Incis – Mental Health Meeting – Health Campaigning – Volunteer Arsonist – Military/Community Training – The Meaning Of Iwi – New Money – Holy Relic Quake Relief

INCIS: A Select Committee has harsh words about INCIS and wants an urgent review. Report points out abject failure of government oversight – says Phil Goff. Miss-expenditure of resources. MPs from National and ACT say it is too early to judge. Report doesn’t blame anyone in particular. Govt is being asked to figure out who is responsible. Birch says something. Police wouldn’t be interviewed. IBM is refusing to comment. The govt and IBM are suing each other.

MENTAL HEALTH: 300 people at meeting called by family of Malcolm Begg who was killed by a person under treatment for mental health. Malcolm was murdered in August. His flat mate was also found dead. Helen Clark at the meeting. Waitemata Health say they are keen to meet the parents of Mr Begg. A revised privacy code is being introduced. That is not enough for these people however.

HEALTH CAMPAIGNING: National has announced an increased budget for health. “Their policy is fitting in with what we are doing. It is not the other way around”, says Wyatt Creech. Labour releases its policy tomorrow and it says many National has stolen its ideas. Both policies say many of the same things. Labour will scrap the HFA and bring back elected health authorities. Subtle differences are becoming more important.

VOLUNTEER ARSONIST: The fire service is looking at ways to psychologically assess firefighters. Keith Raymond, a volunteer admits 22 arsons. Australian expert says it is appropriate to psychologically assess prospective fire-fighters. Raymond however does not fit the profile.

MILITARY/COMMUNITY TRAINING: Winston Peters wants to reintroduce compulsory military training. Young people not keen and cynical about motives. Young women will be excluded. Community work options would include civil defence.

THE MEANING OF IWI: Court of Appeal has ruled that an Iwi is a traditional Maori Tribe. Litigants say they may take it to the Privy Council.

NEW MONEY: New money released. Notes cost twice as much and last at least four times as long.

HOLY RELIC QUAKE RELIEF: Greek holy relic has been brought to Athens to perform a miracle. The 1300 year old painting of Mary holding a baby Jesus will be prayed to to help the victims of the Turkish earthquake. Accompanied by the head of the Orthodox Church the Icon was flown and then marched to an Athens Cathedral. The Icon is said to perform miracles for those who pray to it. Thousands are expected to pray over the next ten days when it is expected to stay in Athens. This is an extremely rare appearance for the Icon. It has been in the monastery for centuries.

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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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