LEAD STORY:
Scoop Media Upgrades Server OS And Livery

- The Scoop redesign launched [1] Tuesday evening has been quite a mission. It involved not only a new look, but a new server, an upgraded operating system, a new ISP and even a new home. In all respects the Scoop you see today has been renewed and significantly powered up. See... Message Of Thanks Relating To Scoop's New Livery [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00247.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00247.htm

NEW ZEALAND LEAD STORY:
NZ Military Tsunami Relief Personnel Return Saturday

[1] 59 Defence personnel from the second rotation of the Light Medical Team and RNZAF support personnel will return home this Saturday at 2:00 am from Banda Aceh. The Joint Force Commander, Major General Lou Gardiner, will welcome the contingent at RNZAF Base Ohakea early Saturday morning. See... NZ Military Return Home From Banda Aceh [2] Top French Honour for NZ WWII Veterans [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0502/S00246.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0502/S00246.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00522.htm

INTERNATIONAL LEAD STORY:
Germany's Schröder Says U.S. And Europe Need To Work Together

[1] The heads of state and government of the NATO countries met in Brussels on February 22. In a statement made after the summit, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said Germany's fifty-year membership in the NATO alliance is and will remain a fundamental element ... See... Germany: Europe & the US need to work together [2] NATO leaders - unity on Iraq, reaffirm value [3] NATO ready to deepen partnership with Ukraine [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0502/S00660.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0502/S00660.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0502/S00659.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0502/S00658.htm

COLUMNS AND OPINION:
Scoop Report: Palestine Paves Way For Middle East Human Rights Framework

[1] Last week, NZ was visited by Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizen Rights heads Dr Mamdouh Aker & Lamis Alami an organisation which New Zealand's Human Right Commisson has been working closely with. Scoop's Yasmine Ryan spoke with them about their work on human rights in Palestine. See... Palestine: Leading the Way in the Middle East [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00249.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00249.htm

Cullen Refutes Real Estate Institute Statement

- Finance Minister Michael Cullen today strongly rebutted suggestions from the Real Estate Institute that he was promoting shares as a primary investment vehicle rather than residential property. See... Real Estate Statement Misleading [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00536.htm

ACT Says Anti Spamming Legislation Waste Of Time

- ACT Leader Rodney Hide today described Labour's proposed legislation to fine computer spammers as a complete waste of time. See... Spam proposal a complete waste of time [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00535.htm

France To Honour NZ WWII Veterans

- The government today welcomed the investiture of France's Legion d'Honneur on seven New Zealand World War Two veterans. See... Top French honour for NZ veterans [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00522.htm

Burton Says Rural Fire Service Will Not Be Cut

- The Minister Responsible for the Fire Service Commission, Mark Burton reassures New Zealand communities that there is no agenda to reduce appliance or service coverage in isolated rural stations, or anywhere else. See... Minister gives reassurance about Fire Service [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00519.htm

Govt Begins To Roll Out Family Start Package

- The locations for the $10 million a year expansion of the government's Family Start service were announced today by Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey. See... Sites announced for $10M expansion of Family Start [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00533.htm

ACT Says Health Deficit Blows Out By $15million

- ACT Health Spokesman Heather Roy today said the announcement that the combined District Health Board deficit has blown out by a further $15 million is consistent with the Budget update revelation that deficits are blowing out to $100 million this year, ... See... $300m DHB election year sweetener on its way [1] ADHB financial crisis: King must face reality [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00529.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00530.htm

Brownlee Says Labour Implicated In Wananga Issue

- National Party Maori Affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee is describing Labour’s move to appoint a ‘ministerial observer’ at Te Wananga O Aoteraroa as a “complete nonsense”. See... Labour’s fingerprints all over wananga [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00534.htm

Robson Targets Student Debt Policy

- Six thousand million dollars of student debt and average university fees of $3,700 a year are two real threats to our future economic performance and are a serious social menace. See... robson-on-politics 24 February [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00525.htm

NZ First Supports Council Responsibility Over MarsdenB

- New Zealand First is pleased that the Minister of Conservation is acting sensibly in endorsing the ability of councils to hear an application by Mighty River Power to build a coal-based power station at Marsden Point. See... Local Issue, Local Consent [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00520.htm

United Future Wants Govt To Support Taiwan WHA Status

- United Future leader, Peter Dunne, will present a petition to Parliament next week asking the New Zealand Government to re-consider and support Taiwan’s bid for observer status at the World Health Assembly to be held next May. See... Dunne: China playing politics with world health [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00518.htm

Student Interest Rates Will Stay The Same: Govt

- The student loan interest rate will stay at 7 percent for the year beginning 1 April 2005, Associate Revenue Minister David Cunliffe announced today. See... Student loan interest rate unchanged [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00514.htm

Nats No Confidence In NZQA

- National’s Education spokesman, Bill English, says parents and students can have no confidence in the NZQA’s ideas about fair NCEA results. See... NZQA: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil [1] Labour, NZQA deceive in unison [2] NZQA Talking Statistical Nonsense [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00513.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00523.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00531.htm

Franks Wants More Openness In Justice

- ACT Justice spokesman Stephen Franks tonight pointed to two examples of pathological secrecy replacing New Zealand's traditional culture of openness. See... Franks: open justice, end secrecy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00512.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.

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