Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Friday, 12 December 2003, 7:23 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Govt Announces Massive Petrol Tax Funded Roading Programme - Transport Package FULL COVERAGE Of Reaction - COLUMNS: Hard News & Cracker With Attitude Are There! - Martin LeFevre: Finding Balance - Naked In Nuhaka: 2003 - Cartoon: Merry Christmas From GWB - An Open Letter to US Military Spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty - STORY OF THE WEEK: Trans-Tasman Medicines Takeover - Mingus Casey: Who Is Ahmed Zaoui?

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
GG’s Dreaming Of A White Christmas - Prebble Seeks Recourse From High - Beehive News Wrap-Up For The Week - Brash Says Govt Must Give Something To Over-Taxed Kiwis - Govt Policies Inhibit R&D Projects - Labour must improve R&D environment - Thirty Schools Set To Close - Tourism Continues To Drive Up Economy

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

Photo-Essay: Out Of Africa, Nigeria (Part Of Scoop's CHOGM Coverage)

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

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LEAD STORY:

Govt Announces Massive Petrol Tax Funded Roading Programme

- The government today announced a $297 million annual investment in new transport initiatives. Prime Minister Helen Clark said the package represents a significant investment in land transport for Auckland and will provide additional funding for regions throughout New Zealand. See... Investing for growth - a transport package for NZ [1] MORE:- Chris Carter - Governing organisation for Auckland transport [2] - Judith Tizard - New package a huge step forward for Auckland [3] - Paul Swain - Package for transport, growth and development [4] FULL PRESS KIT: - Investing for growth - Package at a glance [5] - Transport Package - Questions and Answers [6] - Transport Fact Sheet 3 - Existing Funding System [7] - Transport Fact Sheets One & Two [8] - Fact Sheet On Auckland Transport Governance [9]

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Transport Package FULL COVERAGE Of Reaction

- United Future - UF cracks petrol excise diversion dam! [1] - United Future - Dunne, Baldock: Transit borrowing common sense [2] - Greens - Greens warn against Auckland road frenzy [3] - Road Transport Forum - Transport Package a step in the right direction [4] - EMA - Package will jump start Auckland transport [5] - Waitakere - Waitakere optimistic about transport delivery [6] - Auckland Chamber - Prime Minister Deals To ''P'' Issue In Auckland [7] - ARC - ARC Welcomes Government’s Transport Plans [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00316.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00315.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00314.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0312/S00132.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0312/S00091.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0312/S00090.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0312/S00088.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0312/S00087.htm

NEW ZEALAND LEAD STORY:

The Wages Of Coalition - Families Commission Act Passed - United Future leader, Peter Dunne, today challenged all Opposition parties to confirm they would abolish the Families Commission should they ever come to power. See... Dunne lays down Families Commission challenge [1] MORE:- United Future -Baldock: Making families more resilient [2] - United Future -Dunne salutes johnny-come-lately 'family' parties [3] - Govt. - High level of interest in Families Commission [4] - Progressives - Families Commission bill - 3rd reading speech [5] - National - What's the real cost of the Family Commission? [6] - Peter Dunne - Dunne: junior Nat MP undermining Don Brash [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00310.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00309.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00308.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00306.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00305.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00288.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00300.htm

NZ NEWS HEADLINES:

Myers Media Scholarship Winners Announced [1] <>New Law Protects Car Buyers From Monday [2] Export and Import Prices Fall [3] Trend in Guest Nights Remains Flat [4] Project Aqua – New Zealand’s Cheapest Power Option [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0312/S00135.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0312/S00133.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0312/S00131.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0312/S00129.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0312/S00128.htm

INTERNATIONAL LEAD STORY:

Stateside: The Rise Of The Greens St Francis's City - The San Francisco election results put the two folks supported by the outgoing mayor into office. Kamala Harris won 56 percent of the vote against incumbent Terence Hallinan, who was seeking his third term as District Attorney. See... Stateside With Rosalea: Da Results [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0312/S00106.htm

COLUMNS:

Hard News & Cracker With Attitude Are There!

- I guess if I was Steve Williams' lawyer I'd have my client say "the P made me do it" too. It certainly makes for good headlines. But what's his excuse for the other 88 convictions?... See... Public Address 12/12/03 - Bad Things And Good [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0312/S00117.htm

Martin LeFevre: Finding Balance

- Perhaps all creative work is an attempt to balance different aspects of one's own nature. For me, that means balancing the contemplative, philosophical, and political dimensions. See... Meditations (Spiritual): Finding Balance [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0312/S00115.htm

Naked In Nuhaka: 2003

- So i thought i'd do one of those year in review columns, where you look back at another year gone by, and pick out some of the trends -- signals of change, if you like -- that mark the transition of Aotearoa New Zealand's place in the world to a "New Space"; a 21st Century space. Looking back at the year gone by, one thing seems emergent: Change is Good. See... Naked in Nuhaka: Year in Review [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0312/S00114.htm

Cartoon: Merry Christmas From GWB

- Cartoon by John Chuckman See... Chuckman Cartoon: Whitehouse Christmas Card [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0312/S00113.htm

An Open Letter to US Military Spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty

- Dear Bryan, We have never met. Still, I hope you do not mind that I have dispensed with your formal title. See... On Killing Children: Open Letter to US Military [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0312/S00112.htm

STORY OF THE WEEK: Trans-Tasman Medicines Takeover

- This week the Government signed a complementary medicines treaty with Australia in circumstanes that drove the Health Select Committee close to apoplexy See... Story Of The Week: Trans-Tasman Medicines Takeover [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0312/S00116.htm

Mingus Casey: Who Is Ahmed Zaoui?

- Ahmed Zaoui is an Algerian national, who is currently in prison in New Zealand, after arriving on a false passport. At the immigration desk, he openly told New Zealand officials who he was, and was promptly arrested. See... Mingus Casey: Is Ahmed Zaoui A Terrorist? [1] and Factsheet – Ahmed Zaoui [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0312/S00108.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0312/S00096.htm

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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)

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GG’s Dreaming Of A White Christmas

- The Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright and Mr Peter Cartwright will make a second attempt at travelling to Antarctica next week. See... Governor-Gen on second attempt to visit Antarctica [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00342.htm

Prebble Seeks Recourse From High

Court - ACT Leader Richard Prebble said today he is applying for leave from the Court of Appeal for a special urgent hearing of the Court to squash the High Court ruling preventing him from invoking the Electoral Integrity Act in the case of former ACT ... See... Prebble: Urgent Hearing Sought [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00340.htm

Beehive News Wrap-Up For The Week

- A $3 billion package of measures to address decades of under-funding of transport infrastructure and streamline decision-making has been announced. Transport Minister Paul Swain says it strikes a balance between the need for a "catch-up" ... See... Beehive Bulletin - 12 December 2003 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00338.htm

Brash Says Govt Must Give Something To Over-Taxed Kiwis

- "It's now clear New Zealand taxpayers are the victims of a tax-mad Government that's prepared to reward its sympathisers while crucifying its enemies," says National Party Leader Don Brash. See... Labour must give something back to overtaxed Kiwis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00337.htm

Govt Policies Inhibit R&D Projects

- Labour's policies are making it difficult to get innovative Research and Development projects up and running, says National's Science spokesman Dr Paul Hutchison. See... Labour must improve R&D environment [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00336.htm

Thirty Schools Set To Close

- "Thirty schools across the country will be closing their doors for good as the school year comes to an end, bringing an end to decades of successful education provision," says National Party Education spokesman Bill English. See... End of the line for 30 schools [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00329.htm

Tourism Continues To Drive Up Economy

- Tourism continues to be a steady driver of economic growth across New Zealand. According to the latest Statistics New Zealand Accommodation Survey, October guest nights show an increase of one percent in comparison to the record figures of 2002, and a seven ... See... Tourism driving steady growth across New Zealand [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00327.htm

Is Radio NZ Biased?

- Radio New Zealand is in breach of its obligations under the Radio New Zealand Act's Section 7 1(f) to provide `comprehensive, independent, impartial and balanced national news services and current affairs'. See... Research Indicates National Radio Bias [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00326.htm

Week’s Select Committee

Report - Fourteen committee meetings were held this week, 13 in the parliamentary complex and one in Christchurch. There was one site visit. See... Select Committee Business For The Week [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00330.htm

PM Opens An Art Gallery

- Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark today opened the new John Money wing at the Eastern Southland Gallery, saying it will be a valuable addition to Southland's cultural infrastructure. See... PM opens new wing at Eastern Southland Gallery [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0312/S00341.htm

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

Top Scoops Headlines

COMMENT

Binoy Kampmark: The Australian Defence Formula, Spend! Spend! Spend!

Not only will Australians be paying a bill up to and above A$368 billion for nuclear powered submarines it does not need; it will also be throwing A$100 billion into the coffers of the military industrial complex over the next decade to combat a needlessly inflated enemy. Forget diplomacy and funding the cause (and course) of peace.

Ian Powell: New Hospital Building Trumps ‘Yes Minister’ Hospital Without Patients

Ian Powell discusses how New Zealand’s vertically centralised health system led to a new hospital surgical building without staff and its similarity with the ‘Yes Minister’ comedy and the hospital with no patients.

Mike Treen: Prices Are Still Rising - It's A Cost Of Living Crisis

New Zealand’s consumers price index increased 4 per cent in the 12 months to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ April 17. This was higher than the Reserve Bank prediction of 3.8%.

Gordon Campbell: On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism

The meaning of the word “racism” is being deliberately blurred, for political reasons. Lets re-state the obvious: when people are chronically experiencing worse social outcomes and lower life expectancy due to the colour of their skin, that’s racism. But the targeting of measures to redress those wrongs is not racism – it is justice, long overdue.

Peter Dunne: Newshub And TVNZ Tip Of Media Iceberg

There has been a positive but restrained response to the deal announced between Stuff and Warner Brothers Discovery to “save” TV3’s six o’clock nightly news bulletin, currently screened under the Newshub label. According to Stuff, the deal will mean that around 40 of the jobs involved can also be saved.

Harry Finch: Austerity – For And Against

It’s a word that politicians love to hate and as much as the current government is telling us that the measures they are taking don’t amount to austerity, by definition, they do. And as other commentators have noted, New Zealand has elected a government of austerity, so let’s weigh up the pros and cons.

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