TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:
State Housing: Moderately Well Off Tenants Could Buy Their Houses Under National -
NZ Gongs: Xena's Killing Spree Ends In Top NZ Honour -
Environment: Ecological Groups Voices Heard Through Loudhailers at Climate Change Conference -
MMP In Action: Hide Sings Praises Of Formerly 'Repugnant' Party -
MORE HEADLINES:
Nigeria: Agreement to Hand Over Taylor Vital Step
Tony Blair: Down Under
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Welfare: Super Supersized
One Law for All: Microchipping debate goes to the dogs
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS------------
LEAD STORY:
[1] Last evening New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark welcomed British Prime Minister Tony Blair to New Zealand - "It is a great pleasure for me to welcome the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rt Hon Tony Blair, and Mrs Cherie Blair to New Zealand. I am also pleased that this official function in honour of Mr and Mrs Blair marks the 150th anniversary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, as trade links with Britain have played a huge part in the economic history of New Zealand," said the Prime Minister. See... Address at Reception for UK PM Rt Hon Tony Blair [2] ALSO:UK Govt - Blair: New Zealand speech [3] Green Party - PM misses valuable opportunity with Blair [4] Radio NZ - Tony Blair on Nine to Noon [5]
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:
Questions And Answers - Wednesday 29 March 2006 [1] Questions And Answers - Tuesday 28 March 2006 [2]
State Housing: Moderately Well Off Tenants Could Buy Their Houses Under National -
Today in the House National's Housing spokesperson Phil Heatley and Labour Minister Steve Maharey crossed swords
regarding state housing policy. Mr Heatley was of the opinion that many low income New Zealanders were missing out on
the chance to live in a state house due to tenants with comparatively high incomes staying put. Mr Heatley's questioning
of government state housing policy was greeted with some amazement by Mr Maharey who blamed National for any state
housing shortage because of their policy of selling state houses in the 1990s. See... Audio: Heatley Becomes Heated Over State Housing [1] ALSO: National - Real life examples expose housing policy idiocy [2]
NZ Gongs: Xena's Killing Spree Ends In Top NZ Honour -
Lucy Lawless most famous for creating the role of Xena in the series Hercules and the 6-year season of Xena, Warrior
Princess, became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at Government House in Auckland. Her citation read: "For
services to entertainment and the community. Lucy Lawless has had a long film, stage and television career in New
Zealand, Canada and the Unites States. See... Lucy Lawless honoured [1] ALSO:Midge Marsden receives award [2]
Environment: Ecological Groups Voices Heard Through Loudhailers at Climate Change Conference -
Today coal industry lobby group Coal Representatives Against Progressive Policy (CRAPP) protested against the 'Climate
Change and Governance' conference, held at Te Papa. With slogans such as 'Kyoto Schmyoto' and 'Save My Six-figure
Salary' CRAPP claimed that seriously combating Climate Change would jeopardise the massive bonuses and perks they get
for producing one of the worlds most polluting sources of CO2 emissions. See... Protests Outside Climate Change Conference [1] ALSOGreen Party - Greens mark climate change conference with action [2] Greens - Greens launch climate change proposals [3] Greens - Farmers, Nats short-sighted on climate change [4] NZIF - Forestry Institute supports Greens policies [5] Kyoto Forestry Association - Greens Commended for Fresh Thinking [6] Sonic Foundry - CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE VIDEO ONLINE [7]
MMP In Action: Hide Sings Praises Of Formerly 'Repugnant' Party -
Today on Auckland's BFM ACT leader Rodney Hide attempted to explain to The Wire host Noelle McCarthy why Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia was invited to appear at ACT's conference. Mr Hide
admitted to BFM listeners that while he had indeed made a speech comparing the Maori Party to the National Front he now
considered the Maori Party was achieving its aim of being a 'party for all New Zealanders.' See... Hide: Maori Party A Party For All New Zealanders [1] And earlier ... Party With 'Repugnant Views' Now Big Hit with ACT [2] ALSO:ACT - Rodney Hide Speech 2005 - The Maori Party [3] Maori Party - Turia: Speech to ACT National Conference –2006 [4]
MORE HEADLINES:
Show you’re really kiwi, workers tell Air NZ [1] Labour in a Whirl over Media Spin of Maori Members [2] Time for tough decision-making on binge drinking [3] Spellbinding Opera Puts the Magic into Winter [4] Productivity Figures Dispel Myths [5]
Nigeria: Agreement to Hand Over Taylor Vital Step
- Nigeria’s announcement that it will consent to the transfer of former Liberian President Charles Taylor to Liberia is
a landmark step toward ensuring justice for West Africa, Human Rights Watch said today. Now Taylor must be physically
transferred to the U.N.-backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone. Nigeria must ensure that Taylor is not permitted to
flee from justice and the international community must ensure that security in Liberia is maintained during this
process. See... Nigeria: Agreement to Hand Over Taylor Vital Step [1]
Tony Blair: Down Under
- As the war on Iraq is entering its fourth year British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be visiting New Zealand.
However, the lies that heralded the invasion have continued with the occupation. Bush, Blair and Howard continue to
bleed the word “democracy” of any meaning. The freedoms that they claim to be fighting for are being taken away, and not
only in Iraq. So called anti terrorism laws have eroded civil liberties in many countries. See... Protest planned against Tony B.Liar visiting NZ [1] ALSO:Please help David Hicks: Brown to Blair [2]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
[ISM Updates] Beit Sira bites back [1] Pacific: No TV News For New Caledonia [2] Cambodia: Setback for Decriminalising Defamation [3] UN envoy backs Lebanon's approach to Palestinian m [4] Terminator rejection - a victory for the people [5]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)------------
Welfare: Super Supersized
- "People receiving New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension will be better off by up to $420 extra a year,"
Social Development and Employment Minister David Benson-Pope and Associate Minister for Senior Citizens, Winston Peters,
announced today. New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pensions will increase by 3.16% from 1 April 2006 following the
increase in the cost of living for 2005, as measured by the Consumers Price Index. See... 490,000 older New Zealanders to benefit from Super increases [1] ALSO:NZ First - New Zealand First Delivers on Super for Seniors [2] NZ First - Peters Speech - "Preparing For A Golden Age" [3] Also on April 1NZ Govt - Tax Relief: Three in four families eligible [4] NZ Govt - 1 April marks new era for student loans [5]
One Law for All: Microchipping debate goes to the dogs
- Farmers will not give up the fight to convince the government to exempt farm dogs from an idiotic law forcing all
dogs to be microchipped, said Charlie Pedersen, President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc). "Federated Farmers
is very disappointed. Despite the federation offering many compelling reasons why farm dogs should be exempted, the
government has chosen to base its policy on cliches and soundbites," Mr Pedersen said. See... Government Blows Opportunity [1] ALSO:Scoop: PM's presser - Blair, Chipping Dogs And Rodney Hide [2] Federated Farmers - Farmers Consider Options [3] Federated Farmers - Federation Supports Bids To Scrap Chipping [4] National - Anderton fails the test over farm dog microchipping [5] National - Anderton a lame duck over farm dog microchipping [6] Maori Party - Flavell: Notice of Motion [7] United Future - Copeland: Microchipping decision shortsighted [8] United Future - Copeland launches bid to scrap farm dog microchipping [9] Kennel Club - Licensing dog owners the best solution [10] Council of Docked Breeds - Common sense abandoned as the chips fly! [11]
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
NZ Govt - Cullen - Design in Business Academic Forum [1] NZ Govt - PM congratulates Margaret Mahy [2] NZ Govt - Brash supports charging patients for surgery [3] NZ Govt - Cunliffe - National Refugee Resettlement Forum [4] NZ Govt - Literacy standards can be raised for all students [5] Joint Statement - Time for tough decision-making on binge drinking [6] National - Mapp: Mallard's comments "a bit rich" [7] Maori Party - Labour in a Whirl over Media Spin of Maori Members [8] Maori Party - Sharples: Crimes of Torture Amendment Bill [9] Maori Party - Flavell: Notice of Motion [10] United Future - UF to back four Members' Bills [11] United Future - Turner on bringing up the kids in NZ [12]
POLITICAL COLUMNS
Celebrating Families (Judith Collins): 28 March 2006 [1] Newman Weekly: Lowering the Bar [2] Marc my Words: Tax - a state sponsored mugging [3] www.mccully.co.nz 24 March 2006 [4] Heather Roy's Diary - 24 March 2006 [5] Gerry: In the House - 24 March 2006 [6] Plain English - 24 March 2006 [7] The Mapp Report 17 March 2006 [8] Newsworthy: Claims by prisoners soar [9]
ENDS