Top Scoop Stories October 23rd 2009

Friday, 23 October 2009, 2:20 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

LEAD STORY

------------

Education Policy: Key Launches National Standards
Prime Minister John Key will today fulfil a major election promise with the launch of National Standards in reading, writing, and maths for primary and intermediate schools.“We have a strong mandate from parents and we are delivering for them,” says Mr Key, who will launch the standards with Education Minister Anne Tolley at Glen Taylor School in Auckland today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00352.htm

ALSO:

Ministry continues work on National Standards [2]

National Standards Need Close Scrutiny [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0910/S00108.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0910/S00105.htm [3]

------------

NZ POLITICS

------------

ALSO:

The Week In Parliament 23.10.09 [2]

Questions and Answers - 22 Oct 2009 [3]

Today In Parliament 22.10.09 [4]

Questions and Answers - 21 Oct 2009 [5]

Today In Parliament 21.10.09 [6]

Questions and Answers - 20 Oct 2009 [7]

Today In Parliament 20.10.09 [8]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00209.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00354.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00205.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00317.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00194.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00285.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00186.htm [8]

350 Parts Per Million:International Day Of Climate Action Saturday
Kiwis are coming out in force to celebrate human resilience and creativity on the 350 International Day of Climate Action this Saturday. Over 130 actions in New Zealand have been officially registered for the 350 International Day of Action on October 24, almost twice that of a week ago. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0910/S00339.htm

ALSO:

Pacific response to climate change Oct 24 [2]

Green Party Displays 350 Banner In Parliament [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00273.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00193.htm [3]

Administration: Labour vs Hayes On Pacific
"To have Government MP John Hayes, Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, with responsibilities for new foreign relations issues, essentially condemning the political leadership and democracy of the Cooks, Tokelau and Niue, sends a very bad message..." More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00363.htm

ALSO:

Hayes: Beyond an ‘Independent’ Foreign Policy [2]

Support for people with disability in the Pacific [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00288.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00364.htm [3]

ACT Support: Competition For ACC Work Account
The government today tabled the ACC Reform Bill in Parliament and will introduce it for its first reading next week, ACC Minister Nick Smith says. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00334.htm

ALSO:

ACC choice to cut costs for all New Zealanders [2]

Key breaks ACC election promise [3]

Kiwis will pay more and get less under ACC Bill [4]

Maori Party calls for feedback on ACC changes [5]

Nick Smith fails to tick the boxes on ACC [6]

Agreement moves ACC along right track [7]

ACC Changes Will Harm Women [8]

Ability to choose good for ACC [9]

ACC privatisation could cost workers $200m/year [10]

Govt recycling failed privatisation of ACC [11]

ACC threatened by National’s privatisation agenda [12]

Claims Mediator Should Be Part of ACC Revamp [13]

ACC Levy Rises, Cover Cuts [14]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00336.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00356.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00340.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00345.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0910/S00318.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0910/S00607.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0910/S00329.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00344.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0910/S00336.htm [10]

[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0910/S00346.htm [11]

[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0910/S00351.htm [12]

[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0910/S00638.htm [13]

[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00138.htm [14]

Gordon Campbell: Education Minister Pulls Resources From Front Line
Remember National’s election promise to return New Zealand to the top half of the OECD tables?
In government, its moves in education seem motivated more by a desire to return New Zealand to the golden age of Victorianism… More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/10/22/campbell-tolley%E2%80%99s-19th-century-education-approach/

ALSO:

No Education Pay Trade Off [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0910/S00323.htm [2]

Self-Appointments: What Do You Call A List MP?
List members of Parliament have approved a register on how they wish to be described for publicity purposes. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00328.htm

This Always Ends Well: Shake-Up For The Health Sector
Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced a major drive for better value for money in health. He intends to free up resources for more and better front line services. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00301.htm

ALSO:

How will patients benefit from health restructuring? [2]

Ryall must be up front about health job cuts [3]

Health changes a mixed bag [4]

NZMA Welcomes Health System Changes [5]

PSA concerned about impact of health job cuts [6]

Health Minister Listens to Submissions [7]

Chuffed: Government Has Listened to Concerns [8]

Govt Proposal OK in Principle But Devil in Detail [9]

Health management changes welcomed by HFANZ [10]

95bFM Audio: Tony Ryall On Health Centralisation [11]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00309.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00312.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00302.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0910/S00091.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0910/S00092.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0910/S00094.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0910/S00095.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0910/S00096.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0910/S00097.htm [10]

[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00204.htm [11]

Delegations: What Does A Speaker Wear Under His Kilt?
The Hon Dr Lockwood Smith, being presented with a kilt in the tartan of the Scottish National Parliament. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00313.htm

------------

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

------------

Copenhagen: Map Shows Impacts If We Fail To Limit Climate Change
A new map illustrating the global consequences of failing to keep climate change to under 2 degrees Celsius was launched today by the UK Government. With just 45 days to go before international climate change talks begin in Copenhagen, British ministers are pressing for the most ambitious deal possible in order to avoid these dangerous impacts. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0910/S00058.htm

Legacies: Global Launch Of myheartwill.com
Imagine being able to create your own emotional legacy capturing the essence of who you are. Imagine being able to send dedicated messages to your loved ones to mark future events and occasions when you may not be there. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0910/S00400.htm

ALSO:

New Zealand Doodle 4 Google top 20 announced [2]

Google invites Kiwi kids to doodle vision of NZ [3]

Doodle 4 Google New Zealand [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0910/S00366.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0907/S00108.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.google.com/intl/en_nz/doodle4google/index.html" target="_blank [4]

No Taste For Accounting: Commercial Confidentiality No Shield Under IFRS - Diplock
New Zealand companies’ compliance with new international accounting rules is “very patchy” as boards struggle with a “cultural” aversion to disclosure... More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/10/21/commercial-confidentiality-no-shield-under-ifrs/

Popularity Contests: Kākāpō Knows Who Real Bird Of The Year Is
Proving size isn’t everything, the critically endangered kākāpō population has shown their combined pulling power can draw people in from all over the world, after a Youtube video featuring the now famous Sirocco the kākāpō received more than million hits this weekend. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0910/S00325.htm

ALSO:

750 kiwi for Rainbow Springs’ Kiwi Encounter [2]

TV Sales: sex-starved parrot flies home [3]

Sirocco the kākāpō an online phenomenon [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0910/S00291.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0910/S00596.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0910/S00018.htm [4]

Scoop Business: Notice Of Meeting
Your trusty Wellington correspondent turned up to the Solid Energy “annual general meeting” in the Ilott Theatre at the Wellington Town Hall this week, keen to sample an SOE’s version of a listed company AGM. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/10/16/smellie-sniffs-the-breeze-notice-of-meeting/

ALSO:

BeST Bronzes for Whanganui UCOL designers [2]

Design win-win at BEST awards [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0910/S00080.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0910/S00087.htm [3]

------------

COMMENT

------------

Alberto Cruz:The UN Reforms - “Responsibility To Protect” (R2P)
The Nobel Prize awarded to the United States President is a sarcastic joke ; they say he received it for his work in favour of a New World Order and for his “move towards multilateralism”. But if anyone has worked hard for that New World Order... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00201.htm

Gordon Campbell: Anne Tolley’s 19th Century Approach To Education
Remember National’s election promise to return New Zealand to the top half of the OECD tables? In government, its moves in education seem motivated more by a desire to return New Zealand to the golden age of Victorianism – when the three “R”s and a stern... More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/10/22/campbell-tolley%E2%80%99s-19th-century-education-approach/

Martha Rosenberg: Think Disease Mongering Started with Direct-to-Consumer Ads? Think Again
The photo looks like John Travolta or Divine playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. Under the bangs of a Dynel doll wig a ''floozy'' with nasolabial folds, male facial features and leathery skin mugs for the camera--coquettish hair bow, mod sunglasses... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00200.htm

Jason Leopold: Torture Diaries Should Be Given To Defense Counsel
Guantanamo detainee Abu Zubaydah is expected to finally gain access to diaries he wrote during the years while he was being tortured by CIA interrogators. A federal court judge has ordered the government to turn over unredacted volumes of the diaries... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00202.htm

A Censored Headline and why it Matters: German High Court Outlaws Electronic Voting
(Oct 20-- DailyCensored.Com ) The justices above are clearly the most rational group of high level functionaries in the industrialized world. They did what no other court would do in Europe or the United States. They effectively outlawed electronic voting... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00187.htm

Syria’s Golan Heights: Can International law forestall a Golanian intifada?
Nationals from nearly one-third of the 192 member states of the United Nations met in Damascus last week to discuss the Return/Liberation of the Golan Heights. An estimated 5000 researchers, Lawyers, politicians, activists, victims of Israel’s 42 years ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00190.htm

Richard S Ehrlich: U.S. Appeals to Extradite Russia's Alleged "Merchant of Death"
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Newly obtained documents, prepared by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), portray an elaborate sting operation to capture alleged weapons trafficker Viktor Bout in Bangkok, and America's current appeal to extradite him ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0910/S00177.htm

------------

LIFESTYLE

------------

Wellington Tsunami Fundraiser Monday: Still Has Scribe And Savage
A fantastic line-up of performers will come together in Wellington on Monday night to raise money for the tsunami recovery effort in Samoa. Scribe, Savage, The Yandall Sisters and the Laughing Samoans are just some of the musicians who will take to the stage at the Michael Fowler Centre for the I love the Islands concert. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0910/S00392.htm

Historical Adventure: 'Tracker' Starts Shooting In Auckland
Shooting starts next week on TRACKER, a manhunt thriller starring Ray Winstone and Temuera Morrison in Auckland, New Zealand. In mid-November, the shoot moves to spectacular scenic and mountain locations near the South Island resort Queenstown until completion of principal photography in early December. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0910/S00404.htm

ALSO:

Horomia pays tribute to te reo icon [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00291.htm [2]

Charity: Naked Samoans For One-Show-Only Samoa Benefit
Critically acclaimed theatre troupe, The Naked Samoans are coming out of retirement for a special one-off performance of their ‘Go Home’ show to raise money for those affected by the recent tsunami in Samoa. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0910/S00336.htm

------------

WORLD

------------

Hillary Clinton: Pathways To Prosperity Women Entrepreneurs
SECRETARY CLINTON: (In progress.) – this conference for women entrepreneurs, to bring you all together and not only to have you meet one another, but also to meet people here in the State Department, because we want to promote more social inclusion, ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00311.htm

Democracy: Burma: Release Political Prisoners Before Election
An independent United Nations expert has called on Myanmar’s Government to release all political prisoners before the national elections planned for 2010 so that the polls can be as inclusive as possible. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00307.htm

World News: Climate Change Could Stem Global Tourism
Rising sea levels could inundate coastal holiday spots while melting snow caps could spell an end to ski resorts, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has warned, as climate change threatens tourism, a lucrative industry for the world’s ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00290.htm

Governance: Democracy Vital In Spurring Development
Democratic governance both reinforces and is bolstered by development and human rights, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored in a message to a high-level event drawing thousands of representatives of both governments and non-governmental organizations. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00301.htm

Atomic Energy Agency: Draft Deal On Iran’s Nuclear Fuel
Nearly three days of talks supported by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrapped up today with a draft agreement on how to provide Iran with fuel for a civilian nuclear research facility. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00285.htm

Non-Political Crime: Central America Most Crime-Ridden Region In World
Central America has become the region with the highest levels of non-political crime worldwide, with an average murder rate of 33 per 100,000 inhabitants last year, three times greater than the global average, a new United Nations report warns, noting ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00283.htm

INTERPOL: Calling For More Female Police
A senior United Nations official today welcomed a recent landmark agreement with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to strengthen police units in peacekeeping missions around the world, and called on Member States to contribute ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00265.htm

ENDS

Scoop

Scoop Independent News

Scoop is NZ's largest independent news source; respected widely in media, political, business and academic circles for being the place on the internet for publishing "what was really said", and for the quality of its analysis of issues.

Contact Scoop

Editorial - editor@scoop.co.nz
Twitter - @ScoopNZ
Facebook
YouTube
Services - services@scoop.co.nz
Phone - 04 910 1844

Top Scoops Headlines

Top Scoop Stories October 23rd 2009