JUST POLITICS
GE Cows Debate: AgResearch’s Medicine Claims Embarassing Nonsense
Nation Education Policy Release: National Brushes Off PPTA Concerns
University Fees Row Heats Up
Rates May Be Levied On God’s Houses
Unisys Selected To Put The Law Online
Greens Oppose New West Coast Roads
TVNZ Split Purely Political - Rich
Tame Iti’s Bridge: Nick Smith Declines To Resign
Foot And Mouth Threat Remains
Select Committee News Update
German Visitor
Terrorism Law Changes Introduced

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Nats Seek To Fast Track Police Protection Law
No Smacking, Repeal Section 59
Defence Policy Cutting NZ Out Of Pacific
Gene Technology Out Of Control As US Breeds GE Babies
Budget Blowout Bigger Than Cullen’s Letting On

JUST POLITICS

GE Cows Debate: AgResearch’s Medicine Claims Embarassing Nonsense

- Claims by AgResearch that their experiment to put human genes into cows could help Multiple Sclerosis sufferers have been rejected as embarrassing nonsense by a Professor of Biological Sciences at Waikato University. See... Agresearch's MS Claims Embarrassing Nonsense [1] . For full coverage of the GE Cow Debate see SCOOP JUST POLITICS [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00128.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=justpolitics

Nation Education Policy Release: National Brushes Off PPTA Concerns

- National's Education spokesperson Gerry Brownlee has dismissed comments by the PPTA of National's plans to introduce external exams to the secondary school qualifications system as purely self interest. See... National Adamant About Student Exams [1] and National Will Bring Back Exams [2] MORE REACTION: - NZ Government - Money doesn't grow on trees [3] - NZ Government - No Ideas And No Vision For Education From National [4] - NZ Government - Mallard Welcomes Nat. Acceptance of Govt. Policy [5] - Concerned Teachers - . National’s Dual Exam – One Size Does Not Fit All [6] - NZUSA - Students aren’t as green as grass [7] - National Party - Youth And Tertiary Taskforce Report Released [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00132.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00129.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00120.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00126.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00116.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00009.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00008.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00101.htm

University Fees Row Heats Up

- Students have over compensated universities for the reduction in government funding over the past ten years according to new research released today by the New Zealand University Students’ Association (NZUSA). See… Students Used As Cash Cows - New Research [1] , Steve Should Not Forget Pre-Election Pledge [2] , Medical Students Urge Restraint [3] , NZMA Calls On Universities Not To Raise Fees [4] and OUSA Warns of Unpredictable Student Response [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00013.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00012.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00011.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00010.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00007.htm

Rates May Be Levied On God’s Houses

- United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says churches could find themselves paying rates on churches under plans presently being considered by the Department of Internal Affairs. See... Churches Need To Speak Out About Rates Plan [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00131.htm

Unisys Selected To Put The Law Online

- The Parliamentary Counsel Office has selected Unisys New Zealand Ltd as the preferred implementation partner for the project to improve public access to legislation, the Attorney-General, Margaret Wilson, announced today. See... E-Government: New Zealand legislation@your.service [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00130.htm

Greens Oppose New West Coast Roads

- The Green Party Executive today approved a petition seeking to stop proposed roads between Golden Bay and Karamea and South Westland and Otago. See... Green Petition Against Proposed Roads In Parks [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00127.htm

TVNZ Split Purely Political - Rich

- The Government's decision to tear TVNZ's profitable arms off is a political decision rather than one based on sound public policy or advice, National's Broadcasting spokesperson Katherine Rich said today. See... TVNZ Split Political Rather Than Sensible [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00123.htm

Tame Iti’s Bridge: Nick Smith Declines To Resign

- “Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton should be thanking me, not damning me, over the decision to close a small bridge on the Maungapohatu Road,” National's Conservation spokesperson Nick Smith said today. See... Anderton Should Thank Me Over Bridge [1] . See also… Nick Smith Should Resign Over Bridge Collapse [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00121.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00104.htm

Foot And Mouth Threat Remains

- Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said that today's news that British Prime Minister Tony Blair had declared the battle against foot and mouth disease in Britain was over had no relevance to New Zealand. See... Foot and Mouth disease threat an ongoing one [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00119.htm

Select Committee News Update

- From 27 April to 4 May 2001 there were 17 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex. See... Weekly Select Committee Business - 4 May [1] for the latest news report from the Select Committee Clerk’s office.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00118.htm

German Visitor

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today welcomed the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Johannes Rau, to New Zealand. See... PM welcomes German President to NZ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00115.htm

Terrorism Law Changes Introduced

- The purpose of this Bill is to strengthen New Zealand's ability to deter and react decisively to terrorism. See... Terrorism (Bombings And Financing) Bill Speech [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00114.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Nats Seek To Fast Track Police Protection Law

- There should be a law change to protect policemen involved in fatal shootings and the Government can do something about it by supporting a private members bill in Parliament tomorrow, National's Justice spokesperson Wayne Mapp said today. See… Bill To Protect Police In Parliament Tomorrow [1] and ACT Would Defend Rights to Free Speech [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00134.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00135.htm

No Smacking, Repeal Section 59

- Stopping Violence Services agencies are pleased that the Government appears to be taking calls to prohibit the physical punishment of children seriously. See... Protect our Children from Potential Harm [1] and Govt Considers Information On Physical Punishment [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0105/S00038.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00099.htm

Defence Policy Cutting NZ Out Of Pacific

- Australia's descriptions of New Zealand's reduced defence force are a warning signal to all that our country is going to be isolated on defence and foreign affairs throughout the Pacific from tomorrow, National's Defence spokesman Max Bradford said today. See... Defence Cuts Upset Australia [1] and Bye Bye Aussie, But Will You Protect Us? [2] . See also…Idealistic Approach To Defence Ignores The Facts - ACT [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00133.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00122.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00136.htm

Gene Technology Out Of Control As US Breeds GE Babies

- News that 15 genetically engineered babies have already been born in the US showed that gene technology is fast getting out of control and the New Zealand parliament must act quickly to limit its use here, Green MP Sue Kedgley said today. See... NZ Must Act On Genetically Engineered Babies [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00125.htm

Budget Blowout Bigger Than Cullen’s Letting On

- The Government's claim that its budget blowout is too small to worry about is wrong, National's Finance spokesperson Bill English said today. See... Budget Blowout Is Big [1] EARLIER - Nats - Cullen Blows The Budget [2] - Govt - Modest Adjustment To Fiscal Cap In Budget [3] - Cullen's Speech To Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00124.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00085.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00072.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00073.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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