SCOOP TODAY - NEW FORMAT!!
To Regulate Or Not To Regulate
The NZ First caucus are meeting this morning to discuss whether to support the Government's attempts to regulate line
companies. Labour asks will NZ First be National's security blanket again? [1] , while also in the Parliament wire Max Bradford Welcomes NZ First Stance [2] .
WINZ And Losers
- Opposition parties are calling on the Government to suspend the Work and Income chief executive, Christine Rankin.
She has admitted to authorising part of the expenditure for the hire of jets to ferry staff to a conference in Taupo,
but says she was misled by a staff member.
Foveaux Crash
- Southern Air, whose aircraft crashed into Foveaux Strait, killing five peole, has admitted it was using the wrong
type of plane for the route. The coroner's report into the crash last August has found the twin-engined plane ran out of
fuel in mid-air before ditching into the sea.
WTO Again
Delegates to the World Trade Organisation will once again meet to discuss a plan that could bring an end to the long
battle for the top job at the WTO. They will look at the possibility of New Zealand's Mike Moore and Thailand's Supachai
Panitchpakdi job-sharing. If no country opposes the draft ruling at the meeting, then a formal session will be called
later this week for final approval. However, the final decision still has to be made by consensus in the Council, which
appears unlikely going on the past track record.
On the Campaign Trail
- Political activity in Wellington Central is picking up with the Chamber of Commerce hosting a series of Election Debates [1] , while Annabel Young says National's Wellington campaign has kicked off. Meanwhile at a local level, Mark Blumsky's 'Safer City' public meeting [2] was held last night and a coalition of conservation groups have bought native bush in Brooklyn [3] .
Talking Up The Net
In the business wire, Telecom says its annual report emphasises their online strategies [1] .
Two Tier Health
- The Minister of Health has raised questions over National Women's 'Two Tier' system [1] for maternity care. Also in the Parliament wire, Labour condemns the new service. [2]
Finding A Path Around Debt Mountain
- The relationship between the $3 billion student loan debt and the record numbers of young New Zealanders who are
leaving this country has become an issue which the government is being pressed increasingly hard to deal with - not the
least by their own rhetoric reports Scoop's Jonathan Hill. See.. Scoop Analysis: Student Loans And The Brain Drain [1] in the Headlines wire.
Y2K Bash Still On
- The Year 2000 Festival Company is proceeding with its plans for the Gisborne 2000 Festival. See… Y2K Plans Still On - Directors [1] .
Happy Day For Dolphins
- The Minister of Fisheries has welcomed the industries good news for Hectors Dolphins. [1]
JFK Junior Now Believed Dead
- The US Coastguard is moving its emphasis from Search and Rescue to Search and Recover in the search for the aircraft
and passengers onboard the flight piloted by John F Kennedy Jnr missing off the east coast of the United States. Two
"targets" have been singled out which are being investigated to determine whether they contain wreckage of the missing
light aircraft. US Coastguard has told a press conference that the water temperature off the east coast is around 68
degrees F [20 degrees C] and that surviving such conditions beyond 18 hours is not likely. The spokesperson said he has
informed the Kennedy family that surviving the accident is unlikely. See..Update - JFK Jnr's Missing Aircraft [1] - and US Coastguard Press Conference Looms [2] in the Auckland wire.
Feedback Wanted
- The Scoop Team would be interested to receive feedback on the new format for Scoop Today which came into place
yesterday - for an example of the new format see Scoop Today Launches New Format [1] in the Headlines wire. Scoop Today is a free daily news email service you can subscribe to by registering for Scoop Gold or pressing the
Subscribe button in the control panel on the left.
NZ First Sets Campaign Sails
- NZ First has completed its last conference before it attempts to ensure its survival as a political force at the next
election. Scoop's Ian Llewellyn examines the NZ First leader's speech. See..Politics: The Rebuilding Of NZ First [1] in the Headlines wire.
Wool Exports Back On Track
- Prime Minister Jenny Shipley yesterday said New Zealand's wool exports to China are back on track after meeting with
Chinese officials in Beijing on Sunday. Mrs Shipley said administrative issues have been resolved in China and new
tariff quotas have been issued which should see increases in our wool exports to China. See… Trade Breakthrough In China [1] in the Parliament wire.
South Pacific Assassination
- RNZ reported yesterday morning that the PM of Samoa said Samoan police were following two definite leads in the
search for the murderer of the apparently assassinated Public Works Minister. Western Samoa's Minister of Public Works,
Luagalau Levaula Kamu was shot in the head at the weekend while talking outside a ball on a cell-phone . Yesterday RNZ
reported Samoa's PM saying the murderer probably had a personal motive. On Sunday Acting Foreign Minister Simon Upton
said he was distressed to hear of the murder. See…Distress At Murder Of Samoan Cabinet Minister [1] in the Parliament wire. Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Tuariki Delamere has also offered his condolences to the Kamu family. See... Delamere Offers Condolences Over Samoan Shooting [2] in the Parliament wire. Mauri Pacific leader, Tau Henare, said he was shocked and sadden
ed by the assassination. See… Henare shocked at assassination of Pacific leader [3] .