FRIDAY’S TOP SCOOPS (Top Scoops Catchup Edition)
Hard News Is Here!
Sludge Report: Wallace Shooting Conspiracy Of Silence
Simon Orme: Listlessness In The Lucky Country
Bush In For Another Good Watering
Onering.net In Cannes: The Stunning Footage
GCSB Bill Comes With PR Snowjob
Horomia Launches Te Ahi Kaa Roa Maori Initiative
Report Signals Easy Ride For Young Crims – Nats
Environment Lesson #1: Food Grows In Ground, Not On Shelves
Gulf Widening Between CAA And Industry
81, Not Out: Pope John Paul II's Birthday

FRIDAY'S JUST POLITICS
Divisive Maori Seats Will Do More Harm Than Good
Nats Are Like So Not Divided On Fighter Jets
Hasler Had Fern Idea First
These Are The Days Of Our Select Committees
TVNZ Chair Could Brush Up On His People Skills
Bunkle Proposes national Cervical Screening Lab
Casino Seek Costs
Post Big Man Lobbied For Small Town Banking
University Spits The Dummy Over Funding
GlobalCo Weaknesses More & More Obvious
Tributes To Betty Wark
SPOOKS: Nicky Hager At The Echelon Committee

- GOOD DAY MEDIAPHILES ... if I've said it once, I've said it, well, more than once. This is a government destined to meet grief less for what it does than what it says. See... HARD NEWS 18/5/01 - Disquiet On The Westie Front [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00112.htm

Sludge Report: Wallace Shooting Conspiracy Of Silence

- The extraordinary story of the killing of Stephen Wallace. The Sludge Report Russell Brown called "bold" and "potentially explosive". See... Sludge Report #65 – Killing The Silence [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00106.htm

Simon Orme: Listlessness In The Lucky Country

- Sydney is in the middle of a very bad hang over. The economic slowdown continues. Job losses are hitting the professions, the tech sector and thus the affluent suburbs. There is a mood of listlessness, anxiety and dissatisfaction. See... Simon Orme: Woe In Oz [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00110.htm

Bush In For Another Good Watering

- Severe weather warnings are in force across the US from Texas to Washington DC in the wake of the release of US President George W. Bush’s greenhouse expanding energy crisis plans. See... Severe Weather Greets US Energy Crisis Plans [1] . See also... Sludge Report #64 - Damp Arrival For Energy Plan [2] , where C.D. Sludge hypothesises that the weather is politically active, and not too pleased with President Bush's energy policy.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00113.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00102.htm

Onering.net In Cannes: The Stunning Footage

- So here I am. Peter Jackson just finished speaking and introducing the footage. Leo and Maurice of Lordoftherings.nl are to my left, and Harry and Joram are to my right. I'm ready to be wowed. See... LOTR - In Depth Description Of The Footage [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00111.htm

GCSB Bill Comes With PR Snowjob

- This month the Government finally introduced its long foreshadowed Bill to give legal existence to the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), our old friends who run the Waihopai spybase, and who have had no legislative basis at all since they sprang out of thin air, fully formed, in 1977. See... Government Brings In GCSB Bill... [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00114.htm

Horomia Launches Te Ahi Kaa Roa Maori Initiative

- "Within Tuhoe, you have the abilities, the skills and the expertise to plan, control, manage and implement any initiatives you consider will bring about positive changes to your communities." See... Launch Of Te Ahi Kaa Roa - Horomia Speech [1] and Puao-Te-Atatu-A-TuhoeLaunch - Turia Speech [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00365.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00387.htm

Report Signals Easy Ride For Young Crims – Nats

- At the very time when New Zealanders are demanding a tougher approach to crime, the Government has come out with a reported $26 million package designed to be soft on young criminals, National's Corrections spokesperson Brian Neeson said today. See... Soft Deal For Young Criminals [1] . See also... About Time - Robson [2] and About Time – Matt Robson Speech [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00384.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00386.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00391.htm

Environment Lesson #1: Food Grows In Ground, Not On Shelves

- Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said today that a Green Party budget initiative to establish organic gardens in schools would teach kids that food comes out of the ground, not off a supermarket shelf. See... Organic gardens for urban school-kids [1] MORE: - Ongoing Environmental Education Support Welcome [2] - Community Internship Initiative A Boost [3] - Green Initiatives: Communities & Children Benefit [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00373.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00374.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00372.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00371.htm

Gulf Widening Between CAA And Industry

- The widening gulf between the Civil Aviation Authority and the industry it is supposed to serve is disturbing, ACT Transport Spokesman MP Penny Webster said today. See... Key Relationship in Aviation Industry Breaks Down [1] and Lessons For Civil Aviation [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00380.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00362.htm

81, Not Out: Pope John Paul II's Birthday

- Bishop of Rome Pope John Paul II turned 82 Friday.

JUST POLITICS

Divisive Maori Seats Will Do More Harm Than Good

- Legislation guaranteeing Maori councillors in the Bay of Plenty is “electoral welfarism” which will do more harm than good for Maori in the long-term, ACT leader Richard Prebble says. See... Maori Council Seats “Electoral Welfarism” [1] and Maori Seats On Local Council - Prebble Speech [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00393.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00390.htm

Nats Are Like So Not Divided On Fighter Jets

- National's Deputy Leader Bill English says media reports of diverging opinions within National over the issue of strike capability for the airforce are just plain wrong. See... Commitment To Strikeforce Stands [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00389.htm

Hasler Had Fern Idea First

- National MP Marie Hasler, who promoted the idea of a silver fern national flag when she was Minister of Culture, was thrilled to learn that the Tourism sector is keen to promote a New Zealand flag bearing the silver fern internationally, she said today. See... Fern Flag The Right Decision - Original Promoter [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00388.htm

These Are The Days Of Our Select Committees

- Select Committee Business From 11 May To 18 May 2001 Committee meetings There were 19 committee meetings. One committee and two subcommittees met outside Wellington. The remainder met in the parliamentary complex. See... Select Committee Business 11 May To 18 May 2001 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00392.htm

TVNZ Chair Could Brush Up On His People Skills

- The latest comments from TVNZ Chairman Ross Armstrong demonstrate his lack of people skills, which is worrying in his position, ACT Broadcasting Spokesman MP Penny Webster said today. See... Armstrong Shows Further Contempt For TVNZ Staff [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00385.htm

Bunkle Proposes national Cervical Screening Lab

- Alliance Health spokesperson Phillida Bunkle said today that the solution to the current situation, in which many public hospital laboratories will be unable to carry out cervical screening because they do not meet the criteria for sufficient volume, is a publicly owned national cytology laboratory which will have a concentration of expertise, ensuring standards are maintained. See... Cervical Screening Laboratories Should Be Central [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00366.htm

Casino Seek Costs

- The Minister of Internal Affairs, George Hawkins, has been informed that the Casino Control Authority is seeking costs against a group that has opposed the Hamilton casino. See... Hawkins: Costs Sought in Riverside Casino Case [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00383.htm

Post Big Man Lobbied For Small Town Banking

- Clayton Cosgrove, Member of Parliament for Waimakariri today met with Elmar Toime, Chief Executive of New Zealand Post, to discuss the possibility of providing a banking facility for Oxford. See... Cosgrove Meets With NZ Post Chief Executive [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00382.htm

University Spits The Dummy Over Funding

- News that Canterbury University is closing its doors for half a day next Friday in protest at the Government's secret fee-freeze deal highlights the huge level of frustration Vice Chancellors are feeling, National's Education spokesperson and Ilam MP Gerry Brownlee said today. See... Canterbury University Protest First Of Many [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00381.htm

GlobalCo Weaknesses More & More Obvious

- Weaknesses within GlobalCo are becoming increasingly evident as delays continue, ACT Rural Affairs Spokesman MP Owen Jennings said today. See... GlobalCo Weaknesses Become Apparent [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00377.htm

Tributes To Betty Wark

- Alliance Deputy Leader Sandra Lee, expressed “deep sorrow” today at the loss of a friend and role model, Betty Wark. See... Sandra Lee Tribute To Betty Wark [1] and Acting Prime Minister Pays Tribute To Betty Wark [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00376.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00364.htm

SPOOKS: Nicky Hager At The Echelon Committee

- The first question then which I want to discuss with you in detail is the question of what in this highly secretive subject your committee can reasonably believe and what you should doubt, that central issue when you are studying a highly secretive thing. See... Nicky Hager Addresses The Echelon Committee [1] . See also... Swain Bill: New Powers For Electronic Spying [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00104.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00103.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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