Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Saturday, 1 July 2006, 10:30 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Lyndon Hood: Prison Heating Solution Discovered By Scoop's Satirist
Immigration: Calling Skilled Migrants, New Zealand Wants You
Weather: Think June in NZ Was Particularly Cold? You Were Correct -
Timor: More Kiwi Troops Fly Out This Weekend to Troubled Country
Food: Public Health Inquiry Into Rugby Toffs' Ills Progressing
Transport: Muscle Cars In The Govt's Sights
MORE HEADLINES:
Broadcasting Standards: South Park Protected by Bill of Rights
Energy: Go-ahead For Kupe Gas Field
RECOMMENDED AUDIO and VIDEO:
Scoop Satire: Parliamentarians Go To The Movies
Scoop News: Global News Round-Up For Week June 26-30
Israel: Gush Shalom Reports On Israel/Palestine Deepening Crisis
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Guantanamo Bay: Bush's Gulag Gets Marching Orders From SCOTUS
Election: Mexico Prepares To Vote
Russia Rising: Regarding The Games That Empires Play
Timor L'este: Maryann Keady & John Pilger On The Timor Crisis
Occupied Palestine: Gaza Under Attack Again
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
Flag Shooting: Tumeke Steps In Where Trademe Fears To Tread
Guantanamo Bay: Keith Locke On Gitmo – We Told You So!
Oil: NZ's Gas Guzzling Sees Trade Deficit Blow Up Big Time -
Transport: Long Term Transport Plans Released
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS

Lyndon Hood: Prison Heating Solution Discovered By Scoop's Satirist

Recently Scoop's Lyndon Hood was puzzling over some recent press releases from National's Simon Power. [1] Perhaps, Mr Hood pondered, when Mr Power was complaining that prisons had underfloor heating when "96% of houses don't" he was saying that prisons should use some other kind of heating - something less suited to an institutional environment and a less energy-efficient use of taxpayer money. Or perhaps something easier to dismantle and turn into a weapon. See... Lyndon Hood: Heat Prisons With Power's Rhetoric [2] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00356.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00356.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00592.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00610.htm

Immigration: Calling Skilled Migrants, New Zealand Wants You

- More new migrants will be welcomed under the New Zealand Residence Programme during the next 12 months in response to continued skill shortages, Immigration Minister David Cunliffe announced today. "Up to 52,000 places offered to migrants means more vacancies will be filled," Mr Cunliffe said. "This will help employers who continue to say skill shortages are a constraint to the growth of their businesses, and will contribute to economic growth." See... Migrant level raised to meet skill shortages [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00600.htm

Weather: Think June in NZ Was Particularly Cold? You Were Correct -

MetService meteorologists say that the low-pressure system on Monday 12th June was a major system, bringing severe wind, rain and snow. It was followed by a sustained blast of polar-chilled southwesterly winds that kept some snow on the ground for longer than a week. "Such sustained cold is extremely rare", commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "This is the first occasion we have seen it happen this decade, but there were two notable examples during the nineties." See... Sustained June Cold Was Rare [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0606/S00062.htm

Timor: More Kiwi Troops Fly Out This Weekend to Troubled Country

- More than 50 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel will depart for Timor-Leste on Saturday 1st July. Soldiers from the 2/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, at Burnham, and logistics personnel from Linton Camp will fly out on Saturday morning onboard a RNZAF Boeing 757. Burnham based soldiers will depart from Christchurch Airport, RNZAF Air Movements Terminal at 9.00am. The soldiers from Linton Camp will depart from RNZAF Base Ohakea at 11.25am See... More New Zealand Troops For Timor [1] ALSO: Scoop Audio: Selwyn Manning and Simon Pound [2] discuss on 95bFM: A deepening crisis in Timor Leste has resulted in the NZ PM Helen Clark calling on The UN to help end the violence. The United States has responded saying it will support a UN backed military operation in Timor. What does this mean for the fledgling country? ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00296.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00317.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00582.htm

Food: Public Health Inquiry Into Rugby Toffs' Ills Progressing

- The investigation by the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) into the cause of the Eden Park gastroenteritis outbreak is progressing. Interviews have been conducted on 407 patrons. Of those, 81 (20%) have reported illness. Of the four affected hospitality areas investigated the rate of illness was highest for the Hall of Legends where 36% of the 178 interviewed patrons were ill. See... Gastroenteritis investigation progressing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0606/S00137.htm

Transport: Muscle Cars In The Govt's Sights

- Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven today said the first step in the government's drive to target noisy vehicles will come into force in three weeks. The Director of Land Transport New Zealand issued a Gazette Notice yesterday which allows an objective test for measuring vehicle exhaust noise levels to be introduced. "Once the equipment arrives in the country and the training for testers takes place in July, the objective noise test will proceed full-steam ahead," Mr Duynhoven said. See... Government targets noisy vehicles [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00599.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00602.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00601.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00309.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00307.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0606/S00477.htm

Broadcasting Standards: South Park Protected by Bill of Rights

- The Broadcasting Standards Authority today released its decision on 35 complaints received about a South Park episode which screened on C4 in February. The BSA did not uphold the complaints, the largest number about a single programme since the BSA was created in 1989. See... BSA Releases South Park Decision [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00300.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00306.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00308.htm

Energy: Go-ahead For Kupe Gas Field

- The decision of the Kupe gas field partners to proceed with the near billion dollar development of the offshore field is a vital step in securing our energy future, Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. The partners announced today the decision to proceed with the $950 million development of the field. Gas will flow from 2009 and meet 15 per cent of New Zealand's annual demand. See... Kupe gas – billion dollar vote of confidence [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00567.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0606/S00456.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00581.htm

RECOMMENDED AUDIO and VIDEO:

95bFM Audio: [1] Wallace Chapman interviews Terry Hicks the father of Australian David Hicks, who has been held for 4 and half years in Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay. Terry talks frankly to Wallace of the long running struggle to obtain a fair trial for David, and an eventual release from this legal 'black hole'. Scoop Audio: Kevin List [2] on Radio Active discusses: how Mr List is unsure whether he saw a vision at the Green Party bash; also mentions the deficit word enough to cause concern among econ-watchers! Scoop Video: The Week's Movie Trailers [3] – Sci-Fi Superman Returns; Sci-Fi Ultraviolet; Mel Gibson's Apocalyto; and a late run on the Da Vinci Code.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00318.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00315.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0606/S00227.htm

Scoop Satire: Parliamentarians Go To The Movies

- The wild speculation of history's great creative minds has, I've often thought, rarely been able to match the droll and improbable events that occur in the politics of this nation. But recently a rash of occurrences in the life of Parliament had a particularly strong resemblance to the works of moving-picture artists. See... Lyndon Hood: Parliament Imitates Art [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00301.htm

Scoop News: Global News Round-Up For Week June 26-30

- Israel: Hamas Members Will Be Tried Israel intends to try the Hamas activists, government ministers and parliament members captured during an early-morning incursion into the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Defense Forces said June 29. ALSO: U.K.: Iran Could Threaten U.K. Interests - Russia: Joining Turkey's 'Black Sea Harmony' - Kuwait: Polls Close - NORTH KOREA/CHINA: - G-8 and Iran: - SPAIN: and ETA. See... Global News In Brief: Israel To Try Captured Hamas [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00342.htm

Israel: Gush Shalom Reports On Israel/Palestine Deepening Crisis

Gush Shalom - Wednesday June 28, late afternoon: Israel - The taxi driver on the way to the demonstration was very outspoken: "God damn these dirty murdering terrorists. Why do we have to keep them in our prisons, and feed them like in a luxury hotel? I would gladly send the whole lot of them over to Gaza in order to get our boy out of there alive and well." Unfortunately, he is not the Prime Minister... See... Gush Shalom Reports On Gaza Crisis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00570.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00567.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00565.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00559.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00558.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00552.htm

Guantanamo Bay: Bush's Gulag Gets Marching Orders From SCOTUS

- A rolling sense of awe has enveloped the mainstream news media since yesterday's Supreme Court decision on Guantanamo. The specifics of the decision are part of the discussion, to be sure, but the sense of amazement has a more basic root. After all this time, after a seemingly endless series of over-reaching power grabs by the Bush administration, someone with a big enough stick finally got in the way and said, "No." See... William Rivers Pitt: A Moment of Pause [1] RELATED:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00008.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00346.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00003.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00326.htm

Election: Mexico Prepares To Vote

- Anything can happen on Sunday, including an attempted electoral fraud, as occurred here in 1988. But this time the Mexican people will not swallow it. If Mexico's dubious Federal Electoral Institute (IFE, in its Spanish initials) tries to repeat that dark history, the revolution will begin on Monday. Those in power can't be that stupid. Or can they? See... And the Winner in Mexico Is... [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00002.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00354.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00007.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00586.htm

Russia Rising: Regarding The Games That Empires Play

- Along with all Americans, save the generation now in high-school and younger, I grew up and lived under the shadow of the Cold War, and behind it the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation. We all remember it well. See... What About the Russians? Personal Encounters [1] RELATED:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00347.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00348.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00320.htm

Timor L'este: Maryann Keady & John Pilger On The Timor Crisis

- Three years ago, I wrote a piece talking about attempts to oust Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri in East Timor, then a new struggling independent nation. I wrote that I believed the US and Australia were determined to oust the Timorese leader, due to his hardline stance on oil and gas, his determination not to take out international loans, and their desire to see Australia friendly President Xanana Gusmao take power. See... 2 Alternate (Aussie) Views Of East Timor Crisis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00343.htm

Occupied Palestine: Gaza Under Attack Again

- I am writing while the jet fighters are in the sky with their horrible sounds, bringing death and horror. It is 10:30 pm and I am still waiting, like everyone. I hope they will not go ahead with their operation into Gaza; the outcome could be horrible. The resistance movements are going ahead with their preparations too, but it is obvious which side holds the balance of power. Anyway, Israel - resistance or no resistance - is attacking us all the time, but this time will be different, and in the process many civilian lives will be lost. I am listening to the local radio. It seems that the operation started in Khan Yunis. The artillery started shelling under the cover of Apache helicopters and jet fighters. See... Mona Elfarra: Gaza Under Large-Scale Attack [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00333.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00005.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00349.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00332.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00335.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00324.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00330.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00329.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00327.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00323.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00321.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00334.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00337.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00339.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00338.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00345.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00344.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00006.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00328.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00009.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00353.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00341.htm
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00004.htm
[20] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00325.htm
[21] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00001.htm
[22] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00352.htm
[23] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00351.htm
[24] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00350.htm

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00597.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00562.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00539.htm

Tumeke Steps In Where Trademe Fears To Tread

- "Seeing as Trade Me has shut the auction down, we will do one on his behalf and present him with the highest bidder's contact details" - Mr Bradbury & Mr Selwyn. See... Tumeke.Blogspot.Com Puts Iti Flag On Own Auction [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00001.htm

Guantanamo Bay: Keith Locke On Gitmo – We Told You So!

- From the outset , it was a travesty of justice for the Bush administration to try and create a totally different legal system for the Guantanamo Bay inmates - a system that deliberately denied them the legal protections usually available under civilian or military justice. See... Gitmo Injustice Dealt Blow - Clark Govt Silent [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00628.htm

Oil: NZ's Gas Guzzling Sees Trade Deficit Blow Up Big Time -

The Government must take action now to reduce New Zealand’s dependence on imported fossil fuels to reduce the spiralling trade deficit, the Green Party says. “The explosion in the cost of petroleum imports has pushed the monthly merchandise trade deficit to $104 million, the worst ever recorded for a May month,” says Russel Norman, Green Party Co-Leader. The annual merchandise trade deficit for the year ended May 2006 is now nearly an incredible $7 billion. See... Trade deficit explodes, Government crosses fingers [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00559.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0606/S00433.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0606/S00445.htm

Transport: Long Term Transport Plans Released

- Transport spending over the next ten years is set to top $24 billion – up from $21 billion last year - following Land Transport New Zealand's publication of the latest National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). See... Transport spend set to top $24 billion [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00565.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00289.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0606/S00319.htm
[4] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0606/SHProjectsJune06
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0606/S00448.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0606/S00464.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0606/S00465.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0606/S00339.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0606/S00344.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00604.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00605.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0606/S00345.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0606/S00350.htm

MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00002.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00001.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00627.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00626.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00625.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00624.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00623.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00622.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00620.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00619.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00617.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00616.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00614.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00612.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00611.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00608.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00605.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00603.htm
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00602.htm
[20] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00601.htm
[21] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00600.htm
[22] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00599.htm
[23] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00598.htm
[24] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00591.htm

POLITICAL COLUMNS

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00615.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00314.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00613.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00609.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00607.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00591.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00277.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00490.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.

Contact Alastair Thompson

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