JUST POLITICS
Government Backs NZ Fashion Week
Maharey Launches Counter-Offensive On Community Services Card
New Office For Ethnicity
John Wood To Replace Jim Bolger In D.C.
NZ Leads The World Again – This Time In Freeing Up Our Skies –
Christine’s Colleagues Are Not Unhappy
Tomorrow Is Tax Freedom Day
Newman Wrong – I Am In Control, Says Maharey
NCEA Report Backs Me Says Brownlee
Corrections Law Modernisation

POLITICS FROM TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House – Today’s Q&A
NZ Wins WTO Appeal On Lamb
Goff And Robson Concerned At Bush Moves On Nukes
Rapist Policeman Still On Payroll
Scoop Images: Jim’s Bank Opens Early
Telecommunications Bill Introduced

JUST POLITICS

Government Backs NZ Fashion Week

- “It is excellent news that the government through Industry New Zealand will help fund fashion week, ensuring that the event will occur here and can be a success,” said Jim Anderton Industry and Regional Development Minister. See... Fashion week another international event for NZ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00026.htm

Maharey Launches Counter-Offensive On Community Services Card

- Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey today accused the National Opposition of “rank hypocrisy” in their attacks on the Government over eligibility for the Community Services Card. See... Maharey accuses National and Act of rank hypocrisy [1] and Community Services Card Fact Sheet [2] . See also Scoop PM's Presser coverage... Inadequate Advice On Card Dropped Us In It - PM [3] See the JUST POLITICS FEATURE PAGE [4] for full Community Services Card coverage.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00023.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00022.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00001.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=justpolitics

New Office For Ethnicity

- Prime Minister Helen Clark and Ethnic Affairs Minister George Hawkins today formally launched the Office of Ethnic Affairs at a function at Parliament. See... Ethnic Affairs office officially launched [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00027.htm

John Wood To Replace Jim Bolger In D.C.

- John Wood will be New Zealand's next Ambassador to Washington, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff announced today. Mr Wood served previously as Ambassador to Washington from 1994-1998. See... Wood Next NZ Ambassador To Washington [1] . See also... Sutton Speech: US-NZ Business Council [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00039.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00036.htm

NZ Leads The World Again – This Time In Freeing Up Our Skies –

- New Zealand is at the forefront of a new era in international air services with the signing of the Multilateral Agreement on the Liberalization of International Air Transportation, Transport Minister Mark Gosche and Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton say. See... Multilateral Air Services Agreement Signed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00037.htm

Christine’s Colleagues Are Not Unhappy

- Department of Work and Income (DWI) staff have expressed support for a new social development-focused approach to welfare, Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said today. See... Social Development Focus Supported [1] . See also… DWI Managers Show No Confidence in Maharey [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00033.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00017.htm

Tomorrow Is Tax Freedom Day

- The ACT Party has declared Thursday May 3 Tax Freedom Day. “It’s the day we stop working for the government and start working for ourselves and our families,” ACT leader Richard Prebble said. See... ACT Declares May 3 Tax Freedom Day [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00032.htm

Newman Wrong – I Am In Control, Says Maharey

- New rules instituted within the Department of Work and Income (DWI) ensure that the benefit fraud is being properly detected and recovered, Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said today. See... Maharey Dismisses Newman's Benefit Fraud Claims [1] . See also ACT release… Weak Maharey Loses Ground Quickly On Benefit Fraud [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00031.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00008.htm

NCEA Report Backs Me Says Brownlee

- The Education Minister and Ministry of Education can take no comfort from the report of Professor Black, of the School of Education, King's College London, on the National Certificate of Educational Achievement, National's Education spokesperson Gerry Brownlee says. See... NCEA Concerns Vindicated By Report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00030.htm

Corrections Law Modernisation

- The law covering Corrections is being modernised, and the Corrections Minister Matt Robson is asking the public to have a say. See... Corrections Law Review consultation to be launched [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00029.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Scoop Is In The House – Today’s Q&A

- Today's questions of the day concerned: Community Services Card – New Prisons – Health Funding - Youth Justice Facility Location – Education Review Office – Social Services Agency Merger – Centennial Highway Accidents – Police Rapist – Good Faith Code – Security Threats To NZ – Telecomms Regulatory Changes. See... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day – 2 May [1] . For yesterday's questions and paraphrased answers see... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day –1 May [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00018.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00008.htm

NZ Wins WTO Appeal On Lamb

- The United States should move quickly to remove restrictions on New Zealand and Australian lamb imports that the World Trade Organisation has ruled are illegal, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. See... World Trade Organisation Rejects US Lamb Appeal [1] and the full text of the WTO decision… WTO Apellate Report On US/NZ Lamb Tariff Dispute [2] REACTION: - Greens - Farmers need to be wary of WTO [3] - Federated Farmers – Federated Farmers Welcomes WTO Lamb Decision [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00034.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0105/S00002.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00040.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00011.htm

Goff And Robson Concerned At Bush Moves On Nukes

- New Zealand regrets United States President Bush's announcement of a firm intention to proceed with missile defence plans, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff and Disarmament Minister Matt Robson said. See... NZ Concern Over US Missile Defence Plans [1] . See also... President Bush Speech To Defense University [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00035.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0105/S00003.htm

Rapist Policeman Still On Payroll

- The Police Commissioner has confirmed that police officer and convicted rapist Colin McLean will continue to be paid $1000 a week until his almost certain appeal is over, National's Police spokesman Tony Ryall said today. See... Rapist still on police payroll [1] . See also... Minister Pleased With Progress On PERF Issue [2] and Police Minister Urged to Change PERF Rules [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00024.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00001.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0104/S00457.htm

Scoop Images: Jim’s Bank Opens Early

- Scoop has received the following picture from a recent traveller to the city of angels... See... Scoop Images: Jim's Bank Opens Early In LA [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00003.htm

Telecommunications Bill Introduced

- Communications Minister Paul Swain has introduced legislation designed to deliver on the government's decisions last year to reform the telecommunications regulatory regime in New Zealand. See... Telecommunications Bill Introduced [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00050.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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