Friday, 10 February 2012, 4:14am

Scoop Audio: Charges Possible Over CTV Collapse

In a press conference today, the New Zealand Police announced that they would be following up information passed on to them by the New Zealand Department of Building and Housing, regarding the construction of the Canterbury Television building. More>>

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Werewolf Is Back! And So Is State Capitalism ...

Welcome to the first Werewolf issue of 2012, and our return to regular publication after concentrating late last year on election campaign coverage. Fittingly, our cover story this month focuses on the role of government in the modern economy, and suggests that newer, smarter versions of state-led capitalism may be outperforming free market capitalism around the world.

Is it perhaps time for New Zealand - where the state continues to play the dominant role in economic performance but likes to pretend it doesn’t – to come clean, admit the state is the only real engine of innovation and economic growth, and get on with it? If only because free market rhetoric and practice has chronically under-delivered over the past 25 years, for most of us... More >>

 
 
 
 
 

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

 

Parliament Today:

Radio NZ Audio: RadioLive To Be Referred To Police Over John Key Show

It has been revealed that the Electoral Commission will refer RadioLive to the police. During the election campaign the station hosted an hour-long show hosted by Prime Minister John Key, which was described as a 'politics-free zone'. More>>

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Christchurch Councilling: Labour On 'Parker vs Brownlee'

The awkward ‘make-up, break-up’ relationship between the Government and the Christchurch City Council is putting unnecessary stress on Cantabrians, says Labour’s Earthquake Recovery spokesperson Lianne Dalziel. More>>

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Tom Frewen:
NZoA Board Members Commissioning Political Docos

Fresh controversy surrounds Prime Minister John Key's electorate chairman, Stephen McElrea, as documents released under the Official Information Act reveal his involvement in commissioning television productions for screening on TV3... More>>

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Government Response: 'Raft Of Changes' To Better Protect Children

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says a Ministerial Inquiry into a case of serious abuse of a nine year old, has led to major changes. More>>

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On The Road: NZTA Publicity Campaign On Give Way Rule Changes

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says a multi-media public awareness campaign will kick off next month to ensure that drivers are aware of changes to New Zealand’s give way rules which come into force from 5am on Sunday March 25. More>>

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john key employment cloth cap unionEmployment: Minimum Wage Adjusted

The Government will increase the minimum wage from $13 to $13.50 an hour, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today. More>>

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national hoarding billboard, build roadsEconomic Management: National’s Motorway Projects 'Poor Quality Spending'

Billions of dollars allocated to state highways is now confirmed as ‘poor quality spending’, says Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford. More>>

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"Incidents": Navy Barge Hits Rocks On Trip From Waitangi

The New Zealand Defence Force was evasive this morning when it announced “an incident” with the navy’s VIP barge. It was more than an incident. The NZ Herald reports that the vessel hit rocks and was taking on water on the way back to Auckland from Waitangi. More>>

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BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH > >

 

NIWA: Experts Set Sail To See How The Ocean Creates Clouds

Next week, NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa will set sail for the Chatham Rise, for an international study of how microscopic organisms in the surface waters may affect the creation of clouds. This work is important because, “We need to understand ... More>>

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Commerce Commission: Issue Paper On High Speed Broadband Demand-Side Study

The Commerce Commission has today released the last of three issues papers relating to the uptake of high speed broadband ahead of The Future with High Speed Broadband: Opportunities for New Zealand conference to be held on 20 and 21 February 2012 in Auckland. More>>

Environment: Forest & Bird Launches Updated Best Fish Guide

Forest & Bird today launched the latest edition of its Best Fish Guide to help New Zealanders choose seafood that is sustainably fished and to ensure we can always put fresh fish on our tables. More>>

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Auckland.Scoop: Stores Halving The Price Of Milk This Month

“Milk is a basic household commodity and should be available to all New Zealand consumers, not just those who can afford it,” says Nosh Director Clinton Beuvink. More>>

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Scoop Business: NZ 4Q Wage Inflation Speeds In Private Sector

New Zealand wage inflation accelerated for private sector workers and slowed for public servants in the fourth quarter, leaving overall labour costs benign enough to ensure the central bank keeps interest rates low. More>>

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Localist

 

COMMENT > >

 

Mark P Williams: Waitangi – What Makes A National Day?

Should Waitangi Day be seen as a national day when it provokes such diverse and divisive responses? That depends on whether you think unity should overrule differences of perspective and opinion... More>>

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mitt romneyGordon Campbell: On Mitt Romney’s Victory In Florida

So Romney now looks a certainty to be the Republican candidate against Barack Obama in November, after yesterday’s win in conservative Florida put paid to the claim that he was not really conservative enough to win the nomination. More>>

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Gordon Campbell: Gordon Campbell On The Arrest Of Mourad Dhina

The arrest in Paris of the highly respected Swiss-based Algerian human rights campaigner Dr Mourad Dhina is one of those cases where the actions of France seem (a) outrageous (b) consistent with how France routinely behaves towards dissidents from its former colonies... More>>

State Of It: On The Folly Of Political Appointments

State Of It: The saddest thing in this awful affair is that the National Party's response via its appointment to the board of New Zealand On Air is not one of how to advance a cross-party accord on creating real solutions to child poverty – but ... More >>

Richard S. Ehrlich: Terror Suspect Says Ammonia in His "Cool Packs" Not For Bombs

BANGKOK, Thailand -- An imprisoned Lebanese-Swedish terror suspect said he stockpiled medical "cool packs" which "contained ammonia" for commerical export, and is not a Hezbollah member, after being arrested for possessing 10 gallons (38 liters) of ammonium nitrate which ... More >>

Kodak’s Last Snap: The End Of The Great Yellow Father

It went into popular circulation as a term: the Kodak moment. The captured snap to be preserved, be it for posterity, or some other inconsequential reason. The Eastman Kodak Company is seemingly destined to become another parceled bit of posterity. ... More >>

Walter Brasch: Outsourcing America’s Health Care

“Ola, Amigo! Pack your bags, we’re going to Mexico!” bubbled Dr. Franklin Peterson Comstock III, faux physician and money-maker. “Yeah, I could use a decent vacation,” I replied, figuring he’d pay for both of us since he had just set the world record for the most nose jobs in a 24-hour period. More >>

WORLD > >

 

U.S. Politics: David Swanson: The Election We Should Be Following

For progressives and populists around the country who take an interest in Congressional races there are always a few good challengers we might hope to send to Washington. Incumbents, we assume, can take care of themselves. But in Northern Ohio, redistricting ... More>>

Greenpeace: Industry Figures Confirm GM Food Is European Commercial Flop

Annual industry figures to be released on Tuesday are expected to confirm the commercial failure of genetically modified (GM) food in Europe, said Greenpeace. Only around 0.06% of the EU’s agricultural land was used in 2011 to grow GM food, the report ... More>>

Asia: IFJ Press Freedom In China Campaign Bulletin

1. China’s New Clampdown: Press Freedom in China 2011 2. Senior Newspaper Staff Sacked for Reporting Inflation Concerns in China 3. Journalist Attacked in Taiwan 4. Dissident Writer Yu Jie Flees to the United States 5. Writer Li Tei Sentenced ... More>>

Women’s Rights: 2,000 African Communities Abandon Female Genital Mutilation

New York, Feb 6 2012 1:10PM A new United Nations report shows that almost 2,000 communities across Africa abandoned female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) last year, prompting calls for a renewed global push to end this harmful practice once and for all. More>>

Connie Lawn: Newt Gingrich Wins In South Carolina

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich gives his victory speech in Columbia after winning the South Carolina primary with 40% of the vote. Runner-up Mitt Romney pledges to fight for Republican nomination in 'long race', while third-placed Rick Santorum says of Gingrich: 'He kicked butt. I'm proud of him.' Ron Paul finished fourth ... More >>

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Pacific.Scoop: Real Change In Burma No Longer A Pipe Dream – But Don’t Jump The Gun

For a long time, it was easy for us to hold an opinion on Burma. It fitted neatly into the classic dichotomy of good and evil. The regime – made up of cruel, despotic military generals – was bad, and Aung San Suu Kyi and the huddled masses of Burmese people she led were good. More >>

Burma: After Political Prisoner Amnesty, Ethnic Warfare Is Rekindled In North

Even as the Burmese government initiates political reforms in much of the country, it has intensified an ethnic civil war in the resource-rich hills of northern Myanmar, a conflict that at once threatens its warming trend with the United States... More >>


West Papua: Jakarta Newspaper Reports On Papuan Human Rights Abuses Edge ‘Free’ NZ Media

An English-language Indonesian newspaper is making a better job of reporting the alleged genocide and human rights violations in West Papua than two leading Australian and New Zealand dailies, says a new report... More >>

DR Congo: New Displacement Of Thousands Of Civilians

New York, Jan 20 2012 12:10PM The United Nations refugee agency today voiced concern over fresh violence in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that has forced more than 100,000 civilians to flee their homes in the provinces ... More >>

Foreign Affairs: McCully To Attend African Union Summit In Ethiopia

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will next week visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 20th Session of the African Union Executive Council on 25-26 January. “This summit provides New Zealand with an opportunity to engage with ministers from... More >>

MP Ralph Regenvanu :Response To His Termination As A Minister On Monday 16th January 2012

I acknowledge that the Prime Minister has the Constitutional right to appoint and dismiss any Minister. I am disappointed, however, that my termination was by way of a letter delivered to my office and that the Prime Minister did not have the courtesy ... More>>

World United States: Denial Of The Keystone XL Pipeline Application

Today, the Department of State recommended to President Obama that the presidential permit for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline be denied and, that at this time, the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline be determined not to serve the national interest. ... More>>


LIFESTYLE > >

 

Scoop Images: Wellington Sevens Costumes 2012 Part III - Even more Photos Of Sevens Costumes

Scoop is running low on ideas for seven-costume-related blurbs, but has to say that the undead have a high average awesomeness this year. More>>
Day Two 94 arrested during Sevens weekend, and 68 evicted from stadium ... oh and New Zealand won.

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AIDS Foundation: New Study Shows 1 In 5 With HIV Don’t Know It

On the eve of the Get it On! Big Gay Out, a ground-breaking study has revealed that 1 in 5 gay and bisexual men with HIV in Auckland don’t know they have it. The study is the first time that a measure of undiagnosed HIV has been recorded in New Zealand. More>>

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New Zealand String Quartet: Let The Beethoven Begin!

The New Zealand String Quartet is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an old friend: Beethoven. “BEETHOVEN! The Complete String Quartets” is a 27-concert tour of New Zealand during 2012. More>>

Bike Wise Month: Kiwis Encouraged To Leave The Car At Home

Wednesday is the first day of Bike Wise Month, the annual cycling extravaganza that sees hundreds of cycling events take place around New Zealand, all with the goal of getting Kiwis onto their bicycles. More>>

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Also in Feb:

Tim Flannery PIC CREDIT Adam BruzzoneArts Festival: Writers And Readers Week Programme Announced

A dynamic and diverse group of the finest international and national writers will converge on Wellington in March for the New Zealand International Arts Festival’s Writers and Readers Week. More>>

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scared scriptlessChristchurch: Scared Scriptless Returns To The Court Theatre

SCARED SCRIPTLESS is back – back to late nights and back at The Court Theatre. From February 10th Christchurch’s iconic improvised comedy show will be performed at the new Court Theatre in Addington, with shows at 10:15pm every Friday and Saturday night. More>>

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