Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 3 June 2004, 4:35 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Auckland Local Govt Conservative Teams Merge
Next Generation Internet Applauds Advanced Network Plan
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Iraq: Brahimi Leaves For USA As Peacekeeping Resolution Takes Shape
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES
Hard News Is There!

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Budget 2004: No Right Turn Asks What's Next?
The Inside Oil On NZ Politics And Business
UQ Wire: Did Rudy Say Something Wrong?
Patricia Johnson: The Bush/Unemployment Nexus
Vincent Guarisco: Bush's Empty Handshake To Veterans
Between The Lines: War & Civil Liberties
The California Energy Crisis Smoking Gun Appears
Introducing Iraq's New (alleged) Government
Green Left Weekly On The Day After Tomorrow
A Candid Interview With Uber-Reporter Robert Fisk

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Budget 2004: Newman Says State Houses Not The Answer
Budget 2004: Judith Tizard Talks Up Budget In The Big Smoke
Dunne Proposes NZ As Venue For China Taiwan Talks
Govt. Accused Of Dithering To The Detriment Of Aquaculture
Burton Off To Singapore For Defence Talks
Matt Robson Defends The Wigged Ones
Nandor Wants To Know What's Up With Court Fee Waivers
Auckland Fails To Take Developers By The Horns
Winston Detects Super Confusion
NCEA Cambridge High School Style Not A Simple Matter To Unravel

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00062.htm
Dr Don Brash Makes Friends In Washington DC

LEAD STORY:
Auckland Local Govt Conservative Teams Merge

- Three Auckland political parties - Citizens & Ratepayers, Auckland Now and Advancing Auckland - are joining forces to offer Aucklanders a unified ticket of candidates under a common policy platform at October's local government election. See... Auckland Local Govt Tories Merge Teams [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0406/S00023.htm

Next Generation Internet Applauds Advanced Network Plan

- The NGI-NZ Society said it was pleasing to note the strong Government commitment for the establishment of an advanced network for New Zealand, announced by the Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Pete Hodgson, yesterday. See... Significant move forward for NZ’s NGI network [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0406/S00004.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00041.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00040.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00039.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00038.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00037.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0406/S00057.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0406/S00042.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0406/S00006.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0406/S00028.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0406/S00005.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00030.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00031.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0406/S00050.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0406/S00044.htm

Iraq: Brahimi Leaves For USA As Peacekeeping Resolution Takes Shape

- With Iraqis having named an interim government to inherit sovereignty from the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) at the end of June, United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi departed the country today as talks continued in New York… See... Brahimi Leaves Iraq - Talks Continue On Resolution [1] ALSO: Security Council To Focus On Iraq This Month [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0406/S00031.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0406/S00030.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0406/S00025.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0406/S00022.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0406/S00032.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0406/S00028.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0406/S00023.htm

Rialto Movie Of The Week
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0406/S00008.htm
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News Is There!

- Yes, the Herald's lead story on a poll indicating that New Zealanders are prepared to countenance a more relaxed attitude to nuclear ship visits is, as Gerry Brownlee noted, "interesting". But was the question based on a fantasy?... See... Public Address 03/06/04 - Going Danish? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00034.htm

Budget 2004: No Right Turn Asks What's Next?

- One of the hallmarks of the Labour government is that they have been mean - or as they like to say, ''prudent'' - with government spending. See... No Right Turn: Budget 2004 - What's Next? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00033.htm

The Inside Oil On NZ Politics And Business

- The Budget’s more or less been done, don’t you think? So we’re ignoring it. Our exclusive rolling poll of polls shows no one can form a government on current figures. We look ahead to interest rate rises next week, the economic outlook and the Big Mac’s impact in our dollar…juicy gossip from the capital and more in the Tuesday newsletter that last month set a new record for hits on our website…See... Molesworth & Featherston - 1 June 2004 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00032.htm

UQ Wire: Did Rudy Say Something Wrong?

- As of this writing, June 2, 2004, the transcript of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's testimony to the 9-11 Commission during the May 18-19, 2004 hearings in New York is the only transcript of that hearing omitted from the Commission website. See... UQ Wire: Long Debunked Rumor Validated by Giuliani [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00031.htm

Patricia Johnson: The Bush/Unemployment Nexus

- At the end of 1988 the annual unemployment level for the U.S. was 6.7 million [6,701,000]. George H.W. Bush, Sr., became the 41st President of the United States on January 20, 1989. See... U.S. Annual Unemployment - The Bush Effect [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00030.htm

Vincent Guarisco: Bush's Empty Handshake To Veterans

- On Memorial Day, I flipped on the TV just in time to catch President George Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield bellying up to the podium to give their speeches at the beautiful and somber Arlington National Cemetery. For the first time in my life, I watched a Memorial Day service with a growing sense of anger -- even outrage. See... Vincent Guarisco: Shortchanging Our Nations Brave [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00029.htm

Between The Lines: War & Civil Liberties

- Filmmaker and historian Ken Burns is best known for his documentaries, including his award-winning series on the Civil War, the highest rated program in the history of American public television. See... Filmmaker Ken Burns on War and Civil Liberties [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00028.htm

The California Energy Crisis Smoking Gun Appears

- When a forest fire shut down a major transmission line into California, cutting power supplies and raising prices, Enron energy traders celebrated, CBS News Correspondent Vince Gonzales reports. "Burn, baby, burn. That's a beautiful thing," a trader sang about the massive fire. See... Scoop Link: Enron Traders Caught On Tape [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00027.htm

Introducing Iraq's New (alleged) Government

- When Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Iraq, was invited to Iraq in February 2004 by the Iraqi Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority, the purpose of the trip was to advise the possibility ... See... Who’s Who In Ihe Iraqi Interim Government [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00026.htm

Green Left Weekly On The Day After Tomorrow

- Hollywood’s latest blockbuster, The Day After Tomorrow , has triggered the release of vast amounts of hot air from fossil-fuel industry funded ''greenhouse skeptics''. See... GLW: The World Is Skating On Thin Ice [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00025.htm

A Candid Interview With Uber-Reporter Robert Fisk

- " But we are doing everything wrong [in Iraq] ; everything we do is exacerbating this country towards what could be a civil war, which I suspect some people would like. It’s only a matter of time before we hear our leaders who led us into this appalling war say: We gave them every chance, but the people don’t deserve it. " See... Eating Media Lunch: Anita McNaught IVs Robert Fisk [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0406/S00009.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00032.htm
NZ Territorial On Top Of Mt Everest

Budget 2004: Newman Says State Houses Not The Answer

- ACT New Zealand Housing Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today demanded to know whether Housing Minister Steve Maharey intended to simply build State houses for every single person who applied for Housing New Zealand assistance, after media reports revealed that HNZC is to add 2,406 new State houses to its Auckland housing stock. See... More State Houses Not The Answer, Minister [1] EARLIER: - Govt. - State housing boost for Auckland announced [2] - Govt. - Maharey Speech: Housing Aucklanders in need [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00063.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00037.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00038.htm

Budget 2004: Judith Tizard Talks Up Budget In The Big Smoke

- Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard is urging people to check what they will get from the budget's moves to give big increases in support to working families. See... Auckland families should check what they get [1] MORE POST BUDGET OPINING: - Michael Cullen - Cullen Speech to Tauranga Business Network Group [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00072.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00066.htm

Dunne Proposes NZ As Venue For China Taiwan Talks

- United Future leader Peter Dunne today expressed his delight at a Chinese Government suggestion that talks begin between the Beijing Government and Taiwan to settle the differences between the two countries and suggested New Zealand as a suitably neutral venue. See... Dunne seeks NZ venue for China-Taiwan talks [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00071.htm

Govt. Accused Of Dithering To The Detriment Of Aquaculture

- New Zealand First has called for an immediate end to the marine farming moratorium because Government dithering is threatening the future of aquaculture. See... Marine Farming In Jeopardy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00070.htm

Burton Off To Singapore For Defence Talks

- Defence Minister Mark Burton leaves today for a six-day visit to Singapore, where he will attend the International Institute of Strategic Studies Asia Security Conference, a Five Power Defence Arrangements Ministerial meeting, and conduct an official bilateral visit with the Singaporean Minister of Defence. See... Defence Minister Mark Burton to visit Singapore [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00069.htm

Matt Robson Defends The Wigged Ones

- Sometimes it would be best if politicians tried to be a little humble instead of attacking everyone but themselves for deficiencies in the law, says Progressive MP Matt Robson. See... Sometimes it is best to be humble [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00068.htm

Nandor Wants To Know What's Up With Court Fee Waivers

- Green MP Nandor Tanczos says the latest court fee increases pose questions about earlier-promised fee waivers that he will raise with the Courts Minister. See... What happened to the promised court fee waivers? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00067.htm

Auckland Fails To Take Developers By The Horns

- Auckland-based Green MP Nandor Tanczos says the Auckland City Council has missed an opportunity to make the central business district more environmentally sustainable. See... Levy not the only way to make CBD more sustainable [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00065.htm

Winston Detects Super Confusion

- Rt Hon Winston Peters says National is in a state of total confusion over superannuation and its only likely policy is to slash the rates paid to elderly people like it did last time. See... Erratic Nats Confused Over Super [1] . See also... Come clean, National [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00064.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00049.htm

NCEA Cambridge High School Style Not A Simple Matter To Unravel

- National's Education spokesman, Bill English, questions whether internal investigations by ERO and NZQA will show-up whether there are real problems at Cambridge High School. See... New investigations won't show problems [1] MORE: - PPTA - NCEA a robust and credible qualification [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0406/S00061.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0406/S00015.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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