Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 2 February 2006, 3:01 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Sport: Productivity Falls As Sevens Fever Sweeps Capital
Waitangi Day: Harawira Says Waitangi Day Remains Relevant
Crime: New Zealander Arrested On Norfolk Island Murder Charge
MORE HEADLINES
Video: Bush Delivers State Of The Nation Warning To Foreign Opposition
Annan appeals for aid to Afghanistan at launch
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

SCOOP COLUMNS:
State of the Union: Sheehan Arrested for Fashion-Related Crime
MORE COMMENTARY

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Politics: Brash Delivers Orewa-III Speech On The Economy
Foreign Affairs: Goff Supports Strong Security Council Message To Iran
Central Government To Invest In Auckland's Infrastructure
Health: Counties Manukau Health Opens New $8m Neonatal Unit
Industry News: Unemployment Dropped 22 Percent In 2005
Scoop Audio: PM's Post-Cabinet Press Conference
MORE POLITICS NEWS

Sport: Productivity Falls As Sevens Fever Sweeps Capital

[1] Teams from the upcoming Rugby Sevens competition paraded through the streets of Wellington this lunchtime, to the sounds of salsa, pop music and island drums. Workers, many of whom will be late getting back to work, thronged the capital's Golden Mile basking in the festive fun. Accompanied by musicians and performers in the traditional silly costumes, the players made their from Parliament to a reception in Civic Square, throwing candy to supporters as they went. See... Sevens Parade Leads To Long Lunch Hour For Workers [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00018.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00018.htm

Waitangi Day: Harawira Says Waitangi Day Remains Relevant

- Hone Harawira, Maori Party MP for Tai Tokerau "I agree with Dr Moon that very few people have a good understanding of the significance and purpose of Te Tiriti o Waitangi" said Hone Harawira, Maori Party MP for Tai Tokerau, and long-time Treaty activist,"but his suggestion that Waitangi Day has become 'little more than a parade for politicians and protestors', is at odds with reality." See... Waitangi Day Rocks [1] MORE WAITANGI NEWS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00020.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0602/S00011.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0602/S00012.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0602/S00007.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0601/S00114.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0602/S00001.htm

Crime: New Zealander Arrested On Norfolk Island Murder Charge

- Almost four years after the body of Janelle Patton was found on Norfolk Island, a New Zealand man was arrested in relation to her murder. New Zealand Police arrested a 28-year-old man at a premises near the town of Nelson on the New Zealand South Island following a lengthy investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in their capacity as Norfolk Island Police. The AFP had conducted a large number of forensic tests during the course of this investigation, however a recent breakthrough led to the arrest of the man. See... Norfolk Island Murder Arrest [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00015.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00023.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0602/S00014.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0602/S00003.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0602/S00023.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0602/S00009.htm

Video: Bush Delivers State Of The Nation Warning To Foreign Opposition

- "Abroad, our nation is committed to an historic, long-term goal -- we seek the end of tyranny in our world. Some dismiss that goal as misguided idealism… Dictatorships shelter terrorists, and feed resentment and radicalism, and seek weapons of mass destruction. Democracies replace resentment with hope, respect the rights of their citizens and their neighbors, and join the fight against terror. Every step toward freedom in the world makes our country safer -- so we will act boldly in freedom's cause." See... Video: Bush Delivers State of the Union Address [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00019.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00018.htm

Annan appeals for aid to Afghanistan at launch

- On its difficult journey from conflict and devastation to nascent democracy, Afghanistan has succeeded in forging a progressively reinvigorated State, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today in London, urging the international community to respond with assistance and pledging the support of the United Nations in this endeavour. “This is time for committed action,” he said. “After being forced to sacrifice so much in war, the Afghan people have willingly given even more to peace. They expect a peace dividend. And they deserve it,” he told the opening of a two-day donors' conference on Afghanistan, which is co-hosted by the Afghan and British Governments as well as the UN. See... Annan appeals for aid to Afghanistan at launch [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00008.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00010.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00011.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00009.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00006.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00005.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0602/S00004.htm

State of the Union: Sheehan Arrested for Fashion-Related Crime

- Cindy Sheehan lost her son in Bush's war. Tonight she accepted an invitation from Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey to attend Bush's State of the Union speech. She had told me earlier that she didn't want to go. But she ended up going. All day she had been wearing a t-shirt and a sweat shirt. When she unzipped the sweat shirt, revealing that the t-shirt displayed a count of US soldiers killed in Iraq, the Capitol Police lifted her out of her seat and hauled her off to jail. She was released over 3 hours later, charged with unlawful conduct, which carries a fine of $45. See... Sheehan Released After Arrest for Wearing Shirt [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00012.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00016.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00017.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00004.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00006.htm

More Commentary:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00014.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00015.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00013.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00007.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00005.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0602/S00003.htm

Politics: Brash Delivers Orewa-III Speech On The Economy

- National Party leader Don Brash says the chickens have come home to roost with the slowing economy: “Labour’s legacy is a faltering economy. We have the unedifying spectacle of a Prime Minister who is supposed to be leading the country, instead frozen like an opossum in the headlights of an oncoming Aussie truck… The collapse in business confidence is like the warning light on your petrol tank – ignore it at your peril. Well, it is flashing, and the Government is asleep at the wheel.” See... Economy suffers as Labour fails to act [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00001.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00002.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00011.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00019.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00003.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00009.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00004.htm

Foreign Affairs: Goff Supports Strong Security Council Message To Iran

- Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Goff expressed New Zealand's support for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) extraordinary meeting in Vienna on February 2 and 3 to report Iran’s nuclear programme to the United Nations Security Council. "The unanimity of the concerns expressed by Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the United States should send a strong and clear message to Iran," Mr Goff said. See... NZ supports decision on Iran nuclear programme [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00016.htm

Central Government To Invest In Auckland's Infrastructure

- Auckland City is delighted with the central government's steps toward supporting economic growth in Auckland through the development of key infrastructure in the city. Earlier this month, the government announced part of the economic transformation agenda was to prioritise and support funding for infrastructure in Auckland city. "This kind of support is crucial to Auckland's economic development," said Councillor Richard Northey. See... Auckland City welcomes central government support [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0602/S00007.htm

Health: Counties Manukau Health Opens New $8m Neonatal Unit

- A new $8 million neonatal unit will be a huge asset for families in Counties Manukau and the wider Auckland region, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said today. The unit – which had its official opening today at Middlemore Hospital – was developed following a national review of neonatal capacity in 2004. "Having a newborn baby with a serious illness is a tremendously difficult situation for any family to deal with," Pete Hodgson said. See... New neonatal unit to provide care for 600 newborns [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00014.htm

Industry News: Unemployment Dropped 22 Percent In 2005

- New statistics show that the number of people receiving an Unemployment Benefit fell by a further 14,543, or 22 percent over the year to December 2005. Social Development and Employment Minister David Benson-Pope says the latest quarterly benefit statistics prepared by the Ministry for Social Development highlight the strong gains the Labour-led government has made in moving New Zealanders off benefits and into work. The latest figures show that overall the total number of people receiving any kind of benefit decreased by a further 17,616, or six percent in the 12 months to December. See... Unemployment benefit numbers drop by 22% in 2005 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00015.htm

Scoop Audio: PM's Post-Cabinet Press Conference

- The Prime Minister Helen Clark enjoyed a rather relaxed post cabinet press conference today, with a good many gallery journalists having headed northwards in order to receive National Leader Don Brash's Orewa speech firsthand. Those in the gallery that remained wished to know what the PM thought about Dr Brash's speech to the residents of Orewa. Other topics canvassed on a hot, muggy Wellington day included a possible visit by British PM Tony Blair and whether PMs (both past and present) are kept in the dark by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).Scoop Audio: PM Has Presser, While Brash Rarks Up Orewa [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00244.htm

MORE POLITICS NEWS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00017.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00012.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00005.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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