[1] Disarmament Minister Marian Hobbs will be advocating for a strengthened nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty when she represents New Zealand at the five-yearly NPT review conference in New York in May. It is 20 years today since former Prime Minister David Lange won the 1985 Oxford Union debate arguing that nuclear weapons were morally indefensible. Today Marian Hobbs reiterated that nuclear disarmament remains New Zealand's ultimate goal. See... NZ leads on nuclear-free stance [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00034.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00034.htm

Scoop Is In The House

Questions & Answers For Oral Answer - 1 March 05 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00035.htm

Wananga Welcomes Govt Review

[1] The CEO of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Rongo Wetere says he is very pleased with the announcement of government (Monday) regarding the review of the education sector, and invited ACT's Ken Shirley to debate face to face. See... Te Wananga O Aotearoa Opens Doors To Shirley [2] Govt announces package of actions [3] Government Details Main Wananga Issues [4] One Law for All: Te Wananga o Aotearoa [5] Response to Government's 'Package of Actions' [6] Labour gave away chance to cap wananga growth [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0503/S00001.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0503/S00001.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00591.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00597.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00022.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00008.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00027.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

Otara Music Legend Phillip Fuemana Dies [1] NZ's Drinking Water Under The Microscope [2] Manukau Caravan Park Residents Out By March 7 [3] Further Protests For Victims of Human Rights Abuse [4] Biosecurity Measures In Place For Chicken Imports [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00020.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0503/S00004.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0503/S00001.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0503/S00001.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00009.htm

Lebanese Government Collapses

[1] Radio Free Europe reports that Lebanon's prime minister has announced the resignation of his pro-Syrian government as tens of thousands of opposition demonstrators rallied outside parliament. President Emile Lahoud accepted Omar Karami's resignation today and asked him to continue in a caretaker capacity. See... Scoop Link: Pro-Syrian Lebanese Government Resigns [2] WhiteHouse: Lebanon Govt Collapse Gives Oppunities [3] Lebanese Opposition Calls for Syrian Withdrawal [4] Lebanese Parliament Holds Extraordinary Session [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0503/S00006.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0503/S00006.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0503/S00007.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0503/S00005.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0503/S00004.htm

SCOOP NEWS AND REVIEWS:
Scoop Column: Why Tony Ryall's Traffic Rhetoric Is Ridiculous

[1] This week every two-bit columnist seemed to have decided that they personally were an accomplished expert on the subject of road safety. The assistant editor of the NZ Herald, John Roughan's diatribe on Saturday was a typically poorly thought out piece... See... Kevin List's A Week Of It Speeding Special [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0503/S00002.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0503/S00002.htm

Scoop Report Police And Forensic Scientists Will Benefit From Another DNA Breakthrough

[1] Marietta Gross writes, German legal scientists have discovered a DNA technique that will enable a reliable genetic fingerprint from "omitted hair" or hair that has fallen out of been removed from a body. Previously, police and forensic scientists were often unable to get a reliable match from omitted hair samples. See... German Scientists Perfect DNA From 'Omitted Hair' [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0503/S00002.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0503/S00002.htm

Scoop Report Italian Study Reveals Professional Footballers At Risk Of ALS

[1] Marietta Gross reports that scientists have been discussing for years whether frequent headers cause brain damages. According to a new study from Italy footballers are jeopardized by another danger - ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). See... Professional Footballers At Risk Of Neuropathy [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0503/S00005.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0503/S00005.htm

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
[2] - 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

PACIFIC WATCH:
Hurricane:NZ Air Force Finds Missing Boat With Seven On Board

[1] The fishing vessel missing northeast of Samoa has been found and the seven crew on board are safe and well. RCCNZ Mission Coordinator John Ashby says an Airforce Orion found the Breanna Lynn at about 10am in a bad state with no power or working engine. See… Missing vessel found, seven people safe and well [2] Search for missing vessel northwest of Samoa [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0503/S00007.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0503/S00007.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0503/S00002.htm

Russell Brown's Public Address Is There…

- Jordan Carter took the trouble to retype the results of the BRC political poll highlighted on page, er, five of the Sunday Star Times. Why did he retype? Because he's on an Xtra connection and can't reach Stuff any more... See... Russell Brown's Public Address is There... [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0503/S00004.htm

John Roughan Reports On A Major Asia/Pac Palm Oil Development

- The Aluta Basin area in east Malaita is currently earmarked for major palm oil development. Malaysian investors as well as the Stabex Fund are seen as primary sources of much needed funding to get such a major project off the drawing board into the real world. See... Oil Palms for Malaita [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0503/S00005.htm

Prime Minister Promotes Dalziel To Parliamentary Private Secretary Position

- Lianne Dalziel has been appointed as PPS to the Minister of Youth Affairs Steve Maharey, and to the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Chris Carter. See... Parliamentary private secretaries appointed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00005.htm

Opposition Say Petrol Tax Is Another New Tax

- National's Transport spokesman, Maurice Williamson, says that today on Morning Report, Customs Minister Rick Barker confirmed that the extra 5c per litre petrol tax was in fact a new tax. See... When is a new tax not a new tax? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00033.htm

Labour Unsettled Over NCEA Credibility Issue

- Labour revealed today that they do not back the credibility of the 2004 NCEA results, says National's Education spokesman, Bill English. See... Government shows contempt for students [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00032.htm

Robson On Politics Is In

- Parliament resumes after recess The Third Estate (elected MPs) gathers today after a short recess. Interesting shifts have occurred in politics in the last 10 days which will cheer readers. See... robson-on-politics 1 March [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00031.htm

Government Announces Youth Transition Service Providers

- The goal of getting all 15-19 year olds in work, education or training by 2007 is a step closer with the announcement of the first five Youth Transitions Service providers, Youth Affairs Minister Steve Maharey said today. See... Local providers announced for Youth Transitions [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00028.htm

Peters Is Counting The Costs Of Refugees… Again

- New Zealand is being swamped by legal aid seeking Zaoui-like refugees, claims New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters. See... Where Are The Illegal Refugees Minister? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00024.htm

United Urges Student Loans Be Cut In Half

- United Future leader Peter Dunne today called on the Government to basically cut the student loan interest rate in half from 7 percent to 3.7 percent. See... Dunne: Cut student loan interest rate in half [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00021.htm

Nats Say Air Force Breakdowns Are A Joke

- National Party Defence spokesman John Carter says Labour's treatment of the Air Force is a joke. He is commenting on the breakdown in Rarotonga of an Air Force Hercules C130 - the third breakdown overseas of an Air Force relief plane in a week, and the seventh this year. See... Labour's treatment of Air Force a joke [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00017.htm

Cullen Tweaks New Zealand Aussie Investor Tax

- The government will legislate to make it easier for New Zealand investors in Australian unit trusts to deal with associated tax matters, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced today. See... Easier tax on Australian unit trust distributions [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00015.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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