TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Update: Season’s Greetings
Satire: Brian Drain Figures Worst Yet
Scoop Is In The House - Under Urgency!- Government Is Seizing the Power To Sack MPs - With Bill of Rights Breaching Bill!
Petitioning Rages On As SAS May Or May Not Get A Run In Afghanistan
Pedal Powered Globe-trotting
‘Tis The Season For Moral Outrage
Govt Says Telco Reforms To Give Better Deal
Environment Groups Fear RMA De-fanging
Cullen Stoked With Business Confidence Survey
The Acronyms Analysed, Peruse At Own Risk
Katya Rivas

OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)
Fair Trading Legislation Before Committee
Forest & Bird Urges Radical Action To Save Petrels
Maori Justice A Gross Abuse OF The Treaty
MIA Welcomes Tougher Standards For Imports
All Politicians Should Experience The Humble Raffle
Lee Happy With Ruapehu Lahar Management
Sporting Kiwi Attitude Should Be Taken Into The Boardroom

Scoop Update: Season’s Greetings

- In This Edition: Good Tidings Of Great Joy – To The Barricades - Calling all Cultural Patriots (With The Ultimate LOTR Christmas Present!) – The Plan - And.... The Secret of Scoop’s Success. See... Scoop Update #9 – Good Tidings Of Great Joy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0112/S00107.htm

Satire: Brian Drain Figures Worst Yet

- Latest figures released by the government show that the so-called ‘Brian-drain’ continues unabated with a further 412 Brians leaving for overseas in the last 6 months. See... Scoop Satire: Brian-Drain Figures Continue To Rise [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0112/S00108.htm

Scoop Is In The House - Under Urgency!- Government Is Seizing the Power To Sack MPs - With Bill of Rights Breaching Bill!

- The house is in urgency conducting a very heated debate on the party hopping, (or Waka Jumping), Electoral Integrity Bill, which has just been inflamed by the introduction of an SOP that is causing more than a little outrage. The SOP effectively gives Party Leaders via their caucuses the power to expel members from Parliament. It is admitted that the bill is not compliant with the Bill of Rights. As a result of the urgency there will be no question time today. See also... Tuesday's Q&A [1] - Background From Scoop Archives [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0112/S00104.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/archive/scoop/re-search4.pl?y=2001&m=12&k=108&q=electoral+integrity+bill&kr=any&dr=any

Petitioning Rages On As SAS May Or May Not Get A Run In Afghanistan

- On Thursday 13 December a further 2521 signatures on the petition for peaceful resolution were presented to parliament in Wellington. See... 2,521 More Signatures Presented To Parliament [1] and 'NGO Support For Hercules'? [2] MORE: - Nats - 'Loose Lips' Anderton [3] - Serious Security Breach [4] - United Future - Cannot Take Support For Granted [5] - Greens - Greens Oppose Using Hercules For War Effort [6] - Govt - NZ C-130 to Afghanistan [7] - PMA - NZ troops in Afghanistan [8] - Wgtn: Thursday [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00094.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00095.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00362.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00338.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00314.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00309.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00305.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00088.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00086.htm

Pedal Powered Globe-trotting

- Edwin Tucker, of Papatoetoe, leaves New Zealand December 27th to begin an expedition to circumnavigate the world by bicycle. See... “Flightless Kiwi” Bikes The Globe [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0112/S00035.htm

‘Tis The Season For Moral Outrage

- Christmastime – the season of peace and goodwill – has already been marred by murder and mayhem here in New Zealand. Yet our film censor has given an R18 rating to a violent French movie featuring rape, torture and murder of the most brutal kind. See... Baise-Moi An Invitation To Murder And Mayhem [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00096.htm

Govt Says Telco Reforms To Give Better Deal

- The government has passed landmark telecommunications legislation aimed at reforming the telecommunications industry in New Zealand to deliver a better deal for consumers. See... Landmark Telecommunications Act passed [1] MORE: - Government announces updated Kiwi Share obligation [2] - Telecom And Govt Sign New Kiwi Share Agreement [3] - Telecommunications Bill Third Reading Speech [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00346.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00347.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00093.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00350.htm

Environment Groups Fear RMA De-fanging

- The Labour Government is threatening the fundamental tenets of the Resource Management Act, says Forest and Bird. See... Labour Threatens The RMA For Christmas [1] MORE: - ECO - Government Puts Business Before Environment [2] - Greens - Govt Loses Nerve Over RMA [3] - Govt - Resource Management Amendment Bill 2001- Spch [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00092.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00091.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00339.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00335.htm

Cullen Stoked With Business Confidence Survey

- Finance Minister Michael Cullen today welcomed the latest National Bank outlook showing a strong rebound in general business confidence - from negative 18 percent last month to negative 2 percent. See... Bounce In Sentiment Welcomed [1] MORE: - Deutsche Bank - Business Confidence On The Road To Recovery [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00359.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0112/S00132.htm

The Acronyms Analysed, Peruse At Own Risk

- ACT Finance Spokesman MP Rodney Hide said today that the December Economic and Fiscal Update (DEFU) showed a Government borrowing ever more, exposing taxpayers to increased commercial risk. See... DEFU Shows Increased Debt and Increased Risk [1] MORE: - Deutsche Bank - DEFU & BPS Key Points [2] - Federated Farmers - No Surprises in the DEFU [3] - Nats - Gross Debt To Rise To $43 Billion [4] - Govt - BPS/DEFU Show Economic And Fiscal Resilience [5] - NZ First - No Budget Blow-Out, Despite Superannuation [6] - United Future - The End Of Dr Cullen's Golden Weather [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00348.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0112/S00131.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0112/S00128.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00340.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00331.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00337.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00336.htm

Katya Rivas

- My dear child, the Lord’s presence here, during these hours near all these objects and rosaries that usually accompany them, has made it possible for us to be present in this place, which receives us with love… In the company of my Son and Lord, of ... See... Katya Rivas: Today Jesus Blesses All Homes [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0112/S00099.htm

Fair Trading Legislation Before Committee

- “The Labour-Alliance coalition government’s commitment to consumer rights has been an important feature of our policies,” Acting Consumer Affairs Minister Jim Anderton says. See... Consumers Are A Government Priority At Christmas [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00368.htm

Forest & Bird Urges Radical Action To Save Petrels

- The Forest and Bird Protection Society calls on the government to immediately close the ling long-line fishery to reduce further seabird by catch. See... Urgent Action Needed To Save Albatross And Petrels [1] and Petrel Deaths Alarming - Lee [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00098.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00358.htm

Maori Justice A Gross Abuse OF The Treaty

- The idea of separate jails for Maori, is turning the Treaty of Waitangi on its head, ACT leader Richard Prebble says. See... Apartheid Justice [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00369.htm

MIA Welcomes Tougher Standards For Imports

- The announcement by the Minister of Transport, Mark Gosche that imported used cars will have to comply with tougher crash safety rules has been applauded by the Motor Industry Association as a major step towards reducing the road toll. See... Minister’s Car Safety Announcement Applauded [1] MORE: - Nats - Crash Standards Will Hit The Pocket [2] - Govt - New Rules To Boost Vehicle Safety [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0112/S00097.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00367.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00357.htm

All Politicians Should Experience The Humble Raffle

- ACT leader Richard Prebble says the ACT Party strongly opposes taxpayer money being spent to fund political parties. See... ACT Opposes Taxpayer Funding for Political Parties [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00370.htm

Lee Happy With Ruapehu Lahar Management

- Conservation Minister Sandra Lee has completed a review of the management decisions taken to date to minimise the risks to safety associated with the impending Ruapehu Crater Lake lahar. See... Lee Satisfied With Ruapehu Lahar Risk Management [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00355.htm

Sporting Kiwi Attitude Should Be Taken Into The Boardroom

- New Zealanders need to learn to celebrate our successes in the boardroom and market place in a similar way to the way we those on the sporting ground, Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton says. See... Turning Kiwi Ingenuity Into Jobs [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0112/S00360.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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