HEADLINES
Scoop: Today In The House
Scoop Sport: Gallagher Tennis Challenge Begins
Scoop Link: Dying For God In Uganda
Scoop World: US Apologises To Iran
Scoop World: The Recent Adventures Of The Pope
Smellie's Bottom Decision Outrageous
F-16 Deal Crashes & Burns - MORE REACTION
Scoop Opinion: Our Right To Royal Titles
Scoop Opinion: Logging & Oil
Scoop Arts: We Are Not AMused
Study: Light Rail Ineffective
Forestry Land Given Back
Responsibilities In Paradise
A Tribute To Chris Beeby
Cellphone Share Trading
Soon To Be New Zealand’s First Billionaire
Pirate's Fish Set Free
Protestors Guilty But Morally Correct
Keeping Olympians Safe
Don’t Centralise Education
Students Still Scrapping With WINZ
District Court Judges Appointments
Water Management A Future Challenge
Tenants Beware – Minister
The Scourge Of The Invading Seaweed
Chatham Island Spill Worsens
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TODAY'S PICTURE: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0003/2cbf0b67017bdf064453.jpeg
TOP SCOOPS
Scoop: Today In The House
- Today’s questions of the day concerned: Defence Policy – Revenue Flows – Kit Richards – Skill Shortages – Petrol
Prices And Economic Development – Employment Relations Act – Bulk Funding – Kit Richards – Bougainville Peace – WINZ
Consultants – Spare ...See... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day [1] in the Headlines wire.
Scoop Sport: Gallagher Tennis Challenge Begins
- Three-quarters of the New Zealand Davis Cup team will be in first-round singles action today at the inaugural
US$25,000 Gallagher International Challenger in what is a big day for the future of Kiwi tennis. See... TENNIS: NZ Davis Cup players front up at Hamilton [1] and TENNIS: Big first-round test for Radovanovich [2] in the Sport wire.
Scoop Link: Dying For God In Uganda
- KANUNGU, Uganda, March 19 –– Before the bell rang summoning them to the long, low building where more than 300 of
them would die, members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God gave no clue that the
apocalypse they had so long waited for was imminent. For Scoop's link to a Washington Post article on the tragedy see... Silent Apocalypse of a Ugandan Cult [1] in the International wire.
Scoop World: US Apologises To Iran
- “As President Clinton has said, the United States must bear its fair share of responsibility for the problems that
have arisen in U.S.- Iranian relations. Even in more recent years, aspects of U.S. policy towards Iraq, during its
conflict with Iran appear now to have been regrettably shortsighted, especially in light our subsequent experiences with
Saddam Hussein.” US Secretary Of State Madeleine Albright on US Iranian-relations. See... Albright Remarks on American-Iranian Relations [1] . Also see See... Albright Remarks before American-Iranian Council [2] both in the International wire.
Scoop World: The Recent Adventures Of The Pope
- Pope John Paul II is currently visiting the Levant on the first papal pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 36 years. When
beginning a weeklong journey to retrace the footsteps of Jesus he made an emotional plea for a resolution of the
region's "grave and urgent" conflicts. See... Pope John Paul II At Welcome Ceremony In Jordan [1] . It’s been an eventful fortnight for the Pope who on March 12 made an apology for previous sins of the Papacy.
Following is the detail of his prayer for forgiveness. See... Pope John Paul II: Day Of Pardon Service [2] both in the International wire.
Smellie's Bottom Decision Outrageous
- Libertarianz Deputy Leader Richard is outraged at Justice Smellie’s decision to award a woman nearly $50,000 for
having her bottom patted by her boss. See... A Smack For A Pat - Employment Law Smells [1] in the Politics wire.
F-16 Deal Crashes & Burns
- The Prime Minster has announced the Government will proceed with its plans to terminate the F-16 deal saying spending
on the air-force was not an important priority for New Zealand defence. See... Newsflash: Government Ditches F-16 Deal [1] in the Headlines wire. More Reaction - United NZ - Is Clark Angling For A Single Anzac Defence Force? [2] - United NZ - The Defence Debate: Facing the Future Confidently [3] - NZ First - F16s Were Always The Wrong Option - NZ First [4] - Greens - Greens welcome F-16 decision [5] - Jenny Shipley - Where Now For NZ's Air Strike Capability? [6]
Scoop Opinion: Our Right To Royal Titles
- It's taken more than 70 years for politicians to convince New Zealanders they should get rid of royal titles and
honours, but this coalition government finally looks set to do it. John Howard writes. See... NZ And Its Royal Egalitarian Heritage [1] Meanwhile, an honours system should stay, but it should reflect a Kiwi accent says the head of NZ’s Republicans.
See... Changes to honours [2] in the Politics wire. Also see .. The Queen Still Pulls A Crowd [3] both in the Headlines wire.
Scoop Opinion: Logging & Oil
- The Government and the environmental movement are now faced with a huge dilemma and irony following the discovery of
a potential half billion-barrel oil reserve - a non renewable resource - onshore at Hawera in Taranaki. John Howard
reports. See... Are A Billion Oil Barrels Green As Timber? [1] in the Headlines wire
Scoop Arts: We Are Not AMused
- The lack of any plot summary in the festival programme for Mu filled me with a dreadful foreboding of 'fringe
festival syndrome' - where a group of non/performers get together and construct a performance based around a spontaneous
fire and energy that under the glare of theatre lights struggles to stand up. This is Mu. See... Scoop Fringe Review - Mu [1] in the Arts & Culture wire.
MORE SCOOPS
Study: Light Rail Ineffective
- The Road Transport Forum and the Automobile Association today released the findings of a study which concludes that
the introduction of light rail systems in cities in the United States with similar characteristics to Auckland are
ineffective in improving traffic congestion. See... Study shows light rail ineffective [1] . For the study detail and Q> see... New Light Rail in the US – Promise and Reality [2] both in the Auckland wire.
Forestry Land Given Back
- The Crown is handing back the land underlying its largest Crown lease forest to its Maori landowners, the Lake Taupo
Forest Trust, Minister of Forestry Pete Hodgson and the Trust announced today. See... Taupo forest land returning to Maori landowners [1] in the Parliament wire. One New Zealand Foundation's Mr George Ferens is not impressed and says the decision is an attempt to re-open
issues settled in the last century. See... Maori Claims "Monstrous Scam" [2] in the Politics wire.
Responsibilities In Paradise
- New Zealand’s new Honorary Consul in French Polynesia is local Air New Zealand manager Alan Roman, Foreign Minister
Phil Goff announced today. See... New Honorary Consul In French Polynesia [1] in the Parliament wire.
A Tribute To Chris Beeby
- Foreign Minister Phil Goff today expressed the Government’s sadness at the death of Chris Beeby, one of New Zealand’s
most distinguished diplomats, in Geneva on Sunday. See... Passing Of Distinguished Diplomat Chris Beeby [1] in the Parliament wire.
Cellphone Share Trading
- NZSE has teamed up with HP, TANTAU and Computershare for direct, wireless market access for trading. See... NZSE Pioneers World-Leading Use Of Wireless Tech. [1] in the Business wire.
Soon To Be New Zealand’s First Billionaire
- Telstra today welcomed the announcement of a proposed merger between Solution 6 and Sausage Software as a landmark
development in the growth of the Australian online services and software industry. See... Telstra On Solution 6 - Sausage Software Merger [1] in the Business wire. The deal means that Sausage Founder, former Wellington whizzkid Steve Outtrim is now a just a smidgen away from
becoming New Zealand’s first billionaire with an on a paper valuation of around NZD$900 million.
Pirate's Fish Set Free
- Southern Ocean, Antarctica, Tuesday, 21 March 2000 – Greenpeace has discovered five kilometres of abandoned pirate
fishing line bearing fish so valuable they are known as ‘white gold’ in illegal fishing circles. See... Greenpeace frees abandoned pirate fish catch [1] in the International wire.
Protestors Guilty But Morally Correct
- Peter Williams QC represented two Native Forest Action activists Bridget Gibb and Steve Abel in the Auckland District
Court today. The pair were arrested in February 1999 after being removed for locking themselves to a log-lifting
helicopter on the West Coast... See... Logging Protestors Legally Guilty, Morally Correct [1] . For earlier reports see... Helicopter Logging Protestors Go To Court [2] both in the Politics wire.
Keeping Olympians Safe
- The Australian Attorney-General, Daryl Williams, and the Minister for Defence, John Moore, today unveiled a major
Federal Government commitment to security for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. See... Olympic Games Security [1] in the Sport wire.
Don’t Centralise Education
- At its meeting on Friday, the Education Forum reviewed the new government's education proposals and found little to
commend and much of concern. See... Centralist Approaches Don't Work In Education [1] in the Education wire.
Students Still Scrapping With WINZ
- Students are set to protest against an appalling loans backlog this Thursday, a backlog that has left thousands
without money for food or rent in the Waikato region. They are demanding that the government immediately hire more WINZ
staff to process the outstanding claims, insisting that this is the last year that students are treated in this
abhorrent way. See… Students assert right to Protest at Waikato [1] in the Education wire.
District Judges Appointments
- The Attorney-General Margaret Wilson, has announced the appointment of Philip Richard Connell and James Julian Weir,
both of Hamilton, as District Court Judges. See... District Court Judges appointed [1] in the Politics wire.
Water Management A Future Challenge
- New Zealand still faces challenges keeping our waterways clean and healthy says Environment Minister Marion Hobbes at
a conference on water. See... Water and Sustainable Development [1] in the Parliament wire.
Tenants Beware – Minister
- Prospective tenants should read their tenancy agreements carefully before they agreed to them the Minister of Housing
Mark Gosche said today. See... Tenancy agreements should be read thoroughly [1] in the Parliament wire.
The Scourge Of The Invading Seaweed
- Officials are meeting this evening to decide how best to handle another underwater threat to the Chatham Islands
following the sinking of the fishing boat Seafresh 1, three kilometres offshore, the Minister for Biosecurity, Marian
Hobbs. See... Invasive Seaweed On Sunken Boat [1] in the Parliament wire.
Chatham Island Spill Worsens
- Warnings from the Maritime Safety Authority that the spill will not be over until all remaining oil is off the sunken
trawler Seafresh 1 were proven right this morning. See... Authority Cautious - It's Not Over Yet [1] . A national oil spill response coordinated by the Maritime Safety Authority has been launched in the Chatham
Islands, following the sinking of the vessel Seafresh 1. See... National Oil Spill Response To Chatham Islands [2] in the General wire. Also, see... Chatham Islands Incident [3] both in the Parliament wire.