TVNZ Changes – NZ Post Stoush – Peru Earthquake – Cancer Screening – Christine Rankin – Macedonia – Jobs Survey – Big Brother Computers In Schools

TVNZ CHANGES: Cabinet will today discuss changing TVNZ from an SOE into a Crown Owned Company, allowing it to have a mix of social and commercial objectives. Cabinet will also be making decisions on the future of BCL.

NZ POST STOUSH: The Minister of SOEs is steering clear of a dispute of the two most senior members of the NZ Post Board. Ross Armstrong has written to the Minister expressing concerns about the conduct of his deputy in relation to NZ Post’s activities in South Africa. Minister Mark Burton says he is not getting involved.

PERU EARTHQUAKE: Emergency workers in Peru are scrambling to find survivors after a large earthquake. A Red Cross spokesman says relief workers are trying to get supplies to the homeless. One of the worst hit cities is Ariquipa. 38 people are confirmed dead so far.

CANCER SCREENING: One of the expert witnesses to the Gisborne Cervical Cancer inquiry wants an independent expert to look at the breast screening programme. One of the problems, he says, is that there are too many registers.

CHRISTINE RANKIN: The Employment Court will begin considering WINZ boss Christine Rankin’s case against the government today. The case is set down for two weeks.

MACEDONIA: European Foreign Ministers will meet shortly to discuss the deteriorating situation in Macedonia. NATO chief Javier Solana has coaxed the parties back to a truce.

JOBS SURVEY: The latest job index survey says there is a significant shortage of people to work in the telecommunications and IT industries. The CEO of Exicom says they are desperate for radio design engineers.

BIG BROTHER IN SCHOOLS: Schools say they fear that a new computer system being set up under legislation will allow the Ministry of Education to snoop on schools. Concerns are being expressed by teachers, principals and the School Trustees Association at the potential for big brother uses of the system.

© 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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