Scoop Headlines

Who Owns The Water? The Greens say in the parliament wire that Aucklanders are to pay for water privatisation.

Burning Issue Grant Gillon says that Kiddie lighters are still on the shelves despite a ban. See the Parliament wire.

State Sector Woes The Alliance has pledged a full State Sector review if it is part of the next Government. Ministers, English and Upton are currently reviewing accountabilities in Crown Agencies after a blaze of publicity about golden handshakes and expenses in a variety of agencies.

Hospitals, Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow - The Scoop takes a look at how the departure of Capital Coast Health Boss, Leo Mercer induces déjà vu for health ministers new and old. See Headlines wire.

SOAPBOX: Sleep And The Scoop - The Scoop welcomes back a familiar face with the return of columnist, Matthew Thomas, who ponders sleep and its rhythms in "Perchance To Dream"also in the headlines wire.

DNA Inquiry The Justice Minister has asked for an urgent report into another revelation on problems with DNA evidence. A retest has reversed the results of DNA tests which cleared Peter Howse of a rape in 1996. A formal inquiry is underway into another case in which a man was implicated in two crimes because of 'contaminated' DNA. Labour's Justice Spokesman, Phil Goff says in the parliament wire that the Terms for DNA inquiry should be wider. Justice Minister Tony Ryall says the case is worrying and he wants to see if the scope of the inquiry should be expanded. The announcement of the original terms of reference are in the parliament wire.

Labour And Conservation - Labour outlines its policy on conservation and says that Integrated conservation policy is the key. See the Parliament wire.

Searching The Seas Two ocean searches, of a very different nature, are underway. The search continues this morning for two yachtsman missing somewhere off New Zealand's south east coast. The pair was last heard from over a week ago, when they dropped off researchers to the Antipodes Islands, about 800 kilometres south east of Dunedin. While one Airforce Orion helps in that search, another is scouring the South Pacific for more than 100 boat people who are said to be heading towards New Zealand. Last week, the news inspired the Government to put the House in urgency to bring forward legislation allowing for detention of the people if they arrive.

Jobs For The Girls? - Trevor Mallard says a South Island National Party hack has been given a Hutt job for which she is neither qualified or suitable.

APEC Women - Around 350 women will attend a conference of woman leaders starting in Wellington today. The conference, which is part of the lead-up to the APEC summit, in September, will look at the role of women in the economies of the Asia Pacific region. The Prime Minister spoke about Women As Leaders earlier in the week. The speech is in the Parliament wire.

Stringergate? -John Stringer, a former National Party Research unit staffer and a candidate for National in Christchurch Central, believes there are very unusual circumstances surrounding a break-in at his home on Friday. Mr Stringer says there was no damage, nothing valuable taken and that several risks were taken. He is not saying the break-in was political, but it was bizarre and raises questions.

© Scoop Media