Today's Scoops from East Timor and across New Zealand...
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TUROA AGAIN - AN ICE WATERFALL - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9910/e0cc3110aae0edb04d58.jpeg - photo Alastair
Thompson.
EAST TIMOR SCOOPS
Shipley Arrives In Darwin Today - Will Troops Get Pay Rise?
- Prime Minister Jenny Shipley will arrive in Darwin early this morning to farewell Kiwi troops before they head to
Dili. Troops there are hoping she will be bringing them a Christmas present of a pay rise to help close the gap between
allowances and wages for Kiwi troops compared with Australian troops. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister has said an
announcement on that issue is expected soon.
Wages For Kiwi Troops To Be Considered This Week
- A final paper on allowances for troops in East Timor will be considered by Cabinet next Monday, Minister of Defence
Max Bradford said. See… Cabinet to Decide On East Timor Allowances [1] in the Parliament wire.
Kofi Annan Recommends Large UN Presence in Timor
- The Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, in an 18 page report, has urged UN member countries to provide security
forces, experts and civil servants to help rebuild East Timor. But, it won't be easy. John Howard reports. See… Kofi Annan Recommends Large UN Presence In Timor [1] in the Headlines wire.
TODAY'S OTHER SCOOPS
The Students Are Revolting
- Scoop's Matthew Thomas reports on the occupation of the registry building at Canterbury University in opposition to
proposed $1800 a year increases in fees. See... Registry occupation continues at Canterbury Uni [1] in the Headlines wire. A decision on the fee setting is due at 3pm. Today about 50 students from Victoria University have occupied their
registry building. Wellington's Victoria University Registry has also been occupied.
Scoop Images: Labour and The West Coast
- The West Coast and Timberlands are continuing to cause problems for Labour see... Scoop Photo Feature: Coast Action Network protest [1] and Labour And The West Coast - A Coast Perspective [2] both in the Headlines wire.
Oil Companies Guilty of Price Fixing
- Caltex, Mobil and Shell have all been found guilty of price-fixing in the Auckland High Court today. The companies
had all denied the charges which related to them withdrawing a free car wash offer at the same time as each other.
Penalties are yet to be imposed but each company faces a maximum of a $5 million fine.
Ngati Turangitukua Settlement Bill Passed
- The Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Sir Douglas Graham, has welcomed the passage through
Parliament of the Ngati Turangitukua Claims Settlement Bill. See… Turangitukua Bill passed by Parliament [1] in the Parliament wire.
Scoop Parliamentary Roundup For 96 - 99 Term
- A roundup of the programme for the final days of this Parliamentary session - list and timing of valedictories and
FULL TEXT of URGENCY MOTION. See… Scoop House: House Of 1996-99, Final Days [1] in the Headlines wire.
Labour Support Ending West Coast Logging On Private Land As Well
- Labour conservation spokesperson Jill Pettis has welcomed the launch of a new petition to save West Coast native
forests on Crown land. See… Labour supports forests petition [1] in the Parliament wire.
Tau’s Window Dressing Won’t Work - Samuels
- Labour Maori affairs spokesperson Dover Samuels today condemned Maori Affairs Minister Tau Henare's proposal for all
public servants to learn Maori language as being unworkable. See… Tau's cultural window dressing [1] in the Parliament wire.
Death Toll Rises After London Train Smash
- Two high speed trains collided outside Paddington Station during rush hour yesterday New Zealand Time. At least 26
people are dead and at least 170 injured. The death toll is being reassessed every hour and as there is still one
carriage yet to be searched the death toll is expected to top 35. There is no confirmation on whether any Kiwis were on
board.
Tongan Fullback Suspended - Three So Far
- Tongan fullback Siua Taumalolo has been suspended for 21 days for a number of high tackles in Tongas match against
the All Blacks last weekend. He is likely to be out for the remainder of Tongas World Cup matches. Argentine prop
Roberto Grau has also been suspended for 21 days and Welsh flanker Colin Charvis has been suspended for 14 days
following a brawl between their sides during the weekend.
Bradford Speech To Massey University Campus
- Greeted by 200 angry students Tertiary Education Minister Max Bradford has delivered a speech on how he sees tertiary
education in the middle of fee-setting. See… Bradford Speech: Massey University , Albany Campus [1] in the Parliament wire.
Alliance Support Protesting Students As Fee-Setting Looms
- The Alliance is appalled that Canterbury University may have to increase fees by $1000 and say they are the only
political party with a realistic plan to do something about it. See… Alliance Supports Canterbury Students [1] in the Parliament wire.
Election Crucial For Tertiary Education Clark
- Labour Leader Helen Clark told Victoria University students today that this year’s election presented a chance for
students to vote for a Labour government to rebuild tertiary education. See… Clark: election crucial for tertiary education [1] in the Parliament wire.
Show Us Ya Document - NZ First
- New Zealand First has called on Labour and the Alliance to release their coalition agreement before the election, so
voters can see their joint policies. See… "Come Clean Labour And Alliance" [1] in the Parliament wire.
Maori Get Access To Landlocked Land - Henare
- Maori locked out of their land will get fairer opportunity to access it under proposed changes to Maori land laws
referred to select committee Maori Affairs Minister, Tau Henare, said today. See… Maori to get access to landlocked land [1] in the Parliament wire.
Employers Fed Lash Out At Union Ad
- A union advert suggesting that employers sack their workers rather than let a parent care for their sick kids, is
self-serving employer bashing, Employers’ Federation CEO said today. See… Union Advertisements "Employer Bashing" [1] in the Business wire.
Background On New Compulsory Care Legislation
- Backgrounder from Ministry Of Health on new legislation for Compulsory Care. See… New legislation for Compulsory Care introduced [1] in the General wire.
Christian Heritage Launch Abortion Campaign In Auckland
- In a controversial move, Graham Capill, the leader of the Christian Heritage Party, has shot another broadside across
the bow of the Family Planning Association with the unveiling of a large billboard showing a 12 week old foetus in
down-town Auckland. See… Pictures Family Planning Didn’t Want Women To See [1] in the Politics wire.
ACT Launch Rural Tour
- The ACT Party is launching a Heartland Tour. See… ACT Leader farewells rural MPs on Heartland Tour [1] in the Parliament wire.
Postal Referenda Makes Life Easier - Ryall
- The Referenda (Postal Voting) Bill, introduced into the House today, will make it easier for New Zealanders to have
their say. It will also save time and taxpayers’ money," Justice Minister, Tony Ryall, has said. See… Referenda Cheaper, Faster And More Convenient [1] in the Parliament wire.
Chritian Heritage To Appeal R18 Certificate For Lolita
- Christian Heritage intends to file an appeal against a decision of the Film and Literature Board to essentially
uphold the R18 certificate given to Lolita by the Classification Office. A proforma appeal was filed in the High Court
in Wellington today. See… Legal Appeal Is The Only Appeal Lolita Should Get [1] in the Politics wire.
$500,000 For Workplace Safety Initiatives Announced
- Fourteen projects will receive a slice of the new $500,000 Worksafe Fund to improve health and safety in the
workplace, Enterprise and Commerce Max Bradford announced. See… $500,000 For Health And Safety Initiatives [1] in the Business wire.
Seafood Industry Set For Record Breaking Profits
- The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council is pleased to announce that seafood exports are on track to earn more than
$1.3 billion this year. See… Seafood Exports On Track For Record Breaking Year [1] in the Business wire.
Vodafone Doubles Customer Base in One Year
- The Vodafone mobile phone network in New Zealand has recently celebrated signing its 290,000th customer. See… Vodafone Doubles Customer Base In Less Than A Year [1] in the Business wire.
Monsanto Back Down On Terminator Seeds
- Associate Minister of Health, Tuariki Delamere, said he was delighted at the news that the US company Monsanto will
not now commercialise the 'terminator' gene technology that sterilises seeds. See… Delamere delighted terminator seeds 'terminated' [1] in the Parliament wire. Also see… Monsanto back down on terminator a great victory [2] .
Upton On-Line
- Cabinet Minister Simon Upton today dispensed with the industrial age reliance on broadsheets and the wireless with
the launch of his daily Internet column, upton-on-line. See… Upton-On-Line Launched - First Article On MMP [1] in the Parliament wire.
Clark Arrogant Over Referendum - Creech
- "If the overwhelming majority of citizens vote for a particular course of action it is arrogant to ignore it," Deputy
Prime Minister Wyatt Creech said today in condemning Helen Clark's statement that she would not act on a referendum to
reduce the number of MPs. See… Labour Leader Turns Back On Voters [1] in the Parliament wire.
Nurses To Begin Prescribing
- Health Minister Wyatt Creech says the way has been cleared for people to get easier access to the medicines they need
with new legislation allowing nurses to prescribe. See… Nurse Prescribing Means Better Access To Health [1] in the Parliament wire. However the Medicines Amendment Bill which was passed by Parliament extending prescribing rights initially to
nurses and potentially to other health sector groups in future could jeopardise patient safety, says the Royal NZ
College of General Practitioners. See… Medicines Bill a "threat to patient safety" [2] in the General wire.
NZ First Stymie Nuclear Disarmament Resolution - Dunne
- An attempt by United New Zealand to have Parliament adopt a strong resolution committing New Zealand to promote
nuclear disarmament in all aspects was blocked in Parliament by New Zealand First says Party Leader Peter Dunne. See… NZ First Stymie Nuclear Weapons Abolition Motion [1] in the Parliament wire.