Transport:Labour Rails Against Nats' Attitude To Trains
Transport Minister Steven Joyce’s obsession with forcing traffic on to New Zealand’s roads has been exposed again by the Government’s lack of commitment to regional rail services, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes said today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00079.htm

ALSO:

KiwiRail first-half profit two-thirds below target [2]

[2] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/03/02/kiwirail-first-half-profit-two-thirds-below-target/ [2]

Building A Home: Streamlined consenting Process Is In The House
Aspiring home owners should now find it quicker and cheaper to build a simple home thanks to a new guide for streamlined consenting launched by Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00081.htm

ALSO:

'Voluntary' sterilisation – the crime that seems fine about speaking its name [2]

Sterilisation in history and literature! [3]

Colin Espiner: A sterile debate? [4]

[2] - http://pundit.co.nz/content/voluntary-sterilisation-%E2%80%93-the-crime-that-seems-fine-about-speaking-its-name" target="_blank [2]

[3] - http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/sterilisation-in-history-and-literature/" target="_blank [3]

[4] - http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/on-the-house/3403828/A-sterile-debate" target="_blank [4]

Werewolf: SettlingFor Less
If the most popular forms of public commentary were anything to go by you would think that New Zealand stands at risk of being bankrupted (or worse!) by the so-called Treaty gravy-train... it should make us question how people gather their information about New Zealand’s history. More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/settling-for-less/

Scoop Coverage: Road Safety Plan To Change Give Way Rule
Transport Minister Steven Joyce has released a new ten year strategy designed to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads over the next decade. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00039.htm

ALSO:

Safer Journeys: focus on repeat drink drivers [2]

Safer Journeys: focus on young drivers [3]

Let’s fast-track youth driver zero alcohol limit [4]

What about elderly drivers? [5]

Govt downplays biggest road safety recommendation [6]

Lower speeds mean fewer fatalities [7]

Widow Welcomes Focus On Repeat Drink Drivers [8]

Safety strategy will improve road workers' safety [9]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00043.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00042.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00048.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00055.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00047.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00051.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00079.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00078.htm [9]

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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

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Scoop Business: Deficit Lower Than Expected
New Zealand’s government accounts were boosted by the windfall from the major trading banks’ settlement of their case with Inland Revenue over structured finance transactions and Finance Minister Bill English warned there’s little new spending due in this year’s budget. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/03/05/nz-govt-accounts-swelled-by-bank-tax-settlement/

ALSO:

Don’t talk down the recovery Mr English [2]

Government Needs to Rethink Fiscal Message [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00086.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00090.htm [3]

Citizen Seismology: Public Sought To Help With Tsunami Research
GNS Science is asking people who experienced last weekend's tsunami send in their videos and fill out an on-line survey outlining their observations. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00026.htm

ALSO:

Taskforce Report Charts Path Forward for CRIs [2]

National must take real action on innovation [3]

Scion welcomes Taskforce findings [4]

Taskforce report sound and constructive [5]

CRI taskforce report "right on the button" [6]

CRI task force report spot on [7]

Taskforce Calls For “Radical Revamp” Of Research [8]

PSA supports taskforce call for secure funding [9]

IRL Board Chair praises CRI Taskforce findings [10]

AgResearch welcomes CRI Taskforce recommendations [11]

Scientists Support CRI Taskforce Findings [12]

CRI Taskforce: Time for “big picture” thinking in science [13]

RWC 2011 Free-to-Air Broadcast Deal Confirmed [14]

Hard News: Dropping the Ball [15]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00070.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00069.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00020.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00018.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00016.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1003/S00113.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00019.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00021.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00023.htm [10]

[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00022.htm [11]

[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00027.htm [12]

[13] - http://sciblogs.co.nz/griffins-gadgets/2010/03/04/cri-taskforce-time-for-big-picture-thinking-in-science/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciblogsnz+%28SciBlogs.co.nz%29" target="_blank [13]

[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1003/S00097.htm [14]

[15] - http://publicaddress.net/default,6500.sm#post6500" target="_blank [15]

Science: NZ Greenhouse Gas Research Centre Opened
Increasing agriculture’s ability to create wealth for New Zealand in a carbon constrained world is the mission of the Government’s New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre opened today by the Prime Minister John Key in Palmerston North at AgResearch’s Grasslands campus. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00012.htm

ALSO:

Agricultural GHG Research Centre open for business [2]

Federated Farmers backs greenhouse gas centre [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00045.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1003/S00098.htm [3]

Also Loves Diggers: Govt Announces Infrastructure Plan
The National Infrastructure Plan, issued today, shows the large scale of the Government's infrastructure programme and highlights some future issues that may require action, Infrastructure Minister Bill English says. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00025.htm

ALSO:

Infrastructure plan good but needs work [2]

Plan shows opportunities to plan assets, investing [3]

Borrowing to invest in infrastructure sound [4]

National Infrastructure Plan: A Good First Step [5]

Group Welcomes Harbour Crossing [6]

Arts Festival Images: Transports Exceptionels [7]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1003/S00064.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00029.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00027.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1003/S00068.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00034.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1002/S00229.htm [7]

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COMMENT

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The Last Labour Adventurer: Remembering Michael Foot
He was called a walking obituary of the British Labour Party more prone to writing suicide notes (in the political sense), than manifestoes for survival. In a sense, Chris Patten had been right when he used that somewhat cruel description of Michael... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00057.htm

Martin LeFevre: Atheists and Mystical Experience
After a couple of beers at the local brewery, my atheist friend made the oft-heard claim that Jesus never existed. When I retorted with the cliché that he was throwing the baby out with the bathwater, he became somewhat irate, and called me a “Jesus ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00054.htm

Flexible Afghanistan War Objectives: And the Agony Grinds On
Washington and its willing mouthpieces in the media have for years been trying to sell us the preposterous war in Afghanistan. While they attempt to convince us that the war is predicated on a faultless... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00046.htm

Curriculum Battles: Australia's Banded History
‘The national curriculum appears quite unbalanced as it stands at the moment,’ complained Opposition Education spokesman Christopher Pyne to gathered members of the press (March 1, Herald Sun ). The Australian Coalition is getting hot and bothered ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00031.htm

Valuing The Young: The right’s ideological crusade to bring back youth rates
Late last month, Sir Roger Douglas’ bill to scrap the mandatory payment of the minimum wage to young workers was chosen from the private member’s ballot, and thus became part of Parliament’s agenda. The avowed purpose of his Minimum Wage... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/valuing-the-young/

Part II: Interview with Ricardo Alarcon, President of the Cuban National Assembly
While some other defendants in this infamous case[i] were also charged with failure to register as foreign agents, false identity and various conspiracy charges, Gerardo Hernández was hit with something so far out of ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00048.htm

ALSO:

IV with Ricardo Alarcon, President of the ANPP (Part I) [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00020.htm [2]

Logo-seditious: Lyndon Hood Responds to the Auckland Transition Agency's Invitation to Design a New City Logo
Rather than paying for a real logo, the Auckland Transition Agency has decided to run a public competition, complete with an open brief and a panel of unqualified judges. The idea is, this will be as awesome as the NZ Herald’s flag designs. More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/from-the-hood-5/

James Robinson: Handwriting’s Premature Demise
There is a generational split you may have noticed. And it doesn’t lead itself to labeling as easily as the Generation X/Generation Y divide. The divide falls between those who were in school when computers... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/handwriting%e2%80%99s-premature-demise/

Neil Adcock: Does mainstream media coverage distort our understanding of Treaty issues?
If the most popular forms of public commentary were anything to go by – Internet comments on mainstream media sites and talkback radio – you would think that New Zealand stands at risk of being bankrupted... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/settling-for-less/

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LIFESTYLE

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Arts Festival Review: Ship Songs
It has a very large cast. There are at least a hundred extras with speaking parts, from the old Scottish freighter captain through dusky Maori maidens... all written and performed by New Zealand actor Ian Hughes. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00058.htm

ALSO:

Arts Festival Review: Djan Djan [2]

Arts Festival 2010 [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00052.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1002/S00071.htm [3]

All-NZ Content: TVNZ To Launch Channel On SKY
TVNZ and SKY will launch a new TV channel on the pay operator’s platform in June. The new channel, named TVNZ Heartland, will be New Zealand’s first channel with 100% local content and will be available to all subscribers to the SKY basic package. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1003/S00142.htm

ALSO:

TVNZ Online Drama Gains Digital Emmy Nomination [2]

New York Film Award for This is New Zealand [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1003/S00048.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0702/S00055.htm [3]

Music: Regina Spektor Tour Of NZ And Australia
It gives The Frontier Touring Company great delight to announce the return of Regina Spektor to Australia and New Zealand in April this year. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1003/S00053.htm

Reservoir Hill? TVNZ Online Drama Gains Digital Emmy Nomination
Reservoir Hill was a New Zealand trail-blazer - an exclusively online drama where viewers could interact with the main character. Now, it’s also earned another national first: a nomination in the International Digital Emmy Awards. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1003/S00048.htm

ALSO:

Raw meat mondays-heat 1 [2]

Arts Festival 2010 [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1003/S00080.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1002/S00071.htm [3]

Brannavan Gnanalingham: Counting Down To Oscar Time
On 7 March, the biggest show in town will be ithe Academy Awards, in which considerable attention will be paid by the media to Hollywood and its “best films”. At least, that’s how the awards are self... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/counting-down-to-oscar-time/

The Hurt Locker: In Praise Of War (Films)
Obviously, war movies are fiction – there is an entire generation whose mental images of the Vietnam War owe more to Francis Ford Coppola and Oliver Stone than to any news bulletins of the day, or any dutiful war memoirs. Same for me... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/the-hurt-locker-in-praise-of-war-films/

The Complicatist: Kurt Vile, and the Allure of Cover Versions
In the 1950s, cover versions enabled white people (I’m talking about you, Pat Boone) to cash in on black music without scaring the public. These days though, an artfully chosen cover version can usefully demonstrate the depth of your musical... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/the-complicatist-kurt-vile-and-the-allure-of-cover-versions/

Tim Bollinger, Reviews and Commentary: Kiwi Komix – Some Local Favourites
In New Zealand there’s a whole bunch of great comic strip artists who you won’t see in the local papers, either because their work is too eccentric, or too long, or too expensive, or just because New Zealand newspaper and magazine publishers are... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/reviews-and-commentary-4%e2%80%a6-by-tim-bollinger/

Classics: Homecoming (1981) By Cynthia Voigt
Curiosity has always been a good friend of creativity. Reportedly, Cynthia Voigt got the idea for Homecoming after looking one day at some kids in a supermarket parking lot, and wondering what would happen if their parents... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/03/classics-homecoming-1981-by-cynthia-voigt/

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WORLD

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Going to Kangaroo Court? D-Day For Eight Guilty Of Plotting To Kill Fiji PM
Fiji High Court judge Justice Paul Madigan will hand down sentence today on the eight men found guilty by assessors yesterday of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, Fijilive reports. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00079.htm

Indigenous Peoples: Botswana’s Treatment Of Bushmen
The UN’s top official on indigenous rights has condemned Botswana’s continued persecution of the Bushmen in a new report. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00099.htm

Chinese Industry: Now the Second Largest Manufacturer on Earth
China has overtaken Japan as the world’s second largest industrial manufacturer, after the United States, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00096.htm

Theology and Science: Britain’s Largest Inter-faith Gathering
Commonwealth Day, on Monday 8th March, will be marked in London by an Observance at Westminster Abbey. For the first time, Britain’s largest inter-faith service will put science and technology centre stage. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00103.htm

Invasion: Israeli Army Arrests Five During Night Raid
In an expansion of its campaign of repression against the Palestinian popular struggle, the Israeli Army raided the village of Nabi Saleh tonight and arrested five youths from their beds. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00102.htm

ALSO:

Israeli apartheid video contest underway [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00101.htm [2]

Indonesia: Obama Should Help A People Blighted By A US Corp
As the much-heralded visit of President Barack Obama draws near, it is worth remembering that, unlike any other US president, Obama enjoys a special affection among Indonesians. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00067.htm

West Papuan Freedom: President Of Indonesia Set To Visit Australia
Because the Indonesian President is visiting Australia this month, I am writing to inform you that we are organising a demonstration against the abuse of West Papuan human rights. The rally is to be held at outside the Australian Parliament in Canberra ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00069.htm

ALSO:

West Papua Report [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00059.htm [2]

Earthquake Aftermath: Tsunami Has Swept Away Entire Towns On Chilean Coast
Of the quake's 723 victims, most were in the wine-growing Maule region that includes Talcahuano, now a mud-caked, ravaged town of 180,000 just north of Concepcion. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/33291.html

ALSO:

Chile Earthquake: Emergency Appeal Launched [2]

Remarks With Chilean President-elect [3]

Remarks With Chilean President [4]

Chile Troops, Police Attack Post-Quake Looting [5]

Final Travel Advisory Update on Chile [6]

Pacific Tsunami Warnings Cancelled [7]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00061.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00063.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00070.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/33275.html [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1003/S00040.htm [6]

[7] - http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/03/pacific-tsunami-warnings-cancelled/ [7]

ENDS

Scoop

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COMMENT

Binoy Kampmark: The ABC’s Colonel Blimp - Why Kim Williams Misunderstands Joe Rogan

Martin LeFevre - Meditations: A Meditation On Noise And Silence

Gordon Campbell: On What’s Wrong With The Treaty Principles Bill

Ramzy Baroud: No More 'Deals’ - What Palestinians Want And Will Fight To Achieve

Peter Dunne: Dunne's Weekly - Mayor Whanau's Rare Win - To Her City's Detriment

Binoy Kampmark: Ironic Dependency - Russian Uranium And The US Energy Market

Comment Section

Scoop Top Stories For March 5, 2010 News Summary

Scoop Top Stories For March 5, 2010 News Summary

Contact Scoop

Binoy Kampmark: The ABC’s Colonel Blimp - Why Kim Williams Misunderstands Joe Rogan

Martin LeFevre - Meditations: A Meditation On Noise And Silence

Gordon Campbell: On What’s Wrong With The Treaty Principles Bill

Ramzy Baroud: No More 'Deals’ - What Palestinians Want And Will Fight To Achieve

Peter Dunne: Dunne's Weekly - Mayor Whanau's Rare Win - To Her City's Detriment

Binoy Kampmark: Ironic Dependency - Russian Uranium And The US Energy Market

Comment Section

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