WINZ AND GLITZY BUSINESS SEMINAR: The Dominion leads today with a report that seven government agencies, including WINZ, booked $675-a-head corporate tables at a glitzy business seminar held in May, leaked papers show.

BOOK AWARDS: The front-page photo shows Wellington author Elizabeth Knox who won the top fiction prize at the Montana New Zealand book awards last night, crowning a "vintage year" for New Zealand literature.

Also on the front page:

- LIQUOR DEBATE: a report that Parliament will this morning begin debating changes to liquor laws, starting with a proposal to drop the minimum drinking age to 18;

- WILLIAMSON AT HEATHROW: a report that Air New Zealand has apologised to Cabinet minister Maurice Williamson over "lapses in service" during a delay at London's Heathrow Airport;

- SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: a report that details of the last reported sighting of alleged murder victim Olivia Hope were given in the High Court at Wellington yesterday;

- BIG SNOW: a report that snow brought down trees and power lines, and blocked roads in parts of Wairarapa yesterday in the heaviest falls in 30 years, but was a blessing for the Turoa ski-field which plans open today.

Inside Political Headlines

- Dairy chief [John Storery] removed from mega-company board;
- F16 fighter jets deal an "attempt to revive Anzus" - Helen Clark;
- WINZ hui still on despite costs row;
- Deal signed to protect forests;
- Maori commission changes policy on mixed languages;
- Questions raised over Millennium Office appointments.

MURDERER IN NEST: The editorial discusses the Stokes Valley Kohanga Reo row.

© 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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