JUST POLITICS
Horomia’s Verbal Gymnastics Don’t Impress Iwi
Avoiding Another Cave Creek
Union’s Labour Links Influencing Waterfront Mediation
PC Killjoys Target Pre-schoolers
Hawkins’s Crime Figures Manipulation Earns Rare Praise
Matt Robson Talks Penal Reform
Capill Wonders Why Compassion For Chicks Doesn’t Extend To Unborn Babies
RMA And Treaty of Waitangi Unhappy Bedfellows
Ageing With Attitude

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS
CANCER INQUIRY: Dr Bottrill Says Findings Fair
CANCER INQUIRY: King Says Cervical Screening Recommendations Will Be Implemented
Cabinet Allows Dairy Merger To Bypass Commerce Commission Scrutiny
Dairy Merger REACTION
PM’S PRESSER: Can’t See The Policies For The Muck

JUST POLITICS

Horomia’s Verbal Gymnastics Don’t Impress Iwi

- “The Treaty Tribes Coalition has no confidence in Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia,” Harry Mikaere, Chairman of the Coalition said today. See... Treaty Tribes Have No Confidence In Horomia [1] and Minister Corrects Dominion Error [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0104/S00028.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00165.htm

Avoiding Another Cave Creek

- Legislation introduced today will allow Government departments to be prosecuted for breaches of health and safety and building legislation, Justice Minister Phil Goff and Conservation Minister Sandra Lee have announced. See... Govt Introduces Bill To Address Cave Creek Report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00173.htm

Union’s Labour Links Influencing Waterfront Mediation

- Labour Party political pressure is evident in the government-appointed mediator's handling of the waterfront mediation, National's Industrial Relations Spokesperson Lockwood Smith said today. See... Labour party pressure in waterfront mediation [1] MORE: - NZ First - Action Of Nick Smith Immature And Illegal [2] - Employment Relations Service - Mediation Process at Critical Stage - Mediator [3] - Forestry Industry - Forest industry welcomes SI Ports Decision [4] - Employers’ Federation - Mediation report should ring alarm bells [5] - Nats - Ports Dispute Report Will Send Shiver Down Spine [6] - ACT - Sack Harre For Role In Waterfront Dispute [7] - Carter Holt Harvey - Carter Holt Harvey Says Time To Move On [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00156.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00171.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00068.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00065.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00064.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00139.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00145.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00055.htm

PC Killjoys Target Pre-schoolers

- The Education Review Office has gone beyond satire with its pathetic politically correct advice on 'trikeless days' at a Lower Hutt kindy,” says disgusted Libertarianz leader Peter Cresswell, who is his party's spokesman to deregulate early childhood education. See... A Return To "Carless Days"? [1] and Children Should Be Allowed Their Tricycles - ACT [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0104/S00033.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00157.htm

Hawkins’s Crime Figures Manipulation Earns Rare Praise

- ACT Police Spokesman Ken Shirley congratulated Police Minister George Hawkins for accomplishing yet another rehash of the crime statistics for the 2000 year, but questioned when the Minister would be releasing fresh figures. See... Another PR Spin Rehash from Police Minister [1] MORE: - Govt - Ryall Should Congratulate The New Zealand Police [2] - Nats - Robbery, violence, sex attacks up [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00158.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00172.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00154.htm

Matt Robson Talks Penal Reform

- “Penal reform”. These are not the words on the lips of most New Zealanders as they mow their lawns at the weekend or head off to work on a Monday morning. There are no Mark Middletons marching in the streets for penal reform. See... Re-thinking penal reform - Matt Robson Speech [1] and Listen to public - Robson to penal reformers [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00163.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00166.htm

Capill Wonders Why Compassion For Chicks Doesn’t Extend To Unborn Babies

- “The media fuss of the past three days about the destruction by maceration of day-old chicks was presumably intended to show the lack of compassion in the Poultry Industry,” Graham Capill said. See... A Question Of Priorities: Chicks Or Babies! [1] and Correctives: Stop Cruel Capon Rampages!!! [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0104/S00032.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0104/S00025.htm

RMA And Treaty of Waitangi Unhappy Bedfellows

- The Resource Management Act has been accused by constitutional commentator Stephen Franks of attacking Maori property rights established by the Treaty of Waitangi. See... Treaty Of Waitangi Threatened By RMA [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00174.htm

Ageing With Attitude

- A strategy designed to steer positive attitudes about ageing and to reaffirm the value of older people in the community, was launched by Minister for Senior Citizens Lianne Dalziel in Wellington today. See... Positive Ageing – Ageing With Attitude [1] and Launch Of NZ Positive Ageing Strategy [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00167.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00168.htm

TOP SCOOPS

CANCER INQUIRY: Dr Bottrill Says Findings Fair

- I received the Committee of Inquiry’s report yesterday and am taking time to reflect on it. My clear impressions are that the Committee has conducted a searching inquiry and that the report covers the evidence the Committee received comprehensively. The report contains various comments and conclusions and recommendations and I believe that they are fair. See... Dr Michael Bottrill - Committee Of Inquiry Report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/GE0104/S00025.htm

CANCER INQUIRY: King Says Cervical Screening Recommendations Will Be Implemented

- Health Minister Annette King says legislation will be passed this year to satisfy key recommendations of the report into Under-Reporting of Cervical Smear Abnormalities in the Gisborne region. See... Gisborne Cervical Screening Inquiry Report [1] and Gisborne Cervical Screening Inquiry Report Welcome - MOH [2] . See also... Tariana Turia: Cervical Screening Inquiry Report [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00170.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/GE0104/S00023.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00175.htm

Cabinet Allows Dairy Merger To Bypass Commerce Commission Scrutiny

- Q: Prime Minister, you have an opinion on the merger? HELEN CLARK: Of course, I have an opinion. I strongly support the decision made today. The decision we've made is to bypass the Commerce Commission, to give the industry the go-ahead to put the proposal to farmers. See... Extract PM’S Post Cabinet Presser - Dairy Merger [1] and Cabinet approves merger waiver [2] MORE: - Govt - Global Dairy Company - Cabinet Papers [3] - Global Dairy Company - Questions And Answers [4] - GDC Report - Report On GDC From Charles River Associates [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00161.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00148.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00150.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00149.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00151.htm

Dairy Merger REACTION

- ACT - Clayton’s Deregulation Could Backfire On Farmers [1] - Dairy Merger Must Be Scrutinised [2] - Nats - Dairy Decision Announced [3] - Dairy Farmers NZ - Farmers Congratulate the Government [4] - Global Dairy Co. - Dairy Industry Welcomes Regulatory Package [5] - Background - Global Dairy Company: The Package [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00155.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00143.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00138.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00067.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00062.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00066.htm

PM’S PRESSER: Can’t See The Policies For The Muck

- Prime minister Helen Clark said National’s lack of direction or clear policies is behind their poor showing in recent polls. See... We're The Only Game In Town, Says PM [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0104/S00058.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

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