[1] Education Minister Trevor Mallard today announced a comprehensive package of actions and interventions in response to concerns and allegations raised about the tertiary education provider Te Wananga O Aotearoa. "The interventions and actions I am announcing today are aimed at addressing allegations and other concerns that have been raised. The wananga will be required to play by the same rules as everyone else. If there is any impropriety in the use of taxpayers' money, it is not acceptable," Trevor Mallard said. See...Govt announces package of actions [2] Government Details Main Wananga Issues [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00591.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00591.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00597.htm

NZ LEAD STORY: CTU Fires Salvo At Business/Commerce Orgs Over Wage Rise Stance

[1] Council Of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson has hit back at Business New Zealand and the Auckland Chambers of Commerce for opposing a five per cent wage rise campaign launched yesterday by the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union. “There is strong objective evidence to support a minimum five per cent wage lift for all workers,” Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today. See... Wage Increases Justified by the Evidence [2] Wage talks suspended No settlements under 5% [3] Workers Lose Patience with Tight-Fisted Employers [4] Union would be better calling for bold tax cuts [5] Dunne: Greens' strike call another show of lunacy [6] Unions should target Labour on tax says Mapp [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0502/S00275.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0502/S00275.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0502/S00272.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0502/S00267.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00574.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00585.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00573.htm

NZ HEADLINES:
Aid on way for Tokelau[8]
BNZ Launches ‘Unbeatable’ Fixed Rate[9]
Protest Against Spies And Spy Bases Easter Sat. [10]
Barnardos Launches Streamlined Appeal[11]
Special Olympics World Winter Games [12]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00590.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0502/S00307.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0502/S00285.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0502/S00281.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0502/S00186.htm

INTERNATIONAL LEAD STORY:

UN Investigation Into Former Lebanese PM Begins

[1] The United Nations Mission of Inquiry into last week's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri began its work today with a high powered meeting with top United Nations officials and a pledge to work "with absolute impartiality and professionalism." See... Probe Into Assassination Of Former Lebanese Begins [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0502/S00723.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0502/S00723.htm

SCOOP NEWS REPORTS:
Scoop Report: Researchers Discover Pierced People Silently Suffering

[1] Marietta Gross reports researchers from the University of Carlow in Pittsburgh www.carlow.edu have reasoned a large proportion of people with body piercings are silently suffering from medical implications. Persons with breast and genital piercings are at particular risk. But only three per cent of those affected seek medical help. See... Pierced People Suffer In Silence [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0502/S00089.htm

Scoop Review: AK05 Bugs A Hit At Auckland's Civic

Felix Ryan writes: classical music buffs and cartoon fans flocked to Auckland’s Civic theatre on Friday for the ‘Bugs Bunny on Broadway’ openning night. It could either be described as a wonderfully orchestrated, reinterpreted selection of classical music masterpieces played live by New Zealand’s own Auckland philharmonia, accompanied by cartoons, or a big-screen presentation of a selection of classic Warner Bros cartoon masterpieces, accompanied, in surround-sound, by a bunch of musicians. See... Scoop Review: Bugs Bunny on Broadway [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0502/S00187.htm

Scoop Report: Computer 3-D Model Designed To Fight Cancer Cell Resistance

Marietta Gross reports that for years researchers have been trying to break cancer cell resistance to pharmaceuticals. Karin Pleban and her team from Vienna University ( www.univie.ac.at ) have developed a computer model of the P-Glycoprotein, which is an important factor in battling cancer. See... 3-D Model Developed To Fight Cancer Resistance [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0502/S00092.htm

Scoop Report: Brain Shrinkage Linked To Hypertension

The normal aging process of the brain is being accelerated by high blood pressure, according to a long term survey by the Max-Planck-Institute in Berlin, Germany. Seventy two healthy adults aged between 20 and 77 underwent a magnetic resonance tomography every five years. See... Hypertension Accelerates Brain Shrinkage [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0502/S00090.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Russell Brown's Public Address Is There

- PUBLIC ADDRESS: The End of February - Days in the sunshine capital Russell Brown's Hard News Get a few locals on the turps in Nelson and they will tell you that wages there are too low, relative to living costs; local government lacks vision; and the ... See... Russell Brown's Public Address Is There... [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00263.htm

Dog Biting Men Bites Muriel

- ACT social welfare spokesman and amateur etymologist Dr Muriel Newman has started a new campaign. Her goal: "to end political correctness as we know it". See... PC Free - what do you really mean? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00262.htm

Dog Biting Men Digest Is In

- The Near Dismissal of Ben Thomas This is the most blatant attempt to increase readership that DogBitingMen has ever produced... And it worked. Contributions from each of the DogBitingMen authors. Even the very, very pretty Olivia Kember. See... DogBitingMen Digest - 25 February 2005 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00261.htm

Stateside With Rosalea Reflects On Ward Churchill

- A couple of weeks ago, I had a wee rant about how the system of tenured professorships in US universities results in a king-barons-serfs atmosphere in those institutions. Supporters of the system say that the underlying reason for tenure--which guarantees ... See... Stateside With Rosalea: Oops! My Mistake [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00266.htm

Martin LeFevre Meditates On UN Chief Kofi Annan's Track Record

- In another attempt to halt the hellish situation in the Sudan, Kofi Annan recently said, "While the United Nations may not be able to take humanity to heaven, it must act to save humanity from hell." See... Can The UN Save Humanity From Hell? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0502/S00264.htm

Robson Cracks Down On Kiwi Booze Culture

- Progressive MP Matt Robson is endorsing the Alcohol Action Plan released by the New Zealand Drug Foundation today, calling it “an important contribution to helping society seriously reduce the harm that alcohol is causing, particularly to vulnerable young. See... Progressive MP endorses Alcohol Action Plan [1] Turner: Booze binge culture needs addressing [2] Greens welcome Govt support for alcohol labelling [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00596.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00594.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00586.htm

Aid For Tokelau

- New Zealand-funded relief supplies will be shipped to cyclone-hit Tokelau from Samoa as soon as they can be purchased and loaded, Aid Minister Marian Hobbs said today. See... Aid on way for Tokelau [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00590.htm

Alexander Suggests ACT Party And Porn King Make Good Bedfellows

- Porn king Steve Crow is meeting with the ACT caucus today to discuss becoming a candidate at the next election. See... ACT's a party of principle ... Yeah Right!! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00584.htm

Newman Concerned For Sheltered Workshops

-ACT Deputy Leader Dr Muriel Newman, concerned about the appalling lack of consultation with the vulnerable families who will be directly affected by the Labour Party's Disabled Persons in Employment Bill, today launched a survey of workshops and families. See... Newman launches survey of sheltered workshops [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00577.htm

Maori Affairs Nat Says Flora/Fauna Must Not Belong To Maori

- National Party Maori Affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee says Labour must move quickly to clear up any confusion surrounding the Maori claim to property rights over New Zealand’s native flora and fauna. See... Native flora and fauna must belong to us all [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00570.htm

Sydney Australia: Peters Attacks Media For Political Bias

[1] Winston Peters to Commonwealth Press Union Conference Sydney: "Where once upon a time the media would report what politicians said now journalists decide what is valid in a politician’s message and make their own judgement on its content… Even more insidiously, the media often have the temerity to decide among themselves what issues they will cover during an election campaign without any reference to the public or the politicians. " See... Winston Peters: “Democracy Or Media Conspiracy?” [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00568.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00568.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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