JUST POLITICS
Super Bill Changes Approved By Cabinet
D-Day: Dairy Mega-Merger Gets Green Light - FULL COVERAGE
Wellington Roading Loses Out To Auckland
Instant Fines At The Border
Heritage Online
Energy Crisis: Hodgson Optimistic On The Outlook For Energy Prices
Protecting Children
Youth Reoffending Statistics Report Released
Keep Air NZ Kiwi Owned

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
D-Day: Dairy Mega-Merger Gets Green Light
Cabinet Considering Super Changes Today
US Agrees To Abide By WTO Lamb Ruling
D-Day For Dairy Mega-Merger - Could The Vote Be Headed For The Courts?

JUST POLITICS

Super Bill Changes Approved By Cabinet

- “The New Zealand Superannuation Bill should now have the votes to pass after the Cabinet today signed off an amendment to reflect New Zealand First's concerns,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said. . See…Super bill amended to reflect NZF's concerns [1] REACTION: - NZ First - Super Fund Can Now Move Ahead - Peters [2] - National - . Peters sells out for zero price tag [3] - National welcomes dairy farmers' decision [4] - Greens - Individual super accounts a backward step - Greens [5] EARLIER: - NZ First - Peters Confident Cabinet Supports Super Changes [6] - National - Borrowing for Superfund underway soon [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00238.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00245.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00243.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00239.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00242.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00229.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00234.htm

D-Day: Dairy Mega-Merger Gets Green Light

- “An outstanding mandate” is how Dairy Farmers of New Zealand (DFNZ) National Chairman Charlie Pedersen described today's vote in favour of Global Co. See... Global Dairy Co. Unleashes Industry's Potential [1] . See also Government reaction …Dairy Farmers' Vote Result [2] . REACTION: - Farmers For A Better Dairy Deal - Global Co: Vote [3] - National Party - Time to put dairy industry politics behind us [4] and - Greens - Dairy merger time to reassess $150m GE funding [5] - ACT -. Disappointing Dairy Merger Vote is no Surprise [6] and Parliament Must Fix GlobalCo’s Constitution [7] FOR FULL COVERAGE OF THE LEAD UP TO THE DAIRY VOTE FULL SCROLL DOWN...

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00161.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00237.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00162.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00244.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00241.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00240.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00247.htm

Wellington Roading Loses Out To Auckland

- Major Wellington roading projects, such as Transmission Gully, have been dealt a potentially fatal blow by political gameplaying by the Transit New Zealand Board, says United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne. See... Wellington Roading Projects Dealt Fatal Blow [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00233.htm

Instant Fines At The Border

- From today, anyone entering New Zealand with undeclared plant, animal, or food material will be fined $200 immediately. See... Biosecurity Instant Fines Start Today [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00236.htm

Heritage Online

- Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark and associate minister Judith Tizard announced today that work will begin next year on an online encyclopedia of New Zealand. See... Online encyclopedia of NZ announced [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00228.htm

Energy Crisis: Hodgson Optimistic On The Outlook For Energy Prices

- On Energy's announcement of price rises for its small business and residential customers is unwelcome but no surprise, says Energy Minister Pete Hodgson. See... What goes up must come down [1] and On Energy raises prices in response to market [2] . Meanwhile National's Energy spokesperson Pansy Wong says personalised attacks upon critics have become the hallmark of Labour's push to market a strong leadership style. The latest victim is Todd Energy CEO Richard Tweedie. See... No time for Hodgson to attack and blame [3] and Electricity price claims exaggerated [4] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00227.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00157.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00226.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00204.htm

Protecting Children

- The Children's Commissioner Roger McClay has raised a fundamentally important question over whether our society is actually serious about protecting children, National's Justice spokesperson Wayne Mapp said today. See... Sentencing Must Reflect Our Serious Concern [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00230.htm

Youth Reoffending Statistics Report Released

- Justice Minister Phil Goff says high levels of reoffending revealed in a Ministry of Justice report he released today highlights the need for the measures introduced by the government to target various areas of crime. See... Research supports focus of government crime fight [1] and New stats prove About Time is about time [2] . See also... Crime Study Release Brilliant Political Management [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00224.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00225.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00218.htm

Keep Air NZ Kiwi Owned

- “New Zealanders do not want foreigners to own our airline, nor do we want higher travel costs, and we certainly do not want to see the demise of Air New Zealand,” Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First said in Hamilton today. See... BIL Should Sell Air NZ Shares: To New Zealanders [1] . Meanwhile ACT’s commerce spokesman Stephen Franks says any New Zealand Government money given to Air New Zealand would bail out the shareholders and not be a rescue for the company. See... Air New Zealand Bail Out Proposal A Con [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00211.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00220.htm

TOP SCOOPS

D-Day: Dairy Mega-Merger Gets Green Light

- “An outstanding mandate” is how Dairy Farmers of New Zealand (DFNZ) National Chairman Charlie Pedersen described today's vote in favour of Global Co. See... Global Dairy Co. Unleashes Industry's Potential [1] . See also Government reaction …Dairy Farmers' Vote Result [2] . FOR FULL COVERAGE OF THE LEAD UP TO THE DAIRY VOTE FULL SCROLL DOWN...

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00161.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00237.htm

Cabinet Considering Super Changes Today

- The Rt Hon Winston Peters MP, Leader of New Zealand First, today said that he had written back to Dr Cullen following their meeting last week on superannuation with his suggested amendments and was confident that Cabinet would agree to these changes. See... Peters Confident Cabinet Supports Super Changes [1] . See also Bill English... Borrowing for Superfund underway soon [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00229.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00234.htm

US Agrees To Abide By WTO Lamb Ruling

- New Zealand expected the United States to remove restrictions on New Zealand and Australian lamb imports without delay, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. See... United States urged to take prompt action [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00222.htm

D-Day For Dairy Mega-Merger - Could The Vote Be Headed For The Courts?

- Last week, ‘Farmers for a Better Deal’ (‘the Group’) distributed a proxy form as a leaflet in various provincial newspapers. On Friday, NZDG telephoned some shareholders and told them that the Group’s proxy form was invalid. The Group does not agree that the form was invalid and was concerned that shareholders using the form would be disenfranchised. After discussions with NZDG on Saturday morning, the Group obtained an interim injunction from the Wellington High Court against NZDG. See.. Injunction Awarded On NZDG Proxy Vote Form [1] DAIRY MEGA MERGER FULL COVERAGE: - Global Co. Chairman John Roadley Speech - John Roadley Speech To New Zealand Dairy Group [2] - Boston Consulting Group - Boston Consulting Supports Global Dairy [3] - Fencepost.Com - On-line calculator helps with Global Co shares [4] - Global Co. - No Second Chance For Merger [5] and The Dairy Industry: Inventing Our Own Future [6] - Farmers For A Better Dairy deal - Global Co Won’t Deliver [7] - Unwary Farmers To Receive Monopoly Money [8] - ACT - Final Chance For Dairy Farmers [9] - Dairy Farmers Of NZ - Biggest Decision Ever for Dairy Farmers [10] - Sir Dryden Spring - Dairy Mega-Merger [11]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00156.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00160.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00151.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00155.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00140.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00139.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00136.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00137.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00214.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00134.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00121.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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