TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
SUPER CRISIS: C.D. Sludge On The Growing Super Crisis
SUPER CRISIS: Greens Spark Rethink
SUPER CRISIS: Dunne Lends His Vote
Middle Earth Lives Online
Dairy Farmers Speak Out Against Merger
Sludge Editorial – Israel Sets Up A Peace Target
Guest Opinion: Molesworth Mafia Stubbing Out Business
Correctives: Right To Life For The Undead
Stateside: Postcard From Vancouver
David Miller: Terrorism In The Middle East
Why Does It Always Rain On George?

TOP SCOOPS

SUPER CRISIS: C.D. Sludge On The Growing Super Crisis

-This morning’s multiparty debate (excluding the Government) on Superannuation on Radio New Zealand’s Kim Hill show is probably the closest thing New Zealand has had to multi-party, free and frank discussions on the super issue since the days of the failed super-accord. Also in this edition: Sludge Meets Industry Captains - So Many Ears To Bend, So Little Time. See... Sludge Report #80 – Super Crisis!!! [1] . See also earlier Scoop commentary on this issue... Eco-Economy: Super Scheme is Political Suicide [2] and Sludge Report #73 – Borrowing And Saving [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00021.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00006.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00166.htm

SUPER CRISIS: Greens Spark Rethink

- The Green caucus firmly supports universal provision of superannuation at the current levels but does not believe the Government’s pre-funding proposal is the best way to achieve that commitment. See... Greens back universal super; will vote against fund [1] - GOVERNMENT REACTION - Happy to make super an election issue - Cullen [2] REACTION - New Zealand First – “Responding to media requests on superannuation, New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters today said that New Zealanders would be disappointed if New Zealand Politicians choose to continue to play silly politics on this issue.” See... No Time to Play Silly Politics [3] - Alliance - Partial pre-funding best way to make Super secure [4] - ACT Big Hole in Govt Finances [5] and ACT Calls for All-Party Talks on Super [6] - National - National shares Greens' concerns over super fund [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00016.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00017.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00022.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00021.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00020.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00019.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00018.htm

SUPER CRISIS: Dunne Lends His Vote

- United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says the Greens have got it wrong in deciding to oppose the Government's plans to pre-fund a portion of future superannuation costs. See... Why The Greens Are Wrong On Superannuation [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00034.htm

Middle Earth Lives Online

- A 22 year old Canadian who acknowledges he's a Lord of the Rings nerd, says global on-line interest in the imaginary world of Hobbits, Orcs, Wizards and Elfs is colossal, with the New Zealand made movie production of J R R Tolkien’s epic adventure trilogies, already destined to be bigger than the entire Star Wars series. See... Internet Interest In Hobbits Is Colossal [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00022.htm

Dairy Farmers Speak Out Against Merger

- For many farmers, there is a sense that “the die is caste. Like it or not, we’ve got Global Co - there’s no other choice”. I don’t believe that’s true. There are better practical options. See... A Better Dairy Deal - Farmers Hand Book [1] - A Better Dairy Deal - McKinseys REPORT 1999 [2] - A Better Dairy Deal - Characteristics Of Industry [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00021.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00022.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00023.htm

Sludge Editorial – Israel Sets Up A Peace Target

- "The chances for Peace that have emerged this weekend, have emerged precisely because of the change of Israel's policy response from one of retaliation to one of restraint. The policy of restraint has proved effective. So let’s keep it." See... Sludge Report #78 – Deadlines, Threats And Peace [1] . See also... NEWSFLASH: Sludge Report #77 - Terror's Terrible Timing [2] and Scoop Images: Palestine Israel Rally for Peace [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00011.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00010.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00013.htm

Guest Opinion: Molesworth Mafia Stubbing Out Business

- This Smoke-Free legislation is just another nail in the coffin of private property rights, it is just a smoke screen for an invasion of power-hungry leviathan statists. See... Guest Opinion: Anti-Smoking Hysteria [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00020.htm

Correctives: Right To Life For The Undead

- “The Selfservative Party is to be applauded for giving the undead a place in politics!!!” enthused Sister Pontificata of the Stupendous Genuflection today when the Correctives noted the appearance of Lady Thatchula at a fund-raiser. See... Lady Thatchula Comes Out Of The Coffin!!! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0106/S00008.htm

Stateside: Postcard From Vancouver

- It is an astonishing season for azaleas and rhododendrons. Peach and pink, mauve and red, they are everywhere in total bloom. And by everywhere I mean from the Bay Area, where I live, to Vancouver, where I’m visiting for my annual vacation. See... Stateside With Rosalea: North Of The Border [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00017.htm

David Miller: Terrorism In The Middle East

- The decision by Israel to refrain from any retaliatory action in the wake of the weekend’s suicide bombing is welcome news to the peace process. Although it is unclear how long Israel plans to hold off its military action against the Palestinian forces, the decision not to unleash the massive firepower of the Israeli Defence Force onto Palestinian areas is the only realistic option the Israeli government has open to it. See... David Miller Online: The War Israel Cannot Win [1] and Terrible Days - Tel-Aviv, June 2 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00016.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0106/S00006.htm

Why Does It Always Rain On George?

- Two images of the latest display of apparent heavenly disapproval of George “Dubya” Bush’s energy policy. They show weather as it actually happened after George returned home from a trip to energy crisis torn California. See... Sludge Report #79 : Why Does It Rain On GW Bush? [1] . See also... Sludge Report #76 - Bullseye D.C. [2] and…Sludge Report #74 – More Crap Weather For Dubya [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00012.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00009.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00172.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.

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