JUST POLITICS
Coalition Partners Reach Paid Parental Leave Agreement
Pacific Whale Sanctuary A Step Closer
SOE Congratulated On Oz Hydro Purchase
National Republican Leanings Welcomed
Jim Enthused About China Too
What They Think Up'n Them There Hills
Worker Sent To Argentina
National Leader And Deputy Confirmed As 2002 Candidates
Speechifying….
Brain Drain Statistics Argument Continues
GE A Serious Environmental Issue For Public – Poll Shows
Greens Find International Ally In Plan To Stop Nuclear Waste Transports
Special Education Loses Voice Of Common-sense With Lashlie Sacking
Taskforce Gives National Plenty Of Fat To Chew
Parliamentarians Pay Tribute To de Cleene

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS
ACT Accused Of Electoral Donation Deception
Auckland Chamber Of Commerce Calls For Shareholders To Foot Qantas Bill

JUST POLITICS

Coalition Partners Reach Paid Parental Leave Agreement

- Labour and the Alliance have agreed that provision will be made for Paid Parental Leave in this year's budget, Women's Affairs Minister Laila Harré confirmed today. See... In principle agreement on Paid Parental Leave [1] and Concern at Paid Parental Leave Scheme - ACT [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00317.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00334.htm

Pacific Whale Sanctuary A Step Closer

- New Zealand’s Minister of Conservation Sandra Lee said the intention of New Zealand and Australia to submit the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary proposal to the International Whaling Commission meeting in London in July met with the unanimous support in principle in Apia. See... Apia meeting major boost for South Pacific Whales [1] . See also... Japan's Proposals For Fisheries Meeting Rejected [2] and Pacific makes progress on South Pacific Whales [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00316.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0104/S00050.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0104/S00046.htm

SOE Congratulated On Oz Hydro Purchase

- The Minister for State Owned Enterprises Mark Burton has welcomed the successful bid by Meridian Energy for hydro generation assets in Australia. See... Minister On Meridian Energy's Australian Purchase [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00339.htm

National Republican Leanings Welcomed

- Green Party MP Keith Locke today welcomed a new openness from the National Party towards New Zealand becoming a republic. See... Locke welcomes Nats' republican leanings [1] . See also… National republican decision is crucial [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00338.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0104/S00069.htm

Jim Enthused About China Too

- China has huge potential as a trading partner for New Zealand, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. See... Huge potential in China [1] . See also... CITIC welcomes opportunity to meet PM Helen Clark [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00336.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0104/S00049.htm

What They Think Up'n Them There Hills

- Ohariu Belmont MP, Hon Peter Dunne, has released the results of his 2001 Ohariu Belmont electorate on a range of current issues. See... Ohariu Belmont Survey Results Released [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00331.htm

Worker Sent To Argentina

- New Zealand's next Ambassador to Argentina will be career diplomat Carl Worker, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Jim Sutton announced today. See... New Ambassador To Argentina [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00330.htm

National Leader And Deputy Confirmed As 2002 Candidates

- The Leader of the Opposition, Jenny Shipley, has been confirmed as the National Party candidate for the Rakaia electorate for the 2002 General Election, National Party President John Slater announced today. See... Shipley And English Confirmed As 2002 Candidates [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00329.htm

Speechifying….

- Speeches from around the traps. Michael Cullen - Cullen Speech - Delivering and Transforming [1] - Annette King - New Zealand Pharmacy Forum Panel Discussion Speech [2] - Parekura Horomia - Parekura Horomia - Korean Ambassadors Dinner Spch. [3] and Busan Rock Unveiling - Parekura Horomia Speech [4] - Tariana Turia - Whitireia Community Polytechnic Nursing Graduation [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00327.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00323.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00314.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00313.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00312.htm

Brain Drain Statistics Argument Continues

- Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel's predictions of a turn-around in the permanent and long-term departures from New Zealand have been supported by today's external migration statistics. See... Statistics back Immigration Minister's predictions [1] and Labour is Fresh Out of Excuses [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00326.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00311.htm

GE A Serious Environmental Issue For Public – Poll Shows

A Massey University study which found 87 percent of New Zealanders consider genetic modification of plants and animals to be a serious environmental issue showed the depth of feeling about GE, Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said today. See... 87% of Kiwis see GE as environmental issue [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00308.htm

Greens Find International Ally In Plan To Stop Nuclear Waste Transports

Green MP Ian Ewen-Street has secured international opposition to the shipment of nuclear cargoes through other countries exclusive economic zones at the international Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Havana early this month. See... Greens secure intl. opposition to nuclear shipment [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00307.htm

Special Education Loses Voice Of Common-sense With Lashlie Sacking

- Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley says the sacking of Special Education Services Manager Celia Lashlie is a catastrophe in terms of stifling an honest and commonsense debate about the chaos surrounding some New Zealand families and their children. See... Loss of Lashlie 'a catastrophe' [1] and Lashlie sacking makes a mockery of initiative [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00319.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00318.htm

Taskforce Gives National Plenty Of Fat To Chew

- Taskforces launched by the National Party after the last election are provoking lively debate on some major policy issues, Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley said today. See... National's policy taskforce provokes debate [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00328.htm

Parliamentarians Pay Tribute To de Cleene

- “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Trevor de Cleene,” Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley said today. See... Trevor de Cleene [1] , Prebble Pays Tribute to Trevor de Cleene [2] , and Margaret Wilson on the death of Trevor de Cleene [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00335.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00333.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00337.htm

TOP SCOOPS

ACT Accused Of Electoral Donation Deception

- The Green Party says today's Sunday Star Times revelations about the elaborate techniques ACT Party big business backers used to hide the size and sources of its 1996 election funding will lead to ACT's demise. See... Big business donations highlight ACT hypocrisy [1] . See also Jim Anderton comment... Prebble should take responsibility [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00320.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00324.htm

Auckland Chamber Of Commerce Calls For Shareholders To Foot Qantas Bill

- It is not just the passengers and staff who have lost out from the collapse of Tasman Pacific (Qantas), but also the many suppliers who have continued to provide a service in “good faith”. See... Auckland Chamber of Commerce On Qantas [1] MORE: - Jim Anderton - Govt ready to help with new airline [2] - Belinda Vernon - Govt must take decisive action in wake of Qantas [3] - Jenny Shipley - Urgent Action Needed On Major Air Travel Issues [4] - Tasman Pacific - Qantas New Zealand services grind to a halt [5] - Wellington International Airport - Airport Comment On Qantas NZ Cessation Of Service [6] - Draft WIAL April 24th Press Release And April 20th Letter To Qantas [7] - WIAL and Qantas Liquidation Fact Sheet [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00149.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00322.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00315.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00332.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0104/S00110.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00144.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00146.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0104/S00145.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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