generation-Y Study
- A new research project by Auckland University will question youth around the country for their opinions about
problems and issues facing young people. Youth Affairs Minister Laila Harré launched the scheme today. See... Pioneering Youth Research Project Launched [1] in the Parliament wire.
Hero Gala Begins Today –
Auckland’s premier gay and lesbian festival is not a parade this year, it’s a Gala, and it begins tonight. See Hero Goes Ahead As Gala [1] in the General wire.
CYF Fails Maori
– Child Youth and Family services are not catering properly for Maori needs because resources are not being properly
allocated, says a report into the department by the Ministry of Maori Affairs. Greater participation by whanau, hapu,
iwi and Maori in the contracting process is necessary to improve the services of Child Youth and Family Services says
Labour. See... Environment For Improvement For Maori - Minister [1] in the Parliament wire.
Kofi Annan’s Timor Visit
- On his first visit to East Timor after it was racked by post-referendum violence, United Nations Secretary-General
Kofi Annan today told the people of the troubled territory that the UN was working hard to rebuild their land and bring
law. See... Annan Receives Emotional Welcome In East Timor [1] . For Mr Annan’s speech, see... Kofi Annan Address To People Of East Timor [2] both in the International wire.
Chechnya Human Right’s Abuse
- Non Governmental Organisation Human Rights Watch today charged that Russian camp guards are torturing, beating, and
on occasion raping Chechen civilians at a “filtration camp” inside Chechnya”. Today NATO officials gave a lukewarm
welcome to Russia’s decision to appoint a Senior Minster to investigate the allegations. See... Hundreds of Chechens Detained in "Filtration Camps [1] in the International wire.
A Broadcast On Broadcasting
- Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs outlined some of the government plans for broadcasting including local quotas when
she spoke at seminar Victoria University this morning. Recently the Minister was ridiculed in the house for her passion
for American television soap– Days of Our Lives. See... Hobbs Speech: On Direction In Broadcasting [1] in the General wire.
America’s Cup Eve
- On the eve of the 30th America’s Cup, representatives from both Team New Zealand and Prada gathered for the
traditional press conference and starting line draw. See... Americas Cup: Just One Day to Go [1] .Also see ... Prada and Team New Zealand Agree on Rules [2] both in the Auckland wire.
Drunk In Charge – Of A Superyacht!
- One in twenty five boaties surveyed at boat ramps in March and April last year were over the legal alcohol limit for
driving a car, according to a report by the Injury Prevention Research Centre at the University of Auckland released
today. See... Report Highlights Dangers Of Drinking & Boating [1] in the General wire.
Dying In Iraq
- A Second Top United Nations official has resigned protesting at support at continuing UN economic sanctions against
Iraq. An activist group in New Zealand says the move puts further pressure on Government’s support for UN actions.
See... Second Top UN official resigns in 3 days [1] in the Politics wire.
Loans Frozen
- The Minister of Tertiary Education Steve Maharey, today announced that the student loan interest rate for the 2000/01
tax year would be frozen while the Government reviews the way the rate is struck. See... Maharey announces freeze on student loan interest [1] . The Alliance is pleased. See... Student Loan Interest Rate Freeze A Positive Move [2] both in the Parliament wire. Students also welcome the decision. See... Students View Loan Freeze A Breakthrough. [3] in the Education wire.
Listeria Warning
- Director General of Health Dr Karen Poutasi, today warned that pregnant women, the elderly, young children and people
with low immunity should avoid foods at greater risk of listeria. This follows a nationwide recall of a brand of corned
beef when the bacteria was found. See... Ministry Of Health Listeria Warning [1] in the General wire.
ENDS