Top Scoop Stories 19th March, 2009 News Summary

Thursday, 19 March 2009, 4:19 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

LEAD STORY

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John Minto: Nick Smith Thrashes About In The Shallows
Columnist John Minto writes: If Nick Smith thought he would frame himself as the strong, decisive Accident Compensation Corporation Minister when he gatecrashed a parliamentary select committee last week he failed. Instead he looked like a pompous prat. (Scoop image: Nick Smith and John Key, by Kevin List.) More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00229.htm

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NZ POLITICS

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Copyfighting: Copyright Code Submissions Back Repeal Of 92A
InternetNZ has reviewed the 50-odd submissions on the Telecommunications Carriers’ Forum Internet Code of Practice and finds overwhelming support for repeal of Section 92A of the Copyright Act. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00207.htm

ALSO:

Google: Internet disconnection a "disproportionate" penalty - Ars Technica [2]

CFF launch the What About Us video series [3]

Scoop Coverage: Blackout Against Section 92A [4]

[2] - http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/03/google-cutting-internet-access-for-p2p-abuse-disproportionate.ars" target="_blank [2]

[3] - http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00165.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0902/S00357.htm [4]

Smacking: ACT MP Proposes "Back The Way It Was" s59 Amendment
ACT New Zealand MP John Boscawen today announced that he will introduce a Private Member's Bill to amend the controversial Anti-Smacking law inflicted on New Zealanders by Labour and the Greens in 2007. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00281.htm

ALSO:

Family First Welcomes Bill to Fix Smacking Law [2]

83% Still Want Smacking Law Fixed - Poll [3]

Child-friendly cities expert visits New Zealand [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00204.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00193.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00196.htm [4]

Charity: Key Ponders Rebate System, Encourages Tax Cut Donations
We are working to introduce a voluntary payroll giving system... We are investigating gift aid – where, effectively, donors can gift the tax rebate on their donation to the organisation they have donated to... And we are looking at gifts in kind – where people and organisations can donate goods and services, and receive a rebate on their donation... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00267.htm

ALSO:

Speech: Bennett - Salvation Army Social Services [2]

John Key’s guilt trip [3]

PM John Key says Givealittle.co.nz leading the way [4]

Alliance savages Key's plan for "Little America" [5]

Key's call to give tax cuts to charity garners little support [6]

Key: Govt looking at ways to encourage donations to charity [7]

Charity begins at home for health [8]

John Key on wrong track [9]

Tax Cut Spending - April 1 [10]

Foundation Supports Call For Tax Cut Donations [11]

Green Party Welcomes End to Spying on MPs [12]

Expanded anti-terror squad to silence dissent [13]

SIS gets knuckles wrapped for tracking Green MP Locke [14]

Inspector-General's report (PDF) [15]

Manning & Deady - SIS Caned Over MP Snoop [16]

How spying on politicians should be managed in future [17]

A Word From Afar: Leashing the Watchdogs [18]

Paul G. Buchanan: The Curious Case of Mr. Tucker [19]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00279.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00289.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00262.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00194.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/19767.html [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/19769.html [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0903/S00091.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00210.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00206.htm [10]

[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00212.htm [11]

[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00245.htm [12]

[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00182.htm [13]

[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/19644.html [14]

[15] - http://www.nzsis.govt.nz/news/090310-IGISReport.pdf [15]

[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00228.htm [16]

[17] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/02/16/gordon-campbell-on-how-spying-on-politicians-should-be-managed-in-future/ [17]

[18] - http://scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00147.htm [18]

[19] - http://scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0902/S00209.htm [19]

Hardware: Navy To Invade Wellington
This weekend Wellington will host two Royal New Zealand Navy ships at the same time. The Navy's purpose built Fleet Replenishment Tanker, HMNZS ENDEAVOUR will berth at the Overseas Passenger Terminal on Thursday 19 March and the ANZAC class Frigate HMNZS TE KAHA will berth on Friday 20 March at Queens Wharf. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0903/S00272.htm

ALSO:

Seaboat Incident during Joint Naval Exercise [2]

Most Significant Maritime Security Threat - NZ [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00181.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00350.htm [3]

Privacy: Housing NZ Gives Private Info To Gang-Linked Tenant
Housing Minister Phil Heatley has some serious explaining to do following revelations Housing New Zealand botched a rushed attempt to evict tenants associated with the Mongrel Mob from state houses in Pomare, Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins says. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00262.htm

ALSO:

Government regrets Housing NZ blunders [2]

HNZ delivers staff, complainant details to Mongrel Mob [3]

Housing New Zealand's leaked documents debacle continues [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/19747.html [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/19688.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/19719.html [4]

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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

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Heat: Worst Case Scenario Starts Looking Rosy
Greenpeace says new research involving New Zealand scientists and published today in Nature magazine, must surely convince our government of the urgent need to tackle climate change. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00198.htm

ALSO:

Climate Change Submission From Business Roundtable [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00211.htm [2]

Anniversaries: Bees Are Bee's Knees
“Today’s 150th anniversary of the introduction of bees to New Zealand represents a milestone for the industry in this country,” said John Hartnell, Federated Farmers bee industry group spokesperson. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00425.htm

Business.Scoop: NZ Dollar Rockets As Fed Prints Money
The New Zealand dollar rocketed as U.S. government bonds slumped on the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve would purchase Treasury securities and take on more mortgage and agency debt, stoking demand for high-yielding, riskier assets. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/03/19/nz-dollar-rockets-as-fed-prints-money/

ALSO:

While you were sleeping: Fed to buy more debt [2]

Mortgage Rates Start to Rise [3]

[2] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/03/19/while-you-were-sleeping-fed-to-buy-more-debt/ [2]

[3] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/03/18/mortgage-rates-start-to-rise/ [3]

Business.Scoop: Sweeping Changes For Foreign Investment Rules
Foreign investment in New Zealand will become easier thanks to a sweeping review of the approvals process for would-be offshore investors, Finance Minister Bill English announced yesterday. The review of the existing approval process includes the capacity to include “any new measures considered appropriate” ... More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/03/17/sweeping-changes-for-foreign-investment-rules/

ALSO:

Government to simplify foreign investment rules [2]

NZ for sale - going, going... [3]

Government’s Desperate Cargo Cult Mentality [4]

Open doors to foreign investors is irreversible [5]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00253.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00257.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00189.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0903/S00191.htm [5]

Environment: Pampered Young Bats Going Home
Four juvenile short-tailed bats will be taken home today after being nursed back to health at Massey’s wildlife ward. The bats were affected by an anti-coagulant poison used to control rats at the Pureoa Forest Park near Te Kuiti. The poison killed more than 100 of their colony. More »[1]

[1] - http://scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0903/S00250.htm

Promotion: "Urgent" $2.5 Million Boost To Lure Aussies
Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, John Key, is giving Tourism New Zealand an additional $2.5 million immediately to boost tourism promotion in Australia. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0903/S00246.htm

ALSO:

Australian Funding to Boost Key Tourism Market [2]

Air NZ to match Government’s $2.5m stimulus [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00380.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00383.htm [3]

Technology: R&D Services On Offer For Competition Winner
Chief Executive of Industrial Research Limited (IRL) Shaun Coffey today announced the Crown Research Institute would award up to $1 million worth of R&D services to the winner of its “What’s Your Problem New Zealand?” competition. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00369.htm

ALSO:

‘Eureka moment’ leads to $1 million R&D comp [2]

Meet George Jetson - and design his appliances [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0903/S00034.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0903/S00061.htm [3]

Employment: Agency Targets Been-Fired Demographic
Asia is the destination of choice for people wishing to take some time out and assess their choices following being laid off. Sales of Intrepid Travel's Laid Off, Take Off promotion favour trips to Asia... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00368.htm

ALSO:

Economic Storm a Silver Lining for Kiwi Travellers [2]

Take A Voyage Through The Recession [3]

IAG Appoints First Assistance As Travel Assistance [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00376.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00396.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00374.htm [4]

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COMMENT

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Back Into NATO: The End Of French ‘Exceptionalism’
Last Wednesday, before the École Militaire, Nicolas Sarkozy promised what on paper seemed rather radical: the French armed forces would be re-integrated into NATO after an absence of 43 years. Then, the redoubtable Charles De Gaulle gave US President ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00237.htm

John Minto: Nick Smith Thrashes About In Shallows
John Minto writes: If Nick Smith thought he would frame himself as the strong, decisive Accident Compensation Corporation Minister when he gatecrashed a parliamentary select committee last week he failed. Instead he looked like a pompous prat. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00229.htm

Martin LeFevre: AIG - America Is Godforsaken
Having grown up in what I call the State Farm mafia, I am not in the least surprised by how AIG is laughing all the way to the banks they’ve busted. The insurance industry is a con game at the individual level... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00232.htm

ALSO:

The Real AIG Scandal [2]

The Real AIG Conspiracy [3]

AIG Spoke but Gave No Answers [4]

A.I.G. Using "Suicide Strategy" to Push Bonuses [5]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00236.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00231.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00222.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00217.htm [5]

Ramzy Baroud: Durban II - Politicizing Racism
Many countries are set to participate in the Conference against Racism, scheduled to be held in Geneva, April 20-25. But the highly touted international meet is already marred with disagreement after Israel, the United States and other countries decided ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00186.htm

Stateside With Rosalea Barker: California Hearing On Premier Voting Systems
In Sacramento this morning, 17 March, the California Secretary of State’s Office held a public hearing on SoS Bowen’s report about a software problem that resulted in 197 votes being erased from an election tally in Humboldt County with no record ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00218.htm

Henry Acland: China Promises Much For New Zealand Exporters
Financial crises are times of rapid change. The 1997 – 1998 Asian financial crisis and the policies that ensued transformed many countries in East and Southeast Asia. Analysts feared at the time that China would be forced to devalue its currency and ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00224.htm

Feedback: Mark McMenamin Re: Lynn Margulis Interview & Ediacara
Lynn is correct to say that the neo-Darwinian explanation of the role of natural selection as the agent of evolutionary change is overblown, and hence neo-Darwinism is dead. Now we can finally begin to address questions that really promise to improve... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00216.htm

ALSO:

Lynn Margulis: Intimacy Of Strangers & Natural Selection [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00194.htm [2]

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LIFESTYLE

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Punk Rock: The Varukers To Play NZ
From their beginnings in the frenetic Punk Rock heyday of 1979 London, The Varukers have been at the forefront of the English punk scene for nearly three decades. They are, and always have been the genuine article. Founding member and vocalist Rat has ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00279.htm

Media: New TV3 Channel Like Some Kind Of Time Machine
MediaWorks TV will launch its TV3 Plus 1 channel on Freeview from midday on Monday, March 30 The format showcases TV3’s entire schedule on a one-hour delayed basis. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00269.htm

Ogling: Westies Crowned As NZ’s Sexiest
Simon Dallow has finally been knocked off his perch as New Zealand’s Sexiest Man with Outrageous Fortune’s sexy westie Antony Starr taking his place. Starr, who sizzles on screen in the hit TV show, has been voted Sexiest Man in the 2009 TV Guide ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00265.htm

Arts: Wellington Is Cultural Capital, Say Online Shoppers
While we think it’s probably time to move on to bigger issues like, say, how Wellington should be made the capital of absolutely positively everything in the world, we couldn’t resist telling you about the results from a Trade Me poll that asked ‘Where is New Zealand’s cultural capital?’. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00261.htm

Hearing aids: Kiwis Place Vanity Ahead Of Hearing
Many New Zealanders with hearing problems suffer in silence and miss out on much of the world around them because of their reluctance to wear a hearing aid. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0903/S00037.htm

Karim Sahai Images: Womad NZ 2009
Ace photographer Karim Sahai was at Womad New Zealand 2009 and captured the world of music and dance for Scoop. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00207.htm

ALSO:

Womad Images 2009; Part Two [2]

Womad Images 2009; Part Three [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00206.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0903/S00205.htm [3]

Dancing Without The Star: Krystal Gets Dropped Again
John Rowles: “Under medical advice, I have decided to withdraw from Dancing With The Stars. I am suffering from exhaustion, and am unable to continue with the demands of rehearsing for and appearing on Dancing With The Stars." More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00223.htm

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WORLD

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Military: Australian Soldier Killed In Afghanistan
Corporal Mathew Hopkins was tragically killed in an engagement with insurgents while serving with the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) in Afghanistan. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00362.htm

Animal Welfare: Victory For Seals: Russia Bans Baby Seal Hunt
(Moscow, Russia – 19 March 2009) – After 15 years of campaigning against the Russian seal hunt, IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare) applauds yesterday’s announcement by Yuriy Trutnev, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology, ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00371.htm

Scandal: Guatemalan Forces Role In Abductions
Washington, DC, March 17, 2009 - Following a stunning breakthrough in a 25-year-old case of political terror in Guatemala, the National Security Archive today is posting declassified U.S. documents about the disappearance of Edgar Fernando Garc?a, a student ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00353.htm

Corporate Corruption: Payback Time For AIG: After The Bonuses
WASHINGTON — In an effort to quell a mounting furor, the Treasury Department said late Tuesday that it would require American International Group to repay the government more than $165 million in bonuses doled out last week to the executives blamed for ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00354.htm

Censorship: Enemies Of The Internet
Reporters Without Borders - a Paris-based non-governmental organisation that advocates freedom of the press - has issued a report, entitled ‘Enemies of the Internet’. It lists 12 countries considered as ''enemies of the internet'', along with 10 other ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00332.htm

International Law: Bush War Crimes Are Jeopardizing Public Health
As commander-in-chief of the military, former President George W. Bush was responsible for U.S. attacks on hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan, the mistreatment of their personnel and patients, and the denial of medical supplies to them and to the general ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00330.htm

military recruitment: First National Protest Of Wars Under Obama
Marching through downtown Berkeley, protesters will carry a 10-foot tall statue of “Uncle Sam” with the face of Barack Obama, as they also denounce heightened military recruitment. They will take the statue to the door of the Marine Corps Recruiters, ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0903/S00328.htm

ENDS

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Top Scoop Stories 19th March, 2009 News Summary