One Ring Binds Us - Clark critical of Shipley's Cleric Dismissal - INCIS Saga Looks Headed For Court - Competition Law - Parting Words To MFAT - Shipley To Ensure Unions Represented At APEC - Environmentalists Launch Anti-Nat Campaign and much more...

Today's Scoops

One Ring Binds Us

- The Scoop team has formed a content partnership deal with the US based Lord of The Rings - http://theonering.net - website. Today we bring a report with an extract from a interview with Billy Boyd who has recently been confirmed for a role [1] . See the headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9908/S00042.htm

INCIS Saga Looks Headed For Court

- The INCIS soap opera's latest twist yesterday was an unexpected one with IBM calling it a day. Now all parties are crying havoc and have let slip the dogs of legal action. See... INCIS Soap Opera Looks Destined To Head To Court [1] in the headlines wire for a Scoop background report into the INCIS saga. Labour's George Hawkins is demanding a full inquiry. [2] ACT is of a similar view and describes the project as the Government's great white elephant. [3] which Richard Prebble rejected as Minister of Police. Meanwhile United's Peter Dunne wants an expert inquiry on Government IT programmes [4] . There is more on the subject throughout the wires.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9908/S00040.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00140.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00144.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00148.htm

Top Scoops

- For a readout on today's Scoop ratings see... Scoop Ratings - Today's Top 20[1]. Final figures for yesterday's top 20 rating items [2] on Scoop can also be seen in the News Monitor wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/NM9908/S00060.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/NM9908/S00060.htm

Clinton Makes Mark On Internet

- John Howard reports that it was a long time coming, but Bill Clinton has finally made his move over "unlawful conduct" on the Internet. See... Clinton Makes His Move On The Internet [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9908/S00056.htm

Clark critical of Shipley Dismissal

- Helen Clark says Jenny Shipley would be well advised to respect and listen to the Bishop of Canterbury rather than to criticise him publicly in the Parliament wire. See... Shipley shoots the messenger [1] . In the General wire see the Bishop's speech... Investing In Social Capital A Christian Imperative [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00164.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9908/S00059.htm

Competition Law

- Following the Government's announcement yesterday on competition law changes, [1] the Labour party has released their policy saying tougher competition law is needed [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00139.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00158.htm

Telecom, Disclosure And Competitio

N - Maurice Williamson has announced changes to the Telecom Information Disclosure [1] regime. Labour says it is more 'me-tooing' from desperate Government [2] . Labour has also announced that they would investigate the telecommunications market [3] if they come to power.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00155.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00161.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00157.htm

Parting Words

- The Dominion this morning carried extracts from Departing MFAT Secretary Richard Nottage's farewell address and an accompanying editorial featured the speech. Scoop is pleased to bring readers the full text of his address "Continuity And Change Thirty Seven Years On". [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9908/S00041.htm

WINZ Among Top 10 TV Spenders

- Labour is demanding to know why Work and Income NZ is in the top rank of corporate spenders on television advertising when it is a public service organisation with no competitors. See... WINZ in top ten tv ad spenders [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00160.htm

Hepatitis C Epidemic Could Threaten Thousands

- It was only discovered a decade ago, but doctors and medical researchers tracking the growth of the new Hepatitis C virus say it's impact is now reaching epidemic proportions and cutting across all levels of society. This month Australasian medical researchers are meeting at a conference in Christchurch. See... Researchers - Hidden Epidemic Threatens Thousands [1] in the General wire. Also in the Australia wire recently health ministers there announced they would fund a new blood screening test [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9908/S00055.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AU9908/S00044.htm

Shipley To Ensure Unions Represented At APEC

- Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said today she would ensure the opinions of the union movement are fed into APEC discussions. See... PM To Ensure Union Involvement In Apec [1] in the Parliament wire. Her release follows claims from Trade Union Federation President, Maxine Gay, that the Government's public relations strategy regarding APEC is in tatters [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00153.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9908/S00034.htm

Environmentalists Launch Anti-Nat Campaig

N - Environmental group Native Forest Action launched an anti-National campaign today, attacking their support for Timberlands logging of West Coast rainforests. Today submissions on the Forests Amendment Bill close at 5pm. See... Anti-National Election Campaign Launched By NFA [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9908/S00017.htm

Christian Party Call For Ban On 'Ecstasy Ciggies'

- The Christian Heritage is asking Mr Wyatt Creech Health Minister to ban the importation of the herbal Ecstasy cigarettes currently available in Australia. See why in... Please Mr Creech Ban Ecstasy Cigarettes! [1] in the Politics wire

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9908/S00018.htm

Republican Debate Continues

- In the headlines wire, Simon Orme writes on the latest developments in John Howard's plans for an Australian republic. [1] Also in the Australia wire is an extensive interview transcript with Mr Howard on the wording of 'the' question.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9908/S00039.htm

Transmission Gully Anger

-The short-sighted and arrogant statements of Transport Minister Maurice Williamson will come back to haunt him says United New Zealand leader and Ohariu-Belmont MP Peter Dunne, who is angry that Mr Williamson says a petition on Transmission Gully will not effect the decision. See... Arrogance No Reason To Delay Transmission Gull [1] in the Parliament wire.Y

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00151.htm

Airport Monopolies Curbed

- Regulations to give airport users greater protection against monopoly abuse have been approved by Transport Minister Maurice Williamson. See... Airport Regulations To Protect Users [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00150.htm

Maori All Blacks To World Cup?

- Ex Maori All Black and Mana Motuhake Alliance candidate for Te Tai Tonga, Vern Winitana has joined the call for the professional recognition of the Maori All Blacks. See... Recognition of Maori All Blacks long overdue [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9908/S00014.htm

Clinton Statement Confirms NZ Visit

- President Clinton has issued a statement confirming that he will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting September 12-13 in Auckland, New Zealand. See... President Travels to New Zealand for APEC Leaders [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9908/S00035.htm

Alliance: Salmon Illustrative Of Free Trade Failure

- The myth of free trade has suffered another blow following an Australian supermarket's ban on raw New Zealand salmon, Alliance leader Jim Anderton says. See...Salmon ban another blow to free trade myth [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00146.htm

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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