Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 9 June 2005, 11:22 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Wealth Spread Around More Evenly Since 2001
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:
Dunne Looks For Reds Under NZ Beds
Terence Arnold Could Be In Hot Seat Regarding Benson Pope
Bollard Keeps Close Eye On Inflation
Mobile Phone Termination Regulation Sent To Minister
Greens Pursue Human Rights And An End to China FTA
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
David Swanson: Breakthrough - Washington Post & NYT On Bush & Blair's Comments
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Bonus Joules: Not Just The Usual Suspects
Russell Brown Opines On The Benson-Pope Affair
Jim Shultz On Bolivia's Revolution – Repercussions At OAS
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Former Lange Govt MP Now Wants Nuke Legislation Chucked Out
Bradford Bill Set To Spare The Rod
Dunne Sparks Up 'War On Drugs' War Of Words With Tanczos
MORE PARLIAMENTARY HEADLINES:

LEAD STORY:
Wealth Spread Around More Evenly Since 2001

[1] The latest findings on poverty levels in New Zealand are evidence of a steady improvement in social wellbeing under the Labour-led government, Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said. "The findings - derived from Statistics New Zealand's 2004 Household Economic Survey - show that poverty rates have declined in New Zealand since 2001 as a result of a rise in real incomes for lower-income families," Steve Maharey said. See... Poverty levels down since 2001 [2] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00174.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00174.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00184.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00194.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00146.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0506/S00083.htm

SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:

[1] - http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00202.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/storiesstories/PA0506/S00154.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00131.htm

Dunne Looks For Reds Under NZ Beds

- The Government needs to "come clean" and assure New Zealanders that China does not have a "network of spies or paid informants" operating here, United Future leader Peter Dunne said today. See... Dunne tells Govt: Come clean on Chinese spies [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00193.htm

Terence Arnold Could Be In Hot Seat Regarding Benson Pope

- “Should the police decide to charge David Benson-Pope, any decision to regarding the question of limitation would reside with the Solicitor General,” Attorney General Michael Cullen said today. Dr Cullen issued the statement to correct statements by Professor John Miller that, as the allegations against Mr Benson-Pope related to events alleged to have occurred more than ten years ago, any prosecution would need the consent of the Attorney General. See... Decision would lie with Solicitor-General [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00182.htm

Bollard Keeps Close Eye On Inflation

- Speaking at the release of the Reserve Bank's June 2005 Monetary Policy Statement, Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said: "Our current review confirms what we said in the March Statement and again at the April OCR review. Activity remains strong across many parts of the economy and inflation pressures remain persistent. See... OCR unchanged at 6.75 per cent [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00120.htm

Mobile Phone Termination Regulation Sent To Minister

- The Commerce Commission has recommended to the Minister of Communications that the termination of fixed line voice calls on a cellular telephone network should be regulated. See... Comm. recommends regulation of mobile termination [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00129.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00147.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00141.htm

Greens Pursue Human Rights And An End to China FTA

- Green MP Keith Locke wants New Zealand to offer former Chinese diplomat, Chen Yonglin, asylum in New Zealand. Mr Chen is in hiding after walking away from his job at the Chinese consulate-general in Sydney, and has claimed that China has a network of spies in Australia that regularly kidnap dissenters and send them home. See... NZ should offer refuge to Chinese defector: Locke [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00162.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00144.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00143.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00134.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00130.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0506/S00080.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0506/S00123.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0506/S00084.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0506/S00082.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0506/S00079.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0506/S00075.htm

David Swanson: Breakthrough - Washington Post & NYT On Bush & Blair's Comments

- The corporate media today began its coverage of the Downing Street Minutes, moved to do so by a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Tony Blair, and by the pressure all of us have applied. See... David Swanson: Bush, Blair, and Bumiller [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00120.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00116.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00127.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00136.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00135.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00134.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00133.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00132.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00129.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00126.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00125.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00124.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Bonus Joules: Not Just The Usual Suspects

- Policy launch: Greens offer brighter thinking on energy. So reads the media release this week. Strange. Why does the world suddenly dim down and lose its sparkle? Have we suddenly blown a galactic fuse or something? Time to get the Energy Gobbledygook detector out to check things. See... Bonus Joules: Is EECA A Nuclear Reactor? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00125.htm

Russell Brown Opines On The Benson-Pope Affair

- A sitting MP gives an explanation to the House which is at perpendicular variance with accounts of his potentially improper conduct provided to journalists by three members of the public. He seems destined to appear before the privileges committee which will decide whether he has misled Parliament - but the Speaker decides that what appear to be irreconcilable versions of the facts are merely differences of opinion. Is the MP David Benson Pope? See... Public Address 09/06/05 - Po-Faced Outrage [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00124.htm

Jim Shultz On Bolivia's Revolution – Repercussions At OAS

- Bolivia is once again in the international news and with good reason. For three weeks the capital city of La Paz has been largely shut down by protests. The President has announced his resignation. The Congress is poised Thursday to hand the Presidency over to one of its leaders, an action which could easily spark deep and prolonged violence here. See... Jim Shultz: Bolivia In Turmoil [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00122.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00123.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00119.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00126.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00121.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00118.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00117.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00115.htm

Former Lange Govt MP Now Wants Nuke Legislation Chucked Out

- Finally Parliament will have an opportunity to reverse the foolish clause 11 of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Disarmament and Arms Control Act of 1987, ACT MP Ken Shirley said in response to his private members bill being drawn from the ballot. See... End nuclear nonsense - restore ANZUS [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00185.htm

Bradford Bill Set To Spare The Rod

- New Zealand is poised to outlaw the inhumane practice of allowing parents to beat their children after Green MP Sue Bradford's Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill was today pulled from the ballot. See... Outdated child beating law set to go [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00183.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00198.htm

Dunne Sparks Up 'War On Drugs' War Of Words With Tanczos

- United Future leader Peter Dunne today challenged both Labour and National to fill "their drugs policy vacuums", as he detailed United Future's drug policy going into the election. See... UF lays down drugs challenge to Labour, Nats [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00179.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00176.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00191.htm

MORE PARLIAMENTARY HEADLINES:

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00192.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00164.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00190.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00189.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00172.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00171.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00166.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00167.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00175.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00177.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00170.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00178.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00169.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00181.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0506/S00186.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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