Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

Wednesday, 20 December 2006, 3:06 pm
Article: The Scoop Team

NEW ZEALAND LEAD:
Christmas: Billboards Offer Local Solutions To Driver Fatigue
Medical: Is The Party Coming To An End For Herbal Highs?
Silly Season: Giraffe Shipped
Whangamata: Blue/Greens And Green/Greens Beg To Differ
Christmas: Spirit Of Season Celebrated In Fairy Lights
Transport: $120 Million For New Lynn Trains
Weather News: Metservice Says 2006 Sixth Warmest Year On Record
Pacific News: NZ Extends Military Deployment To Solomons -
Royal News: Duke Of York To Acknowledge Kiwi Soldier's Gallantry
Employment: Minimum Wage Rises By $1/Hour -
Science News: Government Announces $2.2 Million Purse For Carter Observatory
More Headlines:

SCOOP INTERNATIONAL LEAD STORY:
Nuke News: Secret Airlift Returns Uranium Fuel From Germany To Russia
Africa: Floor Waters Continue To Rise In East Africa
More International Headlines:

SCOOP LEAD STORY
Parliament: Nelson MP Reclaims 'Worst Behaved' Title

Ohariu-Belmont MP, Peter Dunne, today released his annual list of Parliament's worst-behaved MPs for the current year. "The winner by a country mile this year is National's Nelson MP, Dr Nick Smith, who is consistently among the worst-behaved MP's," he said. The ranking system is based on 1 point for being asked by the Speaker to withdraw and apologise and 3 points for being thrown out of the House. (Scoop Image, Mark Graham) See... Parliament's worst behaved MPs for 2006 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00411.htm

RECOMMENDED VIDEO:

Kiwi Doco News: Sandor Lau's Squeegee Bandit Doco Releases Feb 1st

- This bold new film by Sándor Lau is a documentary about Starfish, who survives by washing car windows at intersections on the mean streets of South Auckland. He's a born hustler with an extreme personality, magnetic charisma, infectious humour, and a vicious temper. See... Kiwi Doco Squeegee Bandit Releases Feb 1st [1]

[1] http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0612/S00274.htm

RECOMMENDED AUDIO:

KiwiFM Audio:

Selwyn Manning talks to Wallace Chapman about how NZ has recommitted to RAMSI: The move sends a signal out with ever increasing importance. The state of the Pacific is now extremely fragile. What's really shaping up across the Pacific Arc of Instability? See… Selwyn Manning on KiwiFM with Wallace [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0612/S00276.htm

Scoop Audio:

Selwyn Manning talks to Radio Adelaide's Peter Godfrey about tax cuts for Kiwi businesses; Brent Todd faces pokie charges; and 50,000 bulbs turn spotlight on Kiwi Christmas winners. [1] See… Selwyn Manning on Radio Adelaide [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0612/S00277.htm

Scoop Audio: Scoop's Lyndon Hood wraps up the political year on The Wire with 95bFM's Richard Beniston. See... LH on 95bFM [1]

[1] http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0612/S00272.htm

Scoop Audio:

PM Wraps Up 2006 Scoop's Kevin List reports that at the last post-cabinet press conference for 2006 the Prime Minister took a short wander down memory lane and preferred to be upbeat about the fading year. See… LH on 95bFM's The Wire [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0612/S00272.htm

Check Out Scoop's Audio and Video Podcast Feed (updated)

NEW ZEALAND LEAD:

Christmas: Billboards Offer Local Solutions To Driver Fatigue

- Land Transport New Zealand is encouraging drivers to stay fit to drive by taking frequent breaks on holiday journeys this year. Land Transport has collaborated with ACC, Transit New Zealand and NZ Police on a series of holiday-themed radio, print and billboard advertisements targeting driver stress, impatience and fatigue. See... Take a break - stay fit to drive these holidays [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00254.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0612/S00215.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0612/S00387.htm

Medical: Is The Party Coming To An End For Herbal Highs?

The Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) has recommended the Government make benzylpiperazine (BZP), phenylpiperazines and related piperazines, common ingredients in 'party pills', illegal because of the risk of harm. See... Anderton releases advice on BZP to warn consumers [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00406.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00252.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0612/S00096.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0612/S00098.htm

Silly Season: Giraffe Shipped

- Orly, a young 4-metre-tall giraffe, takes an extra high final look around before he was shipped from Lyttelton yesterday to a new home at Keystone Wildlife Reserve north of Auckland. The giraffe was one of two males from Canterbury's Orana Wildlife Park to be transferred, presenting a tall order for handlers and staff of Pacifica Shipping at the port of Lyttelton. See... Room With a View [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0612/S00376.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0612/S00149.htm

Whangamata: Blue/Greens And Green/Greens Beg To Differ

- The Government’s backdown on the Whangamata Marina decision is a victory for Kiwi battlers who took on an arrogant Government and won, say National Conservation spokesman Nick Smith and Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie. “This is an incredibly embarrassing backdown for Labour on one of the major controversies of the year,” says Dr Smith. See... Marina decision embarrassment for Labour [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00385.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00240.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00392.htm

Christmas: Spirit Of Season Celebrated In Fairy Lights

- The winners of The Warehouse Light Up Your Home competition have got the Christmas decorating bug and are already designing improvements and additions for next year’s display. Graham and Evelyn Leighton of Upper Hutt were today named overall winners out of hundreds of entries from around the country. Their festive home lighting display has been a year in development and uses more than 50,000 bulbs. See... The Warehouse ‘Light Up Your Home’ Winner [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0612/S00139.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0612/S00141.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00244.htm

Transport: $120 Million For New Lynn Trains

- Government funding has been confirmed for a multi-million dollar revamp for New Lynn rail station and full trenching of a twin-tracked rail line through central New Lynn. Finance Minister Michael Cullen has approved $120m for the grade separation option for the New Lynn rail station, complementing funding commitments from Waitakere City Council and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority. See... $120 m New Lynn transport upgrade [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00375.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00394.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00389.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00342.htm

Weather News: Metservice Says 2006 Sixth Warmest Year On Record

- The MetService Chief Executive, John Lumsden, said today that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) latest report confirms the global warming trend. "The WMO preliminary report on the global climate for 2006 has just been released and it confirms that 2006 is set to be the sixth warmest year on record, continuing the trend of global warming." See... MetService Confirms WMO Position on Global Warming [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0612/S00051.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0612/S00053.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00235.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00407.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0612/S00380.htm

Pacific News: NZ Extends Military Deployment To Solomons -

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Acting Defence Minister Annette King today announced that New Zealand's deployment of up to 50 defence personnel to the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands has been extended until March 2008. New Zealand has maintained an enhanced military presence in Honiara since the riots there in April. New Zealand also has 35 police officers in the Solomon Islands. Image by Jason Dorday. See... New Zealand extends Solomon Islands deployment [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00365.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00337.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00217.htm

Royal News: Duke Of York To Acknowledge Kiwi Soldier's Gallantry

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today announced that His Royal Highness the Duke of York will visit New Zealand in March 2007. Prince Andrew will visit New Zealand for about a week. He will take part in a special ceremony to recognise the gallantry of the Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi in Rotorua on 17 March. Lance Sergeant Manahi was not awarded a Victoria Cross during World War Two despite recommendations that his gallantry warranted the highest award for valour. See... Duke of York to visit New Zealand [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00366.htm

Employment: Minimum Wage Rises By $1/Hour -

Workers earning the minimum wage will receive a 9.8% pay rise from April 2007, Labour Minister Ruth Dyson announced today. The minimum adult wage, which applies to people 18 years and over, will increase from $10.25 to $11.25 an hour ($450 for a 40 hour week) from 1 April 2007 - the largest increase since the Labour-led government came into office in 1999. See... Largest increase to minimum wage since 1999 [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00352.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00355.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00374.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00227.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0612/S00050.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0612/S00083.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00246.htm

Science News: Government Announces $2.2 Million Purse For Carter Observatory

- The government will provide $2.2 million to support the redevelopment of Wellington's Carter Observatory, Research, Science and Technology Minister Steve Maharey announced today. "The Carter Observatory is an important cultural and scientific asset for Wellington," Steve Maharey said. See... $2.2 million for Carter Observatory redevelopment [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0612/S00369.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00234.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0612/S00199.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0612/S00132.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00232.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0612/S00046.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
Nuke News: Secret Airlift Returns Uranium Fuel From Germany To Russia

- Nearly 270 kilos of fresh highly enriched uranium fuel (HEU) that could be used by terrorists to make nuclear explosives have been returned from a German research reactor to Russia in a secret airlift jointly monitored by the United Nations atomic watchdog, IAEA. See... Nuclear Bomb-Grade Fuel Removed From Germany [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0612/S00348.htm

Africa: Floor Waters Continue To Rise In East Africa

- Flood waters in East Africa are rising much faster than funding for United Nations efforts to feed some 1.5 million people whose lives are threatened by the disaster. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today voiced deep concern about growing food shortages in Somalia. See... Floods Rise Faster Than Funds for E Africa Aid [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0612/S00355.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0612/S00361.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0612/S00360.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0612/S00359.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0612/S00354.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0612/S00351.htm

© Scoop Media

Scoop

Scoop Independent News

Scoop is NZ's largest independent news source; respected widely in media, political, business and academic circles for being the place on the internet for publishing "what was really said", and for the quality of its analysis of issues.

Contact Scoop

• Editorial - editor@scoop.co.nz
• Twitter - @ScoopNZ
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Services - services@scoop.co.nz
• Phone - 04 910 1844