New Zealand has a new coalition government, and now we know the rules. Meanwhile following recent events in Seattle the blame game is now well underway...

Held Aloft - The New Coalition Agreement

TOP SCOOPS

Coalition Agreement Signed

- At 12.10pm today the Labour and Alliance Leaders held a ceremony in Parliament's Legislative Chamber to sign their 1.5 page coalition agreement. See Helen Clark's speech... Clark: speech notes and Coalition Agreement [1] and Anderton's... Jim Anderton's coalition agreement signing speech [2] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00021.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00022.htm

Full Text of Coalition Agreement

- The full text of the one and a half page coalition agreement is available on Scoop. See... Coalition Agreement [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00020.htm

Reaction To Coalition Signing

- Today in the old Legislative Council chamber Helen Clark and Jim Anderton signed their Coalition agreement. It was the same room where three years ago Jim Bolger and Winston Peters did the same thing. The same jokes were made about pens not working. So says Upton On Line. See... Upton On Collective Responsibility [1] . United’s Peter Dunne has offered his congratulations. See… United Congratulates Labour And Alliance [2] . ACT Leader Richard Prebble described the Labour/Alliance Coalition Agreement as vague and meaningless. See... Labour/Alliance Coalition Agreement Meaningless [3] . ACT Finance Spokesman Rodney Hide said the Labour/Alliance Coalition's lack of agreement on a spending cap for government over the next three years was very disappointing. See... Coalition's Lack of Fiscal Parameters Disappoints [4] . All in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00024.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00023.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00025.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00026.htm

Clark Announces Labour Cabinet Positions

- Labour Leader Helen Clark has announced the Labour members of the cabinet after a ballot was held Friday by the Labour caucus. It is a predictable announcement with no surprises. See... Clark Announces Labour Cabinet Positions [1] in the Parliament wire. Also see Labour’s press release announcing the positions… Labour elects Cabinet ministers [2] in the Parliament wire. ACT Leader Richard Prebble says the Labour caucus' decision not to elect to cabinet their ACC spokesman and former president is a strong sign that the caucus believes renationalising ACC is a silly policy. Prebble also offers some more analysis. See... Cabinet line-up means ACC rethink? [3] Also in the Parliament wire. See also... Clark Announces Cabinet And Rethink On F-16s [4] in the headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00019.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00013.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00014.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00020.htm

Castro Demands US Return Boy Or Face Mass Protests

- Cuban President Fidel Castro has demanded the United States return a six year old Cuban boy, rescued off the coast of Florida, to Cuba within three days or face mass street protests. See... Castro Demands US Return Boy Or Face Protests [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00024.htm

Mars Polar Lander Appears Lost in Space

- The $165 million Mars Polar Lander appears to be doomed as an ominous silence greets all efforts to communicate with it. Jonathan Hill reports briefly. See... Mars Polar lander Appears Lost in Space [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00023.htm

Scoop Column: People Of The World Let Down By WTO

- If there is one thing that came out of the failed WTO trade talks in Seattle, it is this; - the citizens of the world expected, after spending millions of their tax dollars, that world leaders would be capable of getting it right. John Howard writes. See... Scoop Column: People Of The World Let Down By WTO [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00026.htm

Seattle Protest Prisoners Complain They Are Being Doped

- In the aftermath of the massive protests in Seattle last week around 570 protestors remain in police custody today and many may not be released for another week. Police tactics in Seattle are increasingly attracting criticism and an e-mail campaign had been launched to free the captive activists. See... "Seattle 600" May Be Held In Custody Till Dec 13 [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00025.htm

WTO Talks Fail

- The WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle has failed to achieve its goal of launching a new round of trade liberalisation talks. In a major embarrassment for President Clinton and a setback for free trade, diplomats said the US and the WTO would release a brief statement declaring an end to the meeting but would not launch a new round of negotiations as they had hoped. Developing countries left the meeting blaming the US, the European Union, Canada and Japan for shuffling them aside. John Howard reports. See... Third World Says No To “Green Room” WTO Bullying [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00022.htm

Why We Smashed McDonalds

- In the aftermath of the Battle of Seattle protestors involved are engaging in a heated discussion on the internet on the merits of violence against corporate property. A communique from one section of the black bloc of N30 in Seattle explains how it sees the debate. See... N30 Black Bloc Communique [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9912/S00026.htm

MORE SCOOPS

Music e-commerce site launched

- The New Zealand music industry has just received a boost with the launch of this country’s first ‘clicks and mortar’ music and entertainment Internet site. See... Music e-commerce site launched [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9912/S00031.htm

Shell Goes Nationwide With Postage Stamp Service

- From today (Monday 6 December), New Zealand motorists will be able to enjoy a cheaper domestic postal service through Shell's service station network. See... Shell Goes Nationwide With Postage Stamp Service [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9912/S00029.htm

University Student Body Urge Immediate Action From Govt

- When the public of New Zealand voted for a change of Government, they voted for a fresh approach to politics and policies. We hope that you will take up the challenge the voters have delivered, and restore a quality, accessible education system. See... NZUSA Open Letter To Helen Clark [1] in the Education wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED9912/S00003.htm

Lack of Monitoring Impacts on Kiwis Access to Safe Water

- Inadequate monitoring of water quality over the past year means about 129,000 fewer New Zealanders, or 4 percent, may not have access to safe drinking water compared to 1997 figures. See... Lack of Monitoring Impact on Kiwis Access to Water [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9912/S00018.htm

Millennial Dreams Online

- Psybernet, a Christchurch company which specialises in psychological work online, is offering ‘Dreamevent 1999 ~ 2000’ to reveal the millennial unconscious. The group starts on 10 December 1999 and continues for approximately 3 months. See... Scoop Hot Link - Millennial Dreams Online [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9912/S00019.htm

Greens To Continue Advertising Campaign

- The Green Party launches a nationwide advertising push today to continue the successful campaigning that has brought them within a whisker of winning seats in parliament. See... Greens "still campaigning" [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00016.htm

Stats Apology Not Good Enough

- An apology by the chief statistician over the mistake made with the September quarter CPI was not good enough, Treasurer Bill English says. See... Apology over mistake not good enough [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00015.htm

Greens Say US Should Keep Out Of F-16 Debate

- The Green Party says the United States should keep out of the domestic debate over the purchase of 28 F-16 fighters. See... Greens Reject Beeman’s Interference Over F-16 Deal [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00007.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

• Mobile - 021707044
• Twitter - @althecat
• Google+

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz