Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

Thursday, 8 March 2007, 4:29 pm
Article: The Scoop Team

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LEAD STORY:
Sludge Report: RBNZ Raises Interest Rates – But Will It Make A Difference?

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Women's Affairs: 30th International Women's Day
- NEW ZEALAND:
- WORLD:
Internet: NZ-Designed Search Engine Mentioned In Dispatches
No Right Turn: Nats' $1.25 Billion Carbon Credit Giveaway
Land Access: Walking Access Report Released
NEWS HEADLINES:
Electricity: Mighty River Opts Out On Marsden B
Internet: Broadband Connections Keep On Growing
RECOMMENDED AUDIO:

WORLD NEWS:
United Nations: UN Nuclear Watchdog Again Urges ‘Timeout’
Timor: Timor Fugitive Responsible for Violence
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

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LEAD STORY

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Sludge Report: RBNZ Raises Interest Rates – But Will It Make A Difference?

[1] - From today's Monetary Policy Statement [2] it appears that our Reserve Bank Governor Dr Alan Bollard remains fixated on New Zealand house price inflation. Unfortunately on the face of things there doesn't seem to be much he can do about it. "A return to a moderating trend in housing and domestic demand " is what he today says he wants – if we are to avoid " medium term inflationary pressures ", by which he means further interest rate rises. However from this MPS it is also apparent that there is growing recognition inside the bank that there is not a lot it can do about its biggest bugbear. See... Sludge Report #174: RBNZ Remains Housing Fixated [3] (includes full audio of Dr Bollard's Q&A [4] ) MORE:

Scoop Report - Bollard Gives Committee Fiscal Warning [5]

RBNZ Press Release - Reserve Bank raises OCR to 7.50 percent [6]

RBNZ Full Text - Monetary Policy Statement – 885k PDF [7]

NZ Govt - Bank highlights savings problem [8]

National - Homeowners tighten belts while Labour lets loose [9]

Progressive Party - Rate rise will cause pain but is it worth it? [10]

NZ First - Governor’s Blunt Instrument [11]

Greens - Overseas investors main winners from OCR decision [12]

CTU - Cash Rise Regrettable [13]

Wellington Chamber - Chamber Concerned at Interest Rate Rise [14]

Canterbury Manufacturers - Doing the same things expecting different results… [15]

BERL - BERL calls on Reserve Bank Governor to hold nerve [16]

Mike Pero - Reserve Bank of New Zealand MPS comment [17]

Business Roundtable - Monetary Policy, Inflation and Capital Markets [18]

Advance New Zealand - Inflation: History Repeats and Repeats and... [19]

EPMU - Rate rise further justifies pay rises - EPMU [20]

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

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Women's Affairs: 30th International Women's Day

- On Thursday 8th March Amnesty International groups around New Zealand and the globe will be celebrating International Women's Day with infostalls, appeals and candle-lit vigils. Activist groups will be lighting 180 candles, signifying both 30 years of UN recognition of International Women's Day and the 150th Anniversary of the first known industrial protest organised by women on 8 March 1857. See... 30 years of International Women's Day [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00078.htm

-NEW ZEALAND:

Auckland Protest - Supporters and Rape Survivors Call for Changes [2]

National Council of Women - IWD Highlights Violence Towards Women [3]

CTU - Quality Work For Women Needed [4]

CTU - Pay DVD Useful Resource for Women [5]

NZEI - Equal Pay DVD Launched [6]

Preventing Violence in the Home - Family Violence Experts Warn New Courts [7]

Greens - Police need to convince women culture has changed [8]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00104.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00114.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00100.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00112.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00097.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00085.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0703/S00132.htm

- WORLD:

Secretariat of the Pacific Community - Status of Pacific girls and women [1]

US State Department - First International Women of Courage Awards [2]

US State Department - UNGA Debate on the Promotion of Gender Equality [3]

US State Department - Condoleezza Rice: International Women's Day [4]

Organization for Women's Liberation - No to Women's Oppression [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00085.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00108.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00143.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00138.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00088.htm

Internet: NZ-Designed Search Engine Mentioned In Dispatches

- An Internet search engine designed by Wellington campus digital media specialist Mark Zeman has been voted one of the world’s top 100 alternative search engines – the only one from New Zealand to make the list. The list of alternatives to the world’s most popular search engine, Google, was assembled by Read/WriteWeb, a leading blog that analyses trends in web development. See... Search engines emerge from Google's shadow [1] ALSO:

Scoop Link - Read/WriteWeb: Top 100 Alternative Search Engines, February 2007 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0703/S00020.htm
[2] - http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/top_100_alternative_search_engines_feb07.php

No Right Turn: Nats' $1.25 Billion Carbon Credit Giveaway

- At a meeting in Christchurch yesterday, National Party leader John Key announced that a National government would deliver a carbon windfall to forest owners by hand out carbon credits for all forests planted since 1990... it's an idea that makes a lot of sense if you view climate change policy primarily as a way of delivering corporate welfare to business interests. See... No Right Turn: National's $1.25 billion giveaway [1] ALSO:

NZ Govt - Key stumbles with policy on the hoof [2]

NZ Govt - Key promises the earth again [3]

National - Anderton attempts to distract from carbon fiasco [4]

National - Climate change consultation needs to be longer [5]

National - Get your cheque book out for roaming rights [6]

KFA - Anderton’s Personal Attacks Can’t Disguise Crisis [7]

KFA - South Island Set To Lose $2.7 Billion [8]

KFA - National Party Signals on Kyoto Forests Welcomed [9]

NZ Forest Owners' Association - National, Green & ACT forest policies welcomed [10] Global Warming:

Opinion - Robert Anderson: Humanity’s Greatest Challenge [11]

Land Access: Walking Access Report Released

- The independent report on walking access provides a blueprint for the way forward on an extremely complex and longstanding issue, Rural Affairs Minister Damien O'Connor says. The report, released publicly by Mr O'Connor today, was prepared by an independent panel of stakeholders representing farmers, recreational and other interest groups, and led by South Island farmer John Acland. See... Walking access report a blueprint for way forward [1] ALSO:

Scoop Link - Full Report and Info: www.walkingaccess.org.nz [2]

Bryce Johnson - Minority view: Walking Access Consultation Panel [3]

NZ Govt - Walking Access Report - Questions and Answers [4]

NZ Govt - Access over Maori land a decision for landowners [5]

United Future - Walking Access Report a source of encouragement [6]

United Future - Copeland: You cannot be serious David?! [7]

National - Labour backs down on public access [8]

National - Get your cheque book out for roaming rights [9]

Greens - Access report: questions unanswered - Greens [10]

Maori Party - Supports Govt backdown – but Contradiction [11]

Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations - Land Access Report Welcomed But Timid [12]

Fish and Game New Zealand - Land Access Report Welcomed as a Good Start [13]

Federation Of Maori Authorities - Outdoor Walking Access a welcome review [14]

Waiareka Valley Preservation Society - Marsden B an inconvenient truth for Holcim to face [15]

NEWS HEADLINES:

Peters offers condolences after plane crash [1]

Inquiry Update - Taito Phillip Field [2]

Police: Ex-Tall Fern Graduates Top Of Class [3]

Electronic Monitoring Welcomed [4]

Lloyd Jones awarded Berlin Writers’ Residency [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0703/S00130.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00087.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00099.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0703/S00019.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0703/S00083.htm

Electricity: Mighty River Opts Out On Marsden B

- Mighty River Power has decided not to proceed with seeking the consents necessary to enable recommissioning of the Marsden B power station, following a review of the company's potential generation developments and future market conditions. Chief Executive Doug Heffernan said the company was now confident New Zealand could meet its energy supply requirements over the next decade without the Marsden B station. See... Marsden B consent plans discontinued [1] ALSO:

NZ Govt - Minister welcomes Marsden B decision [2]

Greens - Mighty River Power sees the light - at last [3]

National - Marsden B scrapped over policy uncertainty [4]

Greenpeace New Zealand - Climate the winner as Marsden B scrapped [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0703/S00127.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0703/S00120.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0703/S00113.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0703/S00115.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0703/S00083.htm

Internet: Broadband Connections Keep On Growing

- Internet broadband (non-analog) subscriber numbers continue to increase, and are up nearly 30 percent in the six months to 30 September 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today. The total number of Internet subscribers in New Zealand is now almost 1.4 million. See... Kiwis Continue to Embrace Broadband [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0703/S00121.htm

RECOMMENDED AUDIO:

KiwiFM Audio: [1] NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark is scheduled to meet with US President George Bush on March 20. Is New Zealand about to increase its involvement in Afghanistan, in the Persian Gulf, in containment operations in Central-Asia, and in this US-led War On Terror? KiwiFM Audio: [2] Former Police Minister John Banks talks to KiwiFM's Wallace about why Clint Rickards, recently acquitted of rape charges, must not be reinstated as Assistant Police Commissioner and in charge of the Auckland Police District.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0703/S00042.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0703/S00047.htm

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WORLD NEWS

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United Nations: UN Nuclear Watchdog Again Urges ‘Timeout’

- The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency has again called for a “timeout” on the Iranian nuclear issue to allow for talks, with Iran suspending uranium enrichment and the international community suspending sanctions over a programme that Tehran See… UN Nuclear Watchdog Again Urges ‘Timeout’ [1] ALSO:

US State Dept. - The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism [2]

INSS - A Nuclear Iran - What Does it Mean? [3]

UN - Stalemate Over Iran’s Nuclear Programme [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00123.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00127.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00103.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00091.htm

Timor: Timor Fugitive Responsible for Violence

- The United Nations envoy in Timor-Leste has said fugitive Timorese Major Alfredo Reinado and his followers, who are accused of involvement in last year’s deadly violence that rocked the tiny nation, bear ultimate responsibility for the weekend... See… Timor Fugitive Responsible for Violence [1] ALSO:

Thousands More Timorese Become Displaced

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00097.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

Indonesia - Indonesia; Team To Arrive Soon [1]

Iraq - Outrage After Bombs Kill Iraq Pilgrims [2]

Iran - Arrest Of Over 30 Women Activists [3]

Africa - Appeal To Help Southern Sudanese Return Home [4]

Africa - 68,000 Hungry Children Face Cut In UN Food [5]

Somalia - Ship Hijacking Hinders UN Effort [6]

UN Push for Protection of Ozone Layer [7]

UN - Cricket World Cup in War on HIV/AIDS [8]

US - First International Women of Courage Awards [9]

Australia - Financial assistance for farmers travelling to NZ [10]

ENDS

Scoop

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