Top Scoop Stories - 28 May 2008 News Summary

Wednesday, 28 May 2008, 2:05 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - 28 May 2008

LEAD STORY:

Gordon Campbell: National's secrecy about its policies

NZ POLITICS:

Questions For Oral Answer - Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Paua: Covert Op Uncovers Fishy Behaviour
Housing: Bureaucrats Conference in 'Luxury'
Black Outs: PM'S Post Cabinet Presser - Monday, 26 May 2008
Election Laws: Internal Affairs May Be In Breach Of Election Law
National Treasures: Major Redevelopment Of National Library
Broadcasting: TVNZ Loses Out To NZ On Air
Military and Defence Issues: Viet Nam Veterans And Families To Receive Apology

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Tourism: Online Booking Surge Supports NZ Regions - Wotif
Tourism News: Tourism Challenges During Slower Economic Times
Horticulture: Rabobank'S Soft Commodities Monthly Report May 08
Economic Outlook: Dark Clouds Forming Over New Zealand's Economy - JP Morgan
Sustainability: Carbon Footprint Labels Could Have Major Impact
Ciggies: Baccy Display Ban Whacky, Say Retailers

WORLD:

Peace Feelers: UN Concern Over Peacekeeper Child Sexual Abuse Reports
Burma: UNHCR Assessing How To Help Cyclone-Impacted Children
War Crimes: Former DR Congo Vice-President Arrested By International Criminal Court
US Foreign Relations: Human Rights, Democracy, And The U.S. Relationship With China
Internet: Unlimited IP Addresses On Stream In Europe By 2010
Remembrance : Bush Attends Arlington Memorial Day Commemoration

COMMENT:

Constitutional Scholar: Bush Claims More Powers Than King George III
Ramzy Baroud: Coexistence, Not Apartheid

LIFESTYLE:

Creativity: Ballet Offers Monstrously Good Costumes To Public
Arts Policy: MPs Get An A+ For NZ Music Month Quiz
Continuing Sagas: The Lord of the Rings Lawsuit Continues

Gordon Campbell: National's secrecy about its policies - Election08: What does this sound like? A tiny group of politicians develop policy and hide it from the rest of their colleagues - all the better to unveil these policies in a way that will give the voting public the least possible time and opportunity to understand the full implications of what is being proposed. Roger Douglas may not be in the next National Cabinet in person, but clearly, he will be there in spirit. The Kiwisaver fiasco has revealed all this. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• EPMU - Kiwisaver: "No, yes, maybe?" isn't good enough [2]
• NZ Govt - John Key must end KiwiSaver confusion [3]
• National - Statement regarding comments to forum [4]
• NZ Govt - Workers to lose KiwiSaver boosts for Nats tax cuts [5]
• TV3 Video - Confusion reigns over National's KiwiSaver policy [6]
• TV3 Video - National's blunder over Kiwisaver contributions [7]
• TV3 Video - Labour attacks National's trustworthiness after Kiwisaver confusion [8]

[1] - http://election08.scoop.co.nz/national%e2%80%99s-secrecy-about-its-policies/
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0805/S00448.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00540.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00527.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00524.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/8581.html
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/8559.html
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/8556.html

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

• Questions For Oral Answer - Wednesday, 28 May 2008 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00567.htm

Paua: Covert Op Uncovers Fishy Behaviour - In the early hours of this morning more than 130 Fishery Officers supported by around 70 Police began simultaneous enforcement actions in Auckland, Wellington, Opotiki and Hastings as the final phase of Operation PAID. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Govt committed to stamping out fish thieves [2]
• Seafood Industry Council - Council supports Govt on approach to paua thieves [3]
• Paua Industry Council - Paua industry applauds the capture of crime ring [4]
• Te Ohu Kaimoana - Illegal Paua Divers Threaten Our Future [5]
• TV3 Video - Police continue to hunt for paua poachers [6]
• TV3 Video - Police bust illegal paua poaching ring [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0805/S00444.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00532.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00538.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00542.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00556.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/8588.html
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/8560.html

Housing: Bureaucrats Conference in 'Luxury' - National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley has revealed 94 Housing New Zealand managers spent two days at a conference at the luxury Tongariro Lodge. "The total cost of the two-day staff meeting was just short of $70,000 and included $5,000 in miscellaneous expenses, and $12,000 in travel costs. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• TV3 Video - Housing NZ conference held in luxury Tongariro Lodge [2]
• TV3 Video - National criticises Housing NZ conference at luxury Tongariro Lodge [3]
• Out-Link - Hard News: How many children with cancer would an editor's salary cure? [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00535.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/8573.html
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/8558.html
[4] - http://www.publicaddress.net/default,5057.sm

Black Outs: PM'S Post Cabinet Presser - Monday, 26 May 2008 - Scoop Multimedia: The Prime Minister talked at some length at her regular post-cabinet press conference about being plunged into darkness after a transformer went zzzzzhhhttt in Wellington. ALSO... the back-up power generators at the nation's Government HQ also went AWOL which reminded one of the Simon And Garfunkel lyric 'hello darkness my old friend'. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00354.htm

Election Laws: Internal Affairs May Be In Breach Of Election Law - National Party Deputy Leader Bill English says the Department of Internal Affairs may be in breach of Labour's self-serving Electoral Finance Act if Crown Law advice to Treasury is reliable. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00534.htm

National Treasures: Major Redevelopment Of National Library - Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Minister Responsible for the National Library, Judith Tizard, announced today a major investment in the redevelopment of the National Library of New Zealand. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00537.htm

Broadcasting: TVNZ Loses Out To NZ On Air - TVNZ is about to lose control over the $15m or so of Charter funding that it has been receiving from the Government since 2003. The Broadcasting Minister has decided to accept NZ On Air's argument that it knows best how to allocate public funding. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Peter Thompson - TVNZ's Charter: expectations and accountability [2]
• Green Party - Transparency should be paramount for TV funding [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00369.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00378.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00533.htm

Military and Defence Issues: Viet Nam Veterans And Families To Receive Apology - Prime Minister Helen Clark and Veterans' Affairs Minister Rick Barker said today that the Crown apology to Viet Nam veterans and their families will be made in Parliament next week. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• 95bFM Audio - Mikey Havoc & PM on Viet Nam Vet Apology [2]
• TV3 Video - Apology, medals and parade for Vietnam vets, over 30 years on [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00500.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00349.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/8508.html

Tourism: Online Booking Surge Supports NZ Regions - Wotif - AUCKLAND - 27 May 2008: New Zealand bookings, through leading accommodation website Wotif.com, surged during the first quarter of 2008 supported by domestic travel bookers. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00541.htm

Tourism News: Tourism Challenges During Slower Economic Times - 27 May 2008 The Tourism Industry Association represents about 2000 businesses and organisations within the tourism industry. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00533.htm

Horticulture: Rabobank'S Soft Commodities Monthly Report May 08 - Please find attached the May 2008 edition of Rabobank's Soft Commodities Monthly Report, which I thought may be of interest. Produced by Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory team, the Soft Commodities Monthly Report highlights the key ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00523.htm

Economic Outlook: Dark Clouds Forming Over New Zealand's Economy - JP Morgan - Economic momentum in New Zealand will slow significantly in 2008, owing mainly to weaker private consumption growth and a contraction in residential construction. Our forecast calls for GDP growth to dive from 3.1% in 2007 to a subpar 1.4% in 2008, with a contraction in economic growth anticipated for 2Q. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00527.htm

Sustainability: Carbon Footprint Labels Could Have Major Impact - An overnight move by the European Parliament to adopt a report which calls for .carbon footprint labels on all goods and services could have major implications for New Zealand's traders. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00528.htm

Ciggies: Baccy Display Ban Whacky, Say Retailers - The controversy around the Ministry of Health's Review of Tobacco Displays deepens with the New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores saying costs to change retail shops could reach as high as $45 million dollars. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Stay Displays - Tobacco Ban Makes Tax Cuts Useless For Retailers [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00517.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00524.htm

Peace Feelers: UN Concern Over Peacekeeper Child Sexual Abuse Reports - ''The abuse of children by those sent to help is a significant and painful issue and one that UN peacekeeping has and will continue to address candidly, comprehensively and robustly,'' Mr. Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00399.htm

Burma: UNHCR Assessing How To Help Cyclone-Impacted Children - ''Based on the meetings that I have been having with senior government officials here, I get the impression that they are committed to do the best that they can to address the consequences of the disaster,'' said Anupama Rao Singh, UNHCR's Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific. More >> [1]

RELATED

• 'New Spirit Of Cooperation' In Burma [2]
• Funding Conference For Burma A Success [3]

ALSO IN BURMA

• Ban Ki-moon 'Regrets' Continued Detention Of Aung San Suu Kyi [4]
• UK Govt On The Extension Of Aung San Suu Kyi's House Arrest [5]
• Aung San Suu Kyi Supporters Arrested [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00381.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00397.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00390.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00398.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00393.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00379.htm

War Crimes: Former DR Congo Vice-President Arrested By International Criminal Court - Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, a former Vice-President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been arrested by Belgian authorities on a sealed warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00384.htm

US Foreign Relations: Human Rights, Democracy, And The U.S. Relationship With China - At the center of U.S. efforts around the globe to advance respect for human rights and democracy is the conviction that every human being has intrinsic and equal value and that it is the birthright of every person to live in freedom. More >> [1]

ALSO

• US State Dept Briefing: May 27, 2008 [2]

OTHER BUSINESS

• US–China Forum on Sustainable Energy, Environment [3]
• China's Nonproliferation Practices [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00382.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00396.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00400.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00293.htm

Pacific Affairs: Fiji PM Commodore Bainimarama In Port Vila For Melanesian Leaders Summit - Prime Minister Bainimarama has arrived in Port Vila to attend the 17th Melanesian Spearhead Group MSG Leaders Summit. The PM said he very much appreciated the gesture and goodwill Prime Minister Ham Lini showed in personally receiving him on arrival. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00395.htm

Internet: Unlimited IP Addresses On Stream In Europe By 2010 - Increasing demand for Internet based services means that there will not be enough addresses to support this expected growth, if no action is taken. IPv6 Internet Protocol will provide a massive increase in address space, much in the same way as telephone numbers were lengthened in the 20th century. This is very much a case of a stitch in time saves nine. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00394.htm

Remembrance : Bush Attends Arlington Memorial Day Commemoration - "I am humbled by those who have made the ultimate sacrifice that allow a free civilization to endure and flourish. It only remains for us, the heirs of their legacy, to have the courage and character to follow their lead -- and to preserve America." - George Bush. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00376.htm

Constitutional Scholar: Bush Claims More Powers Than King George III - The Bush administration has arrogated powers to itself that the British people even refused to grant King George III at the time of the Revolutionary War, an eminent political scientist says. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00367.htm

Ramzy Baroud: Coexistence, Not Apartheid - For the last 60 years, all those who have sought a genuinely peaceful and fair solution for Israel and Palestine have faced the same obstacle -- Israel's sense of invincibility and military arrogance, abetted by the US and other Western governments' unwavering ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0805/S00336.htm

Creativity: Ballet Offers Monstrously Good Costumes To Public - For the first time ever, costumes from the Royal New Zealand Ballet's wardrobe department are for sale. this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to view or secure a piece of ballet history. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0805/S00282.htm

Arts Policy: MPs Get An A+ For NZ Music Month Quiz - This year Luamanuvao Winnie Laban is the winner, scoring 98% in Judith Tizard's annual NZ Music Month quiz. There was only half a point between her and Ron Mark, Jim Anderton and Doug Woolerton. Pita Paraone, Lianne Dalziel, and Winston Peters also deserve a mention for their high scores. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00528.htm

Continuing Sagas: The Lord of the Rings Lawsuit Continues - The son of JRR Tolkien will try next week to halt Hollywood plans to follow the critical and commercial triumph of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by filming The Hobbit and a sequel, The Times reports. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0805/S00279.htm

ENDS

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