Scoop Today - New News

Thursday, 6 April 2000, 5:55 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

HEADLINES

Greens Move GE Bill
PM “Wimps Out” On Hawkesby Payments
NZ Competition Laws
Woman Prisoners Cook For Women
Marriage Laws – "More Equitable"
A Flood Of Overstayers
The Car Stickers That Ate Christchurch
Compulsory GST Threshold Raised
WINZ Bill Soars
Sheep Bulk Up
Customs Awards
Sort Out Tax Legislation
Cheesey World Beater
The Gun Liberation Party
Nestle Protests Continue

TOP SCOOPS

Scoop Is In The House

- The opposition’s best questions yet. The Prime Minister was forced to apologise today for a mistake in issuing instructions concerniong the GE Royal commission Meanwhile the opposition did it’s best to exploit, growing division between Labour and it’s junior coalition partners. For this and much, much more. See... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0004/S00019.htm

Scoop World: Tech Stocks Dive

- Frank Lai woke up praying that his nest of Nasdaq stocks would be stable enough today that he could rip himself away from the computer at his Las Vegas home and get back to his day job--running four Mrs. Fields Cookies stores. See... Scoop Link: A Wild Ride on Wall Street [1] in the International wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0004/S00032.htm

Scoop Opinion: AWOL Civilians

- Earlier this week, the news broke that part-time soldiers (Territorials) who volunteer to serve in East Timor may lose their jobs if they go. The Employers Federation, while claiming to be sympathetic, appears to be playing hardball in order to win to win compensation from the Government for its members. See... Keith Rankin's Thursday Column: Territorial Leave [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0004/S00018.htm

Scoop Arts: Rialto Movies

- The latest films to hit Rialto cinemas nationwide include: Rover 75 UK Film Series 2000, The End of the Affair, Muppets From Space, The Sixth Sense, The Straight Story and Toy Story2. See... Rialto Film Club [1] in the Arts & Culture wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0004/S00005.htm

More Illegal Toothfishing

– Greenpeace exposed a well-known illegal fishing vessel, the Belize-flagged Rita, landing its catch of 90 tonnes of toothfish in Port Louis, Mauritius late last night (NZ time). Greenpeace has called on the Mauritian authorities to take immediate action against these ocean pirates by stopping the unloading operation and seizing the catch. See... Greenpeace Reveals Pirate Landing Of Toothfish [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0004/S00011.htm

Scoop World: Appeal For Ethiopia Famine Aid

- The International Red Cross is taking action to assist vulnerable people in drought-struck Ethiopia, in the face of worsening food shortages there. A recent drought has threatened to lead to a famine of the same scale as the eighties' catastrophe. See... Red Cross Taking Action in Ethiopia [1] . Kiwis have so far donated approximately $80,000 to the New Zealand Red Cross appeal for flood-ravaged Mozambique, in southern Africa. See... Mozambique Appeal –Strong Response but More Needed [2] both in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0004/S00009.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0004/S00008.htm

MORE SCOOPS

Greens Move GE Bill

- The Green Party has today submitted draft legislation to Parliament seeking to prevent new approvals of genetic engineering field trials, pending the outcome of an official Royal Commission of Inquiry into the technology. The Greens co-leader Jeannette Fitzsimmons says they are resorting to a Members Bill because the government has failed to address the issue. See... Greens draft GE moratorium bill [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00064.htm

PM “Wimps Out” On Hawkesby Payments

- The Commerce Select Committee has had to step in and demand action over the Hawkesby affair because the Prime Minister and Minister of Broadcasting have wimped out, says National. The Committee today reprimanded TVNZ bosses for their excessive behaviour in awarding six figure salaries to top television presenters and said a “clean up” of the organisation was still needed. See... Committee steps in after Clark wimps out [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00067.htm

NZ Competition Laws

- Bringing New Zealand's competition law into line with Australia and other major world market economies makes sense to encourage investment from offshore, says the Chief Executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern), Alasdair Thompson. See... Improved competition law positive for investment [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0004/S00027.htm

Woman Prisoners Cook For Women

- Green Party Justice Spokesperson Nandor Tanczos today welcomed Justice Minister Matt Robson's decision to allow Christchurch Women's Prison to keep providing their own food. Earlier some of the prisoners had gone on hunger strike in protest at the catering being moved to a nearby men’s prison. See... Tanczos Welcomes Christchurch Prison Decision [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00070.htm

Marriage Laws – "More Equitable"

- “Cabinet agreed this morning to provide for a fairer and more equitable arrangement to allow de facto couples - including same sex couples – to allocate property at the end of a relationship”; said Associate Minister of Justice, Margaret Wilson. The Government is passing legislation to extend current laws on marriage to de-facto and gay couples. See... Equal Rights On Break Up Of A Relationship [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00066.htm

A Flood Of Overstayers

- Immigration Minster Liane Dalziel’s precedent setting decision yesterday, could see thousands of potential overstayers and refugees coming to New Zealand, said ACT Immigration spokesman Penny Webster. Yesterday the Minister announced a decision allowing a Tongan family of an Auckland youth who overstayed for over four years to remain living in the country. See... Decision may pre-empt immigrant invasion [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00060.htm

The Car Stickers That Ate Christchurch

- Youth Affairs Minister Laila Harré is welcoming a campaign aimed at youth discrimination in Christchurch. The Minister recently criticised a sticker campaign to prevent car thefts which targeted youths under 25. See... Harre backs Yellow Triangle Prevention Project [1] in the Parliament wire. The Yellow Triangle Prevention Project has announced its launch today. See... Yellow Triangle Prevention Project Launched [2] . The Yellow Triangle project has stirred the passions of NZ's political youth. See... "Young Labour Supports Youth Crime" [3] and see... Young Nats = old fogeys, miss the point [4] all in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00068.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0004/S00029.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0004/S00026.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0004/S00028.htm

Compulsory GST Threshold Raised

- “An estimated 25,000 people and businesses will be able to opt out of making GST returns under legislation to be introduced into Parliament next month;” Revenue Minister Michael Cullen said today. See... Govt To Raise Registration Threshold For GST [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00065.htm

WINZ Bill Soars

- The final bill for the WINZ charter flight debacle is still mounting with figures released today showing the Auditor General’s inquiries alone cost taxpayers almost $100,000. WINZ boss Christine Rankin has been rebuked by the Government select committee for her department’s chartering of a private jet to a departmental conference. See... WINZ Charter Flight Debacle Bill Still Mounting [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00062.htm

Sheep Bulk Up

- Green MP Sue Kedgley said an application to genetically engineer sheep to produce more muscle raises serious animal welfare issues. . Science research boday AgResearch has applied to genetically engineer sheep to make them produce more muscle. See... Sheep trial may lead to deformed sheep - Kedgley [1] in the Parliament wire. Protests will be held outside the offices of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) today over the application See... Protests over ERMA hearing into GE Sheep [2] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00061.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00059.htm

Customs Awards

- Thirty-two Wellington Customs staff – with a combined total of 745 years' service - will today be presented with awards at a special ceremony attended by the Minister of Customs, Phillida Bunkle. See... Customs Long Service Awards [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00063.htm

Sort Out Tax Legislation

- The Government needs to get its act together over tax legislation - instead of rolling out tax law as a series of media releases, Opposition Revenue Spokesperson Annabel Young said today. See... More legislation by media [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00058.htm

Cheesey World Beater

- Parliament today adopted a motion congratulating a small South Island dairy company on beating all comers to win the gold medal for best cheese in the world at the Wisconsin World Champion Cheese Contest. See... Cheese Co-op gold medal deserves congratulations [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0004/S00057.htm

The Gun Liberation Party

- Libertarianz today called on all firearm owners to boycott registration of their firearms under proposed new laws. “If they wish to continue to be able to defend themselves and their loved ones,” said a Libertarianz spokesman, they should realise ... See... Libertarianz Call for Gun Registration Boycott [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0004/S00021.htm

Nestle Protests Continue

- Consumers angered that classic foods like Milo, given by parents to thousands of children each day, may be contaminated with genetically modified ingredients, are to stage a rush-hour vigil opposite the offices of the manufacturer Nestle (NZ), ... See... Consumers take to street in fight over foods [1] in the Politics wire

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0004/S00024.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.

Contact Alastair Thompson

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