Wellington Central Poll Shock - NZ First Coalition Row: Linda Clark Live - Lower Hutt Pensioner Bashing - Reward For Rugby Punch - New King Country School

WELLINGTON CENTRAL POLL SHOCK: Poll Shock For Richard Prebble… Richard Prebble in second place in Wellington Central. Act Leader Richard Prebble on 47% to Marion Hobbs 48%. NZ First, Greens and United all on 1%. 14% undecided. Phillida Bunkle's withdrawal made the difference. And now Richard Prebble has a battle on his hands. Labour and National are on 35% each in the party vote in the seat. The poll was of 500 voters.

NZ FIRST COALITION ROW: NZ First Leader Winston Peters remains defiant and is sticking to his position that he will support the party that wins the most seats on supply but not confidence. Winston Peters on West Coast of South Island today uses attack as the best form of defence. "If the PM is so keen on elections why didn't she call one last August"., he says. Lawyer Mai Chen says that Winston Peters decision to only support on supply is unconstitutional if he doesn't also support on confidence. Peters says she is wrong. Helen Clark is calling Winston a fly in the ointment.

NZ FIRST - LINDA CLARK LIVE: Political Editor Linda Clark Live: Supply is to do with money but confidence is also needed to govern. Jenny Shipley sought confidence votes three times since August 1998. It is very important to win these votes. Why is Mr Peters upping the ante? Consensus is that it is a diversion to divert attention away from Jenny Bloxham. Strategists are saying this is an ill judged move though. Richard Prebble will be very vulnerable if he doesn't win this seat. Especially if Rodney Hide wins.

LOWER HUTT VIOLENCE: Angry scenes outside Lower Hutt court as offenders charged with home invasion, bashing and burning appear. An elderly man had a bowl of soup poured over his head. Only item stolen is a walkman. He wants to get home to his animals. Three men appeared in court cheered on by family members. One of the family members bit a policeman. Maximum penalty for home invasion has been increased from 14 to 19 years.

REWARD FOR PUNCH: Taranaki Rugby Union is in trouble for rewarding a player with a "memorable moment" award for punching a member of the Counties team. Sport Taranaki is unhappy with the Union's decision. The Union says that the punch was in self defence. His team-mate had already been punched three times by the player he decked. Player thinks he doesn't deserve the

NEW KING COUNTRY SCHOOL: Brand new King Country school for 12 pupils. And a New Teacher. Parents celebrate with cake and scones. Kids have pet parade. Political parties invited but none of them turned up. Everyone is a winner at this school.

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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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