Scoop Today - New News

Thursday, 18 May 2000, 5:29 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

HEADLINES

What's Wrong With The Kiwi!
Scoop Opinion: Bill Clinton Is To Blame For Petrol Price Hikes
A Bumper Package For Artistes
In Plain English Please, Mr Brash
Shipley Goes Too Far and Eats Words
Scoop Opinion: International News Discovered
NZ Reserve Bank Interest Rates Follow The Fed - Up
Scoop Is In The House

West Coast Accord Bill Introduced
Criminal Negotiating Agents
Greens Get In Behind Organics
Are We Giving Enough?
Government Asks - Are The Kids Alright?
Benefit Fraud Unit Name Change
Reports Received On St Stephens
New Call To Action - In Melbourne
West Coast Goldmine Concerns
Sutton Says He Is Naked On The World Stage
Feds Damn The Employment Relations And Education Bills
Three Views On The Employment Relations Bill
Marian Hobbs’ For The Belt
Sneaky West Coast Tricks

TOP SCOOPS

What's Wrong With The Kiwi!

- The Kiwi dollar has continued it's big slide this afternoon down at around 1pm to 45.7 US cents, close to its lowest levels since it was floated in 1984. The Reserve Bank Governor says he is at a loss to explain it. The Australian's are getting nervous because it is affecting their currency too. Scoop understands at least one large bank is sitting on a large position and is expecting the dollar to fall even further. The most proximate explanation for the fall is the strength of the US dollar following a 0.5% rise in interest rates by the Federal Reserve. At around 2pm the Finance Minister called for calm see... Government urges calm and reason on the economy [1] . The issue will also be raised in Questions this afternoon in Parliament see...Questions For Oral Answer - Thursday, 18 May [2] . “It’s imperative that Dr Michael Cullen take specific steps to restore business confidence in the Government and in the New Zealand economy,” Rodney Hide said today. See... What Cullen Must Do to Restore Confidence [3] both in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00398.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00397.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00390.htm

Scoop Opinion: Bill Clinton Is To Blame For Petrol Price Hikes

- New Zealand is reeling from savage petrol price hikes, but much of the blame for the price increases can be squarely placed at the feet of the Clinton administration. John Howard reports. See... Petrol Price Hike-Blame It On Bill [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0005/S00080.htm

A Bumper Package For Artistes

- Multiple releases and information pack on the $140 million Arts Package announced today by the Prime Minister. See... Government announces major investment in arts [1] in the Parliament wire. For more see below.
REACTION - UNITED NZ - Arts Funding Decision Step In The Right Direction [2]
- NATIONAL - How Will This Hand-Out Close Any Gaps? [3]
- ACT - How Will $140 Million Arts Funding Close The Gaps? [4]
- NATIONAL - Arts Funding Monsoon - But Will It Dry Up? [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00391.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00411.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00406.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00402.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00401.htm

In Plain English Please, Mr Brash

- The newly formed New Zealand Banking Reform group would like to invite the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Don Brash, to explain in plain English to the public the nature of the process of money creation. See... Dr Brash Invited To Explain Money Creation System [1] . Also see... Time To Start Talking Reform Of The Banking System [2] in the Politics wire for a link to where you can join a discussion about money.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00107.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00094.htm

Shipley Goes Too Far and Eats Words

- “I understand that this afternoon in the House there have been assertions made that in the comments during my speech in relation to the snap debate on the spectrum yesterday that I in some way cast a reflection on people within the Pacific Island community.” Leader of the Opposition Jenny Shipley apologises for her “climbing into people’s rooms at night” comment about Maori & Pacific Islanders. Mrs Shipley made the remark in Parliament on Tuesday in a heated debate over the Government's decision to give a special option on radio frequencies to Maori. See... Jenny Shipley’s Offensive Remarks Contextualised [1] in the Headlines wire. For her apology see...Shipley Personal Statement to the House [2] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0005/S00079.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00382.htm

Scoop Opinion: International News Discovered

- Two of the biggest international news events at the moment are the hostage crisis in Jolo (Philippines) and the siege of Jaffna (Sri Lanka). Not that you would know it from the New Zealand media, which has just discovered there's a war cum humanitarian crisis. See... Keith Rankin: Jolo And Jaffna [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0005/S00077.htm

NZ Reserve Bank Interest Rates Follow The Fed - Up

- The New Zealand Reserve Bank has raised the official cash rate interest rate by 0.5% to 6.5% this morning warning of growing inflationary pressures. The move follows hot on the heels of a decision of the US Federal Reserve to also raise interest rates by 0.5%. The new OCR indicates a floating mortgage rate of around 9%. See…RBNZ - Summary of economic projections [1] , RBNZ: OCR set at 6.5 per cent [2] and RBNZ: Overview And Policy Assessment [3] in the Business wire.
REACTION
- NZ FIRST - Peters Warns Of Interest Rates Explosion [4]
- JIM ANDERTON - Anderton comment on the OCR [5] .
- ACT - Interest Rate Hike Shows Anderton A King Canute [6] .
- EMPLOYERS & MANUFACTURERS - Interest Rate Rise Threatens Recession [7] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0005/S00094.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0005/S00093.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0005/S00092.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00404.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00364.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00363.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00102.htm

Scoop Is In The House

- Today's questions concerned: Sliding Dollar - Jenny Shipley PI Remarks - State House Rentals - Overseas Aid - Jim Anderton's Views On The Reserve Bank - Airways British Plans - Union Agents With Convictions - Cellphones And Kids - Maori Spectrum - Treaty - TPK Report On Waitara - Arts Policy LaunchSee... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day - May 18 [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0005/S00081.htm

MORE SCOOPS

West Coast Accord Bill Introduced

- This afternoon Parliament debated a bill extinguishing the 1986 West Coast Accord. See... Forests (West Coast Accord ) Bill 2000 1st Reading [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00410.htm

Criminal Negotiating Agents

- The Government has removed workers' rights to ban serious criminals from acting as their bargaining agents, Opposition Industrial Relations spokesperson Max Bradford said today. See... Serious Criminals Negotiating Contracts [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00408.htm

Green Get In Behind Organics

-The Green Party will be the best-represented political party at tomorrow's major conference on the future of organic production in New Zealand, with three MPs attending. See... Strong Green Presence At Organics Conference [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00407.htm

Are We Giving Enough?

- The government will set up a working party to look at New Zealand's overseas aid programme, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Matt Robson announced today in parliament.See... Minister Announces Working Party for Overseas Aid [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00405.htm

Government Asks - Are The Kids Alright?

-Youth Affairs Minister Laila Harré is seeking input from the non-government sector into a draft report on New Zealand's implementation of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCROC). See... Draft report released on status of NZ Children [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00396.htm

Benefit Fraud Unit Name Change

- "Changing the name of the Benefit Crime Unit and reclassifying overpayments isn't going to change the fact millions of dollars. See... Minister Of Name Changes Needs Some Substance [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00395.htm

Reports Received On St Stephens

- Education Minister Trevor Mallard said he had received interim reports from both the Education Review Office and the Ministry of Education on the current situation at St Stephen's School in Bombay. See... Reports on St Stephens School [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00394.htm

New Call To Action - In Melbourne

- September 11-13th, the World Economic Forum (WEF) will hold its Asia-Pacific Economic Summit. Protestors are planning otherwise. See... s11: Stand Up For Global Justice [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00111.htm

West Coast Goldmine Concerns

- Forest and Bird is concerned that Timberlands WestCoast may allow access for a new gold mine in north Westland. The proposed mine is on public land managed by Timberlands at Moonlight Creek on the eastern edge of the Paparoa Range. See... Gold mine proposed in Timberlands' forest. [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00110.htm

Sutton Says He Is Naked On The World Stage

- "I'm feeling a bit naked and vulnerable, turning blue," Minister of Trade Negotiations Jim Sutton wrote in The Independent yesterday. See... The Naked Minister [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00108.htm

Feds Damn The Employment Relations And Education Bills

- Federated Farmers told the Employment Relations Bill Select Committee today that the Bill's cumulative effect would be disastrous for New Zealand's rural sector. See... ERB Unworkable In Rural Areas: Federated Farmers [1] in the Politics wire. The Feds are not keen on the proposed Education Bill either. See... Education Bill Backward Step For Rural Children [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00106.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00109.htm

Three Views On The Employment Relations Bill

- Federated Farmers told the Employment Relations Bill Select Committee today that the Bill's cumulative effect would be disastrous for New Zealand's rural sector. See... ERB Unworkable In Rural Areas: Federated Farmers [1] . Meanwhile, the very same Employment Relations Bill, will be good for the health sector according to the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. See... Doctors-New Industrial Law Good For Health Service [2] . Also see... ECA claim not supported by the facts - Knowles [3] all in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00106.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00105.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0005/S00096.htm

Marian Hobbs’ For The Belt

- Labour’s Marian Hobbs will go down in history as being the only MP for Wellington Central who has failed the people of Wellington if she allows parts of the city’s Town Belt to be sold off, National MP Annabel Young said today. See... Sale of Town Belt land must be stopped [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00387.htm

Sneaky West Coast Tricks

- Nelson MP and former Conservation Minister Nick Smith today accused the Government of sneaky tricks on the West Coast Accord Bill by deliberately trying to avoid sending the Bill to the Select Committee chaired by West Coast MP Damien O'Connor. See... Sneaky select committee deal on West Coast Accord [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0005/S00386.htm

© 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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