Coalition Talks - National Caucus - Browneye - Suzanne Bruce - Hunger Strikers - Manawatu Floods - Southern Floods

COALITION TALKS: High speed democracy. The incoming government are on track to complete discussions on the coalition next Monday. A triumphant return for Helen Clark and Michael Cullen to Parliament. Clark advises new members to breath through their noses. Caucus meets for first time. Jim Anderton holds a press conference before the coalition meeting asking for a commitment to support possum fur jackets out of which he says 1000 jobs can be had. Clark not worried by apparent policy on the hoof . Coalition smiles do not extend to the Greens however. Jeanette Fitzsimons is critical of Labour and the Alliance's approach in Coromandel.

COALITION TALKS: Jane Young Live: This will not be a revolutionary government we are likely to see people move from corresponding spokespersonships into their opposite numbers cabinet seats. It certainly is very fast. They expect to have only one more coalition meeting on Thursday. They expect to sign the deal on Monday after their parties have seen the agreement over the weekend.

NATIONAL CAUCUS: National MPs also hold first meeting today. Jenny Shipley rules out all suggestions that her leadership is in doubt. Inside caucus meeting national careful not to lick its wounds in public. ACT also back together. ACT has three new MPs and overall numbers have only risen by 1. NZ First refuses to talk to media today. National will get first chance to practice opposition.

BROWNEYE: Labour President has not had quite as good a day as his party. Labour party apologises to a rate-payer who says the Waitakere Mayor mooned him on exhibition drive. Harvey denies the mooning and says he said "kiss my ass" because he feared being beaten up. Helen Clark said she wouldn't be surprised if the story is true. "My advice to him is keep your clothes on".

SUZANNE BRUCE: Suzanne Bruce the former NZ First candidate today pleaded not-guilty to the fraud charges that ended her campaign.

HUNGER STRIKERS: Sixteen former hunger strikers will spend another night in jail. It is likely they will be released tomorrow.

MANAWATU FLOODS: Cleanup underway following floods in the Manawatu. Farmer says the flooding last year caused major problems. The river came up and over its banks last night. In Southern Hawkes Bay a petrol tank is forced out of the ground by rising flood waters. Regional council expects floods to dissapate by tomorrow.

SOUTHERN FLOODS: Queenstown smells bad as clean-up continues. Bank wrecked. Bag shop's stock destroyed. Queenstown has lost its lustre, Everywhere a stench of mud contaminated by sewage and rotten food. Better news at Frankton where stabilisation of a slip has allowed some residents to return.

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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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