Scoop Top Stories For May 3, 2010 News Summary

Monday, 3 May 2010, 11:21 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Scoop: http://www.scoop.co.nz/
Gordon Campbell: http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/
Scoop Business: http://business.scoop.co.nz/
Scoop Wellington: http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/
Scoop Pacific: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/
Scoop Review of Books: http://books.scoop.co.nz/

LEAD STORY

NZ POLITICS

Immigration: Licensing To Cut Out Cowboy Advisers

John Minto: ECan Sacking A Coup For Corporate Irrigators

Scoop Report: Protest Against Mining 'Biggest In Living Memory'

Legislation: Hide's Local Government Bill Tabled

Prize For Appropriate Non-Use Of Word 'Refute': Minister Rejects Inaccurate Claims

Smoking Cuts? Full Coverage - Tobacco Excise Rises

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

Code Sharing: Air NZ, Virgin Blue Seek Clearance For Alliance

This One's Called Ida: Competition To Name A Minor Planet

Environment: Bringing The Bellbirds Back

Scoop Business: Australia To Cut Corporate Tax, Keeps Imputations

Smellie Sniffs The Breeze: A New Big Stick

Wakatipu Flooding: Waters Rise, Fall, Rise

Scoop Business: NZ Building Consents Fall 0.4% In March

COMMENT

Michael Collins: British Election Leaders' Debate - The Grand Betrayal

A Russian Freeze: Halting Adoptions To The US

Gordon Campbell: On Banning 18-19 Year Olds From Bars (& Cigarette Tax)

David Ray Griffin: Did Osama Bin Laden Die In 2001?

Martha Rosenberg: Too Guilty To Have A Cleaning Lady?

Gordon Campbell: RWC Fever; and Obama’s Supreme Court choice

Richard S. Ehrlich: Two Faces Appear Behind Bangkok's Bamboo Barricades

Photo Essay: Election Day In Cuba

Binoy Kampmark: Obama and Regulating the Market

Uri Avnery: In The Name Of Zionism

LIFESTYLE

Health: ‘Know Your Numbers’ Heart Forecast Tool Launched

NZ In Tune: Even Ministerial Endorsement Cannot Make NZ Music Month Uncool

Art: North Southland Gets A Gallery

Fair Trade Fortnight Ahoy: Fair Trade Pioneer Comes To Town

Music: Justin Bieber Performs Private Concert

WORLD

Workers Unite: Greek Anger Spills Into Mass May Day Protest

ACTA: Threats To Online Free Expression In Treaty Draft

ALSO:

• Out Now: Werewolf Issue Eleven Unleashed [2]

[2] - http://werewolf.co.nz/ [2]

Immigration: Licensing To Cut Out Cowboy Advisers
New Zealand’s reputation as a migrant destination will be strengthened through new laws covering offshore immigration advisers, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman says. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00014.htm

ALSO:

• Right To Information Essential To Good Governance [2]


• A minute's silence for murdered journalists [3]


• Journalists in exile on World Press Freedom Day [4]


• Ten Journalist Murder Cases To Solve [5]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00596.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00608.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00450.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1005/S00044.htm [5]

John Minto: ECan Sacking A Coup For Corporate Irrigators
It’s good to see the fight-back in Canterbury against the sacking of the Environment Canterbury Board. Firing the board was an orchestrated coup conducted by the government on behalf of corporate irrigators. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00016.htm

ALSO:

• KiwiRail should be built by Kiwi workers [2]


• KiwiRail urged to build own trains [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00009.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/35759.html [3]

Scoop Report: Protest Against Mining 'Biggest In Living Memory'
Photo Essay, Text, Video: Auckland - Organisers of Saturday's protest claim up to 50,000 people marched up Queen St united in their opposition against the National-led Government's plans to mine conservation land and national parks. The Sign On website stated the march was the biggest in living memory. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00013.htm

ALSO:

• Radio Adelaide: Huge Protest Sends Govt Jolt Over Mining Plans [2]


• State of the environment: reports urge NZ to act [3]


• NZ threatens to cut funding for Tonga's legal system [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00015.htm [2]

[3] - http://pundit.co.nz/content/state-of-the-environment-reports-urge-nz-to-act" target="_blank [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/35717.html [4]

Legislation: Hide's Local Government Bill Tabled
The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill tabled yesterday in Parliament will effectively privatise all aspects of water supply services, the Green Party said today. "Rodney Hide’s new Local Government Amendment bill should be entitled ‘Rogernomics Part 2," Green Party Local Government spokesperson Sue Kedgley said. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00422.htm

ALSO:

• Government to allow private ownership of water [2]


• A Sad Day for the Commons [3]


• Gutting local democracy [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00432.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00397.htm [3]

[4] - http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2010/04/gutting-local-democracy.html" target="_blank [4]

Prize For Appropriate Non-Use Of Word 'Refute': Minister Rejects Inaccurate Claims
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is strongly rejecting inaccurate claims made on TV3 news last night that she offered money to settle a privacy complaint.“These allegations are completely untrue,” says Ms Bennett. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00430.htm

ALSO:

• Paula Bennett talks exclusively about her privacy complaint [2]


• Bennett accused of paying off privacy complainant [3]


• Nats break election promise with welfare changes [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/35657.html [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/35642.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00458.htm [4]

Smoking Cuts? Full Coverage - Tobacco Excise Rises
Smokers will be paying even more dearly for their habit as the government rushes legislation through Parliament under extraodinary urgency to allow three increases in tobacco excises over the next two years. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00221.htm

Code Sharing: Air NZ, Virgin Blue Seek Clearance For Alliance
Air New Zealand Ltd., the national carrier, and rival Virgin Blue have agreed to seek regulatory approval for an alliance on trans-Tasman routes ... More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/03/air-nz-virgin-blue-seek-clearance-for-alliance/

This One's Called Ida: Competition To Name A Minor Planet
2010 celebrates the 80th anniversary of the discovery of Pluto and marks the 1st anniversary of Venetia Burney Phair, the most influential 11year old in the history of astronomy... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1005/S00002.htm

ALSO:

• Parliamentary inquiry needed into Ruakura animals [2]


• Cruel experiments just the tip of the iceberg [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00007.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00012.htm [3]

Environment: Bringing The Bellbirds Back
Bringing bellbirds back to Hamilton is the aim of an ambitious new reintroduction programme ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1005/S00012.htm

Scoop Business: Australia To Cut Corporate Tax, Keeps Imputations
Finance Minister Bill English’s options for corporate tax reform in the May 20 Budget are clearer following tonight’s Australian Government announcement that it will cut its company tax rate to 28% from 30% over the next five years, and keep the dividend imputation system. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/02/australia-to-cut-corporate-tax-keeps-imputations/

ALSO:

• Promise To Superannuitants Hollow And Cynical [2]


• Rakaia-Selwyn irrigators to get on with metering [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00002.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00834.htm [3]

Smellie Sniffs The Breeze: A New Big Stick
This week’s announcements on securities law reform by Commerce Minister Simon Power are profound for New Zealand capital markets after years of serial failure by both the makers and enforcers of laws to protect the gullible from bad investments. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/30/smellie-sniffs-the-breeze-a-new-big-stick/

ALSO:

• World Week Ahead: Greece, U.K. and jobs [2]

[2] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/03/world-week-ahead-greece-u-k-and-jobs/ [2]

Wakatipu Flooding: Waters Rise, Fall, Rise
Lake Wakatipu was no longer expected to reach levels predicted yesterday but the threat of flooding remained. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00330.htm

ALSO:

• Lake Level Update Sunday 3 May 10.30am [2]


• Kingston & Glenorchy Brief [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1005/S00011.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00329.htm [3]

Scoop Business: NZ Building Consents Fall 0.4% In March
New Zealand residential building consents fell for the third month in four in March, underlining the tepid pace of recovery in a housing market that is facing tighter tax rules and less activity from developers. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/30/nz-building-consents-fall-0-4-in-march/

ALSO:

• Registered Master Builders Predictions Confirmed [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00835.htm [2]

Michael Collins: British Election Leaders' Debate - The Grand Betrayal
The third and final debate between the British party leaders will play a critical role in selecting the next Prime Minister. The first debate altered the course of the election, for a few days anyway. The Liberal Democrats led by Nick Clegg passed ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00010.htm

ALSO:

• The Clegg Factor: The Coming British Elections [2]


• UK Decides #5: Debate Fever Grips The Media [3]


• British The Leaders' Debate - Foreign Affairs [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00208.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00184.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00183.htm [4]

A Russian Freeze: Halting Adoptions To The US
The Russian government is having an apoplectic fit. Not over those usual things – deadly weapons of nuclear import and American foot dragging on the subject, energy disputes that involve strangling neighbours into submission, and that distinctly ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00008.htm

Gordon Campbell: On Banning 18-19 Year Olds From Bars (& Cigarette Tax)
In what passes for a public debate here about the flow of young New Zealanders across the Tasman and beyond, the focus is always narrowly economic – on comparative wage levels, and on student debt levels. Far too little emphasis has been given to the... More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/29/gordon-campbell-banning-18-19-year-olds-from-bars/

David Ray Griffin: Did Osama Bin Laden Die In 2001?
In 2009, I published a little book entitled Osama bin Laden: Dead or Alive?1 Much evidence, I showed, suggested that Osama bin Laden had died on or about December 13, 2001. (Although this book was ignored by the US press, it received major reviews... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00012.htm

Martha Rosenberg: Too Guilty To Have A Cleaning Lady?
Even though cleaning is an early, almost sacred gender ritual we learn from Mom, like sons learn to throw, women hate it. We say we're too busy, our family's too sloppy and no one helps, cleaning products are toxic, the house just gets messy again ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00001.htm

Gordon Campbell: RWC Fever; and Obama’s Supreme Court choice
RNZ this morning carried the news that “new research” now shows that the Rugby World Cup would add an estimated $535 million to the nation’s GDP. At this point in time, it is still unclear whether necromancy, dowsing or feng shui was the method ... More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/27/gordon-campbell-rwc-fever-obama%E2%80%99s-supreme-court/

Richard S. Ehrlich: Two Faces Appear Behind Bangkok's Bamboo Barricades
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Two Thai faces appear behind the sharpened bamboo poles and hundreds of car tires which form lengthy menacing barricades, now stinking of urine, rotten food and other debris, along Bangkok's busy downtown streets. The face of ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00204.htm

Photo Essay: Election Day In Cuba
Photo Essay: Election Day in Cuba by Julie Webb Pullman Click to enlarge 2010 Cuban Elections Click to enlarge The ballot boxes are sealed, and in place Click to enlarge guarded by Cuban school children Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Some voters check ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00205.htm

Binoy Kampmark: Obama and Regulating the Market
President Barack Obama has become the chief sales officer for market regulation, a theme he has been labouring over for some time. Cooper Union, its location pitched within a few miles of Wall Street, doesn’t seem to be tiring of luminaries with ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00182.htm

Uri Avnery: In The Name Of Zionism
ISRAEL IS a Zionist State. Everybody knows that. There is no (Jewish) politician in Israel who misses an opportunity to repeat this. Last week, when we celebrated the 62nd Independence Day, we were flooded by a deluge of patriotic speeches... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00189.htm

Health: ‘Know Your Numbers’ Heart Forecast Tool Launched
To help combat New Zealand’s single biggest killer, the Heart Foundation today launched a new online tool so people can understand the real risk of heart disease and avoid a premature and preventable death. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1005/S00002.htm

ALSO:

• New Health And Disability Commissioner Announced [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00015.htm [2]

NZ In Tune: Even Ministerial Endorsement Cannot Make NZ Music Month Uncool
Kiwi music fans will be turning up the sounds this month as New Zealand Music Month celebrates its 10th birthday, says Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00008.htm

ALSO:

• The Flying Nun Collection [2]

[2] - http://www.nzonscreen.com/collection/the-flying-nun-collection" target="_blank [2]

Art: North Southland Gets A Gallery
New Zealand’s newest public art gallery, Fusion, will open in Lumsden, northern Southland, next week. The gallery will be launched on May 14 with an exhibition and silent auction dubbed The Undy Four Hundy - so the public can buy NZ art for $400 or less. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1005/S00009.htm

ALSO:

• Barry & Stuart – Powered by Demons: Show Cancelled [2]


• Women of the World Unite! [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1004/S00392.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1004/S00374.htm [3]

Fair Trade Fortnight Ahoy: Fair Trade Pioneer Comes To Town
People living in Wellington have the chance to be inspired by a leader in the fair trade movement on Wednesday 5 May at 6pm with Trade Aid Wellington hosting a visit from the founder of its Nepalese trading partner. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1004/S00379.htm

ALSO:

• A Fortnight Can Make A Difference [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0804/S00465.htm [2]

Music: Justin Bieber Performs Private Concert
Teenagers all over New Zealand and possibly the world, are wishing they were a student at ACG Strathallan today. More to the point, they are probably wishing they were Year 11 student Mila Stephenson, who won the Justin Bieber video competition More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1004/S00357.htm

ALSO:

• Justin Bieber (justinbieber) on Twitter [2]


• Justin Bieber bungy jumps off Harbour Bridge - video [3]


• Justin Bieber: Interviews with Bielebers [4]


• Bieber hysteria - star mobbed at airport [5]


• Bieber Fever likened to Beatle Mania [6]

[2] - http://twitter.com/justinbieber" target="_blank [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/35587.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/35575.html [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/35569.html [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/35560.html [6]

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Scoop

Scoop Independent News

Scoop is NZ's largest independent news source; respected widely in media, political, business and academic circles for being the place on the internet for publishing "what was really said", and for the quality of its analysis of issues.

Contact Scoop

• Editorial - editor@scoop.co.nz
• Twitter - @ScoopNZ
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Services - services@scoop.co.nz
• Phone - 04 910 1844