HEADLINES
Jim's Jobs Machine Launched
Labour Love Affair
Racing Abandoned - Race Officials Now Seek Windy Wednesday
Rapid Response To Embarrassment In Europe
Ministers Face Questions In the House
Coasters Go To UN
Smart And Dumb Knowledge
Maori Incentives
ACC Next Step - Committee Reports
Unemployed Oz Style
Telcomms Inquiry A Waste
Cook Island PM Visits
Bank of Farmers Moves Into Housing
Protect The Environment The American Way
Telecom Man Leaves
NZ Software Expansion
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TODAY'S PICTURE: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0002/f3eaef45ecd5bc021d6f.jpeg
TOP SCOOPS
Jobs Machine Launched
- Pre-election commitments of the Alliance and Labour to create jobs through a partnership approach to economic
development were set in motion today. The package will rename Ministry of Commerce the Ministry of Economic Development.
See... Coalition Govt launches its 'jobs machine' [1] . United New Zealand Party leader, Peter Dunne, has given a cautious welcome to today’s announcement. See... United NZ - Cautious Welcome To Anderton's Plans [2] both in the Parliament wire. The Manufacturers Federation less reservedly welcomes the announcement "to rebuild New Zealand's productive
sector”. See... A Fresh Approach Is Welcome [3] in the Politics wire. Meanwhile, ACT says the new development policy evokes the ghosts of older, failed ideas. See... Government Package "Regional Cronyism" - ACT [4] in the Parliament wire.
Labour Love Affair
- Prime Minister Helen Clark will be straining to hold back her trade-mark gloat - two recent polls show voters have
continued their honeymoon with her and the Labour Party, conversely while National’s support is holding, Jenny Shipley
has less reason to be smug in opposition. See... Helen Most Popular, Jenny Has “Nice Personality” [1] in the Headlines wire.
Racing Abandoned - Race Officials Now Seek Windy Wednesday
- With four race days lost, and only three races sailed, the Race Committee has decided to change its schedule, and
Race Four will now be sailed on Wednesday. See... Americas Cup: Race Committee Changes Schedule [1] in the Auckland wire. Earlier today clouds and a humid haze settled over the race area, inhibiting the temperatures from rising to a
point encouraging wind. See... Becalmed Again - America's Cup [2] . Also see.. Preview Race Four - Will There Be Wind?? [3] both in the Auckland wire.
Rapid Response To Embarrassment
- A new European security policy is being drafted which will set out to prove the EU can act militarily without the US.
A large boost in defence spending is expected and UN peacekeepers may no longer be needed. John Howard reports See... New European Security Initiative [1] in the Headlines wire.
Questions In the House
- Today's questions concerned the subjects of: Australian Defence Ties - Witness Intimidation - TVNZ's Enticement Of
Hawkesby - Public Service Bonuses - Maori And Health Reforms - TV2 Content - ACC and Universities - Science In Schools ,
Christine Rankin's Performance and more. See... New European Security Initiative [1] in the Headlines wire.
Coasters Go To UN
- West Coast forestry grievances became an international issue yesterday with a $3 stamp and a complaint addressed to
the United Nations. John Howard reports. See... Coast Lodge Logging Complaint With UNESCO [1] in the Headlines wire.
Smart And Dumb Knowledge
- Jordan Carter of Young Labour discusses “dumb” and “smart” knowledge theories as he explains why he disagrees with
Simon Upton. See... On The Left - Does Knowledge Matter? [1] in the Politics wire.
MORE SCOOPS
Maori Incentives
- Prime Minister Helen Clark has announced moves to give Te Puni Kokiri the power to audit government departments to
ensure they deliver to Maori in the system. She said under the new plans, heads of departments which did not do enough
to address Maori problems could loose their performance bonuses. These initiatives will fail because Labour refuses to
implement national testing and assessment in schools according to ACT. See... Testing Only Way To Close Gaps For Maori - ACT [1] . The move is merely a sop to the five Ministers of Maori Affairs, says New Zealand First. See... Te Puni Kokiri Power A Sop - New Zealand First [2] both in the Parliament wire.
ACC Next Step
- After hundreds of submissions to an often boisterous Select Committee the Government Bill to re-nationalize Accident
Compensation Insurance is going back to Parliament. See... Select Committee's recommendation heralds new era [1] . National says Government MPs have turned their backs on the concerns of tens of thousands of New Zealanders with
the select committee report. See... Government MPs ignore people’s views on ACC Bill [2] both in the Parliament wire.
Unemployed Oz Style
- Christian Heritage slammed Helen Clark’s suggestion that New Zealand may pay $400 million per year to subsidise New
Zealand unemployed in Australia. See... NZ Unemployed In Oz [1] in the Parliament wire. The National Party Agrees. See... Trans-Tasman Must be Retained - National [2] both in the Parliament wire.
Telcomms Inquiry A Waste
- The billion dollar joint venture announced between Saturn and the Australian company Telstra shows that the
Government's expensive Ministerial Inquiry into telecommunications is now entirely unnecessary” says ACT. The Government
announced the Ministerial Inquiry this month after public concerns that Telecom New Zealand was acting
anti-competitively in the New Zealand communications market. See... $800,000 Inquiry Should Be Canned - ACT [1] in the Parliament wire.
Cook Island PM Visits
- New Zealand's close relationship with the Cook Islands was the main theme of talks between Foreign Minister Phil Goff
and Cook Islands Prime Minister Dr Terepai Maoate in Wellington yesterday. See... Cook Islands PM Visits NZ [1] in the Parliament wire.
Bank of Farmers
- Farmers Trading Company Limited has announced the expansion of their financial sector operations through the creation
of a new entity, Farmers Home Loan Service. The move has been anticipated for some months. See... Farmers Offers Home Loan Service [1] in the Parliament wire.
Protect The Environment The American Way
- New Zealand schools are to participate in an American initiative that enhances environmental awareness and scientific
understanding. See... NZ and USA in schools' environment programme [1] in the Parliament wire.
Telecom Man Leaves
- Telecom Chief Executive Theresa Gattung today advised that Chief Financial Officer Jeff White was leaving Telecom for
family reasons at the end of March to head back to the United States. See... Telecom’s Jeff White Heads Home After 7 Years [1] in the Businesss wire.
NZ Software Expansion
– Christchurch based sofrware company JADE has expanded its presence further in Asia with the signing of a partnership
with Singapore-based software company Bizpoint System Pte Ltd. See... Asian Expansion Continues For Jade [1] in the Business wire.
ENDS