Scoop: Just Politics

Tuesday, 12 December 2000, 4:30 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

JUST POLITICS
Victims Rights Boost
Police Deceit
New Guardian of Gaia Appointed
Trans Tasman Apple Science Battle Continues
Nandor To Talk Pot In The River City
Electricity Bill Lacks Courage Of Conviction
ENZA Losses Prove ACT Criticisms
Maharey On Tertiary Funding Crisis
NZ’s New Health Strategy Unveiled
Looking After Our Kids – A New Chief Social Worker
Council Considers Buying Water Utility Back
Abortion Documentation Mislaid
Staying in East Timor Another Year

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House - Questions
PM’S PRESSER: Pay Rises For The Troops – More Words Discarded
David Miller Surveys The State Of Republicanism
On Why We Are Unwelcome Over There
Ko Huiarau Parliament Update

JUST POLITICS

Victims Rights Boost

- A supplementary order paper almost completely rewrites the Victims’ Rights Bill, introduced last year, to recast the principles of the legislation as statutory rights. See... Govt makes victims’ rights mandatory [1] - NATIONAL - Goff Fails on Pre-Election Promise to Victims [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00187.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00189.htm

Police Deceit

- ACT Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks says the Minister of Police should inquire into the way police officers give evidence to court and official hearings. See... ACT Concerned About Police Attitudes to Truth [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00188.htm

New Guardian of Gaia Appointed

- The Associate Minister of Justice, Hon Margaret Wilson, has announced the appointment of Joan Allin of Wellington, as the Principal Environment Judge. See... Principal Environment Judge appointed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00186.htm

Trans Tasman Apple Science Battle Continues

- New Zealand has filed a submission as part of the Australian Government's risk analysis process to decide whether apple imports should be allowed, Agriculture and Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. See... NZ queries Australian fireblight report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00183.htm

Nandor To Talk Pot In The River City

- Green MP Nandor Tanczos today urged the people of Hamilton to attend a discussion forum to examine whether there is a better way to approach the cannabis issue. See... Hamiltonians invited to discuss cannabis issues [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00182.htm

Electricity Bill Lacks Courage Of Conviction

- The Government is already in trouble with its recently tabled Electricity Industry Bill, National's Energy spokesperson Pansy Wong said today. See... MP lacks faith in his own Govt's Bill [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00181.htm

ENZA Losses Prove ACT Criticisms

- Claims made by ACT earlier this year about ENZA’s financial position have proven correct with the announcement of ENZA’s $38 million end of year loss, said ACT spokesman Owen Jennings. See... ACT Claims Of ENZA Vindicated [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00180.htm

Maharey On Tertiary Funding Crisis

- Information charting the decline of New Zealand's tertiary education system is further proof of the need to move the sector on to a more sustainable footing, says Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey. See... Government committed to strong tertiary education [1] . See also…Appointments to Tertiary Education Advisory Com. [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00176.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00177.htm

NZ’s New Health Strategy Unveiled

- Health Minister Annette King says the New Zealand Health Strategy, launched today in the Grand Hall at Parliament, will ensure New Zealand uses its available health resources more effectively in the future. See... Minister launches New Zealand Health Strategy [1] and Annette King’s Speech [2] REACTION: - Medical Association - The New Zealand Medical Association welcomes the Government's strategic approach to health, as set out in the New Zealand Health Strategy which was released today. See... NZMA Welcomes Health Strategy [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00170.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00169.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0012/S00051.htm

Looking After Our Kids – A New Chief Social Worker

- Shannon Pakura is to be Child, Youth and Family’s new chief social worker. Ms Pakura, 45, will take over from Mike Doolan when he retires from the role in February next year. See... New chief social worker announced [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0012/S00050.htm

Council Considers Buying Water Utility Back

- Papakura District councillors are looking at the possibility of buying back the water franchise from United Water. But councillors who are against the recommendation want to see more discussion on the issue. See... Water NZ - Papakura To Buy Back United Franchise? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0012/S00049.htm

Abortion Documentation Mislaid

- The Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand condemned today's discovery that Rawhiti Trust Hospital, a closed private healthcare provider, had maintained abortion authorisation forms from 1995, and that women's privacy had been disrupted. See... ALRANZ: Safeguard Patient Privacy [1] . See also... ALRANZ: Support Mallard's Repeal of Section 105C [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0012/S00048.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0012/S00047.htm

Staying in East Timor Another Year

- New Zealand's military commitment in East Timor has been extended for another 12 months, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Minister of Defence Mark Burton announced today. See... NZ to extend military commitment in East Timor [1] REACTION: - NZ FIRST - Mark Welcomes Pay Rise For Troops, But….. [2] - ACT - East Timor Decision Cause For Real Concern [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00165.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00178.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00174.htm

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS

Scoop Is In The House

Today's Questions concerned: Tertiary Sector Crisis – Australian Welfare Negotiations – LATE Responsibility Changes – Closing The Gaps – Health Strategy – TVNZ Charter – Trans Tasman Travel Arrangement - Closing The Gaps And Jim Anderton – US Lamb Tariffs Decision – Spectrum For Maori – Poorly Performing Schools - ACC Double Payments See... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day – 12 December [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0012/S00068.htm

PM’S PRESSER: Pay Rises For The Troops – More Words Discarded

- Cabinet has agreed in principle to across-the-board pay increases for the military, Defence minister Mark Burton said today. See... Pay Rise For Military [1] . Also at the post Cabinet press conference Prime Minister Helen Clark says she doesn’t use the phrase “Closing the Gaps” anymore, because of the baggage that has become associated with it. See... Closing The Gaps Baggage Too Heavy [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0012/S00061.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0012/S00059.htm

David Miller Surveys The State Of Republicanism

- Earlier this month, the Guardian newspaper in London openly criticised the position of the British monarchy in the political and social structure of the United Kingdom. See... David Miller Online: Time For the Republic of NZ? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0012/S00063.htm

On Why We Are Unwelcome Over There

- JOHN HOWARD - Australia plans to reverse its own brain drain by introducing policies to keep its best and brightest at home and it will change its immigration policies to become more attractive to bright people from around the world. John Howard writes. See... Howard’s End: The Race For The Best And Brightest [1] - SIMON ORME - Kiwi bashing has broken out in Australia in the lead up to Christmas, culminating in the revelation of a new deal between Canberra and Wellington, under which Kiwis moving to Australia need to meet the standard Australian immigration criteria to qualify for social security and other benefits. Simon Orme in Sydney Backgrounds the dispute. See... Australia – ‘Tis the Season for Kiwi Bashing Full Coverage - ACT - Migration Speech Extract Hon Richard Prebble [2] - ACT - ACT – The Party With Policies To Bring NZ Home [3] - NATIONAL - NZ Government damaging Trans-Tasman relationship [4] - PRIME MINISTER - NZPA report recklessly irresponsible [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0012/S00065.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0012/S00057.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00157.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00168.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00150.htm

Ko Huiarau Parliament Update

- Since Ko Huiarau Parliament opened en the 4 March this year, elected members representing tribes from the seven main tribal areas, attending parliament sittings in Auckland. See... Ko Huiarau Parliament Update [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0012/S00046.htm

Scoop World: Dakuvula On Girmit Government In Fiji - TV Cameraman Defends TV3 Footage

- SVT member and pro-democracy campaigner, Jone Dakuvula has slated the NLTB for trying to install another Girmit in Fiji. See... Dakuvula slates NLTB Issue [1] . See also... Freelance cameraman denies misleading NZ TV report [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0012/S00048.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0012/S00047.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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