Scoop Today - Just Politics

Friday, 7 July 2000, 5:00 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

JUST POLITICS
Tourism Charter Presented To APEC
Dunne Unhappy About Taiwan Policy
Manawatu Maori Ripoff
Libz - Euthanasia Too Important For Politicians
Spectrum Auction On For Monday
Southern Health Merger
Select Committee News
Govt Prison Policy Does Not Impress Nats
Computers In Homes Project
Health & Safety Employment Law Reviewed
Bulk Funding In Schools Abolished
Consumer Bankline Hot

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS
Govt. Disappointed With Dempsey
Hard News Is Here – Tamihere, Dover, Dick Hubbard And Fran O’Sullivan
Tamihere, Samuels, Tamihere Again
If You Thought Grant Gillon Was Offensive…
NZ In Echelon Spy Network Allegations
TVNZ Charter Discussion Like Watching A Test Pattern

JUST POLITICS

Tourism Charter Presented To APEC

- The Minister of Tourism Mark Burton has today presented a Tourism Charter to the APEC Tourism Ministers meeting in Seoul, Korea. See... NZ presents Tourism Charter to APEC [1] in the Parliament wire. See also... Industry Welcomes APEC Tourism Charter [2] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00122.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0007/S00028.htm

Dunne Unhappy About Taiwan Policy

- United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says Foreign Minister Phil Goff is trying to rewrite New Zealand's constitution. See... Goff Seeks To Rewrite Parliamentary Practice [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00120.htm

Manawatu Maori Ripoff

- “The Government’s failure to seriously address the Mäori fisheries assets issue means over $10 million of Rangitikei/Manawatu assets remain tied up in Wellington,” Harry Mikaere, Chairman of the Treaty Tribes Coalition, said today. See... $10 Million Of Rangitikei/Manawatu Assets Tied Up [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0007/S00029.htm

Libz - Euthanasia Too Important For Politicians

- Libertarianz Deputy Leader Richard McGrath sympathises with NZ First MP Peter Brown's stand in favour of voluntary euthanasia, but says that the issue is too important to be decided by politicians. See... Euthanasia Bill Easily Snuffed Out, Says Libz [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0007/S00026.htm

Spectrum Auction On For Monday

- This week the High Court dismissed an application by Maori to stop the 2GHz radio spectrum auction due to start on Monday 10 July. The Court found that there was no cause of action against the Government. See... Spectrum auction to proceed [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00119.htm

Southern Health Merger

- Health Minister Annette King today announced Canterbury Health Limited and Healthlink South Limited have accepted the logic of merging later this year. See... Two HHSs to become one District Health Board [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00118.htm

Select Committee News

- There were 24 committee meetings including one in progress in Auckland. The other 23 meetings were all in the parliamentary complex. See... Weekly Select Committee Business [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00117.htm

Govt Prison Policy Does Not Impress Nats

- Cabinet has given the go-ahead for Minister of Corrections Matt Robson to set up a Taskforce to tackle the predicted rise in prison numbers. See... Taskforce to tackle prison numbers announced [1] in the Parliament wire. National's Justice spokesman Tony Ryall is not happy. See... Government still doesn't get it [2] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00115.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00114.htm

Computers In Homes Project

- Fifty families in Porirua and South Auckland will be part of a pilot for a new Computers in Homes project, Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced today. See... Government support for Computers in Homes project [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00107.htm

Health & Safety Employment Law Reviewed

- The Minister of Labour, the Hon Margaret Wilson has announced the details of the government's plans to review the Health and Safety in Employment legislation. See... Review Of Health And Safety In Employment Law [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00106.htm

Bulk Funding In Schools Abolished

– Yesterday a bill was passed in Parliament abolishing the bulk funding for public schools and reinstating zoning. The abolition is the price children must pay for the Government's political debts to the teachers union, says National's Education spokesperson Nick Smith. See... Pupils lose out to unions in Education Bill [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00103.htm

Consumer Bankline Hot

- The free-phone Bankline for banking consumers has logged more than 500 calls in its first day of operation, Consumer Affairs Minister Phillida Bunkle said yesterday. See... Bankline Phones Ringing Hot [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00102.htm

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS

Govt. Disappointed With Dempsey

- Sport, Fitness and Leisure Minister Trevor Mallard said the Government was extremely unhappy and disappointed with Charlie Dempsey's role in the demise of South Africa's World Cup Soccer bid. The New Zealand soccer representative abstained from voting in the final selection, a move which caused Germany to win the role. See... Government unhappy with soccer decision [1] in the Parliament wire. The Irish Times are also dissappointed. See... Irish Times Editorial: South Africa Loses [2] in the International wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00112.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0007/S00019.htm

Hard News Is Here – Tamihere, Dover, Dick Hubbard And Fran O’Sullivan

GOOD DAY MEDIAPHILES ... it's the season when we need to visit our local pharmacist. To top up on Vitamin C, get advice on which cold and flu remedies are right for us - and to send muckraking faxes to the Parliamentary press gallery. See... HARD NEWS 7/7/00 - Just the Fax [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0007/S00043.htm

Tamihere, Samuels, Tamihere Again

- Labour MP John Tamihere and his past are back in the news, after an anonymous fax was sent to Radio New Zealand's Parliament news desk accusing him of fraud and three drink-driving offences. In a personal explanation to Parliament yesterday, Tamihere “fessed-up” to the drink-driving charges. Mr. Tamihere pointed out he was discharged without conviction on the fraud charge. For his explanation, see... John Tamihere - Personal Statement - Allegations [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00108.htm

If You Thought Grant Gillon Was Offensive…

- The following are a series of colourful quotations made by members in the NZ Parliament. As can be seen, the remark made by Grant Gillon on Tuesday is not the first offensive remark made in the house linking members and animals. See... Sludge Report #21 – Beasts In The House [1] in the Headlines wire. In the latest reaction to the obscene remarks, political mavericks The Corrective Party say Mr. Gillon should be congratulated. See... Mr. Gillon, Produce the Sheep!!! [2] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0007/S00039.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0007/S00022.htm

NZ In Echelon Spy Network Allegations

- Green MP Rod Donald today said news that France has launched a judicial investigation into the ECHELON spy network, of which New Zealand is a part, is the latest manifestation of growing international concern about the eavesdropping network. See... French judge to investigate Kiwi spy base [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00113.htm

TVNZ Charter Discussion Like Watching A Test Pattern

- A draft charter for TVNZ will be the priority as development of the Government's broadcasting policy moves to a new phase, the Minister of Broadcasting, Marian Hobbs, said today. See... TVNZ Charter [1] in the Parliament wire. For the full cabinet paper see… Broadcasting Policy: Objectives [2] and Broadcasting Issues: Platform and Technology Issue [3] . But be warned National’s Katherine Rich says the documents are as interesting as a TV Test Pattern. See… See... See... Marian Hobbs takes 8 months to make waffle [4] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00099.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00098.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00097.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0007/S00116.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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