More Top Scoops... all the news from the America's Cup village...and the day on the campaign trail..

At Last A Decent Picture of our Hobbit Hero's Home...
Big Version - Scoop World Exclusive - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00092.htm

TOP SCOOPS

See The Banned Election Ads

- The New Zealand Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union have put their banned television ads online. You will need Quicktime 4 to see them. See... http://www.nzepmu.org.nz/ [1]

[1] - http://www.nzepmu.org.nz/

NEWSFLASH: Moseley-Braun Confirmed as Ambassador

- As expected the United States Senate has just rubber stamped the controversial appointment of Carol Moseley-Braun as the new ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

Fitzsimons Edges Ahead in Latest Coromandel Poll

- Wednesday nights TV One Colmar Brunton poll of the Coromandel seat shows Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons nosing ahead of encumbent National MP Murray McLean. See… Fitzsimons Edges Ahead in Latest Coromandel Poll [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00085.htm

The Sydney Games and the Games Scandals

- The Sydney Olympics Organisation (SOCOG) secretly withdrew 800,000 prime tickets after the public ballot had closed and diverted them to an exclusive premium ticket scheme for the rich, SOCOG this week admitted to an upper house Parliamentary enquiry. Scoop’s Sydney Correspondent Simon Orme writes. See… The Games, The Scandals [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00089.htm

Rankin On Thursday: A Government of the Centre?

- There are times I worry about Winston; Peters that is, not that notorious party hopper Churchill. Every time he says ‘MMP’ I sense another percentage point of anti-MMP sentiment. And when he talks about watertight coalition documents… See… Rankin on Thursday - A Government of the Centre? [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00088.htm

Hobbit Town Mystery Solved... Only on Scoop

- The saga about the authenticity of a series of photos of the Lord of the Rings set has been solved by Scoop. See... Scoop Images: Hobbit Town Photos Mystery Solved [1] . See the allegations of fakes... Fishy Hobbit Photos In The Dominion - Full Story and the Dominion standing by their pictures... BREAKING NEWS: Dominion stands by photos - reports of supporting evidence emerge. [2] Now see... Scoop Images: Where Bilbo And Frodo Live – Really! [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00086.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00081.htm
[3] - ”http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00075.htm”

Junior All Whites Lose to US

- The Under 17 All Whites lost 2-1 to the United States in the opening match of the Youth World Soccer Champs. Around 15,000 spectators turned up to watch the match in wind and rain and were thrilled when NZ went to the half-time break 1-0 up following a David Mulligan header from a free kick. Mulligan was then sent off five minutes into the second half after a second yellow card and the Kiwis struggled with only 10 men. With a strong wind the Americans found form in the second half and scored two late goals to take the match.

AUCKLAND SCOOPS - AMERICAS CUP SPECIAL

Images Courtesy of www.louisvuittoncup.com

Department Denials Issued As Hunger Strike Bites:

Claims are being made that a number of the hunger striking asylum seekers, locked up at Auckland's Mt Eden Prison, are seriously ill. See… Department Denials Issued As Hunger Strike Bites [1] in the Auckland wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9911/S00047.htm

Americas Cup Today's Races Previewed:

After the dramatic events of Tuesday and the postponement of Wednesday, everyone is looking forward to an interesting day on the race course today.... if racing goes ahead. See… Americas Cup Todays Races Previewed [1] in the Auckland Wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9911/S00067.htm

Americas Cup - Leading Prada Team Beaten By Conner:

It is a fact well learnt by previous Americas Cup challengers: never under-estimate Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes team. See… Leading Prada Team Beaten By Conner [1] in the Auckland Wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9911/S00070.htm

Young America Substitute Yacht Approved:

Americas Cup officials have given approval to the New York Yacht Club backed Young America team to race its substitute boat USA 58. See… Young America Substitute Yacht Approved [1] in the Auckland Wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9911/S00065.htm

News Flash! Americas Cup New York Challenger, Young America Sinking!

High winds on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf has inflicted serious structural damage to Young America. See… Young America Sinking [1] in the Auckland Wire. See Also: Your Americas Cup Special Reports scroll below...

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9911/S00051.htm

OTHER SCOOPS

NZ To Give Aid To Vietnam Flood Aid Mission

- New Zealand will contribute $150,000 to Red Cross flood relief work in central Vietnam, Acting Foreign Minister, Hon Simon Upton, says. See… Flood Relief To Vietnam [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00283.htm

Small Tax Increase On Cigarettes / Tobacco Announced

- Border Control Minister John Luxton, has announced a small increase to the rates of excise duty on tobacco products. See… Excise Tax Increase on Ciggies / Tobacco [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00281.htm

Students Pay $76 Million in Interest This Year – Maharey

- Student loan borrowers have paid more than $76 million in interest this year alone, Labour associate education spokesperson (tertiary) Steve Maharey says. See… Student interest astronomical [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00280.htm

Compulsory DNA Powers Given To Police

- “National today upped up the ante on burglary by giving the Police the power to seek compulsory DNA samples to convict burglary suspects, giving them a powerful new weapon with which to fight burglary,” Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley said. See… Burglary to be Focus of DNA Crime Busting Weapon [1] in the Parliament wire. However United New Zealand leader Peter Dunne says the move highlights just how bereft of ideas National has become. See… National Party Dna Move Smacks Of Desperation [2] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00274.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00284.htm

Other Parties Missing Point In Tax Debate – Greens

- Other political parties were missing the point over tax issues, by failing to focus on what was being taxed, the Green Party say. See… Parties missing point on tax discussion - Greens [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00279.htm

Mid Campaign Caucus Meeting Shows National Panicking – Labour

- National's decision to convene a mid campaign Caucus meeting is a sure sign of pre-election nervousness turning to blind panic, Labour MP Pete Hodgson says. See… Shlip, shlip, shlip ... the knives are sharpening [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00271.htm

Pollen Island To Become Scientific Reserve

- Conservation Minister Nick Smith has signed an agreement with Ports of Auckland Ltd that will see Pollen Island transferred to the Department of Conservation and managed as a scientific reserve. See… Pollen Island To Become Scientific Reserve [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00265.htm

Lord Of The Rings Filming On Conservation Land Approved

- Conservation Minister Nick Smith today announced that Three Foot Six Ltd, the company behind Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings production, has been granted consents to film on several areas of public conservation land in the South Island. See… Lord Of The Rings To Film On Conservation Land [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00264.htm

Peters on Attempted Tauranga Deal

- Winston Peters says National’s attempt at a deal in his Tauranga electorate highlights the desperate lengths that both parties will go to try and remove New Zealand First and Winston Peters from power. See… Winston On National/Labour Attempted Tauranga Deal [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00260.htm

Prebble Speech – Election Predictions

- This election is the most wide open in recent history. If you average the polls, the centre right and the left are neck and neck. Without doubt the final leaders' debate between Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark will be crucial. See… Election predictions – Richard Prebble Speech [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00259.htm

Greens Call For Increase in Minimum Wage

- The Green Party is calling for a substantial increase to the minimum wage, as part of its commitment to social equity and local economic development. See… Policy position: Minimum wage must go up - Greens [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00272.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.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

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