Top Scoop Stories - 25 March 2008 News Summary

Tuesday, 25 March 2008, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - 25 March 2008

LEAD STORY:

(Lack Of) Housing: Jones On Red Tape Slashing Mission

NZ POLITICS:

Environmental Shocker: Heavy Metal Poisons Wellington Air
Scoop Video: Iraq - In Search Of Hope
Defence: Army Successfully Tests New Javelin Capability
In The Navy: Canterbury Bound For International Exercise
Seasonal Politics: Minister Washes His Hands Over Easter Trading
Legal Issues: Strong Message In Jailing of Child Porn Man

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Toxicology: Honey Bees Are Poisoning Today....
Work: Business NZ Can't See Smoko Problem
Techiness: Girl Geeks Unite In Wellington
Beverage Watch: Study Unlocks The Health Benefits Of A Cuppa
Environment: Enjoy Your Eggs Then Recycle
Vino: Record Harvest For Central Otago Winegrowers
Sport/Social Networking: Ever Wanted To Track Your Training And Upload It To Facebook?
Science: Antarctic Voyagers Return With Scientific Treasure

WORLD:

Foreign Affairs: "We Are On Track" - Ratu Epeli, Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister
West Papua Issues: Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono in Australia
State Department: Condoleezza Rice With Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Kumar Mukherjee
Afghanistan: Top UN Envoy Speaks Out Against "Abhorrent" Attack On Deminers
U.S. Politics: Barack Obama Speech - 'A More Perfect Union'

COMMENT:

Martin LeFevre: What Went Wrong Jesus?
Uri Avnery: Two Americas
Kelpie Wilson: The Rising Price of Coal
Ramzy Baroud: The Coming Uncertain War against Iran

LIFESTYLE:

Religion: Anti-Porn Pastor Tours Antipodes
Sizzling: Singing Sensation To Accompany Saucy Sambas
Metal: NZ To Be Treated Sonically
Fishing Furore: Bosnian Anglers Stunned By Entry Fee
Spectacle: Hot-Air Balloons Set To Light Up Oriental Bay
BZP Ban: Disco Bunnies Urged Not To Binge On Pills

(Lack Of) Housing: Jones On Red Tape Slashing Mission - Minister for Building and Construction, Shane Jones, today announced plans to slash red tape in the building industry and provide simpler, more flexible consents process for starter homes. "Less than two months (February 12) after I was directed by the Prime Minister to find ways to end the frustration and delays in the consenting process, I have delivered a plan which I believe will greatly assist the Government's housing affordability package," Mr Jones said today. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - 'Multiple use' consents will provide a "fast track [2]
• Design competition will boost starter homes [3]
• NZ Govt - Prisoners to refurbish state houses [4]
• NZ Govt - Long-term renters prompt tenancy rights proposal [5]
• National - Labour admits guilt with housing moves [6]
• National - Affordable Housing Bill backfires [7]
• Local Government NZ - New building consent initiatives a positive step [8]
• Certified Builders Association - Opportunity for Councils to Reduce Consent Delays [9]
• Hugh Pavletich - Housing Affordability: Good Progress in NZ [10]
• (TV3): Red tape to be slashed in building consent process [11]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00406.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00408.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00407.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00391.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00397.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00409.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00410.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0803/S00233.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00356.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00234.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/6164.html

Environmental Shocker: Heavy Metal Poisons Wellington Air - Greater Wellington Regional Council (Greater Wellington) is to prosecute Exide Technologies Limited (Exide) for a second breach of its lead-to-air discharge resource consent conditions. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0803/S00231.htm

Scoop Video: Iraq - In Search Of Hope - Iraq - In Search of Hope features Harmeet Sooden who, in late November 2005, was captured along with three other colleagues and held hostage in Baghdad for four months. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Scoop Full Coverage - Iraq War - Five years On [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00316.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00364.htm

Defence: Army Successfully Tests New Javelin Capability - The NZ Army successfully tested the Javelin medium range anti-armour weapon (MRAAW) in its first live firing at Waiouru this week. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0803/S00221.htm

Holidays: Tokelau Easter Festival - In New Zealand we have a thriving Tokelauan community - just over 6,800 people. Tokelauans make up New Zealand's 6th largest Pacific Island community. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00403.htm

In The Navy: Canterbury Bound For International Exercise - Navy amphibious sealift ship HMNZS Canterbury will depart from Devonport Naval Base on Tuesday, bound for an international exercise in Noumea. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00396.htm

Seasonal Politics: Minister Washes His Hands Over Easter Trading - The Labour Minister needs to protect the right of workers to spend Easter Sunday with their families, Sue Bradford, Green Party Spokesperson on Employment Relations says. "I am very disappointed that the Minister has washed his hands of an issue that is so important to many New Zealand workers and their families." More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Update on Easter trading consultation [2]
• Newmarket Business Association - Easter trading still a circus [3]
• Newmarket Business Association - Disgusting Govt: Easter trading in too hard basket [4]
• Caritas Aotearoa - Celebration for families on Easter trading [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00375.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00358.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00328.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00341.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00209.htm

Legal Issues: Strong Message In Jailing of Child Porn Man - The stiffest sentence yet for a collector and distributor of child sex abuse pictures must serve as a lesson for all such offenders, Internal Affairs Deputy Secretary, Keith Manch, said today. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• ECPAT - Laing sentencing [2]
• ECPAT - Strong message in jailing [3]
• Stop Demand - Five years prison for recidivist offender [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00208.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00211.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00214.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00213.htm

Toxicology: Honey Bees Are Poisoning Today.... - The 32-year-old English tourist at the centre of a toxic honey poisoning scare in the Coromandel has today been discharged from Thames Hospital. Joseph Reynolds, an IT support analyst in London, will continue holidaying in New Zealand with his partner Vanessa Whittle More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0803/S00093.htm

Work: Business NZ Can't See Smoko Problem - Business NZ Chief Executive Phil O'Reilly said employers were naturally in favour of adequate meal and rest breaks but hadn't seen any evidence that there was in fact a problem that required a new law. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00352.htm

Techiness: Girl Geeks Unite In Wellington - Introducing Girl Geek dinners - a technology forum especially for women. Girl geek dinners are an opportunity for like-minded 'girls' to talk about technology over good food and wine. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00354.htm

Beverage Watch: Study Unlocks The Health Benefits Of A Cuppa - Determining which Ceylon tea has the most health protecting properties has led the Riddet Institute's Shiromani Jayasekera to a research partnership with Dilmah. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0803/S00045.htm

Environment: Enjoy Your Eggs Then Recycle - An estimated 4 million chocolate Easter eggs will be eaten this Easter weekend and the Paper Forum urges families to enjoy the experience - and then recycle. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00345.htm

Vino: Record Harvest For Central Otago Winegrowers - Central Otago winegrowers are expecting to generate a record crop this year as vineyards prepare to harvest the grapes over the coming weeks. Prolonged warm and dry weather throughout January, February and March assisted the development of the grapes. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00343.htm

Sport/Social Networking: Ever Wanted To Track Your Training And Upload It To Facebook? - Two New Zealand companies have developed a merino shirt that promises to revolutionise the way the world's athletes measure, track and share information about their performance. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0803/S00044.htm

Science: Antarctic Voyagers Return With Scientific Treasure - The efforts of the New Zealand scientific voyage which returned to Wellington from Antarctica today after completing the most comprehensive survey of marine life in the Ross Sea region ever undertaken, have been praised by Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton and Research, Science, and Technology Minister Pete Hodgson. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00359.htm

Foreign Affairs: "We Are On Track" - Ratu Epeli, Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister - "The Interim Government has been sincere, transparent and open about what it has set out to achieve and its Roadmap for Fiji's return to Parliamentary Democracy. We also have engaged closely with the international community in finding a way forward for true and sustainable democracy in Fiji." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00210.htm

West Papua Issues: Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono in Australia - Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has been called upon to raise the human rights situation and the behavior of the Indonesian military in West Papua with the Indonesia's Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, who is in Australia to attend the East Asia Dialog Forum. While in Australia he will meet with Australia's Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon. "Australia's Defence Minister should be raising concerns about the human rights situation and the behavior of the Indonesian military and police in West Papua". More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00207.htm

State Department: Condoleezza Rice With Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Kumar Mukherjee - "You are aware of the fact that 49 years ago, the Dalai Lama entered into India in the month of March 1959. Since then, we are providing shelter to His Holiness Dalai Lama. He is highly respected. He is fully free to carry on his spiritual and religious activities. I understand currently the number may be about 180,000 Tibetans who are provided shelter in India. They can carry on their religious, cultural and spiritual activities. But as part of our law, they are not entitled to carry on any political activities," -- Pranab Kumar Mukherjee. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00211.htm

Afghanistan: Top UN Envoy Speaks Out Against "Abhorrent" Attack On Deminers - The top UN envoy to Afghanistan today said that he is both appalled and saddened by an "abhorrent" attack on a group of deminers which claimed five lives and injured seven others. Two unknown assailants on a motorcycle opened fire yesterday on a 12-person team working for the Afghan Technical Consultants, a partner of the UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA). More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00204.htm

U.S. Politics: Barack Obama Speech - 'A More Perfect Union' - I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton's Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• TV3 Video - Obama battles back in reverend's race row [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00191.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/international/6077.html

Martin LeFevre: What Went Wrong Jesus? - Today is Good Friday, the most solemn day in the Christian calendar. On this day believers commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus, seeing it as the ultimate sacrifice and the fulfilment of his mission. Nothing could be further from the truth. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00361.htm

Uri Avnery: Two Americas - "WAR IS much too serious a thing to be left to military men," in Talleyrand's memorable words. In the same spirit, one could say: The American presidential elections are much too serious to be left to the Americans. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00360.htm

Kelpie Wilson: The Rising Price of Coal - As the global energy/climate crisis deepens, coal has become the starkest symbol and most telling measure of our predicament. Coal produces more carbon emissions than other energy sources - more than twice that of natural gas per unit of energy ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00357.htm

Ramzy Baroud: The Coming Uncertain War against Iran - When Admiral William J "Fox" Fallon was chosen to replace General John Abizaid as chief of US Central Command (CENTCOM) in March 2007, many analysts didn't shy from reaching a seemingly clear-cut conclusion: the Bush administration was preparing ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00356.htm

Religion: Anti-Porn Pastor Tours Antipodes - Craig Gross, founder and pastor of the United Stated based XXXchurch.com is currently touring Australia. A former you pastor turned self proclaimed "Porn Pastor", Gross started XXXchurch.com in 2002. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0803/S00228.htm

Sizzling: Singing Sensation To Accompany Saucy Sambas - New Zealand's newest singing sensation Elizabeth Marvelly will perform on Dancing With the Stars. She will perform during the top-rating show while the five remaining couples attempt to impress the judges with their saucy sambas. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0803/S00231.htm

Metal: NZ To Be Treated Sonically - It's been over a year and half since New Zealand was treated to a tour from Christchurch's death metallers / death rockers Human. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0803/S00212.htm

Fishing Furore: Bosnian Anglers Stunned By Entry Fee - Members of the Bosnian Fly Fishing Team, who have been in New Zealand for 10 days practising for the world fly fishing champs next week, have learnt that may not after all be able to compete. More>> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0803/S00217.htm

Spectacle: Hot-Air Balloons Set To Light Up Oriental Bay - This Easter Sunday, up to 16 hot-air balloons will be inflated - weather permitting - on Oriental Bay Beach, providing a stunning sunset spectacle. The balloons are being brought to Wellington as part of the 'Lift off Levin' balloon festival in Levin over Easter. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand - Balloon Day launch: enjoy the gorgeous glow [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0803/S00220.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0803/S00088.htm

BZP Ban: Disco Bunnies Urged Not To Binge On Pills - Drug Foundation cautions 'careful' party pill use and no stockpiling as Easter approaches. The Drug Foundation is cautioning users on 'careful' use of party pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) as Easter approaches, and Parliament this week passed a Bill making BZP-based party pills illegal from 1 April. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0803/S00080.htm

ENDS

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