TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY:
Government Buys Westhaven Marina For Aucklanders
NZ To Negotiate Free Trade Agreement With China
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Bush Redraws ME Roadmap To Peace In Meeting With Sharon
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES
STORY OF THE WEEK - IRAQ: Stan Goff: Building A Bridge To Sanity
Cartoon: Bush Vows To Finish His Job

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News & More Is There!
Barbara Sumner Burstyn Leaves The Herald
Meditations: I Am The Rwandan Child
Bill Grigsby: 2004 = 1984 & Patriotism = Loyalty
Guest Opinion: The Mythical War On Terror
Manuel Valenzuela: Shame On You, Corporate Media
UQ Wire: The Perfect Alibi That Isn't

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Maori Opposition To Seabed Strengthened, March Planned
Muriel Newman: Welfarism & Maori
Mike Ward's Environmental Cycling Tour
Stephen Franks Addresses Maori And Court Reform
Waikato & Thames Hospital Developments Approved
Cullen Talks About The NZ Economy
Investment NZ Is Value For Money
Historic Places Trust Urged To Back Off In Northland

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

Bush Gives Israel Green Light To Keep West Bank Settlements

LEAD STORY:
Government Buys Westhaven Marina For Aucklanders

- The government has negotiated an agreement to secure public ownership of Westhaven Marina and Hobson West marinas, for the enjoyment of Aucklanders and visitors to the city, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Associate Finance Minister Trevor Mallard announced today. See... Westhaven secured for Aucklanders [1] MORE: - POAL - Govt is successful bidder for Westhaven Marina [2] - Infrastructure Ak. - IA Welcomes Sale Of Westhaven Marina [3] - Auckland City - Auckland City secures Westhaven [4] - NZ First - Victory For Common Sense [5] - ACT - Westhaven Purchase Extreme Folly [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00224.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00141.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0404/S00118.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0404/S00117.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00233.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00230.htm

NZ To Negotiate Free Trade Agreement With China

- Prime Minister Helen Clark and Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton announced today that New Zealand and China have agreed on a formal Trade and Economic Cooperation Framework. See... New Zealand and China to work towards FTA [1] and NZ-China FTA: Questions And Answers For Media [2] MORE: - Rod Donald - Only fools rush into China [3] - Clothing Workers - P.M. Misleads Union Movement Over China FTA [4] - CTU - China Deal Signals Serious Issues for Workers [5] - FIC - Forest Industries Welcome China FTA Prospect [6] - Fonterra - Fonterra applauds progress toward China-NZ FTA [7] - EMA - China free trade agreement bold [8] - Fed Farmers - Prospect of NZ-China FTA Good News [9] - Wellington Chamber - Asia First - but not Asia First and Last [10]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00216.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00215.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00222.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00087.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00085.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00138.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00135.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00134.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00133.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00132.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00144.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00139.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0404/S00072.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0404/S00070.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0404/S00069.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0404/S00120.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00092.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00089.htm

Bush Redraws ME Roadmap To Peace In Meeting With Sharon

- "In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949. And all previous efforts to negotiate a two-state solution have reached the same conclusion. It is realistic to expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities." Bush Commends Israeli Prime Minister Sharon's Plan [1] MORE: - Statement by the President On Israel & Palestine [2] EARLIER: - PNA - PM Qoreia warns US over guarantees for Sharon [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00150.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00151.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00152.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

From The Holy Land

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00147.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00146.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00145.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00144.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00148.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00149.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00143.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00140.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00137.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00136.htm

STORY OF THE WEEK - IRAQ: Stan Goff: Building A Bridge To Sanity

- The United States government has initiated a chain reaction that it can no longer control. The stalled vengeance assault on Fallujah is merely a symptom. See... Stan Goff: The Bridge - A Rant [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00126.htm

Cartoon: Bush Vows To Finish His Job

- A cartoon by John Chuckman See... Chuckman Cartoon: Finishing The Job [1] ...STORY OF THE WEEK COVERAGE CONTINUES [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00124.htm
[2] - http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=iraqwar

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News & More Is There!

- Clearly, Garth George is back on letters duty at the Herald. Yesterday's column was led by four missives of boilerplate Maxim Institute-derived raving about PC, perversions and the threat to the family. Was there really no other opinion?... See... Public Address 15/04/04 - Home Fronts [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00129.htm

Barbara Sumner Burstyn Leaves The Herald

- Well well, it's kick-off as they say. An effort to shut good progressive writers completely out of New Zealand's mainstream newspapers looks like it might be under way. See... Termination of Sumner Burstyn's NZ Herald Column [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00121.htm

Meditations: I Am The Rwandan Child

- I am the Rwandan child hacked to death with a machete ten years ago as the world turned its back. I was murdered not on the 'dark continent,' but in the darkest recesses of human consciousness. See... Meditations (Politics): I Am The Rwandan Child [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00128.htm

Bill Grigsby: 2004 = 1984 & Patriotism = Loyalty

- Over 50 years ago, George Orwell created Oceania, a literary dystopian society—what he likely suspected was transporting Stalin’s Russia to its logical conclusion. See... Bill Grigsby: What Would Orwell Say? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00127.htm

Guest Opinion: The Mythical War On Terror

- The so-called ''War On Terror'' is a dangerous myth that is undermining American national security. This myth is a deliberate creation of the Bush Administration and their political allies. See... Ending The ''War On Terror'' Myth [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00125.htm

Manuel Valenzuela: Shame On You, Corporate Media

- Discomforting as it might seem for us to acknowledge, the corporate media is our enemy. In concert, the ABCNBCCBSCNNFOX hydra has declared open war against our right to truth and open democracy. See... Manuel Valenzuela: In the Shadow of Wolves [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00122.htm

UQ Wire: The Perfect Alibi That Isn't

- The administration's planning for the war against Afghanistan actually started (at the latest) in March, 2001 (per Janes Defense Weekly (subscription required)), a full six months before 9-11 and less than two months after taking power. See... UQ Wire: The Perfect Alibi (Part II) [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00119.htm

Maori Opposition To Seabed Strengthened, March Planned

- The proposed government legislation on the foreshore and seabed has strengthened the opposition of one of the country’s largest iwi. See... Foreshore Legislation Hardens Iwi Opposition [1] and Hone Harawira: We're Marching To Parliament [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00091.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00090.htm

Muriel Newman: Welfarism & Maori

- This week, the Column looks at how welfare dependency is crippling Maori, and urges Maori leaders to make a pro-active stand to improve the lot of the Maori people. See... The Column: Welfare Destroying Maori [1] and Time For Maori Caucus To Look Out For Maori [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00229.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00218.htm

Mike Ward's Environmental Cycling Tour

- Nelson-based Green MP Mike Ward is cycling from Bluff to Nelson during the current parliamentary recess to meet with Mayors, councillors, schools, waste organisations, regional business associations, local Greens and the public on the issues of waste, community economic development and transport. MP triking through Canterbury [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00227.htm

Stephen Franks Addresses Maori And Court Reform

- At the ALRAC conference today, ACT New Zealand Maori Affairs and Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks will criticise the New Zealand Law Commission's proposals for courts to be more like hui, with dollops of indigenous ritual - but call for much greater assimilation of Maori concepts, including whakamaa (shame), utu (retribution), and muru (reparation). See... ACT Urges More Maori Cultural Influence On Law [1] and Franks Speech - Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00226.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00225.htm

Waikato & Thames Hospital Developments Approved

- Health Minister Annette King says she is delighted the Cabinet has fully approved the Waikato District Health Board's $215 million redevelopment plans for Waikato and Thames hospitals. See... Approval for Waikato and Thames hospital projects [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00234.htm

Cullen Talks About The NZ Economy

- When I spoke to you around this time last year I reported that the New Zealand economy had performed exceptionally well in 2002, in the face of some considerable offshore adversity. But I predicted turbulence ahead in 2003... See... Hon Michael Cullen's Address to Probus Club [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00232.htm

Investment NZ Is Value For Money

- “For an investment amounting to $1 per small business, Investment NZ generated $484m in new investment and 1921 jobs. Now the anti-business Act Party wants to pillory those investors.” See... Anti-business Act opposed to Greenfield investment [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00221.htm

Historic Places Trust Urged To Back Off In Northland

- National MP John Carter is urging the Historic Places Trust to see sense over a legal wrangle with the commercial arm of the Far North District Council that threatens to cost taxpayers and ratepayers big money. See... Historic Places Trust must see sense [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00220.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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