TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House
LEAD STORY:
"Lie In Unison" Inquiry Report Released
Weekend Weather Reports – Read And Weep
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Ex-Rwandan Commander Gets 27 Years In Prison
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES
FRINGE '04: Nicola Hill Reviews The Auditor

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News Is There!
Guest Opinion: How Running A Business Can Be Like DIY
Sam Smith: Lying About Ralph
Manuel Valenzuela: An Analysis of Israel's Barrier
Norma Sherry Addresses Anti-Semitism
Satire: When George Met John
Transcript: Shrimpton "Kelly Was Murdered" Interview
Bob Fitrakis: Diebold, E-Voting & Conspiracy
UQ Wire: Dereliction of Duty - Denying Accountability
Daily Katya Rivas Meditations

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
THE RACE DEBATE: Inside Don Brash's Mailbox
Brash Bash Extends To Employment Relations Bill
Thief Would Have Right To Conceal Under New Law
Broad Agreement On Air Standards
Cairns Group Vow To Flog Doha Horse Till It Delivers
Dentist Shortage Endangering Kids Teeth
Money For Early Childhood Innovation
Newman Talks About Race, Unemployment & Floods
Jailed Kereru Poacher Receives Message

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0402/S00102.htm
The Eye Of Last Week's Storm – From NIWA and GNS

Scoop Is In The House

– For today's questions see... Questions for Oral Answer - Thursday, 26 February [1] . For Wednesday's Q&A see... Q&As For Oral Answer [2] . For Tuesday’s see... Questions & Answers for Oral Answer - 24 February [3] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00459.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00451.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00431.htm

LEAD STORY:
"Lie In Unison" Inquiry Report Released

- Ombudsman Mel Smith has presented his report into the infamous "lie in unison" Immigration service memo related to official information concerning Ahmed Zaoui. See... Ombudsman's Report On "Lie in unison" Memo [1] REACTION: - Dept. of Labour - Secretary of Labour Accepts & Endorses Report [2] - Govt. - Ombudsman's report accepted in full [3] - National - Ombudsman Exposes Shabby Cover-up [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0402/S00161.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0402/S00162.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00466.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00462.htm

Weekend Weather Reports – Read And Weep

- Come Saturday, comes torrential rain across most of the country. Come Sunday, a monster, slow moving, low system with rain and wind from Invercargill to Cape Reinga. And then to top it off - come Monday, comes cyclone Ivy to Northland, the East Cape and Hawke's Bay. See … Supercomputer Weather: Double Whammy [1] . See also MetService advisory... More Wet-and-Windy Yo-Yo Weather [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00229.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0402/S00107.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0402/S00158.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0402/S00320.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0402/S00159.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0402/S00157.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00454.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0402/S00234.htm

Ex-Rwandan Commander Gets 27 Years In Prison

- The United Nations war crimes tribunal for Rwanda today sentenced a former military commander in the country's armed forces to 27 years in prison for his role in a massacre during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. See... Ex-Rwandan Military Commander To 27-Year Jail Term [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0402/S00265.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0402/S00264.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0402/S00262.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0402/S00260.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0402/S00259.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0402/S00257.htm

SCOOP FRINGE 2004 COVERAGE:

Opening Tonight @ Bats
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0402/S00054.htm
FRINGE '04: Scrambled Legs Presents 7
See also...
http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=fringe04
Scoop Fringe 2004 Feature

Nicola Hill Reviews The Auditor

- Dr Dapertutto’s play ‘Auditor!!!’ begins with one of the most promising dramatic scenes of the 2004 Fringe Festival - and ends in frustration more than three and a half hours later. See... FRINGE '04 REVIEW: The Auditor [1] See also... Scoop Fringe 2004 Feature [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00230.htm
[2] - http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=fringe04

SCOOP COLUMNS:

Hard News Is There!

- So the foreshore proposal looks set to go from "people's title managed by the Crown" to "people's title vested in the Crown" - does it make much of a difference? Fundamentally, no. In the court of public opinion, quite possibly... See... Public Address 26/02/04 - Shore Thing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00228.htm

Guest Opinion: How Running A Business Can Be Like DIY

- During my many years as a house owner, I have developed a love of DIY home projects and, along the way, have accumulated a fair range of DIY skills. See... Ross Kennedy: What You Don't Know You Don't Know.. [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00219.htm

Sam Smith: Lying About Ralph

- For the past four years, the only thing the Democrats and their media enablers have had to say about Ralph Nader is that he was to blame for their troubles. See... Sam Smith: The Democrats - Open Up Or Shut Up [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00226.htm

Manuel Valenzuela: An Analysis of Israel's Barrier

- Wall fortifications have historically been erected to protect the populace of a city or region from marauding and conquering aggressors. See... Manuel Valenzuela: The Walls that Divide Us [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00225.htm

Norma Sherry Addresses Anti-Semitism

- Calling someone, "Jew Devil" is far different from saying, "I detest Israel's treatment of the Palestinians'". One is blatantly Anti-Semitic; the other is a disagreement with the politics of Israel's decision-makers. See... Norma Sherry: Never Again [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00224.htm

Satire: When George Met John

- Room 322 -- John F. Kerry, 21, wore ceremonial robes, white make-up and was stretched inside a velvet coffin in the inner-sanctum of the Skull & Bones Crypt, the first time that he met George W. Bush. See... Skull & Bones Members Face Off For White House [1] . See also.. Chuckman Cartoon: John Kerry, Bush Lite [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00223.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00212.htm

Transcript: Shrimpton "Kelly Was Murdered" Interview

- Alex Jones: Before we go to our first guest, who I’m honoured to have, well our guest for this hour, I wanted to just remined you that Dr David Kelly was the head of the Level-4 Porton Down Bio-weapons lab in Wiltshire, England. See... Michael Shrimpton/Alex Jones Interview Transcript [1] . See also... 'David Kelly Murdered' Says British Lawyer [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00222.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00211.htm

Bob Fitrakis: Diebold, E-Voting & Conspiracy

- The Governor of Ohio, Bob Taft, and other prominent state officials, commute to their downtown Columbus offices on Broad Street. See... Electronic Voting & The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00221.htm

UQ Wire: Dereliction of Duty - Denying Accountability

- President Clinton was forced to testify under oath about his sexual peccadilloes. This testimony was then publicly broadcast. See... UQ Wire: Bush and the 9/11 Commission [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00227.htm

Daily Katya Rivas Meditations

- These are the times in which charity has turned cold in the world. It is also time to renew everything and, especially, My Church. My daughter, so loved, My beloved secretary… See... Katya Rivas: The Great Crusade of Love [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0402/S00220.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0402/S00334.htm
Egg Balloon Conquers Mt Taranaki

THE RACE DEBATE: Inside Don Brash's Mailbox

- What has continued to dominate my own mail are the letters, phone calls and emails about my Orewa speech, and related media coverage. Because I have been accused of not only being racist and divisive, but also of grossly exaggerating the extent of the problem, let me quote a few more of the examples offered to me over the last 10 days: See... The Brash-Report - No. 24, 25 February 2004 [1] MORE: - Tariana Turia - No need for new Treaty Commission of Inquiry [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00446.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00453.htm

Brash Bash Extends To Employment Relations Bill

- National Party leader Don Brash has launched a vigorous assault on the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill and promised a concerted campaign to oppose it. See... Brash hammers employment Bill [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00457.htm

Thief Would Have Right To Conceal Under New Law

- Justice Minister Phil Goff's Clean Slate Bill will help fraudsters like Lisa Clement in the future, allowing them to find fresh employers to prey upon, ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks said today. See... Clean Slate For Welfare Thief [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00465.htm

Broad Agreement On Air Standards

- Most people who made a submission on proposed national air standards support in principle the introduction of a 'level-playing field' on air quality, Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said today. See... Air standards a step closer [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00463.htm

Cairns Group Vow To Flog Doha Horse Till It Delivers

- The Cairns Group of agricultural exporting nations is determined to fight for an ambitious outcome for agriculture in the new phase of the World Trade Organisation's Doha Round of negotiations. See... Cairns Group To Fight For Agriculture [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00461.htm

Dentist Shortage Endangering Kids Teeth

- “Primary school children referred to dentists for treatment that cannot be provided by the school dental service are often going untreated because not enough dentists have signed contracts to provide Special Dental Benefits with DHBs,” said New Zealand First health spokesperson, Barbara Stewart. See... Dental Care For Children Disappearing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00460.htm

Money For Early Childhood Innovation

- Additional funding of nearly $2 million will see three new early childhood education Centres of Innovation next year, Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced today. See... Building knowledge for early childhood learning [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00458.htm

Newman Talks About Race, Unemployment & Floods

- New information shows that Maori continue to be hugely over-represented in long-term unemployment statistics - so much for Labour's vaunted claim of uplifting Maori and `closing the gaps', ACT New Zealand Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said. See... No More Excuses, Maharey [1] and Muriel Newman: Heroes In Waiting [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00456.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00450.htm

Jailed Kereru Poacher Receives Message

- “The statement by a District Court judge that a jail sentence was needed as a deterrent to people who continued to hunt protected wildlife is welcome,” says New Zealand First conservation spokesperson, Edwin Perry. See... Sentence For Pigeon Poacher Sends Message [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0402/S00449.htm

ENDS

© 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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