Scoop apologises for not publishing a Scoop Today bulletin yesterday....regular service is now resuming...for East Timor
and APEC news see the following special bulletin.
Today's Scoops
SCOOP CENSORED BY MAJOR TRADE UNIONS
- Acute observers may have noticed that Council of Trade Unions (CTU), Association of University Staff (AUS) and Post
Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) press releases do not appear on Scoop while they do appear on another New Zealand
political news web site. This situation is despite Scoop’s best efforts. See… Scoop Censored By Major Trade Unions [1] in the Headlines wire. National’s Annabel Young says hindering the freedom of the flow of information is “just like the bad old days”.
See… Black ban "just like the bad old days" [2] in the Parliament wire.
Selling The Crown Jewels
- The decision, to literally "sell the Crown jewels" and cut the Bank of England's gold holdings by more than half,
followed similar decisions by the central banks of two other British Commonwealth countries - Canada and Australia. John
Howard reports. See… England To Sell Half It's Gold Reserves [1] in the Headlines wire.
Prebble Sings Shipley’s Praises
- “No small amount of [the APEC] success was due to Jenny Shipley. In an international arena full of pitfalls and with
the added uncertainty and danger of escalating violence in East Timor, our Prime Minister conducted our affairs as a
true, stable, international leader.” See… Who passed the test at APEC? - Prebble [1] in the Parliament wire.
Alliance Too Close To Labour – Peters
– In a speech Winston Peters said the Alliance have sidled too close to Labour and have rendered themselves pointless
for nothing in return. He reckons New Zealand First is the alternative. See… Peters - Alliance Sold Soul For Plastic Promises [1] in the Parliament wire.
Universal Student Allowances – Anderton
- In a speech to Canterbury University students today Jim Anderton outlined the Alliance plans to provide universal
student allowances for full time students. See… Universal student allowance for students [1] in the Parliament wire. The Aotearoa Student Union today welcomed the announcement, describing it as an important step towards removing
discrimination in the tertiary sector. See… Students Look Forward To Equality [2] in the Education wire.
Dunne To Visit West Coast
- United New Zealand leader Peter Dunne, says his visit to the West Coast on Thursday 16 September will be "a chance to
listen and learn." See… Dunne Visit "A Chance To Listen And Learn" [1] in the Parliament wire.
ACC Figures Show It’s Working – Hasler
- Hon Marie Hasler, Associate Minister for Accident Insurance, says figures contained in the 1998/9 annual report,
released today, show ACC's Prevention, Care, Recovery programme is working. See… ACC Working For Prevention, Care And Recovery [1] in the Parliament wire.
One Tree Hill Attacked Again
- One Tree Hill in Auckland has been attacked with a chainsaw again this morning. Police are talking with witnesses at
the scene and are also talking with four members of a Northland family. The attack occured around 10am. More details as
they come to hand.
New Prison Site Victory – NZ First
- New Zealand First List MP, Hon Brian Donnelly, says the decision not to build a prison in the Mangakahia Valley is a
victory for anti-prison campaigners in the area. See… Prison Campaign By Donnelly Gains Victory [1] in the Parliament wire. However ACTs Northland-based MP Dr Muriel Newman today labelled the decision to site the new Northland prison at
Kaikohe 'costly and illogical'. See… Northland Prison Site - 'Costly & Illogical' [2] in the Parliament wire.
NZ First Support Native Logging
- Leader of New Zealand First, Winston Peters, today reaffirmed New Zealand First's commitment to the sustainable
management of the West Coast's indigenous forest resource. See… West Coast Accord Should Be Honoured [1] . ACT say the fact that Maori landowners can log their native forests shows a huge double standard in policy. See… Labour's Forestry Policy Shocking Double Standard [2] . Both in the Parliament wire.
Winston Peters To Meet Ansett Pilots
- The New Zealand First Leader, Winston Peters, is to meet a group of Ansett pilots in Christchurch this afternoon.
See… Ansett Pilots To Meet Winston Peters [1] in the Parliament wire.
Watson Can’t Get Sentenced To Long Enough – Prebble
- ACT Leader Richard Prebble says it doesn't really matter what non-parole period Scott Watson gets in his sentence for
the murder of Olivia Hope and Ben Smart, because it won't be enough. See… Scott Watson Should Get Truth In Sentencing [1] in the Parliament wire.
Media Reporting Of Watson "Disgraceful"
- Convicted murderer Scott Watson's defence say the post trial media coverage of Waston and his criminal record is
disgraceful and seems to ignore the fact that an appeal will follow. Appeal papers on the grounds of fairness are to be
filed in court this week. Scott Watson's father Chris Watson appeared on the Kim Hill show this morning and agreed that
the media coverage was appalling. He is convinced of his son's innocence, saying he "believes sincerely that Scott has
no idea of it".
WATSON GUILTY - WILL APPEAL
- Scott Watson will appeal his conviction for the murder of Olivia Hope and Ben Smart, Watson's father says. Watson was
found guilty on Saturday at midday after the jury deliberated for 21 hours. The judge has sentenced Watson to a
mandatory life sentence. When the verdict was delivered Watson said 'You're wrong'. The 13 week trial is now over and
Gerald Hope, the father of Olivia, said the verdict was expected and that he was pleased with the way the justice system
and the police had performed. See the Headlines wire for a report.
Nick Smith Disappointed Over Mt Hikurangi Challenge
- Conservation Minister Nick Smith is disappointed that Public Access New Zealand is to legally challenge the return of
Mt Hikurangi to Ngati Porou and the new access agreement that has been negotiated for the mountain. See… Minister Disappointed At Mt Hikurangi Challenge [1] in the Parliament wire.
Michael Cullen Roasted On West Coast
– Hundreds of West Coasters turned out yesterday to convey their displeasure to Michael Cullen over Labour’s plans to
end native logging. Act say the fury is hardly surprising. See… Coast Unleashes Fury On Labour [1] in the Parliament wire.
Greens To Toast Possible Logging End – Others Not So Happy
- The Mayor of Dunedin, Sukhi Turner, uncorked a bottle of champagne at a Dunedin public meeting last night, in
celebration of the imminent end to native forest logging on the West Coast. See… Greens' Meeting Marks West Coast Logging End [1] . However, SOE Minister Tony Ryall says… Coasters Won't Trust Labour Opposition Again [2] while ACT says Helen Clark Should Front Up To Coasters - ACT [3] . All in the Parliament wire.
$68 million For West Coasters – Forest & Bird
- Critics of Labour's indigenous forests policy have studiously ignored the $68 million asset windfall which the policy
delivers to the West Coast community and potential additional gains from tourism related jobs say conservationists. See… Coast Benefits From $68 Million Asset Windfall [1] in the Politics wire.
Ansett Strike Stops All Flights
– A strike by Ansett pilots – the fourth to date - led to all flights being cancelled yesterday. This led to the travel
plans of 3,000 people being disrupted. The pilots are threatening to strike on Friday as well over a contract dispute
but Ansett has said the pilots will be locked out on Thursday if this goes ahead.
ACT Support Recalling Parliament For Peacekeeping Debate
- ACT Leader Richard Prebble said the ACT Party supported Jenny Shipley's initiative in recalling Parliament to debate
the sending of peacekeepers to East Timor. See… Act Supports Recall Of Parliament For Timor Debate [1] in the Parliament wire.
Iraq Back In Arab Fold
- For the first time since invading Kuwait in 1990 and dividing the Arab world, Iraq is chairing a meeting of Arab
foreign ministers in Cairo. John Howard reports. See… Iraq Back In The Arab Fold [1] in the Headlines wire.
Food Prices Fall
- The Food Price Index fell by 0.6 per cent in the August 1999 month, said Deputy Government Statistician Ian Ewing.
This follows an increase of 0.5 per cent in July and falls of 0.7 and 0.4 per cent in June and May 1999. See… Food Prices Fall in August [1] . See also… Economic Note - New Zealand Food Price Index [2] . Both in the Business wire.
Clean Up New Zealand Launched
- Conservation and Education Minister Nick Smith yesterday launched Clean Up New Zealand in Wellington with Ian
Kiernan, founder of Clean Up the World by joining 200 pupils from Lyall Bay School to help clean up Lyall Bay Beach.
See… Clean Up New Zealand Launch [1] in the Parliament wire.
And You Thought Genocide Was Important
– Despite the ethnic cleansing in East Timor, the New Zealand cannabis lobby group NORML thought the APEC leaders in
Auckland might like to consider cannabis law reform. See… NORML - APEC Leaders Should Consider Cannabis [1] in the Politics wire.
Prime Minister Asked To Save Kiwi From Extinction
- A Government funded rescue programme is urgently required to save New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi, from
extinction in the wild, according to the New Zealand's largest conservation group, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection
Society. See… New Zealand Prime Minister asked to save the kiwi [1] in the General wire.
Suicide Level Sign Of Despairing Society – Anderton
- The record New Zealand suicide rate released earlier this week by the Auckland School of Medicine is symptomatic of a
despairing society' says Alliance Leader Jim Anderton. See… Record suicide level symptomatic of NZ despair [1] in the Parliament wire.
Cell Phone Tower Radiation Rises – Residents
- The permissible limit for exposing the public to radiation from cell towers for the functioning of cellular phones
has been dramatically raised according to a concerned resident group. See… Cell Tower Radiation Rises - Resident Group [1] in the General wire.
Moa Point Receovery Slow
- Monitoring of the marine environment at Moa Point, on Wellington's south coast, has shown that recovery after the
closure of the 100-year-old sewerage outfall in June 1998 took longer than initially thought. See… Slow Recovery At Moa Point [1] in the General wire.
Get up, Get up, Get up
… - New Zealand's number one energy drink V is taking the highly competititve Australian beverage market by storm. See… Australia Getting Big Wake Up Call From NZ [1] in the Business wire.
Fallout Over Logging Decision Continues
– Native Forest Action have described the government’s response to Labour’s announcement that they would stop all
native logging as predictable and hysterical. See… Hysterical Reaction Predictable - NFA [1] . Forest and Bird field officer, Eugenie Sage has rejected as nonsense, SOE Minister, Tony Ryall's claims of her
influencing Labour leader, Helen Clark in relation to Labour's West Coast forests policy. See… Minister's Imagination Working Overtime [2] and ECO have strongly endorsed the policy. See… Labour's Forest Protection Policy Welcomed [3] . All in the General wire. Much more reaction lower down this page and in Parliament wire.
Three Policy Launches During APEC / Timor - Labour Keep Their Heads Down
- Events over the last week prove either that the Labour Party hire extremely poor PR staff or that the party is
committed to the heads down approach to this election campaign. Scoop's Jonathan Hill reports. See... Labour - The Heads Down Approach Continues [1] in the Headlines wire.
ACT Wheel Out The Big Gun
- ACT Party President Sir Roger Douglas has got some weight off his chest over the weekend with a series of media
releases. He has criticised the Alliance for their policy on student loans and tariffs. See… Who Will Pay For Alliance Promises? [1] and Anderton Does It Again With Tariff Policy [2] in the Parliament wire. He has also criticised the Alliance and Greens for neglecting the poor. See… Greens/Alliance Not Working For Low Income Earners [3] , also in the Parliament wire.
International Pilots Union Welcome NZ Black Box Laws
- The head of the union representing most airline pilots in the U.S. has welcomed the vote taken yesterday by New
Zealand's parliament to bar government from using certain data gathered in accident investigations. See... International Pilot Union Welcome NZ Cockpit Move [1] in the General wire.
Bradford No Grasp Of Student Loans
- The Alliance said Max Bradford's claims that wiping the interest on student loans would cost $122 million next shows
he has no grasp on the student loans scheme. See... Wiping student loans will not cost $122 million [1] in the Parliament wire.
The Pleasantries Of The Corporate Culture
- Last month my father lost his job which, in a country with relatively high levels of unemployment is not in itself a
big deal. However the nature in which the job was taken had me astounded at the coldness of the corporate culture that
has recently become a part of New Zealand. Jonathan Hill writes. See... The Pleasantries Of The Corporate Culture [1] in the Headlines wire.