New Zealand looks set to cancel its F16 purchase from the US, the Greens appoint a "musterer" and listening to the wind....only on Scoop...

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9912/49da3cd6c920239853fd.jpeg
A Device For Listening To The Wind
In Wellington's Botanic Gardens

TOP SCOOPS

Middle East Détente Sealed With A Shower

- Today the BBC are likening recent developments in the Middle East Peace Process to the end of the Berlin Wall. Will you soon be able to drive from Tel Aviv to Damascus. Scoop's Alastair Thompson asks the ARL Weather Supercomputer about the Christmas weather forecast in the Holy Land and is delighted to report that the new détente in the Middle East can expect to soon be sealed with a few millimetres of much needed rain.. See... Scoop Images: Christmas Weather In The Holy Land [1] in the Headlines wire. Peace talks suspended four years ago are due to recommence later this week in Washington between the Israeli and Syrian governments. This morning NZT the Israeli Parliament voted 47 to 31 to approve negotiations proceeding. For more on progress in the Middle East from a US perspective see... Department Of State Daily Briefing - Dec 13th [2] and.Albright Faces The Nation On CBS [3] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00064.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9912/S00067.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00069.htm

Cabinet Moves On Loans, Minimum Wage, F-16's

- The coalition government has moved fast on student loans, saying students who enrol at tertiary institutions early next year will pay no interest on their loans while studying or while earning under $25,000. Jonathan Hill writes. See... Cabinet Moves On Loans, Minimum Wage, F-16's [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00067.htm

SCOOP OPINION: Timberlands: Biodiversity, Sustainability and Survival - Of Us All

- Mayors from the three West Coast councils are to meet tomorrow to discuss what action can be taken over Labour's gagging of Timberland's resource management application to log the beech forest. Scoop's West Coast correspondent John Howard writes. See... Biodiversity, Sustainability and Timberlands [1] in the Headlines wire. For a range of other opinions on the Timberlands developments see lower down this page in the 'Other News' section.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00068.htm

Tauranga Re-Count Begins

- Labour's re-count of the Tauranga vote began around 11am this morning (Tuesday). The re-count is being supervised by a district court judge and is expected to be complete by the end of the week. National's Katherine O'Regan has conceded the seat after losing to Winston Peters by 62 votes. If Labour can overturn Peters' majority they will take seats from him and restore the Labour / Alliance majority.

Y2K Will Have Only 'Moderate' Impact - Report

- The Y2K computer bug is expected to cause numerous errors in worldwide computer systems, however the combined impact will only be moderate, a United Nations-created information clearing house says. See... Y2K Will Have Only 'Moderate' Impact - Report [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00065.htm

Joseph Heller, Author of ‘Catch-22’ Dies Aged 76

- Joseph Heller, the man who coined the phrase ‘catch-22’ for a no-win situation in his epic war novel has died at the age of 76. See... Joseph Heller - Author of 'Catch-22' - Dies [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00066.htm

MORE SCOOPS

Timberlands Tried To Stiff-Arm Govt With Late Contracts – Greens

- Timberlands West Coast tried to stiff-arm the incoming government by signing long term logging contracts after Labour's policy to end the logging was decided, the Greens have revealed. See... Timberlands Tried To Stiff-Arm Govt With Contracts [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00050.htm

The Musterer Replaces Whips In The Green Party

- Green Party Co-leader Rod Donald today announced that Ian Ewen-Street has been appointed as the ‘Musterer’, replacing the traditional role of party whip. See... The Musterer Replaces Whips In The Green Party [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00048.htm

Smacking Is Not Abuse - Christian Heritage

- Christian Heritage Party leader, Graham Capill, denounced the Commissioner for Children, Mr Roger McClay, for emotionalising the debate on the right of parents to smack their children by lumping such discipline into the same category as child abuse. See... Smacking Is Not Abuse - Christian Heritage [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00024.htm

LTSA sounds December road toll warning

- With only 11 days to go until Christmas Day the Land Transport Safety Authority is urging all New Zealanders to make a special effort to avoid tragedy on our roads. See... LTSA sounds December road toll warning [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9912/S00064.htm

Amnesty Calls For Inquiry Into WTO Police Actions

- Reports of widespread police abuses against non-violent protesters and others during the World Trade Organization talks last week in Seattle are deeply disturbing, Amnesty International says. See... Amnesty Calls For Inquiry Into WTO Police Actions [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9912/S00059.htm

National Library Restructuring Put On Hold

- The National Library restructuring – which includes a restructuring of the Alexander Turnbull Library – has now been put on hold, pending consultation with and/or direction from the incoming Government, The Friends of the Turnbull Library has been informed. See... Library Restructuring Put On Hold [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9912/S00062.htm

Goff fails to Go off as Justice Minister on Cannabis debate

- “If Phil Goff considers it judicious not to question the highest rate of civil rights violations for cannabis in the world, then he is a foolish choice indeed for Minister of Justice,” say South-Island Cannabis Party analysts. See... Goff fails to Go off as Justice Minister [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00022.htm

Beech Scheme Squashed - LOTS OF NEW MATERIAL

- The new government has effectively halted the controversial native beech logging scheme on the West Coast by SOE Timberlands West Coast ltd. Ministers Pete Hodgson and Michael Cullen have issued a ministerial directive requiring Timberlands to withdraw from a consent hearing on the scheme. - ACT say the directive was made to prevent experts in sustainable forestry testifying on the merits of the scheme. See... Govt's 'Good Faith' Doesn't Extend To Coasters [1] in the Parliament wire. - Legal action by West Coast Mayors on the interpretation of the West Coast Accord would be throwing good money after bad say conservationists. See... West Coast forests legal threats waste resources [2] in the Politics wire. - ACT MP Stephen Franks today said that the gag on Timberlands resource application should run into the same law that stopped Muldoon from trying to rule by decree. See... Will Labour Try To Rule By Political Decree? [3] in the Parliament wire. - Conservationists have applauded the Government's direction to Timberlands West Coast Ltd to exclude beech logging from its business and withdraw its applications for resource consents for the beech scheme. See... Direction To Timberlands' Pleases Conservationists [4] in the General wire. - Yesterday's move by the government to scrap Timberlands' beech logging scheme was heartily welcomed by Native Forest Action. “This is the fourth time the beech scheme has been defeated by public opposition,” said Peter Russell, National NFA spokesperson. See... Conservationists Now Focus On Rimu Logging [5] in the Politics wire. - Green Party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has congratulated Prime Minister Helen Clark for her quick-fire ban on native beech logging. See... Green Party praises Labour's quick-fire logging ba [6] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00042.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00019.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00046.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00021.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00023.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00049.htm

Beech Scheme Squashed - LOTS OF NEW MATERIAL

- The new government has effectively halted the controversial native beech logging scheme on the West Coast by SOE Timberlands West Coast ltd. Ministers Pete Hodgson and Michael Cullen have issued a ministerial directive requiring Timberlands to withdraw from a consent hearing on the scheme. - ACT say the directive was made to prevent experts in sustainable forestry testifying on the merits of the scheme. See... Govt's 'Good Faith' Doesn't Extend To Coasters [1] in the Parliament wire.
- Legal action by West Coast Mayors on the interpretation of the West Coast Accord would be throwing good money after bad say conservationists. See... West Coast forests legal threats waste resources [2] in the Politics wire.
- ACT MP Stephen Franks today said that the gag on Timberlands resource application should run into the same law that stopped Muldoon from trying to rule by decree. See... Will Labour Try To Rule By Political Decree? [3] in the Parliament wire.
- Conservationists have applauded the Government's direction to Timberlands West Coast Ltd to exclude beech logging from its business and withdraw its applications for resource consents for the beech scheme. See... Direction To Timberlands' Pleases Conservationists [4] in the General wire.
- Yesterday's move by the government to scrap Timberlands' beech logging scheme was heartily welcomed by Native Forest Action. “This is the fourth time the beech scheme has been defeated by public opposition,” said Peter Russell, National NFA spokesperson. See... Conservationists Now Focus On Rimu Logging [5] in the Politics wire.
- Green Party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has congratulated Prime Minister Helen Clark for her quick-fire ban on native beech logging. See... Green Party praises Labour's quick-fire logging ba [6] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00042.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00019.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00046.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00021.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9912/S00023.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9912/S00049.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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