JUST POLITICS
Peter’s In The Poo Again
Treasury’s Economic Slowdown Warning
Chinese Enjoying Business Climate
Medical Misadventure Raises Accountability Issues
Jobs For The Boys
Mountain Bike Law is An Ass
Beneficiaries Can Keep Payouts
Pinky & Steve Bring The Laughs & Muffins
Aussie Decision Puts Pressure On For NZ Hemp Industry

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS
Howard’s End: Research A Slave To Funding
Stateside With Rosalea: McNutt Knocks Stock Market Off The Front Page
NZ PM Tracking Mir’s Movements

JUST POLITICS

Peter’s In The Poo Again

- National Member of Parliament Wyatt Creech has renewed his efforts to achieve full disclosure over a $750,000 research grant to a team lead by the Prime Minister's husband, Peter Davis. See... Transparency needed over $750,000 research grant [1] . See also Health Research Council release... Health Research Assessment Process Eliminates Bias [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00293.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0103/S00071.htm

Treasury’s Economic Slowdown Warning

- Treasury has warned that the slowdown in global economic growth will have a material impact on the New Zealand economy, National's Finance spokesman Bill English said today. See... Treasury warns of lower growth [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00294.htm

Chinese Enjoying Business Climate

- Minister for Ethnic Affairs Hon George Hawkins said steady economic growth, lower unemployment and strong consumer confidence is benefiting Chinese business-people. See... Ethnic Business Humming Along [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00300.htm

Medical Misadventure Raises Accountability Issues

- The Rt Hon Winston Peters MP, Leader of New Zealand First, today said that another alleged case of medical misadventure against Dr Graham Parry, which was documented on TV 3’s 20/20 programme last night, raised several serious issues of accountability. See... 20/20 Shows Secrecy Of Medical Council Hearings [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00298.htm

Jobs For The Boys

- “The appointment of National Seafarers' President Dave Morgan to the board of shipping company Pacific Forum Line is totally inappropriate and exposes a serious conflict of interest,” says National's Transport spokesperson Belinda Vernon. See... Jobs for the boys [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00296.htm

Mountain Bike Law is An Ass

- “The rule that prohibits mountain bikes anywhere in National Parks is an ass and needs updating,” Nelson MP and National Conservation spokesperson Nick Smith today at the launch of the nation-wide petition in partnership with the New Zealand Mountain Bike Association. See... Petition to change National Park bike prohibition [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00295.htm

Beneficiaries Can Keep Payouts

- Dividend payouts by community owned power lines trusts, which have been worth between $520 and $1,060, will be able to be kept by beneficiaries and superannuitants who get supplementary benefits with no impact on their incomes, Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey says. See... Beneficiaries and superannuitants to keep payouts [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00292.htm

Pinky & Steve Bring The Laughs & Muffins

- Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Steve Maharey and well-known comedian Pinky Agnew join Citizens Advice Bureau staff at Wellington Railway Station tomorrow morning (Monday 18 March) to mark to launch Citizens Advice Bureau Awareness Week. See... Music, muffins and mirth marks start of CAB Week [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00291.htm

Aussie Decision Puts Pressure On For NZ Hemp Industry

- The Green Party is calling on the government to act swiftly to allow New Zealand farmers to grow industrial hemp following New South Wales Agriculture giving the go ahead across the Tasman. See... Aussie green light for hemp puts pressure on NZ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00290.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Howard’s End: Research A Slave To Funding

- Forcing universities to go cap in hand to industry and wealthy individuals for money is preventing academics from sharing research and speaking out, a new Australian report reveals. Academics are being muzzled by commerce, John Howard writes. See... Howard's End: Academia Muzzled By Commerce [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0103/S00124.htm

Stateside With Rosalea: McNutt Knocks Stock Market Off The Front Page

- It's St Paddy's Day today but they had the 149th SPD parade in San Francisco last week, so instead I had a Polish sausage at Ghirardelli Square, where an Irish street fair was promised but didn't seem to have yet eventuated. See... Stateside With Rosalea: The Last Weekend Of Winter [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0103/S00123.htm

NZ PM Tracking Mir’s Movements

- Prime Minister Helen Clark said today that the best projection for the timing of re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere of the Russian space station, Mir, is 6.20 am on Thursday. See... Mir – the outlook is Thursday [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00297.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.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

• Mobile - 021707044
• Twitter - @althecat
• Google+

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz