Meanwhile there is a whole bunch of other stuff happening too...
Today's Other Scoops
Election Date To Be Set Next Weekend
- Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said today she will announce the date of the 1999 general election following a special
caucus to be held in Auckland on Sunday 26 September. See… Election Date To Be Announced Next Weekend [1] in the Parliament wire.
Timberlands’ Contracts Trying To Force Future Governments To Log
- New Timberlands West Coast contracts are aimed at forcing the next Government into logging native forests, Green
Party Co-Leader Rod Donald said today. See… Timberlands' Deals Aimed At Forcing Govt. Hand [1] in the Parliament wire.
Ethnic Affairs Ministry Under Labour Government
- A Labour Government would include a Minister of Ethnic Affairs to ensure that the needs of New Zealand's growing
ethnic communities were considered in all aspects of government policy. See… Labour to have Minister of Ethnic Affairs [1] in the Parliament wire.
Equal Rights For Defacto Relationships – Alliance
- De facto relationships should have protection and property rights equivalent to married partners, Alliance women's
affairs spokesperson Phillida Bunkle said today. See… De facto relationships to have equal status [1] in the Parliament wire.
Man Convicted Of Hunting Protected Native Pigeons
- A Kaikohe man this week pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to hunting, killing and being in possession of
kukupa (NZ native woodpigeon) which has absolutely protected status under the Wildlife Act. See… Kaikohe Man Pleads Guilty To Kukupa Hunting [1] in the General wire.
Orange Roughy ARE Being Overfished – Forest And Bird, ECO
- The Forest and Bird Protection Society today rejected claims by the Minister of Fisheries and the fishing industry
that orange roughy was sustainably managed. See… Criticisms Of Orange Roughy Claims Rejected [1] in the Politics wire. ECO also agree that the fishing industry and government are wrong. See… Minister and industry wrong on roughy [2] in the General wire. More debate on this issue between Forest and Bird, the Fishing Industry and John Luxton is lower down this page.
Labour Streets Ahead On Immigration
- Labour's Immigration, Settlement and Ethnic Affairs policy will put a Labour Government streets ahead in ensuring
that new migrants and New Zealand will benefit from immigration, Labour Leader Helen Clark said today. See… Labour streets ahead on immigration [1] in the Parliament wire.
Buy Rimu – Endorse Native Logging – NFA
- “Rimu is not the only option for furniture making and its presence or absence from the marketplace should not be used
as an excuse to stall the end of Timberlands' native forest logging,” Native Forest Action spokesperson Dean
Baigent-Mercer says. See… Rimu Not The Only Option For Furniture - NFA [1] in the Politics wire.
Police Concerned Over Another Attempted Abduction In Wellington
- A man tried to abduct a seven year old Porirua girl on her way to school yesterday, just after 8.30am. The man was
wearing a white shirt, bootleg pants and black gumboots. He was possibly balding but with long hair at the back, with
white stubble on his chin. He was driving a dirty blue vehicle. Police are concerned about similarities to an incident a
fortnight ago outside a school in Waitangirua. Police are also checking links to three other recent incidents in Karori,
Northland and Alicetown.
Bradford Angers Students With Woman’s Weekly Comments
- Claims by Max Bradford in this week's Woman's Weekly that student loans are not restricting people from obtaining
bank loans, buying houses or starting families are not surprising given his general inability to understand the tertiary
education sector, said NZUSA Co-President Karen Skinner. See… Minister's Ignorance Hardly Surprising - Students [1] in the Education wire. Otago University Students’ Association say Bradford’s comments show he hasn’t done any research. See… Then Do Your Research Minister [2] in the Education wire. The Aotearoa Post-compulsory Student Union is also very disappointed with Bradford’s comments and apparent lack
of research. See… Research Max! [3] in the Education wire.
Precedent Set Over Swimming Pool Fencing
- Auckland City Council is urging people with swimming pools to ensure they comply with the Fencing of Swimming Pools
Act following a High Court judge's decision which sets precedents on the level of fines that should be imposed and the
legal requirements for pool fencing. See… Auckland High Court Sets Precedent On Pool Fencing [1] in the General wire.
Alliance Propose Summit On Violence
- The Alliance is proposing a summit on violence as part of its plan to bring down the high levels of violence against
women. The anti-violence steps are part of the Alliance's women's policy, which will be launched on Sunday 19th
September in Wellington. See… Alliance Propose Summit On Violence [1] in the Parliament wire.
Scoop’s Latest On Lord Of The Rings Filming
- Scoop understands that some filming for the massive trilogy The Lord Of The Rings is to take place in the countryside
West of Masterton. For more see… Scoop's Latest Words On Lord Of The Rings Filming [1] in the Headlines wire.
Public Endangered By High and Unregulated Dioxin Emissions
- The health of the public and the environment are under serious threat from high dioxin emissions but there is no
regulatory body to control it, says Alliance health and environment Spokesperson Phillida Bunkle. See… Bunkle warns of uncontrolled dioxin threat [1] in the Parliament wire.
Labour’s Logging Policy Based On Miscalculations – Ryall
- “Labour's replacement Forestry Spokesman, Pete Hodgson, revealed today that the assumptions upon which his Party
based its forestry policy were totally wrong. Labour should now rethink its sustainable forestry policy," SOE Minister,
Tony Ryall, said today. See… Major Miscalculation Should Bring Rethink On Jobs [1] in the Parliament wire.
The Alliance / New Zealand First Struggle
- With an almost identical support base, the biggest head to head party clash in the coming election promises to be
between New Zealand First and the Alliance. Early signs show the Alliance suffering as the Peters campaign takes hold.
Jonathan Hill reports. See… The New Zealand First / Alliance Struggle [1] in the Headlines wire.
Sky Deal Due To Poor Performance of TV3 / Sky
– TVNZ - The Chief Executive of TVNZ, Rick Ellis says the announcement today by Sky and TV3 that they are joining
together to share rugby and a digital platform is a response to continued poor financial performance by both
broadcasters. See… Sky Deal Due To Poor Performance of TV3 / Sky [1] in the Business wire.
CLEAR Reject Telecom Internet Control Monopoly
- CLEAR Communications today rejected Telecom's 0867 Internet dial-up access numbers, saying New Zealanders should
neither be denied a choice of provider nor forced on to an inferior service. See… Clear Reject Telecom's Monopoly Internet Control [1] in the Business wire.
No Shortage Of Rimu For Furniture As Result Of Policy – Labour
- Labour has utterly rejected claims that furniture companies would not be able to access rimu as a result of Labour's
announcement to end logging of indigenous trees in Crown-managed forests. See… No shortage of rimu - Labour [1] . Meanwhile ACT continue to say that Labour's decision is another example of Labour's shift from the heartland.
See… Labour Fires Its Own Voters [2] . Both in the Parliament wire.
IRD Now Have No Choice But To Prosecute Winebox Offenders – Peters
- Winston Peters is asking the Inland Revenue Department when it will follow the lead of the collecting the hundreds of
millions of dollars in outstanding taxes now that it has accepted the High Court decision on his Wine-box appeal. See… IRD Now Have No Choice but to Prosecute Winebox [1] in the Parliament wire.
Forest And Bird Support US Grocery Chain Ban On Threatened Orange Roughy
- The Forest and Bird Protection Society today welcomed the decision of a major United States grocery chain, Wild Oats,
not to stock orange roughy due to the plummeting levels of the fish. See… Society Support US Grocery Ban On Orange Roughy [1] in the Business wire. However the New Zealand Orange Roughy Company is dismayed that Forest and Bird have issued what they say are
erroneous and misleading statements about the state of New Zealand fisheries management. See… Forest And Bird Extremist Gets It Wrong Again [2] in the Business wire. Fisheries Minister John Luxton also rejected the claims. See… New Zealand Fisheries Head And Fins Above The Rest [3] in the Parliament wire.
Alliance Concerned At IMF Report Into Kiwi Debt / Balance Of Payments
- An IMF report expressing serious concerns about New Zealand's low rate of growth, 'very high' balance of payments
deficit and overseas debt emphasises the need for a new government, Alliance leader Jim Anderton says. See… IMF concerned about NZ's economy [1] in the Parliament wire.
Nats Say Cullen Believes in Sustainability
- Associate Forestry Minister David Carter says that Labour’s Michael Cullen privately admitted to West Coast leaders
that he thought their indigenous forests could be sustainably managed. See… Cullen concedes sustainability [1] in the Parliament wire.
Airport Catering Cleaners Strike In Auckland
- Workers will be picketing outside Auckland Airport's international terminal tomorrow in protest at what they say is
the unfair treatment dished out to them by their employer, United Cleaning Services (UCS). See… Airport workers caught up in 'Wash-up' wrangle [1] in the Business wire.
Where Do You Really Live Richard? – Labour
- Richard Prebble's admission that he's finally taken up residence in Wellington poses more questions about the
embattled Act leader's fixed abode. See… Hey Richard; When, Where, How Much Did It Cost Us? [1] in the Politics wire. See more debate on this lower down this page.
Focus On Caring For The Dying – Creech
- Care for people who are dying will be the focus of a project by the Ministry of Health, the Health Funding Authority
and the National Health Committee, Health Minister Wyatt Creech said today. See… Coordinated Approach To Palliative Care [1] in the Parliament wire.
Casino Control Authority Fatally Compromised
– CEO Must Resign - Information that Casino Control Authority Members and CEO and their spouses planned overseas trips
paid for by levies on individual casino licensees shows the Authority is fatally compromised, according to Alliance MP
Phillida Bunkle. She is calling for resignations from the Authority. See… Casino Control Authority Fatally Compromised [1] in the Parliament wire. Green MP Rod Donald says Internal Affairs Minister Jack Elder deserves congratulations for stopping casino
control authority members from taking spouses on a trip to the Bahamas and Las Vegas, but he is too late. See… Well done Jack, but too late! [2] in the Parliament wire.
Hurricane Floyd Still Very Dangerous
- An emergency zone has been extended to cover much of the American North East including North and South Carolina.
Three million people have been evacuated as Hurricane Floyd begins to batter the coast, in the largest peace time
evacuation in American history. The hurricane is one of the biggest in living memory. The Bahamas have been seriously
battered and the capital is littered with debris and uprooted trees. At least one person has been killed.
Telecom Not Surprised By Negative Credit Watch Move
- Telecom said today that in light of its announced takeover offer for AAPT, it was not unexpected that Standard and
Poor's placed Telecom's long-term AA credit rating on Credit Watch with negative implications. See… Credit Rating Move No Surprise To Telecom [1] in the Business wire.
CYPFA Reports On James Whakaruru Case
- The tragic death of four-year-old James Whakaruru highlights the importance of swiftly notifying CYPFA or the police
about any suspected abuse of children, says chief social worker Mike Doolan. See… CYPFA Reports On James Whakaruru Case [1] in the General wire.
Ansett Pilots Locked Out
- One hundred and twenty five Ansett pilots have been locked out at 4am this morning after refusing to sign new
contracts. The pilots union took Ansett to the Employment Court over the legality of the lock out notices but the Court
ruled the notices were valid.
Rankin Thursday Column: The Issues Of Higher Salaries
-Why do MPs get bigger percentage pay increases than ordinary workers? Why does Christine Rankin, CEO of WINZ, get paid
$50,000, more than the Prime Minister's $200,000? And why does the Governor of the Reserve Bank (Don Brash) receive
$500,000 per annum, more than his American counterpart? See… Rankin - The Higher Salaries Debate [1] in the Headlines wire.
Challenge To Helen Clark To Commit Funds To Save Kiwi
- Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today called on Labour Leader Helen Clark to join her in pledging to save
the kiwi from extinction in the wild. See… Green Party Challenges Labour Into Saving Kiwi [1] in the Parliament wire.
DOC To Rebuild Tane Mahuta Bridge
- The Department of Conservation is confident of having the access bridge to the world famous giant Kauri Tane Mahuta
back in place in time for the start of the school holidays this weekend. See… Bridge to Tane Mahuta to be Fixed [1] in the General wire.
Politicians Still Timberlands’ Pawns – NFA
- Politicians continue to be the pawns of Timberlands' public relations manipulation by attacking Labour for its policy
announcement to end Timberlands' native forest logging on the West Coast, says Native Forest Action. See… National, Act, NZ First march to Timberlands' Drum [1] in the Politics wire.
Alliance Commit To Restoring ACC
- Accident compensation won't be improved for injured workers unless ACC is urgently restored as the single,
comprehensive public agency responsible for accident compensation, Alliance ACC spokesperson Laila Harre, says. See… Alliance commits to putting ACC back together [1] in the Parliament wire.
Who Exactly IS Mike More?
- New Zealander Mike Moore has become the Director-General of the WTO in controversial circumstances. Who is he? This
view comes from a New Zealander, Bill Rosenberg, who researches and writes on foreign investment and New Zealand's
economic relationships. See… The new WTO head, Mike Moore: a view from NZ [1] in the Headlines wire.
One Tree Hill Terminal
- The Auckland icon, One Tree Hill, has been given three years to live after it was inspected yesterday.
Hobbs' Opening Shot In Wellington Fight Misses Mark
- “Richard Prebble should get real and come clean about where he lives and who his neighbours are,” said Labour's
Manurewa Electorate campaign manager, Daniel Newman, claiming that Prebble is an Aucklander. See… Prebble's Patch Is Hundreds Of Kms From Wellington [1] in the Parliament wire. Richard Prebble however, says Marian Hobbs has her facts clearly wrong and that he can prove it. See… Labour's Dirty Tricks Brigade [2] in the Parliament wire. Phillida Bunkle’s office says that neither Prebble nor Hobbs are true Wellington residents so they should give up
arguing over who is more of a Wellingtonian. See… Prebble and Hobbs both Johnny Come Latelys [3] in the Parliament wire.
1999 CROWN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- The 1999 Crown Financial Statements show that the Crown's finances are in a strong and positive position, Treasurer
Bill English and Finance Minister Sir William Birch said in a joint press statement. See… Crown Result Still Positive After Tough Year [1] in the Parliament wire. See the statements in the Business wire.
Monsanto Apply For GE Field Trials
- Giant US agrichemical company Monsanto will apply to conduct field trials of genetically engineered wheat in New
Zealand. The wheat will be engineered to be resistant to Monsanto's herbicide Roundup. The Alliance's Phillida Bunkle is
concerned the excessive use of Roundup on these crops will leave a carcinogenic residue on the wheat. See… Cancer link in application for NZ GE wheat trial [1] in the Parliament wire. The move to grow genetically-engineered wheat in New Zealand is a backward step and could affect future trade,
Green Party Agriculture Spokesperson Ian Ewen-Street said. See… GE Wheat A Backward Step For New Zealand [2] in the Politics wire. Neil Barton, Chairman of the Grains Council of Federated Farmers, said today that an application to test wheat
genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup would be closely considered by the Grains Council and its
members. See… GE Wheat Trial To Be Closely Watched [3] in the Business wire.
$16m To Put Business Out of Business
- The Alliance wants the $16 million the government is planning to spend on a 'Buy Global' campaign to be spent on the
'Buy NZ Made' campaign instead. See… $16 million on putting businesses out of business [1] in the Parliament wire.
Clark Lacks Courage of Conviction Over Forest Policy – ACT
- ACT Deputy Leader Ken Shirley told a meeting a public meeting in Westport that if Helen Clark thinks that Labour's
forestry policy is the right thing for the West Coast she should have fronted up to the people of the West Coast to
explain it. See… Clark Doesn't Have Courage Of Her Convictions [1] in the Parliament wire.
SCOOP STILL 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.