Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Wednesday, 23 November 2005, 10:27 am
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
VIDEO LIVE NOW: Digital Cities and Regional Networks Conference
Cullen Takes Decline In Confidence On The Chin
Auckland Starbucks Strike A World First
Vote Is On For Wellingtonian In Anti-Leather Style-Competition
Parrot Gets Fair Suck Of The Kiwi Cracker After All -
Bird Flu Expert Confers In Otago
Christmas in The Park Looms
Top Military Brass To Descend On Massey (Palmerston North)
ChCh Manufacturers Ignore Rod Donald's Glass Bottle Campaign
MORE HEADLINES:
MORE SCOOP REPORTS:
CIA Whitewashing Torture
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Audio: Herald's Fran O'Sullivan Says Goff/Clark Muddying Waters -
Satire: Parliament Decries State Interference in World Cup Bid
David Slack and Graham Reid Are There
Stateside: Where Rosalea Attends Diwali and Eid Festivals

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Maiden Speech: Hone Harawira Talks The Walk
From His Hospital Bed, Carter Tweaks The Bra-Strap
Audio: Prime Minister's Post-Cabinet Presser
NZ First Seeks Urgent Action on Aged Care
Reserve Bank Issues Brief To Cullen
PM Unveils KayForce Memorial in Busan
POLITICAL HEADLINES:

It is annual Netguide.co.nz New Zealand Internet Awards time again & this time the awards are to be judged by public vote. Scoop would respectfully ask its readers to go to the following URL…
http://www.netguide.co.nz/webawards/index2.htm
…and seriously consider voting for Scoop.co.nz in one or all of the following categories.

- BEST MEDIA SITE - - BEST NEW SITE OR RELAUNCH - - SITE OF THE YEAR - - BEST HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SITE - - BEST HOME PAGE -

…. The Scoop Team

VIDEO LIVE NOW: Digital Cities and Regional Networks Conference

[1] - Welcome to the webcast for the 2005 Digital Cities and Regional Networks Conference. The streams will be live prior to the event commencing, but will show a welcome slide. An audio only link is also available. Recorded video of the conference will also be available later in the week. Scoop/R2 Video: WebCast: Digital Cities & Regional Networks Conf. [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00280.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00280.htm

Cullen Takes Decline In Confidence On The Chin

“The decline in business confidence levels is unsurprising given their historic sensitivity to trends in interest rates,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. Dr Cullen was commenting on the latest National Bank Business Outlook showing sharp drops in both headline confidence and the own activity measure. “The official cash rate is now at its highest level since the introduction of the OCR mechanism in 1999 and the Governor of the Reserve Bank has been signalling that it may have to go higher yet. See... Cullen on business confidence [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00326.htm

Auckland Starbucks Strike A World First

- A world first is happening in the heart of Auckland city today, as multi-national giant Starbucks faces a workers strike. At 2pm the Starbucks on the corner of Auckland's K' Road and Mercury lane will experience industrial ructions. The legal wild-cat strike is a public awareness raising event and the first action in the Unite workers union SupersizeMyPay.Com [1] campaign. Campaign coordinator Simon Oosterman says the strike is just one way Unite is raising public awareness of the working conditions of those employed in the fast-food sector and other low paid and minimum wage jobs. See... World's First Starbucks Strike, Auckland [2]

[1] - http://www.supersizemypay.com
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00370.htm

Vote Is On For Wellingtonian In Anti-Leather Style-Competition

- ! Pleather-Clad New Zealander in the Running for Skintillating Skinless Fashions. Pandie shocked her parents when she decided to go vegetarian at age 12. Pandie says that the horror her parents felt could not begin to compare to the horror that animals face every day in factory farms. She has been a vegetarian ever since. Currently studying film, media and marketing, Pandie aspires to be a model and spends much of her time on both sides of the camera. See... Wellington Woman Is Finalist In Peta Contest [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0511/S00174.htm

Parrot Gets Fair Suck Of The Kiwi Cracker After All -

A Grey African parrot will be allowed to enjoy its kiwi experience and remain on board its vessel for the duration of its stay, Biosecurity New Zealand announced today. The Grey African parrot is bound for New Zealand on a vessel due to arrive in Auckland, but its arrival, like all other vessels with animals on board, needed to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, Biosecurity New Zealand Animal Imports team manager Gillian Mylrea says. See... Parrot to have cracker Kiwi experience. [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0511/S00049.htm

Bird Flu Expert Confers In Otago

- Avian Flu will be high on the list of research topics to be explored at a major international microbiology gathering attended by over 350 researchers at the University of Otago this week. World-leading avian influenza authority Professor Robert Webster, an Otago Microbiology graduate based in the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the USA, is one of the line-up of international experts giving presentations at this year’s New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) Conference. See... World Expert on Bird Flu at Major Otago Conference [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0511/S00075.htm

Christmas in The Park Looms

- Auckland is getting ready for the biggest and happiest outdoor party of the year, the 12th annual Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park to be held on Saturday 10 December at the Auckland Domain. There’s nothing quite like this annual spectacular that once again promises all the stars, singing, dancing, fireworks and non-stop entertainment that brings family and friends together year after year, cheering for more! MC’s Jeremy Corbett, Jeanette Thomas and Petra Bagust will head a stellar cast of stars from the stage, screen and sports field, as well as new talent discovered in a nationwide search held earlier this year. See... Christmas extravaganza just around the corner! [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0511/S00167.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0511/S00172.htm

Top Military Brass To Descend On Massey (Palmerston North)

- The New Zealand Army will host a high level leadership conference featuring a number of senior defence personnel alongside international speakers and well known New Zealand sporting personalities. The new Minister of Defence Hon Phil Goff will address the conference, together with the former Australian Chief of Defence General Peter Cosgrove and Major General Andrew Leslie from Canada who has led NATO forces in Bosnia and Coalition forces in Afghanistan. See... Army Leads the Way at Massey Conference [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0511/S00072.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00307.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00162.htm

ChCh Manufacturers Ignore Rod Donald's Glass Bottle Campaign

- Leading New Zealand consumer dairy products company, New Zealand Dairy Foods Limited, today announced the closure of its Christchurch glass bottling line with effect from 30 November 2005. Although production of milk in glass bottles will cease, the company continues to support customers who wish to have milk home delivered with the introduction of 2 new 600ml Tetra Top carton milk products - Meadow Fresh Homogenised and Meadow Fresh Trim. The new cartons are the same size and the same price as the previous glass bottled milk. See... Christchurch glass bottling line closing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00364.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00164.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0511/S00045.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0511/S00044.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00329.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00165.htm

SCOOP REPORTS:

Wellingtonians Say Goodbye To Rod Donald [1] - Scoop's Wellington team attended today's memorial for Green Party Co-Leader Rod Donald held in Parliament's Legislative Council Chamber (with overflow filling up the Grand Hall). The 2 hour memorial featured speeches from numerous friends and colleagues of Mr Donald and with a fairly heavy dose of political content was a supremely appropriate memorial for Donald the activist politician. Scoop Audio: Rod Donald Memorial At Parliament [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00272.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00272.htm

CIA Whitewashing Torture

Statements by Goss Contradict U.S. Law and Practice:Porter Goss, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, has made misleading statements about the CIA’s use of torture and mistreatment of detainees, Human Rights Watch said today. Goss was quoted today in USA Today stating that the CIA does not use torture and that the CIA’s interrogation techniques are legal. “A growing body of evidence shows that the CIA has tortured detainees,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “Many interrogation techniques authorized for use by the CIA amount to torture. Their authorization by higher-ranking officials is illegal and potentially criminal.” See... CIA use of Torture: Contradicts US Law, Practice [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00401.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00406.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00405.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00397.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00392.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00390.htm

Audio: Herald's Fran O'Sullivan Says Goff/Clark Muddying Waters -

NZ Herald's Fran O'Sullivan says Trade Minister Phil Goff and Prime Minister Helen Clark have been "muddying the waters" a little over what happened at APEC, events which have led to her being accused of treason by the Foreign Minister Winston Peters. Having spoken to NZPA's Ian Llewellyn about how the story came out that Alexander Downer had issued a "please explain" message with regards to Mr Peters, Ms O'Sullivan suggested Phil Goff might be being a bit disingenuous in suggesting that the information was routine. See... BFm Audio: O'Sullivan Says Winston Should Grow Up [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00278.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00271.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00268.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00286.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00290.htm

Satire: Parliament Decries State Interference in World Cup Bid

- Lyndon Hood writes: Parliament, meeting today for the first time after New Zealand's successful world cup bid, decried it as another example of Labour party political interference. Flexing its muscles against the minority Government, the house passed a motion condemning the Prime Minister's open support of the bid and the proposed large-scale state funding of the event. "This is just another case of Helen Clark trying to pick winners," said Rodney Hide, speaking to the motion. "The RugbyUnion is a private organisation. Madam Speaker. This is nothing but corporate welfare!" See... Lyndon Hood: Political Interference in Rugby! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00279.htm

David Slack and Graham Reid Are There

- Well, that two months went far too quickly: from London to Berlin, then Paris and Bordeaux, a drive across to Uzes and on down through Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples to Sorrento where we picked up a car and drove down into the heel of the boot, back up the...See... Public Address 21/11/05 - Home Again [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00274.htm

Stateside: Where Rosalea Attends Diwali and Eid Festivals

- I keep postponing writing about Diwali and Eid--Hindu and Muslim festivals celebrated at the same time a couple of weeks ago. The gist of my musings is that, while a much publicised and failed attempt to have Indians and Pakistanis meet peacefully at the demarkation line in Kashmir and pass on humanitarian aid to earthquake survivors was going on, in my workplace a fasting Pakistani girl was creating beautiful henna tattoos on the hands of my Indian boss in celebration of Diwali. See... Stateside With Rosalea: I, Immigrant [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00273.htm

Maiden Speech: Hone Harawira Talks The Walk

- "So when a reporter asked me if I thought that the Maori Party was separatist, I said that if unity meant a continuation of the appalling health, education, housing, mortality and prison statistics that Maori face, then hell yes, I must be a separatist… I am here to defend Maori rights, and to advance Maori interests. I want to retain the Maori seats in parliament, to repeal the foreshore and seabed legislation, and to support legislation which will enable all citizens of Aotearoa to live a healthy and meaningful life… I am not here to validate a parliamentary process that denies my people the opportunities they deserve." See... Hone Harawira - Maiden Speech [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00321.htm

From His Hospital Bed, Carter Tweaks The Bra-Strap

- National’s Local Government spokesman, John Carter, says objectors to Cardrona Valley’s famous bra fence should be ignored. He is commenting after legal advice that the brassiere-covered fence, which has become a tourist attraction, contravenes a rule of the Queensland Lakes District Council and the Resource Management Act, and requires resource consent. “My advice to the council is to ignore the advice and the objectors and see if anyone is stupid enough to take this to the Environment Court. “Haven’t we had enough of this PC rubbish? See... Ignore bra objectors, says Carter [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00309.htm

Audio: Prime Minister's Post-Cabinet Presser

- The Prime Minister commenced her first Post Cabinet press conference of her third term with a description cabinet business, her trip to Ireland and the IRB, and the APEC conference in Korea. She then answered questions from the press Gallery. Topics covered included: The Rugby World Cup; - Winston Peters allegations of treason against the New Zealand Herald; - NZ troop deployments to Afghanistan. Scoop Audio: PM's Presser November 21, 2005 [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00275.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00305.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00303.htm

NZ First Seeks Urgent Action on Aged Care

- It is to be hoped that the new Minister of Health and the Government are working on a realistic, affordable strategy to pay for the escalating costs of aged care says New Zealand First’s Health spokesperson, Barbara Stewart MP. “Aged care is already in crisis because of years of under funding and this is a problem which will not go away. “The number of rest home beds available is static - and will not increase while returns for providers are poor - but the number of beds required is growing every year. From 2006 to 2016 it is estimated that there will be 179,000 more seniors over 65 years of age – an increase of 35%,” said Mrs Stewart. See... Immediate Strategy Needed For Aged Care [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00320.htm

Reserve Bank Issues Brief To Cullen

- The Reserve Bank today released a Briefing on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The Briefing was prepared prior to the General Election as a resource for the incoming Minister of Finance. See... Reserve Bank issues Briefing [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00361.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00319.htm

PM Unveils KayForce Memorial in Busan

- The Memorial bears forty-five cuts, each representing the loss of a New Zealand life. Its design recalls the moko of a Maori woman, evoking the suffering of women whose loved ones are killed in war, and representing New Zealand as the mother of all who left the safety of home to fight here. Our servicemen faced many challenges in Korea. They arrived in a very cold winter and had inadequate facilities, insufficient water, and poor-quality equipment and vehicles. But after that initial shock to morale, in true New Zealand style they got on with the job, and went on to play a much-praised role in stemming the Chinese advance of April 1951. See... PM Speech At UN War Graves Busan Korea [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00288.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00287.htm

POLITICAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00318.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00316.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00314.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00313.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00307.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00306.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00305.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00317.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00315.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00312.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00309.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00308.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00311.htm

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

• Linkedin
• Twitter - @althecat
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz