HEADLINES
Car Seized In Blakie Inquiry
Scoop Is In The House - Bumper Session
Wellington Tremor
Abolish All Rodneys
Scoop Opinion: The Trouble In Sharing
Occupation 2K: Fightback Bites Government
Coasters' Action Ends
Blowing The Whistle In Parliament
Scoop Cultural Artifact: Tax Legispeak
Scoop Arts: Viva La Finita
Scoop World Today
Anderton Not A Good Spy
Spanish Music Heartthrob Comes
SnakeEyes
TVNZ Salaries: No-one Is To Blame
Our Food Is Healthy
Nestle Gets Greenpeace GE Treatment
Rule Zealandia
And We Can Make You Very Angry
More Loopholes Plugged
Net Tax Returns
Housing Pledge Made Of Bricks
Public Trust Stays In NZ
Beady Eye On Oil
Waipareira Trust: Investigation 3 - Maori Affairs
Remove Kelly From Committee
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TOP SCOOPS
Car Seized In Blakie Inquiry
- Police have seized a vehicle they believe belonged to the killer of Invercargil woman Lisa Blakie. Now they want
public help in tracing its movements. Recently police have been fingerprinting the workers at nearby McDonalds
restaurants. 20-year-old Blakie was found murdered in January this year when her remains were found in a river bed near
Christchurch. See... Progress In Lisa Blakie Inquiry [1] in the General wire.
Scoop Is In The House
- Today's questions concerned: Fast Ferries - West Coast Accord - West Coast Development Negotiations - Waipareira
Trust - Fishing Asset Sales Overseas - West Coast Jobs - Student's Message To The Government - Reserve Bank And
Employment - Petrol Prices - Labour Productivity - Solomon Islands - Employment Statistics - Timberlands Financial
Review. See... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day [1] in the Parliament wire.
Wellington Tremor
- An early morning earthquake that had many in the Wellington region about to scramble for shelter registered at 5.7 on
the Richter scale. It was centred 10 km north-west of Greytown and occurred just after 2:30am. The shake may have caused
minor damage in the Wairarapa. For more information see the link to the Seismological Observatory site at the bottom of
this page.
Abolish All Rodneys
- The Corrective Party notes with concern the growing problem of the Rodney District Council. Indeed, Rodney
infestation is a serious problem, which can sometimes be terminal. One only has to look at the ARF New Zealand party to
see what happens when Rodneys go savage and start indiscriminately biting people- it scares off voters. The most
sensible party in New Zealand speaks. See... Correctives Urge Rodney Eradication Programme [1] in the Politics wire. The Rodney District Council has been meeting today to decide how to fill the vacancies after five councillors
resigned over serious in-fighting. The seven remaining councillors have decided to advertise to appoint people for new
positions rather than have a bi-election.
Scoop Opinion: The Trouble In Sharing
- Three weeks ago I wrote about Muriel Newman's Shared Parenting Bill suggesting that it represents a positive step in
the depoliticisation of child custody disputes. I noted that there would remain incentives for about-to-separate parents
to incite some form of domestic violence as a way of improving their bargaining position in the Family Court. See... Keith Rankin: Child Custody and Child Support [1] in the Headlines wire.
Occupation 2K: Fightback Bites Government
- Labour's honeymoon is over. Today Fightback! Waikato's occupation of the registry continues, with the group calling
on Labour to put right a sickening history of tertiary education management. Students are continuing their protests
occupying tertiary institutions around the country in the fight for universal free tertiary education. See... Waikato Occupation Continues Into Second Day [1] . The Fightback! campaign for Free Education, in conjunction with the Waikato Students Union, have occupied and
taken control of their Registry, and the whole three floors of B block at Waikato University. See... Waikato Campus Occupied by Fightback! [2] all in the Education wire.
Coasters' Action Ends
- A High Court decision to reject action by five South Island sawmilling companies was good news for the West Coast,
Green Party Co-Leader Rod Donald said today. See... Rod Welcomes High Court Decision On Beech Scheme [1] . Meanwhile, West Coast local body leaders are meeting in Parliament to discuss a cash package from the Government
compensating them for the ending of native logging. After a trail of broken promises from Labour why should any West
Coaster believe that the promises made by the Government today will be kept over time says ACT. See... More Hollow Promises For the West Coast [2] both in the Parliament wire.
Blowing The Whistle In Parliament
- Employers' Federation Chief Executive Anne Knowles says the select committee process has been given little weight in
the passing of the Protected Disclosures Act. See... Whistleblower legislation ignores select committee [1] in the Politics wire. The Government last night passed a law protecting whistle-blowers in the private sector despite the opposition’s
claim that the bill is flawed. Chris Holm reported on the bill as it progressed yesterday. See... Whistleblowers Bill Soon To Be Passed [2] in the Headlines wire.
Scoop Cultural Artifact: Tax Legispeak
- "Where a person (the interposed person) is interposed between a person purchasing services (the service purchaser)
and an individual who personally performs the services (the service provider), the net income for an income year of the
interposed person..." Detail from the new law stopping tax loopholes (see below in 'More Loopholes Plugged' for more).
See... Legislation Commentary: Draft Attribution Rule [1] in the Parliament wire.
Scoop Arts: Viva La Finita
- City Gallery Wellington is marking the final month of the Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibition VIVA LA VIDA with a
series of events that will appeal to film buffs and the general public alike. See... Lights, camera, action… for VIVA LA VIDA [1] in the Art & Culture wire.
Scoop World Today
- Clinton on OPEC. Today's announcement that OPEC members will increase production is a positive development. These
increases will help sustain worldwide economic growth and provide greater balance between oil supply and demand. See... President Clinton Statement On OPEC [1] in the wire. Also see... Press Conference by President Clinton - Mar 29 [2] . In Fiji former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka maintained that the new and controversial insights in his
biography, Rabuka of Fiji, were all true, the Fiji Sun reports. See... FIJI: It's All True, Says Rabuka [3] in the wire. Meanwhile the press in Fiji still face problems of harassment. A judicial review of an Immigration Department
decision not to renew Fiji Times editor-in-chief Russell Hunter's work permit will end soon, the Fiji Times reports.
See... FIJI: Judge to rule on Fiji Times man [4] in the International wire.
Anderton Not A Good Spy
- Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton will ask for a report to the Intelligence and Security Committee, after Opposition
leader Jenny Shipley leaked confidential security information in Parliament yesterday. Mrs Shipley made public
Anderton's comments questioning the current form of the SIS. See... Shipley's loose lips sink ships [1] . Also see... Helen Should Not Confuse NZ Over Security Issues [2] . "The Deputy Prime Minister has shown he is unfit to be a member of the Parliamentary Security Intelligence
Committee,” Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley says. See... Anderton unfit for security committee [3] . Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton is scornful of National Party suggestions that he should resign. See... Shipley 'hysterical' over SIS claim [4] in the Parliament wire.
MORE SCOOPS
Spanish Music Heartthrob Comes
- Promoter Paul Dainty of Dainty Consolidated Entertainment Announced today that International Superstar RICKY MARTIN
will be performing One Concert Only at Ericsson Stadium in Auckland on Saturday 14th October 2000. S ee... Ricky Martin Live In Auckland October 2000 [1] in the Art & Culture wire.
SnakeEyes
- A new local feature film, Snakeskin, is about to begin production in New Zealand in April. See... NZ Feature, "Snakeskin" In Production April [1] in the Art & Culture wire.
TVNZ Salaries: No-one Is To Blame
- No heads will roll at Television New Zealand management over the $6 million Hawkesby payout despite Prime Minister
Helen Clark’s pledge, says National MP Tony Ryall. See... No eads will roll over $6m Hawkesby payout [1] in the Parliament wire. The Chair of TVNZ, Ross Armstrong, announced today that salaries for newsreaders were likely to drop when their
contracts were re-negotiated.
Our Food Is Healthy
- New Zealand’s food supply has been studied in a survey which aimed to assess the level of selected contaminants,
pesticide residues and nutrients in our food. The Health Department says the situation is good. See... Total Diet Survey Results Encouraging [1] in the General wire.
Nestle Gets Greenpeace GE Treatment
- Greenpeace activists today have halted distribution of Nestle products at Nestle’s South Auckland distribution
centre. The action aims to prevent food potentially contaminated with Genetically Engineered Products. See... Greenpeace exposes GE contamination of Nestle [1] in the Politics wire. Three activists were arrested after chaining themselves to factory walls and unfurling a banner.
Rule Zealandia
- Vibrant arts and cultural activities which all New Zealanders can enjoy and through which a strong a confident
cultural identity can emerge; are part of the Government’s new “Heart of the Nation” strategy. See... Heart of the Nation Project - Terms Of Reference [1] . A team has been appointed to develop a strategic plan for the arts and cultural sector and art denizen Hamish
Keith has been appointed to lead it. See... ‘Heart of the Nation’ project for the arts sector [2] both in the Parliament wire.
And We Can Make You Very Angry
- The Minister of Consumer Affairs Phillida Bunkle today named power companies Meridian, Contact, TransAlta and Genesis
Power as recording the most complaints from consumers to the Ministry. See... Power Companies named [1] in the Parliament wire.
More Loopholes Plugged
- Employees who circumvent the top tax rate by using a company, trust or partnership as a “front”; for employment are
the target of anti-avoidance legislation announced today by the Government. See... Tax-avoidance legislation to target high-incomes [1] . For detail see... Legislation Commentary: Draft Attribution Rule [2] . Today's announcement of even more tax avoidance law creates huge uncertainties for taxpayers and the
retrospective nature of it is appalling says National. See... Tax laws a dog's breakfast [3] . Meanwhile ACT said today that the Government’s new anti-avoidance legislation was costly, unnecessary and
wouldn’t work. See... Anti-avoidance Legislation Costly and Won’t Work [4] all in the Parliament wire. “A stampede” of early tax payments to avoid Michael Cullen’s new over-$60K Envy Tax is predicted by Libertarianz.
See... Stampede Predicted to Avoid ‘Envy Tax’ [5] in the Politics wire.
Net Tax Returns
- New Zealand registered companies and their agents can now file annual returns with the Companies Office over the
Internet. See... Internet Annual Returns Released To Thousands [1] in the Business wire.
Housing Pledge Made Of Bricks
- Housing Minister Mark Gosche said today he utterly rejected claims the government would break a key election pledge
on housing. A New Zealand Herald article had reported that not all State Housing Tenants would be eligible to receive a
reduction in rents to 25 per cent of their income. The Government promised to ease the rent requirments on state house
tenants in the election. See... Housing Pledge Kept [1] in the Parliament wire.
Public Trust Stays In NZ
- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of Public Trust Jim Anderton is welcoming today's announcement that
Public Trust has bought NZ Permanent Trustees. Earlier the proposed new locally owned bank looked as if it needed
foreign owners to support it. See... Anderton welcomes Public Trust purchase [1] in the Parliament wire.
Beady Eye On Oil
- Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton will be closely monitoring New Zealand's petrol prices after the OPEC cartel today
agreed to increase oil production targets by 6%. See... OPEC decision increases pressure on petrol price [1] in the Parliament wire. BP, Shell, Mobil and Caltex have all announced prices will go down by 1 cent this morning. NZ company Challenge
says it will also move today. See... Shell Cuts Petrol Prices By One Cent [2] . And...Caltex moves early [3] both in the Business wire.
Waipareira Trust: Investigation 3 - Maori Affairs
The Maori Affairs Select Committee voted today to set up a special inquiry to examine the Waipareira Trust's use of
taxpayers' money. See... Inquiry into Waipareira Trust [1] . See... Prebble Requests Inquiry [2] . Also see... ACT On Privileges Inquiry Into Waipareira Trust [3] . And... ACT To Seek Parliamentary Inquiry [4] . Last week Mr Prebble and Labour MP John Tamihere traded verbal punches over ACT’s allegations that the Trust
misused funds transferring money innapropriately to an Auckland league team. Mr Tamihere, who has denied the
allegations, accused Mr Prebble of “pre-meditated racism.” Allegations have been passed to the Serious Fraud office,
while the Auditor General is also looking into the matter. So far two of Mr Prebbles claims have proved incorrect.
See... Auditor General Confirms Inquiry [5] in the Parliament wire.
Remove Kelly From Committee
- National wants the head of the select committee considering the Employment Relations Bill be removed from the
position, Opposition Industrial Relations Spokesperson Max Bradford said. National had asked Graham Kelly to be removed
after they said he advised unions of the best ways to gain media attention over their stance. See... Select Committee head compromised [1] in the Parliament wire.