Scoop Today - Fine Weather In The Capital

Thursday, 27 January 2000, 7:16 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Peter Jackson meets Tehanu, Scoop goes to the beech, E-warfare against the PM and much much more....

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A Great Day For Icecream

TOP SCOOPS

Tehanu Meets Peter Jackson In Hobbitton

- After spending months being a stone in the film company’s shoe, I was sick of it. Perhaps they weren’t enjoying it either, because when I asked to meet the producer Barrie Osborne he agreed. Two days later I was at the Wingnut production headquarters in Matamata, boggling at a selection of concept art pinned up on the wall. Scary castles, bits of Hobbiton, things I couldn’t recognise. Spy heaven, in short. ‘Some people at the set want to meet you,’ said Barrie. ‘Who?’ ‘Peter Jackson.’ See... THEONERING.NET: Tehanu Visits Hobbitton Set [1] in the Headlines wire for an exclusive report from Scoop’s content partner http://www.theonering.net/ [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00095.htm
[2] - http://www.theonering.net/

Hawaii Treaty Law Gathers Momentum

- The US Federal Court in Hawaii has given a citizen leave to appeal to the International Court of Arbitration in the Hague over a claim that the US violated an 1849 Treaty of Commerce, Friendship and Navigation it had with the Hawaiian Kingdom. John Howard Reports. See... Hawaiian Treaty Case Sent International Court [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00096.htm

The Name of The Drug Smuggling Billionaire

- The legal wrangle over the name suppression of a billionaire is back in the Otahuhu District Court today, with the New Zealand Herald newspaper appealing the original suppression order made by Judge Peter Harvey. Judge Harvey has reserved his decision on whether to lift the suppression order. Scoop will update as soon as the outcome is known.

Scoop Opinion: Countering Doom and Gloom

- A few days ago I watched a programme made by Nicholas Booth in 1997 for the BBC Counterblast series, called “The End of the World?”;. As with John Pilger's documentaries, viewers were warned that this programme represented a critical “personal view”. Keith Rankin writes. See... Rankin On Thursday [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00093.htm

Gulf Petroleum and Petrol Prices

- The smallest player in the petrol business, Gulf Petroleum, says while the price of crude oil continues to climb, it is determined to keep its prices of oil and petrol down. Meanwhile the four main petrol companies put up the prices of petrol by 3 cents a litre on midnight yesterday tonight. In the US, petrol companies increasing prices are being accused by officials of price gouging. John Howard reports. See... Petrol Price Rises [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00090.htm

MORE SCOOPS

Guerrilla Warfare In Timberlands

- Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Minister responsible for Timberlands, Pete Hodgson, said they would be demanding to know from Timberlands why a senior employee was participating in what amounted to guerilla warfare against the government. See... PM Wants Answers on New Timberlands Allegations [1] . The Green Party is urging the Government to call for the sacking the executive. See... Greens say Timberlands' head must roll [2] both in the Paliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00125.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00127.htm

More Money For Oldies

- Married superannuitants will receive another $21.42 a week in their pockets from April 1. See... Pensions to rise as Super wage floor restored [1] for the announcement from Finance Minister Michael Cullen. Deputy Prime Minister and Alliance leader Jim Anderton says he is pleased to deliver on policy promises. See... Alliance pleased to deliver on NZ Super [2] . ACT says that Alliance and Labour's pension is good news for pensioners but provides nothing for their children or grandchildren. See...Good News For Pensioners But What About Their Kids [3] . National says New Zealanders want the politics taken out of superannuation. See... Take Politics Out Of Superannuation [4] all in the Parliament wire.all in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00121.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00122.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00124.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00128.htm

New Apia High Commission

Foreign Minister Phil Goff today participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for a New Zealand High Commission building in the Samoan capital of Apia. See... Goff Opens New NZ High Commission In Apia [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00123.htm

Interim Health Bosses Named

- Health Minister Annette King today announced the four directors of an interim board to oversee the process of bringing the Health Funding Authority into the Ministry of Health. See... Re Health Funding Authority Directors [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00120.htm

Corrections Minister Listens At Ngawha

- Minister of Correction Matt Robson today visited the Ngawha area in the Far North to listen to local opinion both for and against the proposed new prison for the North. See... Minister listens to local concerns for new prison [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00118.htm

Electricity Prices Need Inquiry – Minister

- The latest electricity price statistics confirm the need for an inquiry into the electricity industry, the Minister of Energy, Pete Hodgson, said today. See... Electricity Statistics Confirm Need for Inquiry [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00117.htm

Plugging Tax Loopholes

- High earners will successfully avoid up to $250 million more tax in the next three years as a result of the Finance Minister Michael Cullen’s tax changes which aim to gather an extra 1.5 Billion for government coffers. See... Work Under Way To Minimise Tax Avoidance [1] . National says the Minister is kidding himself if he thinks he can plug the tax loopholes. See... Cullen Too Late On Tax Avoidance Measures [2] . ACT, meanwhile, challenges the Minister to come clean over his proposed tax avoidance measures. See... Cullen Challenged To Come Clean On Tax- ACT [3] all in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00126.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00114.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00116.htm

Prisons and Problems

- Police will be called to investigate a major fraud of $96,000 dollars taken from the Mount Eden prison in the last two months. Meanwhile Corrections Minister Matt Robson is consulting with locals in Northland to decide whether to erect a new penitentiary there. See... Correction Minister Visits Prisons [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00104.htm

Tourism Ministry Needed

- The Green Party is urging the Government to set up a Ministry of Tourism in recognition of the importance of the industry to the economy and its potential to create jobs. See... Tourism Deserves Better - Greens [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00113.htm

Pinochet Protest

- The purpose of today's hearing is to ensure that Augusto Pinochet's fitness to stand trial is decided fairly and according to law. The implications of the decision go far beyond the fate of one man. See... Human Rights Groups Pinochet Statement [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0001/S00040.htm

Bad Month For Building

- Statistics New Zealand estimates the number of new dwelling units authorised in December at 1,963, substantially lower than in each of the preceding nine months. See... December 1999, New Dwellings Decline [1] and the Deutsh Bank Analysis... Estimate of New Dwelling Units - December 1999 [2] both in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0001/S00072.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0001/S00073.htm

Money Back In The Farm

- Federated Farmers Sharemilkers' Section Chairperson Michael Pallesen says he is pleased that dairy farm owners are choosing to invest their Kiwi Bonus Share issue payment in farm development, or are passing a portion onto their sharemilker. See... Farmers Investing Kiwi Bonus Share Payout On Farms [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0001/S00071.htm

Tampon Tax – Aussie Whingers

- A Nelson women's group, the LUNA Collective for Women's Wellness, believe all the fuss about paying more for sanitary products in Australia once GST is introduced is completely unnecessary. See... Stop Ya Whinging ! [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0001/S00072.htm

The Cost of National’s Advice

- State Services Minister Trevor Mallard said today that the unacceptable high cost of consultants under the former National Government highlights the need to crack down on their use. See... Government Releases Information On Consultants [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00111.htm

Health Costs “Flakey”

- The Health Minister's figures for the restructuring of the health sector are "flakey" and lack supporting evidence, Opposition Health spokesperson Wyatt Creech said today. See... Health Restructuring Costs Hot Air - Nats [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0001/S00110.htm

© 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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