Scoops top 20 rating stories today were…
(Note: The top two rating items today received roughly 500 hits each from a government proxy server. Scoop can only
guess as to the reasons the department concerned was so interested in these items but it seems likely we have had a
close encounter with a rogue robot. The items the robot took a very close look at were John Howard's story on Asian
Banks and this mornings weather report.)
The government is planning to push through three significant bills reforming the Kiwifruit, Apple and Pear and Dairy
boards over the next four sitting days, however the passage of the legislation is not expected to plain sailing.
In the last twelve years I have enjoyed the confidence and support of four prime ministers and seven ministers of
Internal Affairs. It is obvious from her public statements that this is not the case with Mrs Shipley. I always thought
that helping ...
As violence threatens to take still more lives in East Timor there are probably only three people capable of making any
difference in East Timor: The President of Indonesia B.J. Habibe, leader of the largest opposition party Megawati
Sukarnoputri, and ABRI ...
"I believe David Bale's resignation as Chief Executive of the Lotteries Commission is appropriate," Prime Minister
Jenny Shipley said today.
United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says bully-boy politics from Tau Henare and Mauri Pacific are the main
reason the Government has dropped plans for tax cuts legislation before the election.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Jack Elder, to whom the Lotteries Commission is responsible, has thanked David Bale
for his 12 years service as Chief Executive.
APEC Monitoring Group organiser Aziz Choudry says the current makeover of Auckland for the upcoming APEC Leaders Summit
follows in the footsteps of controversial "clean-ups" at previous Summits.
Surprise, surprise... NZ First Leader Winston Peters, said today that reports about New Zealand First being more likely
to go with Labour had been too "literal an interpretation" of comments he made on a Saturn Television programme.
The Alliance said it is the ineffective State Services commission and the government cronies on the lotteries board
that should resign not the Chief Executive of the lotteries commission.
Work and Income New Zealand has failed to meet its own targets for Maori unemployment despite paying consultants over
$200,000 for advice on improving Maori outcomes.
"National's inability to get its tax cut legislation passed before the elections makes a nonsense of their election
campaign," Labour finance spokesperson Michael Cullen said today.
Clark And Shipley On Housing - Business Confidence - Stock Exchange Tax Allegations - Unions And Balaclavas - Party
Deserters And Tax - Timberlands
Labour state services spokesperson Trevor Mallard said while Lotteries Commission chief executive David Bale had 'done
the honourable thing' in resigning, the main culprits in the lottery commission salary saga still had their jobs.
Inside APEC Series - "If people don't actively exercise their democratic right to protest then they will lose those
rights." John Minto warns APEC protesters to be wary of a police co-operation offer.
Today is probably the second to last Private Members day of this Parliament and past patterns would indicate that none
of the private members bills currently on the order paper have much life left in them.
On Tuesday August 31 at 11.30am a hex will be placed on the Auckland Town Hall, Aotea Centre and Auckland Museum. These
three buildings will host the meetings of APEC officials and leaders taking place in Auckland from 7-13 September.
Witches Against ...
In July 1999, 2,528 new dwellings were authorised for construction, including 548 apartment units.
For those few who still think this is just a protest for bleating 'scumbag smokers', Joy Faulkner has a message for
you: "Wake up!! This march is," she says," about getting big brother government off our backs and out of our lives."
Lottery Boss Quits - Labour's Reaction - Ansett Illness - Nurses Strike - Henare Disappointed - Timor Violence - Quake
Experts - Shell Defence - Cromwell Deaths - Suppression - Attempted Abduction - Air NZ Rat
ACT Deputy Leader Hon Ken Shirley said from East Timor today that the ACT team in Tauranga was considering whether he
should withdraw as a constituency MP for Tauranga and just go for the list vote .