Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have pulled together a meeting between Fijian Prime Minister Qarase and Military Commander Bainimarama who are currently in talks in New Zealand. “The Fijian Prime Minister Qarase and Military Commander Bainimarama have agreed to meet in New Zealand on Wednesday,” said Helen Clark and Winston Peters. See... NZ to host talks on Fijian situation [1]

Scoop Audio & Text Report: [1] Selwyn Manning on BBC Radio reports: How Fiji's military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama has intensified threats to overthrow the Fijian government unless it meets his demands.

Scoop Audio: [1] Selwyn Manning joins Radio Adelaide's Peter Godfrey to discuss: NZ holds meeting between Fiji's military chief and its PM in attempt to avoid a coup; John Key becomes the new National Party leader; and that poor sod Shrek the Merino sheep gets helicoptered out to a melting ice berg!

Check Out Scoop's Audio and Video Podcast Feed (updated)

John Key reveals the personality he will mould and market in preparation for the 2008 New Zealand General Election. He faces the media after delivering his first speech as National leader. What exactly will National do with Maori electorates? And, is there really a role for ex-leader Don Brash in a new look centrist National Party?

Scoop Video: Reaching For Dreams – Who Is John Key?

Customs officers at Auckland International Airport have intercepted approximately 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, on its way to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. A 46-year-old Australian national was selected for search after Customs officers became suspicious of his travel. He arrived in Auckland from Sao Paulo, South America. The cocaine was hidden in the linings of two suitcases. See... Customs seizes cocaine at Auckland Airport [1]

- Not ideal, but we will do our best to work with it – that was Telecom’s reaction today to the Telecommunications Amendment Bill as reported back to Parliament. “We made it clear that we preferred a simpler form of operational separation which we believed was better suited to New Zealand,” Chairman Wayne Boyd said. “The Committee has gone for a more complex, three-way separation." See... Telecommunications Amendment Bill [1] ALSO:NZ Govt - Select committee's broadband bill report welcomed [2] ACT - ACT The Only Party To Support Property Rights [3] InternetNZ - InternetNZ welcomes Select Committee's report [4] NZ Govt - Broadband Challenge rolls out with Smartlinx3 [5] Consumer's Institute - Xtra limits ‘unlimited internet usage’ plan [6]

- The hospital system is descending into utter chaos and Health Minister Pete Hodgson is doing nothing about it, says National's Health spokesman, Tony Ryall. Failed mediation has cleared the way for a laboratory workers' strike, due to begin tomorrow. "The industrial relations scene has become a nightmare, with staff no longer trusting the DHB negotiators. It's time the Health Minister called in a credible negotiator to sort this mess out." See... Hospital system descends into chaos [1]

Dunedin is preparing for a fashion blizzard of winter wonderland collections at the seventh annual Vodafone ID Dunedin Fashion Show to be held on Saturday 10 March 2007. Twenty three labels from established, emerging and new generation designers will take part in the show. The Vodafone ID Dunedin Fashion Show 2007 showcases Dunedin as a hotbed of creative activity. See... ID Dunedin 07– a winter wonderland of fashion [1]

Much of the refurbishment work on the 5.5 inch gun memorial unveiled in Hamilton this week has been conducted by ex-New Zealand Army Gun Sergeant Ted O’Brien. Ted, who lives in Hamilton, joined the battery in his twenties in 1970 and served as a member of the Waikato gunners for 22 years, retiring in 1993. See... Ted O’Brien – Big Gun Restorer [1]

- New Zealand actor Rawiri Paratene and Oxfam NZ are on a mission to bring award winning outdoor show Children of the Sea to Auckland Festival, AK07 next March. Paratene helped create Children of the Sea when he was invited to spend time with Sri Lankan teenagers who had been traumatised by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. See... Chance for NZ to Get Behind Award Winning Show [1]

- The Edge, Bono & Adam Clayton famously known as U2 wowed New Zealand audiences in Auckland, New Zealand, with a full array of U2 hits spanning twenty years. The Irish super-group is holding two sold-out performances in Auckland and Wellington. Photos by Karim Sahai. See... Images: U2 & Kanye West Auckland 24 Nov. 2006 [1] ALSO:Public Address - Russell Brown, Graham Reid on U2 [2]

- Tonga's pro-democracy leader, Clive Edwards, is one of the island nation's most controversial figures. He's hated by Nobles, loathed by many, his views banned by Tongan authorities. In the wake of riots that tore through Tonga's capital Nuku'Alofa, where mobs ransacked and burned the town to destruction, Edwards called for the government to relent to pressure and open the parliament to an open and free election. Scoop here publishes an extended interview with the Tongan people's representative.

Hated & Loathed, Scoop IV's Clive EdwardsPLUS:

Scoop Audio & Text Report: [1] Selwyn Manning on BBC Radio reports: How Fiji's military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama has intensified threats to overthrow the Fijian government unless it meets his demands. ALSO:NZMFAT Travel Advisory: Fiji Travel High Risk [2]

- Twenty four hours after rioters tore through Tonga's capital town looting and burning, leaving a sea of blazing buildings in their wake, New Zealand's Helen Clark said there were two futures on offer for the Pacific. "One is poverty and conflict; the other is peace and development." The comment accurately paints a crossroad for Tonga, for Solomon Islands, Fiji, for Melanesia in general. The comment acknowledges how accurate the United States' most recent handle for the Pacific is: The Arc of Uncertainty. See... Scoop On Assignment: Tonga Faces Crossroad [1]

- Sophie McNeill writes: Parents marched hand in hand with their children, alongside crowds of old men and busloads of teenagers, as thousands of Lebanese streamed into the heart of Beirut Thursday morning. “We want the truth!” See... Lebanese Rally Demanding End To Political Violence [1]

- Yasmine Ryan writes: It has been decided. Ségolène Royal is to be the Socialist candidate for the 2007 presidential election; the first woman in a position to become France’s head of state. See... Yeux on France: Who Exactly is Ségolène Royal? [1]