1. HEMP COULD SPOIL POT SAYS MP 2. STUDENT DEBT LIMITS MORTGAGES SAY NZUSA 3. NEW BABY FOR NAT MP 4. HOT GOSS FROM PARLIAMENT 5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

1. HEMP COULD SPOIL POT SAYS MP

Bringing in hemp trials could have some interesting consequences for the illegal cannabis industry, says ACT MP Gerry Eckhoff. "Cross-pollination is possible between hemp and marijuana, but it only goes one way. Hemp can pollinate marijuana, reducing the potency of the drug.

"Given that hemp and marijuana are impossible to tell apart, there are going to be some intriguing results.

"At first, dealers may - knowingly or unwittingly - pass off hemp as cannabis. Over time, widespread contamination would ultimately destroy the illegal marijuana crop, with all plants having to be grown indoors to avoid cross contamination.

"And most intriguing of all, we could see the Wild Greens resurface to rip out legal hemp areas, in order to stop the destruction of their favourite drug," Mr Eckhoff said.

Meanwhile National MP David Carter says the Greens are hypocrites for not checking the hemp is GE-free.

“How does he know this cannabis seed hasn’t been genetically modified? The answer is he doesn’t have a clue.

“Are we to take it the Green Party concerns with GM are now on a selective basis?” said Mr Carter.

2. STUDENT DEBT LIMITS MORTGAGES SAY NZUSA New research released by the New Zealand University Students’ Association (NZUSA) shows that some banks are rejecting applications for mortgages based on the size of graduate’s student loan debt, despite the Banking Ombudsman and the Government stating that the size of a loan debt should not be taken into account when seeking finance.

The nationwide survey of bank managers and loans officers found that student loans had been a factor for 51% of respondents when declining finance. Mortgages were the most likely form of finance to be declined.

“Graduates should disclose that they have a student loan but not the size of it,” said NZUSA Co-President Andrew Campbell.

“The government needs to reduce the cost of tertiary education by increasing access to student allowances and reduce fees if it wants to maintain the New Zealand way of life,” said Campbell.

However Libertarianz spokesman Andrew Bates was not impressed, saying it demonstrates “the inability of these professional whingers to grasp the most basic economic principles.”

“I’d prefer to see the Libertarianz elected in which case student loans, education and other state owned services would rapidly be privatised. In an environment where taxpayers’ property rights were respected, the future earnings of graduates and everyone else would skyrocket.”

3. NEW BABY FOR NATIONAL MP

Dunedin-based National MP Katherine Rich gave birth on Wednesday night to a healthy baby girl at Queen Mary Maternity Hospital, a sister for Jonathan, Daniel and Emma.

Katherine and husband Andy have named their new baby Georgia. Katherine reports that both mother and baby are happy and doing well.

Katherine would have been the first MP to give birth to two babies in one term of Parliament but the snap election this year ended that chance.

4. HOT GOSS FROM PARLIAMENT -By Sneaky R. Wilson

Oh dear – another grubby one this week. So grubby in fact that I have appointed a new author, Sneaky R. Wilson, to write this column. Some of his stuff is just not printable, sorry, but here are some goodies:

*The Government is getting rather nervous about certain skeletons in the closet of one Government MP, whose ties to New Zealand's oldest profession have begun to be commented upon. Will the media report these (seemingly true) rumours as eagerly as they do the false ones Dr Michael Cullen invents in the House?

*From the party of the perk-busters…apparently an ACT staff member recently spent $700 on a toaster. Yep, a single toaster.

*Back at United Future HQ their leadership nervously awaits the next bout of revelations about their MPs. You’d think they would have learnt from New Zealand First’s problems, but in their defence, they never really expected to get more than one or two MPs.

Apparently one of their MPs was involved in a rather dodgy cult-style group, at which a young person died. He suffered an asthma attack but instead of seeking medical attention, his colleagues were urged to pray for him instead. Sadly, it didn’t work.

*And guess which United Future MP was quoted in the 1970s as saying this: "Homosexuality is a choice. It is a lifestyle at odds with God and those who choose to be homosexual can not be Christian." *Green co-leader Dr Jeannette Fitzsimons has won a bonehead award for her claims about possum control. The award is at: http://bonehead.oddballs.com/todays_bonehead.html and a similar award from the Sceptics Society is at: http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2048460a11,00.html

*Gossip continues to swirl around TVNZ about two high-profile celebrities and their relationship. Rich and powerful Daddy has threatened mainstream media with hefty legal action, but you can check out two very different stories in the womens rags this week and decide which version you believe.

*It’s good to see that our taxpayer’s money is being well spent on important projects – the new Pacific Island radio network has been generously broadcasting propaganda for the Government, running through each Labour Minister individually and discussing how wonderful they are and detailing their achievements.

*One new MP has an interesting hobby – wife swapping, according to a reputable source!

*Last week’s goss on the MP expelled for having an affair with his music teacher attracted a lot of speculation. Another case has now emerged – Labour MP Mahara Okeroa was also expelled from his school, but will not say what for.

*Young Labour are doing well out of the election, with plenty of snouts in the trough. Former President Moana Mackey, next in line on Labour’s list, has scored a job working for Phil Goff. This is somewhat ironic because in a few months time Goff will appoint MP Graham Kelly as High Commissioner to Canada, thus allowing Mackey to enter Parliament via the list.

*Also Marian Hobbs has appointed her campaign manager as an “adviser” in her office, and as previously noted, current Young Labour President Jordan Carter now works for MP David Cunliffe.

*Sunday Star Times political journalist Nicholas Maling has a new job – press secretary for Labour Minister Chris Carter. So far so boring I hear you say. But incredibly, he isn’t giving up his journalism job for another month. He will be working as a spin-doctor for the Government, and a journalist for the country’s biggest paper at the same time. And remember this is the paper that told readers to vote for Labour.

*Poor old New Zealand First. One of their researchers was told to “dig some dirt” on Karuna Muthu, a strong critic of Winston Peters, and to find out about his family background. The naive researcher went straight to the obvious source, ringing Mr Mutha himself. Not surprisingly he was unimpressed and immediately blabbed to the Dominion Post.

And word has it that another of NZ First’s researchers resigned this week.

*Quote of the week from Steve Maharey: “It’s difficult to predict when you have a BJ on your hands.”

*If you are in Auckland this Friday check out the Parliamentarians vs Musicians rugby game at Eden Park, as a curtain raiser to the Auckland vs Canterbury NPC game. National Leader Bill ‘Bruiser’ English is in the team again, playing openside flanker.

*More stuff on United Future – I almost feel guilty publishing this, the poor darlings are so innocent – “rabbits caught in the headlights”, as Winston calls them.

Anyway check out this interesting interview with MP Paul Adams where he outlines his views on internet censorship and music lyrics that mention erections! http://www.idg.net.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/FC004E551DFF527BCC256C370016B1AE

*Some of you may have come across the dodgy website http:// http://www.poetry.com , which is listed in several official warnings as a scam operation. The site asks you to send in your poetry, but miraculously, almost everyone who does wins. They then offer to publish your work (costing you only a few hundred dollars!) or invite you to receive an award in Washington DC.

So who would be gullible enough to fall for this, I hear you ask? The answer: Te Puni Kokiri, a.k.a the Ministry of Maori Affairs. Yes that’s right, Maori ‘poet’ Ruth Harris is off to Washington to receive her prize, thanks to taxpayer funding from TPK as well as Te Mangai Paho (the Maori Broadcasting Authority) and Te Mauri O Rangitane O Manawatu (Council of Elders).

*You can check out my own poetry entry at: http://www.poetry.com/Publications/display.asp?ID=W7134914&BN=999&PN=1

Interestingly, there are certain words the site will not accept – ‘shit’ is one, and perhaps tellingly, ‘scam’ is another.

Till next week…my lips are sealed! -Sneaky R. Wilson

5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

What else but: http:// http://www.poetry.com

No disrespect intended to people who have entered, there are some fine poems here, but the prizes are a bit suspect. Check out this site to read people’s complaints and legal action:

http://www.writersweekly.com/warnings/poetry.html

Any views expressed here are not necessarily those of New Zealand Young Nationals, or the New Zealand National Party.

Contributions, feedback, articles and subscriptions welcome. Email mailto: mailto:newwrite@national.org.nz

Editor: Phil Rennie

© Scoop Media