[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00057.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00055.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00053.htm

PM Wont Go To Waitangi Marae, She'll Go To Akaroa

- Prime Minister Helen Clark has said she will not attend the Waitangi Marae on Waitangi Day because of an "underlying mood of tension and uneasiness" when she attended previously and "downright unpleasantness" in 1998. Instead she will attend Ngai Tahu Celebrations in Akaroa. See... PM Wont Go To Waitangi Marae She'll Go To Akaroa [1] in the Parliament wire. Also see Dover Samuels supports the Prime Minister's plans [2] and Scoop's Alastair Thompson column - Scoop Opinion: Titewhai Harawira Educates A Nation [3] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00066.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00069.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00045.htm

Broadcasting Programme

- A programme of action which would make public broadcasting better reflect New Zealand culture is contained in briefing papers released today by the Minister of Broadcasting, Marian Hobbs. See... Public Broadcasting In Spotlight [1] in the Parliament wire. Also see... Hobbs Supports Free-to-air Sport [2] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00062.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00049.htm

New Wild West Lobby

- Another rural lobby group has been formed on the West Coast to fight the government's policy to stop beech tree logging. John Howard reports. See... Government Neglect Killing West Coast - New Group [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00060.htm

Gore In Hot Oil

- One of America's most supportive environmentalists, United States Vice-President Al Gore, is being accused of hypocrisy by conservationists following discoveries that he owns shares in an oil company prospecting in a Columbian rainforest. John Howard reports..See... Al Gore The Prospector? [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00059.htm

Brash-onomics

- Yesterday we were subject to the embarrassing experience of the Reserve Bank tightening monetary policy just two hours before the public announcement of a December quarter inflation rate of just 0.2 percent...See... Keith Rankin Column - Don Brash has no Plan B [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00058.htm

Son To Give Evidence Against Father In Apia Murder

- The man convicted of the murder of a Samoan Cabinet Minister last year, Alatise Vitale, will testify that he was asked by his father Leafa Vitale, then the Minister of Women's Affairs, to kill Public Works minister Luagalau Levaula Kamu in June last year, Pacnews reports. See... APIA:Murdered Samoan Cabinet Minister Trial Starts [1] in the Headlines wire. See also... Samoan Murder Trial Will Not Be Televised [2] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00052.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0001/S00045.htm

Drug Smuggling Billionaire -

The appeal challenging the name suppression of the drug importing billionaire caught bringing in cannabis into Auckland airport has been further delayed following more proceedings today.

MORE SCOOPS

Greens Hit Out at Dairy Board

- A Dairy Board decision to market organic butter produced in Austria under the Anchor brand is a blow to local organic dairy farmers, Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said today. See... Dairy Board Fails Local Farmers [1] in the Parliament wire. Also see.. Dairy Board Tests Waters On Organics [2] in the Buniness wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00065.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0001/S00033.htm

Hemp a Smoking Hot Issue

- Green co-leader Rod Donald today welcomed the Customs Minister Phillida Bunkle's call for the Minister of Health to establish a working party on industrial hemp. See... Greens Welcome Industrial Hemp Initiative [1] in the Parliament wire. Below is a message forwarded from Mac MacIntosh, Chairman of the NZ Hemp Industries Association, that includes a letter from the Minister of Customs advising that a working party will be convened to look into getting a New Zealand hemp industry off the ground. See... Advisory: Hemp Working Party To Be Re-Established [2] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00063.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0001/S00036.htm

NZ Peace Movement Speaks Out On Star Wars In The Pacific

- International arms control treaties are under threat, as the United States tests anti-ballistic missiles at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. See... Kwajalein Missile Tests Endanger Arms Control [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0001/S00056.htm

Hui For Victims Of Smear Cancer Scandal

- A HUI to give women a further opportunity to discuss issues and procedures related to the Cervical Screening Inquiry set up following the misreading of smears in Gisborne is to be held in Tokomaru Bay next week. See... Hui for women affected by the misread smears [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0001/S00055.htm

Marine Management Reforms Imminent?

- The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s Report on the Management of New Zealand’s Marine Environment is very much in line with current Government policy, says Fisheries Minister, Hon Pete Hodgson. .See... Fisheries Minister Supports Environment Taskforce [1] in the Parliament wire. An alliance of 70 Environmental Organisations also welcomes the study. See... Groups Welcome Marine Management Reform [2] in the Politics wire. Also see a release from the commissioner. Major Re-crafting Of Marine Policies And Systems [3] in the Politics wire

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00068.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0001/S00020.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0001/S00019.htm

New Fair Trade Precedents

- New court rulings have set important precedents those working under the Fair Trading Act; Partners can be criminally liable for each other’s actions; silence can mislead says the Commerce Commission. See... Important Fair Trading Act Precedents [1] in the Businesse wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00064.htm

New Training Legislation

- Prime Minister Helen Clark said today that the new government is working on new legislation on apprenticeships. See... Training And Skill Levels a Priority - PM [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00067.htm

Lombok Riots

- Continuing riots by protesting Muslims in the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok has lead the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to issue a statement asking tourist to consider postphoning their travel to this area. Following is the Department’s advisory for the region. See... Travel Advisory: Indonesia [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0001/S00048.htm

Accomodation Rates Soar

- The number of nights spent by guests in commercial accommodation was 11 per cent higher in November 1999 than in November 1998 according to Statistics New Zealand's latest Accommodation Survey results. See... Strong Demand for Accommodation - NOV 1999 Survey [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0001/S00039.htm

Oops Sorry!

- The Qualifications Authority today clarified the number of examination result notices that have been replaced after it was reported that a glitch in the system meant School Certificate pupils recieved their results on Busury Certificates. See... Few Exam Results Replaced [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0001/S00054.htm

Sea Snake Privacy Defended

- The Department of Conservation is warning members of the public to leave any sea snakes they might find washed up on the region's beaches alone, following a recent discovery of one in the Far North. See... Public Asked to Leave Sea Snakes Alone [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0001/S00053.htm

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

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