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TODAY'S SCOOPS

Election 1999: Humour Enters Campaign At The Half Way Stage

- As the official Halloween campaign launch days - for both Labour and National - approach, polls show a tightening gap between the two major parties. And finally, as we pass the half way mark of the campaign, some much needed humour (intentional or otherwise) enters the campaign. Jonathan Hill writes. See… Election 1999: Much Needed Humour Enters Campaign [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00106.htm

NBR / TV3 Polls Shows Main Parties Falling

- The latest Poll in the National Business Review Compaq Poll puts Labour on 36 per cent, down four points, This would give Labour 46-48 seats. National is on 32 per cent giving them 41-43 seats. The Alliance is on seven per cent, Act on eight, the Greens on 3.6 per cent and NZ First a crucial seven per cent - or nine seats. In this poll NZ First holds a clear balance of power. The TV3 CM Research Poll puts Labour on 37 per cent and National on 33 per cent – both down three. NZ First is on six, Alliance seven, ACT on nine and the Greens 2.5. NZ First still in the box seat.

Irish Retailers Threatened Over Kiwi Lamb

- Supermarket group Iceland is the first to crumble under pressure from militant Irish sheep farmers, agreeing to remove New Zealand lamb from its stores in Ireland and replacing it with Irish lamb. See… Irish retailers threatened over New Zealand lamb [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00103.htm

Pentagon Moves To Ban ATM Transactions

- The Pentagon wants to ban ATM bank charges on all military bases in the US and around the world. The move has delighted politicians and consumer watchdog groups. John Howard reports. See… ATM Users Fight Back With Pentagon’s Help [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00104.htm

Rogue Russian Troops May Be Behind Market Massacre in Grozny

- Salvos of rockets have slammed into a crowded open air market and other parts of the Chechen capital of Grozny, killing at least 118 people and critically injuring up to a 400. The Russian Defence Ministry is denying responsibility. Rogue troops may be responsible. John Howard reports. See… Rogue Russian Troops May Be Behind Grozny Massacre [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00109.htm

City Voice: In Search Of Full Employment

- Unemployment is again the number one issue for voters in this election, says a NZ Herald DigiPoll. Simon Collins of Wellington’s City Voice reports. See… City Voice: In search of full employment [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00108.htm

City Voice Feature: Labour To Boost Symphony Orchestra Funding

- The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra stands to receive increased funding if a Labour-led government comes to power next month. See… Labour "would boost NZSO" [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00107.htm

ANZFA Meeting Today Must Vote Yes To Full Labelling

- Australian and New Zealand health ministers, including state government ministers, must today give a definite ‘yes’ to a meaningful labelling regime for genetically engineered food at today’s ANZFA meeting, the Green Party says. See… ANZFA Must Agree To GE Labelling Today - Greens [1] . Phillida Bunkle says if ANZFA back-track she has legislation ready to go immediately. See… GE Legislation Ready To Go [2] . Both in the Parliament wire. Bunkle also says claims that labelling would cost $3 billion are rubbish. See… Labelling costs lack credibility [3] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00534.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00525.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00537.htm

Aussie PM Trying To Bully NZ Over GE Food Labelling

- New Zealand must not allow itself to be bullied by Australian Prime Minister John Howard over labelling genetically engineered food, the Green Party say. See… Aussie PM trying to scuttle GE food labelling [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00547.htm

Bradord / Students At Loggerheads Again

- Government-funded tertiary student enrolments are up 7% in the year to August, Tertiary Education Minister Bradford announced. See… Govt-Funded Student Enrolments/Funding Up [1] in the Parliament wire. However both national students associations say he is completely wrong. See… Minister Fiddles With Stats While Education Burns [2] in the Education wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00542.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED9910/S00064.htm

Local Content Survey Underway

- A survey to find out people’s views and ideas on how to raise the level of local content in broadcasting has just been released by Hon Marie Hasler, the Minister for Culture and Heritage. See… Local content survey under way [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00536.htm

Bendon Closure: Luxton Offers Help

- Karapiro MP John Luxton today said he was keeping in close touch with the relevant support services to ensure that all was being done to assist those people in Te Aroha who will lose their jobs as a result of the Bendon closure. See… Luxton Extends Offer Of Support [1] in the Parliament wire. However the Auckland Chamber of Commerce says small towns must take responsibility for their own economic development. See… Small Towns Must Take Responsibility For Economies [2] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00538.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9910/S00098.htm

Government’s Buy Global Campaign Working Well – TUF

- “The Government’s “Buy Global” campaign appears to be progressing very well,” Trade Union Federation President, Maxine Gay, says. See… Government 'Buy Global' Campaign Progressing Well [1] in the Politics wire. However Trade Minister Lockwood Smith says the assertion by the Green Party and the Trade Union Federation that the National Party has endorsed a ‘Buy Global’ campaign is totally baseless. See… Greens & Unions Wrong On ‘Buy Global’: Trade Min. [2] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9910/S00103.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00546.htm

Govt Plans To Slash Elective Surgery by $70m - Bunkle

- The Pre-Election Fiscal Update shows the Government is planning to slash $70 million from the public hospital elective surgery budget after the election, Alliance health spokesperson Phillida Bunkle says. See… Govt plans $70m cut in elective surgery [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00531.htm

Smith Releases School Day/Year Report

- Education Minister Nick Smith has released the final report of the Working Party that reviewed the length of the school day and the school year saying the recommendations would benefit students by giving greater certainty about the hours of teaching. See… Minister Releases School Day/Year Report [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00530.htm

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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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