Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

QV Valuations’ November statistics released today show national growth in residential property values of 9.4% over the past year (calculated over the three months ending November 2006 in comparison to the same period last year). The growth rate is marginally slower than the 9.6% reported in October. The average New Zealand sale price over the period was $347,005. “Although property values across the country are continuing to increase, the rate of growth has been easing throughout 2006” said QV spokesperson Blue Hancock. “However, the spring property market has seen a number of areas bounce back." See... Residential Property Increases 9.4% [1] ALSO:Sludge Report #173: Meanwhile Down At t'Bank [2]

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National’s Justice and Corrections spokesman, Simon Power, says the Corrections Minister must “do the decent thing” and resign if the report into the death of 17-year-old Liam Ashley in the back of a prison van is as damning as expected. It has been reported that Corrections’ inquiry into the tragedy is understood to have found that Mr Ashley’s death was avoidable and that the decision to transport Mr Ashley in a compartment with two other inmates was a clear breach of Corrections guidelines for transporting youths. For more, see... Ashley report: O’Connor must go [1]

Dr William Ball Sutch, economic nationalist, writer, intellectual, public figure and top civil servant, died in 1975 just months after he became the only person ever to stand trial under the espionage provisions of the former Official Secrets Act. Sutch was acquitted but suddenly it's all being regurgitated again. Kit Bennetts, one of the SIS agents involved in the case has written a book, "Spy". See…Sutch: Speaking Ill Of The Dead [1]

- Last night's passing of the Treaty of Waitangi Amendment Act by Parliament has been welcomed as a major milestone for the Treaty settlement process. The Act sets a closing date of 1 September 2008 for lodging all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims with the Waitangi Tribunal and follows through on Labour's commitment before the last election to put in place the 2008 date. See... Act sets end date for lodging Treaty claims [1] ALSO:Maori Party - Pita Sharples Speech: The Tyranny of the Majority [2]

- Scary dogs and careless drivers are causing more than just headaches for Posties this Christmas says New Zealand Post. In the last 12 months 199 Posties have suffered serious injuries, resulting from time off work, because of vicious dog attacks and cars colliding with them. See... Dogs And Cars Make Xmas Tough For Posties [1]

- Prime Minister Helen Clark and Republic of Korea President Roh Moo-hyun today strengthened the relationship between the two nations with adoption of the Partnership for the 21st Century. A key component of the Partnership is an agreement to commission a study into the merits of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and Korea. See... NZ and Korea strengthen partnership [1] ALSO:South Korea Govt - Roh's NZ Visit To Strenghen Bilateral Ties [2] NZ Govt - NZ-Korea business ties helped by joint agreement [3]

- Scoop's CD Sludge reports on the Monetary Policy Statement: This morning's MPS is in fact fairly encouraging for kiwi battlers - householders and consumers - and even to its farmers and exporters. Interest rates are not up yet; the inflation outlook is mildly encouraging; and – most importantly for homeowners – the Reserve Bank is no longer picking a fall in house prices in the coming year. See... Sludge Report #173: Meanwhile Down At t'Bank [1] ALSO:Greens - Overcoming oil addiction to ease interest rates [2]

- By Lyndon Hood - We, the undersigned, being gravely concerned that the New Zealand House of Representatives has retrospectively legalised previous illegal election spending and thus usurped the Constitution of New Zealand and its democratic processes, earnestly petition you, as someone who really understands how to eliminate unconstitutional laws and fight corruption, that you return to New Zealand and "clean up" aforesaid legislation and corruption. See... Scoop Satire: Internet Clippings [1]

Scoop's Yasmine Ryan writes from France: European Union members will decide this week the extent to which Turkey should be sanctioned for ongoing issues surrounding Cyprus. The divided island remains an obstacle on Turkey’s path to EU membership. In one camp are those pushing for a partial freeze on membership negotiations: France, Germany, Greece and (Greek) Cyprus. In the other, countries like Great Britain and Sweden argue that such a suspension may have serious consequences. Disillusion over Turkey’s likelihood of joining the EU is increasing on all sides. Image: Istanbul by Selwyn Manning. See... Club Europe: Turkey Faces Challenge Over Cyprus [1] ALSO:Yeux on France: Sarkozy a Presidential candidate [2] Yeux on France: Who Exactly is Ségolène Royal? [3]

- Continuing United Nations efforts to bring stability to Timor-Leste, police officers assisted by a New Zealand Defence force unit this week arrested 17 people after coming under attack at a police post in the town of Bidau, possibly linked to gang rivalries. See... UN In Timor-Leste Arrests 17 People [1]

Sophie McNeill reports from Beirut, A truck laden with yellow Hezbollah flags drives past the Christian neighbourhood of Gemayzeh early Sunday morning in downtown Beirut. There's a picture of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on the windscreen, but it's not his name that the young men on board are chanting. "General, General!" yell these young Shiite boys. See... Why Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV Broadcasts Sunday Mass [1] ALSO:Hezbollah Beirut Protest Urges Lebanon PM To Quit [2] Sophie McNeill - Hezbollah's Anti-Lebanese Govt Campaign Announced [3] Lebanese Rally Demanding End To Political Violence [4]