Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
PM's Press Conference: Hikois, Tariana Turia and Nukes
Hikoi Challenges Conscience Of Public Service
Stateside Photo Essay: Cinco de Mayo, 2004
Green Left Weekly: Will US Withdrawal Lead To Civil War?
Dan Spillane: Is The US Mortgage Market Unhinged
Bernard Weiner: Horrid Thoughts About Horrid Leaders
Full Coverage: Iraq Coalition's Shame, Abusing POWs

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Brash Considers Labour’s Discontent
Children’s Bill Doesn’t Go Far Enough: Nats
Coddington Highlights Diligent School Warnings
Progressives Backs Living Allowance Student Petition
Tangiwai PC Price Tag A Disgrace: Nats
Nats Slag Labour’s Third-Way Econ-Policy
Youth Week Presents Celebratory Window
NUPE Says Employment Court Must Stay
Destiny Announces No-Contest By-Election
Eastern Highway: John Banks Must Go!

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

20,000 Strong Hikoi Confronts Parliament
& Hikoi Parliament Panorama Image
http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0405/76378e8db66a4bfca5eb.jpeg

- Parliament has come to a virtual standstill after up to 20,000 people occupied Parliament grounds today. The Hikoi, now camping down on Parliament’s grounds, is protesting against the Government’s proposed seabed and foreshore legislation. See... Hikoi Standoff: Parliament Comes To Standstill [1] Ten Thousand Hikoi Marchers Reach Parliament [2] Hikoi: 10,000 Plus Gather To March On Parliament [3] Young New Zealanders Oppose Government Legislation [4] Open Letter on foreshore and seabed [5] Another Land Grab [6] Police Say 10,000+ March In Wellington Hikoi [7] ACT Will Welcome The Hikoi [8] Union Supports Hikoi [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00045.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00044.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00041.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00030.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00025.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00024.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0405/S00027.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00060.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00033.htm

NEW ZEALAND LEAD STORY
Has Helen Clark Got The Numbers To Govern?

- Short answer: Yes. In Parliament at 2pm Tuesday a no-confidence vote failed 62 votes to 58 with Tariana Turia and Nanaia Mahuta voting with the Government and the Greens against. Jones Explains No-Confidence Motions To Brash [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00043.htm

Moscow “La Classique” Ballet presents Cinderella
http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0405/82b96c2cf41cfc02ac1a.jpeg

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
Quartet Positive Over Israel Gaza Withdrawal Plan

- Meeting today at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the so-called Quartet issued a positive reaction to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw all Israeli settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, calling it a "rare moment ... See... UN Meeting: Quartet Reacts To Israel's Gaza Plan [1] Annan Meets Quartet On Search Middle East Peace [2] Israel: AI condemns murder of woman and daughters [3] GUSH SHALOM – Sharon’s a Wounded Animal [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00039.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00036.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00032.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00040.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
PM's Press Conference: Hikois, Tariana Turia and Nukes
- IN THIS EDITION: When Is A Hikoi Not A Hikoi - Tariana Turia And The Prime Minister 'The Relationship That Wasn’t' - And - The New Nuclear Nats & Dying Laughing See... PM's Presser: Of Hikois, Tariana Turia and Nukes [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00026.htm

Hikoi Challenges Conscience Of Public Service

- The key issue facing public servants when deciding whether to join political demonstrations is the balancing of the responsibility of public servant obligations and the rights of employees to freedom of speech and expression. See... Public servants and political demonstrations [1] STORY OF THE WEEK: Clark Jumps Confidence Hurdle & last week's… More of the Story of the Week.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00015.htm

Stateside Photo Essay: Cinco de Mayo, 2004

- On May 5, 1862, the Mexicans defeated Napoleon III at Puebla, and this date is celebrated with a national holiday in Mexico. Many cities here in the US that have a large Mexican population celebrate with a weekend parade. See... Stateside with Rosalea: Cinco de Mayo, 2004 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00040.htm

Green Left Weekly: Will US Withdrawal Lead To Civil War?

- If the US troops leave Iraq, “violence will fill the vacuum as groups struggle for political power, and we risk all-out civil war”, John McCain, a leading Republican member of the US Senate armed services committee, declared in a April 22 speech to ... See... GLW: Iraq - Will Us Withdrawal Lead To Civil War? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00038.htm

Dan Spillane: Is The US Mortgage Market Unhinged

- Ad-hoc computer programs increasingly influence home buying, but are devoid of proper economic study - "Computer speed" being translated to "home price rises" based on standard economic models; dangerously "amplifying" ultra-low interest rates. See... US Mortgage Prices in Computer ‘Infinite Loop’ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00037.htm

Bernard Weiner: Horrid Thoughts About Horrid Leaders

- Maybe you've forgotten John DiIulio. An early ranking member of the Bush Administration -- in charge of faith-based programs -- he was the first to leave and tell us what really went on inside the White House. See... Bernard Weiner: Horrid Thoughts About Horrid Leaders [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00036.htm

Full Coverage: Iraq Coalition's Shame, Abusing POWs

- It was revealed this past week that, on top of the indiscriminate bombardment of civilians in Iraqi urban areas, both U.S. and British soldiers have become involved in the torture of Iraqi prisoners as well. See... Full Coverage: A Coalition's Shame - Abusing POWs [1] Chuckman Cartoon: Rumsfeld Clears The Air [2] Public Address 04/05/04 - Mutton Chops & Martinis [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00042.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00035.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00030.htm

- At a time when most of the focus of political attention is on the extraordinary mess which the Government has created with its seabed and foreshore policy - with a belated ministerial sacking, a by-election, a hikoi, and all the rest - it is worth remembering ... See... The Brash Report - No. 29, 5 May 2004 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00065.htm

Children’s Bill Doesn’t Go Far Enough: Nats

- The Care of Children Bill does not go far enough to open the Family Court's work to scrutiny, says National's Family and Associate Justice spokeswoman, Judith Collins. See... Care of Children Bill falls short [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00066.htm

Coddington Highlights Diligent School Warnings

- ACT New Zealand Associate Justice Spokesman Deborah Coddington today congratulated two Invercargill schools for notifying parents of a convicted paedophile moving into their neighbourhood. See... ACT Welcomes Schools' Paedophile Warning [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00061.htm

Progressives Backs Living Allowance Student Petition

- "Progressives support living allowances for students so they do not have to borrow money for living expenses and welcome the students’ petition presented at Parliament today", Matt Robson, Progressive Deputy Leader said. See... Progressives support students petition [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00059.htm

Tangiwai PC Price Tag A Disgrace: Nats

- Spending $4.5 million to protect the Tangiwai Bridge from the expected Mt Ruapehu lahar is madness when it would cost just $60,000 to remove the risk with earth-moving work at the crater lake, says National's Environment spokesman Nick Smith. See... $4.5m price of PC on Ruapehu lahar [1] Funding to lift Tangiwai Bridge approved [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00057.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00029.htm

Nats Slag Labour’s Third-Way Econ-Policy

- "Another report out tonight poses further questions about Labour's stewardship of the economy," according to National Party Deputy Finance spokesman John Key. See... Report makes grim reading for Labour [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00056.htm

Youth Week Presents Celebratory Window

- The Ministry of Youth Development is busy this week celebrating young people in a number of ways to mark Youth Week, which runs from 3 to 9 May. See... Youth Week [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00037.htm

NUPE Says Employment Court Must Stay

- “The National Union of Public Employees has today issued strike notices covering a 48 hour period, commencing on the 19 May, to private mental health provider Richmond Fellowship.” said NUPE Organiser John Kerr. See... Keep The Employment Court, Says Union [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00034.htm

Destiny Announces No-Contest By-Election

Decision - Destiny NZ will not be contesting the pending by-election in the Te Tai Hauauru Maori electorate. See... Destiny NZ Not Contesting Te Tai Hauauru [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00032.htm

Eastern Highway: John Banks Must Go!

- John Banks should consider his future as Mayor of Auckland, given that he staked his mayoralty on pushing through the Eastern Highway, says Auckland City mayoral contender, Bruce Hucker. See... John Banks should go in view of Highway report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00031.htm

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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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