Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics (Merry Xmas)

Friday, 20 December 2002, 5:00 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

CHRISTMAS NOTICE: Scoop is going into semi-hibernation over the next three weeks. We will continue to update the site and publish thought provoking material. And of course, we will in particular be keeping an eye on the approaching war clouds. However the Scoop Today service will be less comprehensive than usual as we take some time out at the beach.

We wish all our readers and particularly our subscribers a very merry festive season, and trust that you will all be back at Scoop in the New Year to find out what is really going on in our wired world.

Finally, Scoop also thanks our contributors and the innumerable authors of speeches and press releases, and particularly the staff and MPs from all political parties, that populate our pages.

- for the Scoop Team.
Alastair Thompson, Scoop Editor

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

Breakthrough: David Bain’s Case Referred to Appeal Court
Howard’s End: ACC Faces First Damages Law Suit
Donna Awatere Huata Responds To DomPost’s Scoop
Dak Complaint Highlights Law-change Needed
Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, Its Off To Armageddon We Go
UQ Wire: Introducing, Dubya’s New Puppet
Scoop Graphic: Iraq Casualty Count Comparisons
New Era For Local Govt In NZ
Auckland Mental Health Plan Accepted
Lord Of The Rings Street Party II – The Sequel
Countdown To War: When The Guardians Of Freedom Forget Their Job
Countdown To War: The Economic Front
Countdown To War: Iraq’s Chemical Weapons Vendors Revealed
Daily Katya Rivas

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Graham Kelly Off To Ottawa
National Slags Off Maori TV
DEFU No Reason To Boast
Don’t Forget The Children This Christmas
Skill Shortage a Worry
Give Us Tax Cuts: United
Swain Saving Rail
Prebble: Workers Need Tax Cuts
WTO Good for Agriculture: Sutton
Needle and Syringe Programme Saves Mainliners’ Lives
Nats Stir PM-TV3 Pot
Govt Buries Seed Review
Elmar Will Be Missed
ACT Says Liberties OK, Treaty No
But Wait… Was There Applause?
Telco Loop Unbundling
Muriel’s Wrong
Dunne Laughs At English
Dunne Growls At Peters
Peace Movement What’s On and Where
Maxim Details Its Real Issues
Cosy Down For Christmas
Baldock urges Cullen to boost road spending
Select Committee Business

Breakthrough: David Bain’s Case Referred to Appeal Court

- The Governor General has referred David Bain’s convictions for the murders of his family in 1994 for a full reconsideration by the Court of Appeal, Justice Minister Phil Goff announced today. See... Bain case referred to Court of Appeal [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00525.htm

Howard’s End: ACC Faces First Damages Law Suit

- Scoop can reveal that the first of what looks set to become a raft of claims against ACC and current and former case managers is to be lodged in the High Court shortly claiming $300,000 in exemplary damages, $300,000 in general damages for distress, damages for money lost in following case managers instructions, interest and costs. Maree Howard writes. See... Raft Of ACC Claims Beaches At High Court [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00122.htm

Donna Awatere Huata Responds To DomPost’s Scoop

- This morning the Dominion Post newspaper has run a front page story making serious allegations against Donna Awatere Huata MP stating that public money that was paid to assist New Zealand school children with reading difficulties has been misused. See... Response to Allegations Against Huata MP [1] and at Stuff.co.nz…MP under fire over tax money [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00537.htm
[2] - http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2144443a11,00.html

Dak Complaint Highlights Law-change Needed

- The decision by police to dismiss a formal complaint against MP Nandor Tanczos has made the Green Party even more determined to push for sensible cannabis law reform, Co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald said today. See... Cannabis complaint highlights need for law change [1] ALSO: - NZ First - Pot Using MP Lacks Courage Of Convictions [2] - Greens - What they USED to say about cannabis law reform [3] - NORML - Cannabis Cafes Best Answer To 'Speed' Problem [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00511.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00519.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00516.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00185.htm

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, Its Off To Armageddon We Go

- If Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Son of God, then Christmas television is proof that the Apocalypse is nigh. See... Tube Talk: ‘Tis the Season to be Brain Dead’ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00128.htm

UQ Wire: Introducing, Dubya’s New Puppet

- George W. Bush has tapped Thomas Kean to chair the independent investigation into the attacks of September 11th. This nomination comes in the wake of the choice of Henry Kissinger for that post, and his sudden departure. See... Bush Nominates Himself to Chair 9/11 Investigation [1] MORE: - Barbara O'Brien UQ Wire: Tom Kean Is Not A Household Name [2] - White House - Thomas Kean to Chair 911 Commission [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00125.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00118.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0212/S00106.htm

Scoop Graphic: Iraq Casualty Count Comparisons

– If Wellington was the venue for the War on Terror, would anyone survive? See... Scoop Graphic: It Makes You Think! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00121.htm

New Era For Local Govt In NZ

- Local Government Minister Chris Carter welcomed the start of a fresh era for New Zealand's city, district and regional councils today after Parliament passed the new Local Government Bill. See... New era for local government in New Zealand [1] ALSO: - United Future - The Passage Of The Local Government Act, 2002 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00535.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00530.htm

Auckland Mental Health Plan Accepted

- Health Minister Annette King says the Mental Health Commission’s review of Auckland mental health services is a “call to action”. See... Auckland Mental Health Services Plan Accepted [1] ALSO: - PSA - PSA Auckland mental health workers challenge injunction today. [2] - Nats - No new money in health funding announcement on PBF [3] - Nats - Govt and United against improvements for disabled [4] - ACT - Population Funding A Fraud [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00507.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00178.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00500.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00498.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00505.htm

Lord Of The Rings Street Party II – The Sequel

- Scoop takes you virtually to yesterday’s street party in Wellington’s Courtenay Place for the Australasian Premiere of ”Lord of The Rings – The Two Towers” . Photos by Daniel du Plessis. See... Scoop Images: LOTR Street Party 2002 – Panorama [1] , Scoop Images: LOTR Street Party 2002 – Crowd Shots [2] and Image & Link: Webcam LOTR Two Towers Premiere [3] (For coverage of LOTR Street Party I see… Guy’s World: Premiere Night In Middle Earth from the Scoop Archive.)

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00112.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00111.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00109.htm

Countdown To War: When The Guardians Of Freedom Forget Their Job

- As the world becomes an increasingly more dangerous place with divisions being drawn along cultural, ethnic and religious lines, the role of journalism becomes crucial. See... F. Al-Atraqchi: Mourning the Loss of Objectivity [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00124.htm

Countdown To War: The Economic Front

- Today's UN developments regarding Iraq's statement on weapons of mass destruction have served to increase the stakes over U.S. plans to occupy that country. The Empire's feet of clay are rooted in monumental budget deficits, trade deficits, fraudulent financial markets, cheap oil and rigged gold prices. It is on these fronts that the battle for Iraq is now being fought. See... UQ Wire: U.S. Balks At Iraqi Invasion [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00127.htm

Countdown To War: Iraq’s Chemical Weapons Vendors Revealed

- Hewlett Packard, Dupont, Honeywell and other major U.S. corporations, as well as governmental agencies including the Department of Defense and the nation’s nuclear labs, all illegally helped Iraq to build its biological, chemical and nuclear weapons programs. See... The Companies That Armed Iraq With WMDs [1] . See also... Edited version of Iraq's weapons declaration [2] See also COUNTDOWN TO WAR FEATURE PAGE [3] And... Terror Arrives Downunder - FULL COVERAGE [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00126.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0212/S00103.htm
[3] - http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=countdowniraq
[4] - http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=balibomb

Daily Katya Rivas

- My Reign is much closer than what you all can imagine. But before that, men are going to destroy each other because of that unlimited ambition for power, riches, and dominion. Man has forgotten My Law and marches in an unbridled race towards his imminent ruin. See... Katya Rivas: Love and Justice [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00123.htm

Graham Kelly Off To Ottawa

- Graham Kelly will be New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Canada, Foreign Minister Phil Goff announced today. See... New High Commissioner to Canada - Graham Kelly [1] How To Nurture A Killer - Jules Mikus, Bruce Howse, William Bell. Three killers who - in a year defined by rising crime and a fading blue line - stand out for their unmistakable evil. See... Newman: How Social Welfare Nurtured A Killer Trio [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00524.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00523.htm

National Slags Off Maori TV

- "Commentators have hit the spot in dubbing Maori Television 'Taniwha television' because few people believe in it and we're never likely to see it," according to the National Party's Broadcasting spokeswoman. See... Mythical Maori Television set to become Taniwha TV [1] GDP figures support Defu growth track - “The GDP figures for the September quarter support the growth track in the December Economic and Fiscal Update,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. See... GDP figures support Defu growth track - Cullen [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00522.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00521.htm

DEFU No Reason To Boast

- The healthy state of the Government's Accounts as announced in the December Economic and Fiscal Update is no reason for the Government to be giving itself a congratulatory pat on the back. See... DEFU - No reason for the Government to Crow [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00184.htm

Don’t Forget The Children This Christmas

- Hundreds of at risk Christchurch children and their families look likely to lose an essential lifeline in the next day or so because of a lack of funding. See... Children left out in the cold, days before Christmas. [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00181.htm

Skill Shortage a Worry

- Don't use minimum wages as a substitute for growing the skill base of young New Zealanders, says Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Vice President Charlie Pedersen. See... FFNZ: Government Must Focus on Skill Shortage [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00183.htm

Give Us Tax Cuts: United

- United Future finance spokesperson Gordon Copeland has today called on the Government to reduce taxes across the board given the pattern of rising surpluses revealed in the Budget Policy Statement. See... United Future calls for tax reductions now [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00517.htm

Swain Saving Rail

- Minister of Transport Paul Swain celebrated the arrival of Auckland’s first renovated train at the Auckland Railway Station this morning. See... Arrival of Auckland’s first renovated train [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00510.htm

Prebble: Workers Need Tax Cuts

- “New Zealand can afford a tax cut for every worker and a cut in the company tax rate to below Australia’s rate right now,” said ACT Leader Richard Prebble. See... Time for a Tax Cut for the Workers [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00506.htm

WTO Good for Agriculture: Sutton

- World Trade Organisation agriculture negotiations chairman Stuart Harbinson's overview paper on progress in the negotiations is a good base document, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. See... WTO paper provides good basis for ag negotiations [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00503.htm

Needle and Syringe Programme Saves Mainliners’ Lives

- New Zealand’s needle and syringe exchange programme saves lives and $35 million in treatment costs and is limiting problems associated with drug use, says Associate Minister of Health Jim Anderton. See... Needle and syringe exchange programme saves lives [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00514.htm

Nats Stir PM-TV3 Pot

- The National Party’s raising fresh questions about the Prime Minister’s legal row with TV3 over the now famous ‘Corngate’ interview. See... The BSA, the PM and TV 3 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00499.htm

Govt Buries Seed Review

- The Government appears to have deliberately delayed releasing an independent review of the Pacific Seeds GE incident, in the hope it would be "buried" in the pre-Christmas media slowdown, Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says. See... Government deliberately "buries" Seeds review [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00509.htm

Elmar Will Be Missed

- The postal workers’ union, the EPMU, says that departing New Zealand Post chief executive Elmar Toime will be missed. See... Postal workers will miss Elmar Toime [1] ALSO: Porteous Should Follow Toime’s Example - United Future MP Murray Smith says that Dr Bill Porteous, the Chief Executive of the Building Industry Authority should follow Elmar Toime's example of integrity and resign his position. See... Porteous should follow Toime's example [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00182.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00515.htm

ACT Says Liberties OK, Treaty No

- ACT New Zealand today successfully changed one despotic aspect of the massive Local Government Bill, in an unprecedented defeat for the Labour Government. See... ACT Protects Liberties, But Treaty Rights Miss Out [1] Local TV Content Boosted - Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey is welcoming the formation of a new television industry group working to develop voluntary targets for New Zealand programming for the major free-to-air networks. See... TV industry cooperation to boost local content [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00518.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00513.htm

But Wait… Was There Applause?

- The new television industry group to talk about local content continues the three-year Government talk-fest about broadcasting, says National Broadcasting Spokesperson Katherine Rich. See... The sound of one hand clapping [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00526.htm

Telco Loop Unbundling

- The Telecommunications Commissioner is now able to start an investigation into whether local loop unbundling and access to Telecom’s data network should be regulated or not. See... Local loop unbundling review able to start [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00512.htm

Muriel’s Wrong

- ACT MP Muriel Newman has got her sums wrong with claims the December Economic and Fiscal Update (DEFU) is predicting beneficiary numbers and expenditure to increase, says Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey. See... Newman wrong [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00508.htm

Dunne Laughs At English

- United Future leader Peter Dunne today thanked National leader Bill English for giving him a good belly laugh at the end of a long tiring week. See... Dunne thanks English for a good laugh [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00502.htm

Dunne Growls At Peters

- New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, has soared to the top of the 2002 list of Parliament’s worst-behaved Members, as compiled annually by United Future leader, Peter Dunne. See... Winston tops worst-behaved MP list [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00501.htm

Peace Movement What’s On and Where

- * Emergency response vigil details * with the impending new 'official' war against the people of Iraq, the list of emergency response vigil details will be included in each 'what's on where' e-listing. If you wish to have the emergency response vigil ... See... National - what's on where listings [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00186.htm

Maxim Details Its Real Issues

- Families Commission takes shape - Cutting the Yellow Ribbon - Censorship Bill - English double standard - Privy Council vs Supreme Court - Maxim Conference: 22 March 2003... See... Maxim Institute: real issues [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00179.htm

Cosy Down For Christmas

- Newest Green Party MP, Mike Ward has decided to go national with what was formerly the Nelson Green Christmas Gift Guide. See... Make love for Christmas [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00528.htm

Baldock urges Cullen to boost road spending

- United Future MP, Larry Baldock, noting Finance Minister Michael Cullen's comments today confirming that Government revenue continues to strengthen, is reminding him that a great deal can be accomplished by a boost in infrastructure spending… See... Baldock urges Cullen to boost road spending [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00520.htm

Select Committee Business

- There were nine committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex. See... Select Committee Business [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00527.htm

ENDS

© 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.

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