Poll - Poll Commentary - Gang Rape - Prefu - MPs Pay - Insurance Levies - Indonesian Riots - Cellphone Danger

CM RESEARCH POLL: Warning for PM in lates CM Research Poll.

Party Vote:

Labour 37 down 3
National 33 down 3
ACT on 9 up 2
Alliance 7 down 1
NZ First 6 up 2
Greens 2

NZ First is again the key player when the poll is converted into seats. Winston isn't saying what he will do. Winston Peters - "would you marry a man you had never met?"

Preferred PM

Jenny Shipley 22%
Helen Clark 18%
Peters 7% up 3

Personal Performance ratings not good for PM.

On the plus side: As Capable leader - 62% - up 1

On negative side: Helen Clark is ahead of her in most questions and on "Is Out of touch" 58% up 3

POLL COMMENTARY: Jane Young Live: Big ask for the feel good factor of APEC to keep working. When campaign starts in earnest National will need to pull some big rabbits from the hat. Q: What is possibility of minority government? A: High. Problem is that Winston wants to be in negotiating position and he will be able to break up potential coalitions - though that would carry risks as well.

GANG RAPE: Three Black Power members in custody following an alleged gang rape in Meremere. Armed offenders squad arrest the group, two in the street, and one barricaded in his house. The gang members went looking for sex at 5am. They went to one house and were refused, a woman spat in one of their faces. At another house they are alleged to have broken in and raped a woman who was alone. Police want to know why gang trouble has flared in the town again. The rape has made the town nervous. They hope the rape is not the start of a gang war. So far none of the gang members have been charged.

PREFU: Cupboard bare as the books are opened. PREFU a compulsory report card on the economy shows a tiny surplus - small change. "This opening of the books shows continuing growth, more jobs and falling debt" says Treasurer. 2.5% GDP growth forecast to March. $14 million surplus forecast for year ending June. Dr Cullen says the figures do not show National has performed well. Very different from the rosy picture at the last election.

MPS PAY: Economic future is looking rosier for politicians. Cabinet members the PM, speaker and leader of opposition are recommended to receive 5% pay rise - this $12,000 for the PM. MPs are recommended to receive a 3% rise.

INSURANCE LEVIES: Fire Service levies raised.

INDONESIAN RIOTS: Bombs have exploded and riots have broken out in Jakarta following the election of Gus Dur as President. As the day draws to a close buildings are burning. Running battles in the street between police and supporters of Megawati Sukarnoputri. Police unable to contain the violence. Amid the mayhem several explosions. Megawati left the Parliamentary chamber in tears after the election. Earlier she urged her followers not to resort to violence. Three journalists were injured in the clashes.

CELLPHONE DANGER: New worries about the dangers of cell-phones - this time from the inside. Scientist breaks ranks with industry. He found an increased risk of a rare type of brain tumor but no evidence of higher cancer overall. Industry maintains that there is no problem and issue a statement saying the consensus is that there is no danger. 20/20 Investigation has found another scientist in California who is worried about them. FDA says it cannot say one way or the other.

© 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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