TODAY'S TOP SCOOPS
Mediation Agreed In Carter Holt Wharf Dispute
Interest Rates Hold Steady
PM’s Presser: Looking Forward To A Peaceful Waitangi Day
Cannabis Law Reform: Education, Not Instant Fines The Answer
Julz’s World: The Unnatural Demands Of Snowboarding
Business Confidence Rebound
Dairy Industry Happy With Government Caution On Mega-Merger
Goff Speaks Against Nuclear Waste Shipments
South Island Winter Olympics Bid – Unlimited Magazine Scoop
Shell Provides Petrol Price Competition
Their Beer Is Not Getting Smaller Over Here

TOP SCOOPS

Mediation Agreed In Carter Holt Wharf Dispute

- The Department of Labour has announced that the parties to the current waterfront dispute have agreed to the involvement of a Mediator from the Department’s Employment Relations Mediation Service. See... Mediation For Parties In Waterfront Dispute [1] . See also Carter Holt Harvey... CHH welcomes initiatives on waterfront dispute [2] and a statement from Mainland Stevedoring... Mainland employs local workforce in South Island [3] . FULL COVERAGE: - ACT - Return to Militant Union Control Would Cost Jobs [4] - ACT - Coalition To Blame For Civil Unrest On Wharves [5] . - National - Govt must act over disgraceful union tactics [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00071.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00064.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00063.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00083.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00096.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00074.htm

Interest Rates Hold Steady

- As expected unanimously by the market, the RBNZ left the official cash rate unchanged at 6.5%. The RBNZ also issued a short statement - reproduced below - setting out the rationale for this decision. See... RBNZ OCR Interim Review - Cash Rate Unchanged [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00067.htm

PM’s Presser: Looking Forward To A Peaceful Waitangi Day

- “Most New Zealanders are fed up with the aggro [on Waitangi Day],” Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday. “I want it to be a day all New Zealanders can take pleasure in.” See... PM To Avoid Aggro On Waitangi Day [1] Howard’s End: Wake Up Call On Poverty - Steve Maharey's announcement that Government is working on ways to measure the extent of poverty in New Zealand is a wake-up call for the country. Findings from similar surveys announced yesterday in South Australia, shocked that state. We need to turn up the volume over our poverty. See… Howard's End: Turn Up The Volume On Poverty [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0101/S00057.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0101/S00059.htm

Cannabis Law Reform: Education, Not Instant Fines The Answer

- Green MP Nandor Tanczos today said he was delighted to hear the Minister of Youth Affairs saying that replacing current cannabis laws with instant spot fines was not the answer. See... Laila Harre Speech to Youth Forum on Cannabis Law Reform [1] and Tanczos agrees with Harré instant fines no answer [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00095.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00099.htm

Julz’s World: The Unnatural Demands Of Snowboarding

- I’ve come to the conclusion that snowboarders are crazy. Every inch of my body aches from head to toe. Even the areas between my bruises are sore. My muscles ache so much I can barely lift my arms to get dressed in the morning. See… Julz’s World: Falling For The Snow [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0101/S00058.htm

Business Confidence Rebound

- “The latest NZIER survey showing a strong bounce-back in business confidence is in line with other surveys and points to good economic growth this year,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said. See... Strong bounce-back in confidence welcome [1] and NZ Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00094.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00057.htm

Dairy Industry Happy With Government Caution On Mega-Merger

- A lot more work needs to be done, before the Government can endorse the proposed merger of New Zealand's two largest dairy companies and the Dairy Board, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said yesterday. See... Government working on dairy industry proposal [1] . “The dairy industry is committed to ensuring we continue to provide the Government with high-quality information on the Merger Package,” John Roadley, Chairman-designate of Global Dairy Company, replied. See... Dairy Industry Committed To Working With Govt. [2] . FULL COVERAGE: - Quigley Report - The Quigley report on Dairy Mega-merger - New Version [3] - Merger Report - Dairy Industry Position On Commerce Commission [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00087.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00061.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00068.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00042.htm

Goff Speaks Against Nuclear Waste Shipments

- Without going as far as supporting a Green Party bill which would outlaw nuclear shipments from New Zealand's 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff strongly voiced his opposition to nuclear shipments yesterday afternoon at the PM’s post Cabinet press conference. See... Goff Speaks Out Against Nuclear Shipments [1] and More Nuclear Materials On The Move [2] . Full Coverage - GREENPEACE - How Many More Shipments Mr Howard? [3] and Greenpeace blocks path of nuclear ship [4] - United Future NZ - Nuclear Waste Transport Issue Misses Crucial Point [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0101/S00056.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00080.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0101/S00046.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0101/S00045.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0101/S00088.htm

South Island Winter Olympics Bid – Unlimited Magazine Scoop

- Christchurch and Queenstown may host the 2010 Winter Olympics, if two South Island business people get their way. See... South Islanders plan 2010 Winter Olympics bid [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00060.htm

Shell Provides Petrol Price Competition

- Despite spiralling international oil costs, Shell is only raising petrol and diesel prices by five cents and two cents respectively – with increases delayed for 24 hours. See... Shell Delays Price Increases (5 cents and 2 cents) [1] and World Oil Price Hikes Have Local Impact [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00059.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00047.htm

Their Beer Is Not Getting Smaller Over Here

- Foster's International New Zealand will not reduce the size of its beer cans the company says. See... No to smaller cans says Foster's [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0101/S00055.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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