Scoop Headlines

Inebriated With Rhetoric - The ability of crime as an issue to produce more heat than light from politicians was highlighted in the House this evening as the House completed the committee stages of the home invasion legislation. The Scoop takes a look at the debate in The House: Inebriated With Rhetoric in the Headlines wire. Meanwhile New Zealand First member of the Justice Law Reform Select Committee, List MP, Hon Robyn McDonald, says that the Crime (Home Invasion) Amendment Bill is a travesty and has achieved nothing real for New Zealanders. See…New Zealand First Opposes Home Invasion Bill in the Parliament wire.

Busted! - Food and Fibre Minister, Hon John Luxton last night applauded action taken by the Ministry of Fisheries and Police to clamp down on Wellington paua poachers. See..
Luxton Applauds Paua Bust in the Parliament wire.

Te Reo Resignation - The Maori Affairs Minister, Hon Tau Henare, yesterday accepted Professor Timoti Karetu's resignation as the Maori Language Commissioner. See.. Maori Language Commissioner Moves On in the Parliament wire.

PM Commends Women's Place In APEC - New Zealand as Chair of APEC this year intends to do all it can to advance the recommendations from the Women in APEC meeting, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said today in Wellington as the meeting concluded. See..Meeting Shows Real Value Women Place On APEC in the Parliament wire.

The Quality Of Truth Is Strained? - The National Party's claims to be putting people into jobs and not onto benefits have been shown to be about as truthful as statements about alleged payouts to former TV1 newsreader John Hawkesby, says Labour social welfare spokesperson Steve Maharey. See…Jobless parents show government failure: Labour in the Parliament wire. In a similar vein Labour Leader Helen Clark said yesterday that the Prime Minister's supposed campaign to bring transparency to Crown entities is little more than hypocritical cant given her refusal to release details of the payment made to Jean Martin when she resigned ..see..PM descends to pure farce also in the Parliament wire.

Environmental Mismanagement Alleged - Environment Minister Simon Upton has admitted that the Government is reluctant to play its part in implementing the Resource Management Act adequately, Labour's environment spokesperson DianneYates said yesterday. See.. National admits environmental failure in the Parliament wire.

Where Is The Dairy Industry At - In his first significant speech on the Dairy Industry since announcement of the Mega-coop proposal Food And Fibre Minister John Luxton outlined the government's position during present negotiations with the industry on an end to the "single-seller" legislation. See…Speech: Luxton - On To Greener Pastures in the Parliament wire.

President Clinton's Triumphant Visit - In the General wire this morning The Scoop carries coverage from the White House press office on the President's triumphant tour of Europe. See…Clinton: Late Night Edition CNN Interview, Remarks By President Clinton At Aviano Air Base and Remarks By President Clinton To Kosovar Refugees.

Question Time: PM Back On The Offensive - The Prime Minister Jenny Shipley was not ducking questions on the payments controversy in question time yesterday. Instead she went on the offensive challenging the opposition to campaign on the basis that they intended to become involved in the employment contracts of all government employees. Labour Leader Helen Clark responded asking the PM to disclose the details of the payments made to former Fire Service CEO Jean Martin. The PM did not rise to the bait. Tourism Minister Lockwood Smith was also grilled on the topic of the day. The full list of subjects covered during question time today is: Capital Coast Health - APEC And Women - Child Resistant Cigarette Lighters - Gangs - Housing New Zealand - Ascot Hospital - Unemployment Figures - John Hawkesby - Ministerial Responsibility - Holidays Act - Bryan Mogridge And Michael Wall and Taxation. See… Questions Of The Day (1-6) and Questions Of The Day (7-12) in the Headlines wire.

The House: Crime And Pay-Offs - Earlier yesterday The Scoop took a look at the the day ahead in Parliament. Crime continued to be on MPs' minds, Phil Goff urged the Government to see sense on home invasion, while National MPs said Mr Goff's been gelded by Labour colleagues.

Car Parts - The Commerce Commission has taken successful action to protect cheaper wholesale car parts after it found that panel beaters were blocking insurance companies from using wholesale suppliers.

Looking Back- ACT leader, Richard Prebble says Jim Bolger never endorsed him in the Wellington Central seat at the last election. The comments in the parliament wire follow a poll in the electorate that deal doing could be crucial in the seat.

Long Distance Campaigning - In an unusual move, the NZ Greens are to stand a UK-based candidate in a effort to maximise the ex-pat vote. See the parliament wire.

The Cheque's In The Mail - New Zealand Post today reported a tax-paid profit of $23.0 million for the year to 31 March 1999, up 27.8% on the previous year (1998: $18.0 million) but the dividend to the Government is down. See the business wire.

NZQA - The former NZQA Boss at the centre of the latest payout publicity has promised to disclose all. There is coverage in the headlines wire. Meanwhile the original 'golden handshake' is still in the sights of the Tourism Minister, Lockwood Smith. He has told a select committee that the two former Tourism Board members will be able to keep some of their pay-out money in a deal due to be announced in the next few days.

Dairy Merger - The Commerce Commission says the Dairy industry's "mega-merger" application has been lodged. See the business wire. John Luxton has a look at the future of the dairy industry and says "On To Greener Pastures". See the Parliament wire.

The Digital Economy - In the business wire, we have Vice President Al Gore on the emerging digital economy.

Looking At Children - Statistics NZ looks at New Zealand children in the general wire.

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