Scoop would like to thank its readers today on its top rating day yet!
Today's Scoops
Several Winebox Findings Ruled Invalid
- The court of appeal has ruled that several key findings of the Winebox report by Sir Ronald Davison are invalid. In a
decision that took one hour to deliver the finding announced that Sir Davison made an error of law in finding the
'Magnum Transactions' were legal and in finding there was no incompetence in the Inland Revenue Department or Serious
Fraud Office. Despite these initial rulings being judged invalid does not mean the IRD or SFO were incompetent or that
the Magnum Transactions were illegal. The finding notes that this reduces the criticism of Winston Peters in Sir Ronald
Davison's report.
Peters Claims Victory For Taxpayers
- Winston Peters has immediately claimed the decision is a victory for all New Zealand taxpayers. See… Winebox Decision Victory For New Zealand Taxpayers [1] in the Parliament wire. Scoop will keep you updated and will file a background report in the Headlines wire later this afternoon. Earlier in the day NZ First MP Ron Mark gave a speech on the Winebox. See… Winebox Speech From Ron Mark MP [2] in the Parliament wire. Also, Winston Peters made a speech on his favorite subject. See… The Winebox - Who's Responsible? - Peters [3] in the Parliament wire.
Cell-Mates Say Watson Admitted Murders
- A man who has name suppression today said Watson told him how he killed Olivia Hope when they were sharing a cell
while Watson was remanded in custody. The man who is still in prison and has location supression also, said Watson told
him the police had nothing on him several times and that Watson woke him up because he was screaming in his sleep twice.
The man, who said he became friends with Watson while in custody, said Watson showed him how he killed Olivia Hope by
wrestling her to the floor with an arm across her throat and said that Olivia fought back a lot. Another witness who
also has name suppression was also in jail with Watson. He said Watson told him he killed the couple and that police
would never find the bodies. Scoop will keep you up to date with any developments.
Rankin File, Bad Weather And Watson Trial Top Scoops
- For today’s ratings on Scoop’s top rating day yet see… Today’s Top 20 [1] in the News Monitor wire.
Rates Set To Soar In Auckland
- Aucklanders have had their rates packs posted today, alerting them to an increase of 10.8 percent over last year's
bill. See Selwyn Manning’s report… Auckland Rates Increase Packs In Mail [1] in the Auckland wire.
Dong Wong Spill Concluded In Court
- New Zealand's biggest oil spill response since 1948 has now reached finality, with clean-up costs recovered,
convictions entered against the ship owner, and an independently chaired review of the response completed. See… Convictions, Full Costs In Dong Wong Spill Case [1] in the General wire.
Sweetwaters Boss Charged With Fraud
- The promoter of this year's Sweetwaters Concert in Manukau City has been charged with fraud. See the hard working
Selwyn Manning’s report… Sweetwaters Promoter Charged With Fraud [1] in the Auckland wire.
Starship Hospital Running Again
- Surgery at Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital has recommenced after flooding cancelled all surgery and grommet
procedures this morning. See… Surgery Resumes At Starship [1] in the Auckland wire.
Who Are The Middle Class?
- We frequently hear these days about the plight of the middle class, or the middle classes. But who are the middle
classes? Are they simply those people (or households?) who earn between the median income and the 90th or 95th
percentile? See… Rankin's Thursday Column Whither the Bourgeoisie? [1] in the Headlines wire.
Govt Info On APEC Disruptions Shoddy
- The APEC Monitoring Group has slammed the government’s information campaign on how Auckland will be disrupted as
“shoddy”. See… APEC Opponents Slam "Shoddy Govt. Info Campaign" [1] in the Auckland wire.
Coromandel Race Heating Up
– The race for the significant Coromandel seat is heating up fast. Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons released a commissioned
poll of the seat this week showing her leading National encumbent MP Murray McLean. See… Poll Shows Fitzsimons Ahead In Coromandel [1] . McLean has responded by saying Fitzsimons’ poll is wrong and that his own polling shows she is not in the race.
See… Fitzsimons not in Coromandel race [2] . Fitzsimons has responded by challenging McLean to produce his polls with all the statistical information so they
can be scrutinised. See… Jeanette Calls On Mclean To Release His Own 'Polls [3] . All in the Parliament wire. Today Murray McLean told Scoop he would consider releasing his poll over the weekend and make a decision on
Monday. Scoop will profile the seat over the next week.
Hold Human Rights Appointment
- The appointment of a new Human Rights Commissioner should be held up until after the election, Alliance leader Jim
Anderton says. See… Hold Human Rights appointment [1] in the Parliament wire.
Want Some Really Bad News?
– See… Weather Workshop: 5 day forecast for NZ [1] in the Weather wire.
Watson Trial and the Mystery Ketch
- Scoop's Fraser Rolfe attends a days proceedings at the Scott Watson trial and finds the defence is still pushing the
‘mystery ketch’ theory. See… The Mystery Ketch Theory Is Not Dead Yet [1] in the Headlines wire.
NFA Protest At Civil Aviation Authority Over Secrets And Lies
- This morning Native Forest Action campaigners are protesting outside the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Lower
Hutt, to draw attention to questionable connections between the CAA, Timberlands and its PR company Shandwick over an
incident in native West Coast forests. See… NFA Protest at Civil Aviation Authority [1] in the General wire.
Nestle Targeted by GE Protestors
- Protestors dressed as monarch butterflies and wearing biohazard suits carried products such as Milo, Milky Bar and
Kit Kat, said by Nestle to possibly contain G.E. ingredients, to Nestle HQ in Auckland today. See… G.E. Protest calls on Nestle to go G.E. Free [1] in the Business wire.
Nellie Rata To Stand For ACT
- ACT Leader Richard Prebble said he was delighted that a Maori leader of the mana of Nellie Rata has put herself
forward as ACT candidate for Parliament. See… ACT Welcomes Nellie Rata's Candidac [1] in the Parliament wire.
Formal Complaint Over Timberlands PR
– A formal complaint is being made to the Public Relations Institute this morning over the the conduct of Timberlands’
PR company Shandwick, following the launch of Secrets And Lies. See… Formal complaint about Timberlands PR campaign [1] in the Business wire.
Select Committee Weekly Report
- This week's Select Committee report from the Clerk's Office. See… Weekly Select Committee Report [1] in the Parliament wire.
Yesterday’s Top 20 Stories
- The top 20 rating items on Scoop yesterday were... Scoop Ratings - Yesterday's Top 20 [1] in the News Monitor wire.
Turkish Quake Crisis
- The death toll of the Turkish earthquake has officially climbed past 7,000. It is expected the deaths will continue
to rise. No Kiwis are among the casualties but many people remain trapped in collapsed apartment buildings in sweltering
heats. Aid is flooding in but there is not enough to go around and many are dying among rubble because there is nobody
to help. Many areas are completely devastated. Kiwis have personally given $120,000 to a red cross appeal and donations can be made by phoning 0900 33 2000. See... TV1 News [1] in the News Monitor wire for more information.
Thurman and Hawke For Lord Of Rings
- The Evening Post has reported that Hollywood couple Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke are tipped to be part of Lord of the
Rings as Galadrial and Faramir. Filming is expected to start in two months. US media are reporting that one of the main
roles, that of Aragorn, has been given to 26 year old Irish actor Stuart Townsend who starred in Shooting Fish. Others
said to have signed include: Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Sir Ian Holm (Bilbo), Elijah Wood (Frodo), Sean Astin (Samwise
Gamgee) and Billy Boyd (Pippin). For more see... Lord Of The Rings: Hawke, Thurman In, Winslet Out [1] in the News Monitor wire.
ECA Not To Blame For Increased Strike Action
- "The public will have noticed an increase in strike action oflate. Such activity can be expected in the political
lead-up to the election in an attempt to discredit the Employment Contracts Act," Steve Marshall, Chief Executive of the
New Zealand Employers Federation. See… ECA Not to Blame for Strike Action [1] in the Business wire.
Bradford Pleased At Bright Future Response - America Lukewarm
- Enterprise and Commerce Minister Max Bradford says he is heartened by the degree of support for policies in the
Bright Future Package. See… Bradford Pleased by Bright Future Response [1] in the Parliament wire. The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) has very kindly given the government's Bright Future package “an
encouraging pass mark” for its business education initiatives but a “must try harder verdict” on the package's appeal to
investment. See… Amcham Marks Government's 'Bright Future' Package [2] in the Business wire.
NZ Magazines Rebound
- New Zealand magazines are again in big demand on the country's newsstands. New circulation figures out today reveal
kiwis are reading more magazines, and showing a stronger interest in local rather than imported titles. See... NZ Magazine industry bounces back [1] in the Business wire.
The Taliban War Against Women
- The government of Afghanistan is waging a war upon women. The situation is getting so bad that one person in an
editorial of the Times compared the treatment of women there to the treatment of Jews in pre-Holocaust Poland. See... The Taliban's War On Women [1] in the General wire.
Cable Car Not For Sale
- The Wellington City Council has decided not to pursue the proposed sale of the Wellington Cable Car but want the
well-loved Wellington icon's operators to think outside the square. See... Cable Car will not be sold [1] in the Business wire.
The New Media Revolution
- There is a new media revolution under way. You may not notice it if you are still getting the bulk of your
information from Richard or Judy or Carol and John - or even the daily newspapers. John Howard reports. See... The New Media Revolution [1] in the Headlines wire.