Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Wednesday, 31 July 2002, 4:10 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Big News: The Rise Of Christian Politics
GM Policy – Who Said What About GE?
Six Months In A Leaky Boat?
Qantas Air New Zealand Deal Flatly Denied
Business Confidence Tumbles
The Mother Of All Enrons
Not Important? Think Again
ZZZzzzzt Feedback
Satire: Lessons From The Book Of Ruppert
Sludge Report: Who's Afraid Of The Scary Spider?
Katya Rivas

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Young Nick’s Head Decision No Time Soon
Coalition In Agreement On Student Allowance Reform
Muldoon’s Seat Came Close To Falling To Labour
Free Trade Breakthrough Threatened By Greenies
Welfare Challenge
NZ Business States View On Monetary Policy Reform
On Yer’ Own Bike Maurice

Big News: The Rise Of Christian Politics

- Helen Clark warned voters about the United Future Candidates’ religious backgrounds, adding that some candidates were defections from the CHP and thus people to be wary of. Voters ignored her. See..Big News: Now You've Dunne It [1] MORE ON UNITED FUTURE: - National - Pressure on United Future's principles [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00231.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00720.htm

GM Policy – Who Said What About GE?

- United Future's position is as follows: We support an extremely cautious approach to GE. Indeed we feel that the original Government decisons following the Royal Commission's Report were at the 'outer limit of acceptability'. See... United Future's position on Genetic Modification [1] . See also Link: Policy.Net GM Policy Page [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00719.htm
[2] - http://www.policy.net.nz/sr-gmfood.shtml

Six Months In A Leaky Boat?

- “The information we have is that there are 56 male Sri Lankans on a grossly overloaded fibreglass boat which is only 60 feet long. Our information suggests that they are not actually genuine asylum seekers, they are Sinhilese Sri Lankans,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Phill Goff. See... Scoop Images: Overloaded Boat Heading For NZ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00230.htm

Qantas Air New Zealand Deal Flatly Denied

- Finance Minister Michael Cullen today flatly denied a suggestion in The Independent that the government had signed a “some form of preliminary agreement” for a deal between Qantas and Air New Zealand. See... Independent gets hopelessly over-excited [1] - National's David Carter - Please explain, Dr Cullen [2] - Link: Today's Independent Story - Cullen Pushing Qantas/Air NZ After All [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00716.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00717.htm
[3] - http://xtramsn.co.nz/business/0,,5007-1632921,00.html

Business Confidence Tumbles

- Result: While headline business confidence fell to -22% (net respondents), firms' assessment of their own prospects remained significantly more positive at +26%, similar to investment and employment intentions. See... NBNZ Business Survey - July 2002 [1] and the Canterbury Manufacturers survey released on election day… Confidence Falls towards Depression [2] REACTION: - ACT - Confidence Drop Shows Need for Econ. Programme [3] - NZ Government - Story behind confidence figures still positive [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0207/S00197.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0207/S00168.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00715.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00714.htm

The Mother Of All Enrons

- President George W. Bush may have personal reasons for hampering investigations into insider trading connected to the attacks of September 11th. See Tom Flocco’s Profits Of Death Series - Part III….UQ Wire: Connecting Dots - Profits Of Death Pt. 3 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00229.htm

Not Important? Think Again

- Puzzling over the US President’s vow to “crush” the world’s “worst” leaders, we wondered if the following story about Boeing’s research might explain it. He is just a little giddy, as are the idiots who put this out in this summer’s silly season. See... NITA: Bush Straps On His Anti-Gravity Belt [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00228.htm

ZZZzzzzt Feedback

- I think that many New Zealanders are very cynical about large businesses and powerful "business groups" manipulating the media and using their money and influence to further enrich themselves and their allies unfairly. Such manipulation, particularly when extended into politics and legislation, is the antithesis of "true and honest profit." See... Feedback: Profit - Then and Now [1] and Howard's End: The Joy Of Profit [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00227.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00213.htm

Satire: Lessons From The Book Of Ruppert

- "And the Lord sent to the Earth his exalted Editors, and the Editors spake to the people saying 'This is thus and thus is that.' And the people did know the word of God." - The Book of Rupert, chapter 7, verse 4. See... Scoop Satire: Listen To Your Editors [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00226.htm

Sludge Report: Who's Afraid Of The Scary Spider?

- In This Edition: Negotiating With A Spider - Discussions On The Tuffet - Speaking Of Spiders, Of With Her Head. See... Sludge Report #141 – Negotiating With A Spider [1] , Feedback: Sludge on Holland [2] and Sludge Report #140 - Reading The Entrails [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00222.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00220.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00215.htm

Katya Rivas

- Well, we are back home and with our things. Now your work begins; now I want the fruits. See... Katya Rivas: Now I Want the Fruits [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00225.htm

Young Nick’s Head Decision No Time Soon

- Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today that the government would not be in any position to make an announcement on the future of Young Nick’s Head on 4 August. See... Young Nick’s Head decision not due on 4 August [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00718.htm

Coalition In Agreement On Student Allowance Reform

- ”In an overwhelming show of support for students 65% of the new parliament has been voted in on the promise of increasing the number of students who are entitled to a living allowance. All of Labour's potential partners want a universal student allowance. See... OPSA: Student Allowances Real Election Winner [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0207/S00289.htm

Muldoon’s Seat Came Close To Falling To Labour

- Saturday's election result saw Labour winning the party vote in Tamaki and Clem Simich's majority slashed to just under 1200 votes. See... Labour Thrilled by Tamaki Turnabout [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0207/S00288.htm

Free Trade Breakthrough Threatened By Greenies

- The Prime Minister must be careful not to jeopardise New Zealand's chances of a free trade deal with the United States, by allowing the Greens to have undue influence in the next government, ACT Deputy Leader Ken Shirley says. See... Greens Pose Threat to NZ-US Trade Breakthrough [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00713.htm

Welfare Challenge

- ACT Social Services Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today challenged the Labour Government to spell out its plan to turn around the growing numbers of long term benefit-dependent New Zealanders. See... ACT Challenges Labour to Come Clean on Welfare [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0207/S00712.htm

NZ Business States View On Monetary Policy Reform

- Business NZ has had the opportunity to carefully review recent developments, and to discuss the conduct of monetary policy with its membership and other interested parties. We have also reviewed the Australian experience and the conduct of its monetary policy. This statement sets out Business NZ's position. See... Conduct Of Monetary Policy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0207/S00287.htm

On Yer’ Own Bike Maurice

- “Put your money where your mouth is Mr Williamson and resign.” demanded Peter Osborne, the Libertarianz Associate Spokesman for Education Deregulation after hearing Maurice Williamson calling for a major clean out of the National Party following their abysmal election results.... See... Extortion and Bribery are Crimes! Only for Some [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0207/S00286.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.

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