JUST POLITICS
F-16 Deal Cancellation Turns Profit
Mandeville Youth Prison Rejection Welcomed
Funding For Environmental Centres
Awatere Huata Okayed
Allegations Against Airways Unfounded – Burton
Hansard An Embarrassing Read For Anti-Zoning ACT
Govt Support For First time Principals
Electricity Bill Will Pass - Committee Foot Stamping Or Not

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
PM On CNN Live, Via Satellite
US Introduces NZ Trade Agreement Legislation
Dodgy Diesel: Limited Compo On Offer – FULL COVERAGE
Eco-Economy: Health Budget Solutions
Breastmilk Safe, Dioxin Levels Fall
Cubiks Employment Survey: ERA Uncertainty

JUST POLITICS

F-16 Deal Cancellation Turns Profit

- New Zealand received an unplanned bonus from cancelling National's ad hoc and ill-timed decision to buy new fighter jets for the airforce, the Minister of Defence Mark Burton revealed today. See... F-16 Withdrawal Turns A Profit [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00617.htm

Mandeville Youth Prison Rejection Welcomed

- Ilam MP Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the decision to abandon plans to build a Youth Justice facility at Mandeville in North Canterbury, labelling it a victory for the people of Mandeville and for common sense. See... Govt Finally Sees Sense Over Mandeville [1] . See also... Government Decides Against Mandeville Facility [2] and Cosgrove Welcomes Mandeville Decision [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00629.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00622.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00620.htm

Funding For Environmental Centres

- Nine environment centres throughout New Zealand will receive funding of up to $50,000, the Minister for the Environment, Marian Hobbs and Green Party co-leader, Rod Donald, announced today. See... Environment Centres To Receive New Funding [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00628.htm

Awatere Huata Okayed

- ACT MP Donna Awatere Huata said today that she was pleased that she had been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Serious Fraud Office. See... Serious Fraud Office Clears Donna Awatere Huata [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00627.htm

Allegations Against Airways Unfounded – Burton

- The Minister for State Owned Enterprises Mark Burton today released papers under the Official Information Act relating to the involvement of the Airways Corporation of New Zealand in a bid for a stake in the UK's National Air Traffic Service. See... Official Information On Airways UK Bid [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00625.htm

Hansard An Embarrassing Read For Anti-Zoning ACT

- “ACT Education Spokesperson, Donna Awatere-Huata, should read the Hansard before lambasting zoning schemes,” said New Zealand First Education Spokesperson, Hon Brian Donnelly MP. “ACT voted for the legislation which re-introduced zoning to schools.” See... Act Voted For Re-Introduction Of Zoning Donnelly [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00624.htm

Govt Support For First time Principals

- The Government is intent on giving first-time school principals the best opportunity to be effective as soon as they take up their new responsibilities, Education Minister Trevor Mallard said today. See... First-Time School Principals Supported By Govt [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00621.htm

Electricity Bill Will Pass - Committee Foot Stamping Or Not

- The National Party is hopelessly confused about regulation of the electricity industry, says Energy Minister Pete Hodgson. See... Where's Max? [1] and Electricity Industry Bill Report [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00618.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00626.htm

TOP SCOOPS

PM On CNN Live, Via Satellite

– Prime Minister Helen Clark will address the twelfth annual CNN World Report Conference by satellite early tomorrow. See... PM Addresses CNN Conference By Satellite Link [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00630.htm

US Introduces NZ Trade Agreement Legislation

- The introduction of a bill in the United States Senate to authorise a trade agreement between the United States and New Zealand was extremely welcome, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. See... Proposed United States Trade Agreement Law [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00619.htm

Dodgy Diesel: Limited Compo On Offer – FULL COVERAGE

- The Government has no view on compensating fishermen land-locked by the bad diesel that is clogging fuel filters and stalling engines, Energy Minister Pete Hodgson said. Meanwhile, the oil industry has set up an 0800 line to provide information and manage the process for reimbursing costs of replacing diesel fuel filters. See... Govt Not Stepping Into Diesel Compo Debate [1] . See also... Industry sets up 0800 help line to manage diesel [2] and Progress For Fishing Fleet [3] MORE: - ACT - Diesel Liability Is A Straight Forward Issue [4] - MSA - MSA Urges Marine Diesel Users To Be Cautious [5] - Govt - Govt keeping close watch on diesel problem [6] - Customs To Fast Track Checks On Oil Filters [7] - Gull - Gull Offers To Help Major Oil Companies [8] - NZ Refining Co - Progress Made On Diesel Issue [9] - Mobil - Mobil Reassures Diesel Customers [10] - Shell - Shell New Zealand Warns Of Diesel Quality Problems [11]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00169.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00252.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00259.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00612.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00248.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00605.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00623.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00247.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00233.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00230.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00231.htm

Eco-Economy: Health Budget Solutions

- When Finance Minister Michael Cullen delivered his Budget Speech the other day I couldn't help thinking how we could so effortlessly introduce a scheme like the Japanese Health Care Currency thus alleviating a very bleak health expenditure situation. See... Eco-Economy: Japanese Health Care Currency [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00174.htm

Breastmilk Safe, Dioxin Levels Fall

- Levels of dioxins in breastmilk have fallen by about two thirds in the last decade according to a report released by the Ministry of Health today. See... Breastfeeding Benefits Far Outweigh Any Risk [1] and Dioxin Levels In NZers Low Internationally [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/GE0105/S00061.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00614.htm

Cubiks Employment Survey: ERA Uncertainty

- Uncertainty over the impact of the introduction of the Employment Relations Act 2000 is highlighted in the latest Salary Survey from Cubiks Limited. See... ERA Concerns Highlight In Latest Salary Survey [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00234.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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