JUST POLITICS
Polite Ethnic Community About To Get Vocal
Govt Keeping Tabs On Kidnapped Kiwi In Ecuador
Call For Self-Government Pleases Libz
ACT Chews The Fat In Hawke’s Bay
Catherine Judd Nominated For ACT Presidency
Hobbs To Global Environment Chinwag
Govt Must Fight Tooth & Claw For Lamb Exports To States
Porirua Health Funding

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Clark’s Latest Waitangi Sidestep Disingenuous, Says Shipley
Stateside With Rosalea: What does New Zealand mean?
Howard’s End: Giving The Government Ears
NZ Govt. Must Back "Balibo Five" Trial In Timor
Super Yacht Development Delivers Jobs
Leaders Pay Respect To Sir David Beattie

JUST POLITICS

Polite Ethnic Community About To Get Vocal

- On the eve of Waitangi day the focus is on the Crown's decision not to attend celebrations at Waitangi. Instead, the Prime Minister will be sheltered by the ever-courteous ethnic community, National's Ethnic Affairs spokesperson Pansy Wong said today. See... Ethnic Community - the silent critics speak up [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00055.htm

Govt Keeping Tabs On Kidnapped Kiwi In Ecuador

- Foreign Minister Phil Goff says the New Zealand Government continues to keep in close touch with Ecuadorian authorities over the kidnapping of New Zealander Dennis Corrin, especially in the wake of the latest worrying development. See... Kidnapped New Zealander Update [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00045.htm

Call For Self-Government Pleases Libz

- “I welcome the call for 'sovereignty', directed at the Prime Minister by Maori activists,” says Libertarianz Spokesman Russell Watkins. “Indeed sovereignty i.e.; self- government, is exactly what all individuals in a free society - and not just Maori - have a right to.” See... Sovereignty: "Yes Please!" [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0102/S00011.htm

ACT Chews The Fat In Hawke’s Bay

- The ACT Party Caucus will be meeting for three days in Hawke’s Bay this week, working on strategies to tackle the important issues facing New Zealanders this year, ACT Leader Hon Richard Prebble said today. See... ACT Caucus to Meet in Hawke’s Bay This Week [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00057.htm

Catherine Judd Nominated For ACT Presidency

- Long time ACT Board member and twice-candidate John Ormond welcomed the announcement by Wellington consultant Catherine Judd that she was challenging Mr Ormond for the ACT Presidency. See... Ormond Welcomes Judd's ACT Presidency Challenge [1] and Catherine Judd Nomination For ACT Presidency [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00049.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0102/S00010.htm

Hobbs To Global Environment Chinwag

- The Minister for the Environment, Marian Hobbs, leaves on Monday to attend the United Nations Environment Programme's second Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, from February 8-9. See... Minister To Attend Global Environment Forum [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00048.htm

Govt Must Fight Tooth & Claw For Lamb Exports To States

- The Government must finish what National started by actively fighting the United States appeal against the WTO's decision on lamb import quota and tariff restrictions, National's Agricultural spokesperson Gavan Herlihy said today. See... Govt must fight US appeal tooth and claw [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00047.htm

Porirua Health Funding

- HEALTH Minister Annette King today announced that Porirua Healthlinks is to receive a further three years' funding. See... Porirua Healthlinks funded for three years [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00046.htm

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS

Clark’s Latest Waitangi Sidestep Disingenuous, Says Shipley

- Helen Clark's sudden backdown over Ministers attending Waitangi Day commemorations at Waitangi is nothing short of disingenuous, Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley said today. See... Clark's Waitangi U-Turn Doesn't Stack Up [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00060.htm

Stateside With Rosalea: What does New Zealand mean?

- What does New Zealand mean? I was asked that question last week by someone in a workplace literacy programme. It was asked in the context of introducing ourselves and talking about what our names mean. New Zealand, I said, doesn't mean anything. See... Rosalea Barker: What does New Zealand mean? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0102/S00016.htm

Howard’s End: Giving The Government Ears

- Hundreds of thousands of working Australians are going without meals, do not take holidays, cannot afford their own home, buy second-hand clothes and struggle to pay bills, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. What about NZ? See... Howard's End: Giving The Government Ears [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0102/S00015.htm

NZ Govt. Must Back "Balibo Five" Trial In Timor

- The Indonesia Human Rights Committee is calling for the Government to throw its support behind the United Nations investigators who are seeking international warrants for the arrest of 3 men for the murders of Australian based journalists (including a New Zealander- Gary Cunningham) on October 16, 1975. See... NZ Govt. Must Back "Balibo Five" Trial In Timor [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0102/S00036.htm

Super Yacht Development Delivers Jobs

- A super-yacht development in West Auckland announced today will deliver up to three hundred and fifty new jobs within two years, and up to six hundred million dollars of new export earnings over five years. See... Jobs Machine Delivers [1] . See also… Sovereign Yachts development at Hobsonville speech [2] and Harré welcomes Jobs Machine success [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00051.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00052.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00050.htm

Leaders Pay Respect To Sir David Beattie

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today and Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley pay tribute to former Governor General Sir David Beattie, who died suddenly last night. See... On The Death Of Sir David Beattie [1] and Sir David Beattie [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00053.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0102/S00056.htm

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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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