Top Scoop Stories July 21st, 2009 News Summary

Tuesday, 21 July 2009, 3:22 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

LEAD STORY

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Interest Rates: Labour, Greens, Progressives Announce Inquiry Into Bank Profits
“Kiwis believe they are paying higher interest rates than they should be paying. Banks believe interest costs are justified. The facts should be put on the table fairly and openly so that people can see whether they are receiving a fair deal.” More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00216.htm

ALSO:

Labour & Greens launch inquiry into bank behaviour [2]

Banks have questions to answer [3]

CTU welcomes bank inquiry [4]

Labour urged to expand scope of banking inquiry [5]

Finsec welcomes opposition banking inquiry [6]

Joint Interest Rate Inquiry Launch [7]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00217.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00226.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00211.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00215.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00210.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00219.htm [7]

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NZ POLITICS

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ALSO:

Questions For Oral Answer - 21 July 09 [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00218.htm [2]

Poverty: Group Alarmed By Report
Child Poverty Action Group is alarmed at a government report showing that in 2008 one in six New Zealand children still lived in a household below the very lowest poverty lines ... [and] after allowing for housing costs, the percentage of children in households with incomes below 60% of the median is 28%. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00217.htm

Scoop Audio: PM's Press Conference - Prisons, Folate And Sir Ed
Today Scoop asked the PM for his thoughts on Dame Sian Elias’ speech about New Zealand’s mushrooming prison population. Key continued to focus on whether it was appropriate for the Chief Justice to comment on these matters... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00217.htm

ALSO:

Post Cabinet conference: 20 July, 2009 [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/24673.html [2]

Welfare: Labour Suggest Ditching Dole's Spousal Income Test
Labour Leader Phil Goff and Social Development Spokesperson Annette King today announced that Labour intends making changes to the party’s policies to get unemployed workers off the dole, into training, and back into work. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00208.htm

ALSO:

Dole queue continues to surge [2]

John Key misses the point [3]

Key’s attacks ignore realities facing households [4]

Dole should be paid to anyone, regardless of partner's income - Goff [5]

John Key on benefits, abuse survivors and snappy dressers [6]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00215.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00214.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00221.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/24675.html [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/24683.html [6]

Gordon Campbell: The Sian Elias Crime Speech
The recent speech by Chief Justice Sian Elias may have been greeted with some sensational headlines and some equally ropey press releases... It was such a good speech, it will almost certainly be ignored. More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/07/20/gordon-campbell-the-sian-elias-speech-about-crime/

ALSO:

Dalziel challenges Power to debate the issues [2]

Senior Judge should be listened to, not bullied [3]

Amnesties For Prisoners Already Happening [4]

Sian Elias: Shirley Smith Address [5]

Earlier Scoop coverage [6]

Privatising services will not lift productivity [7]

7 things to improve public sector performance: PSA [8]

Libz Welcome Whitehead Wisdom [9]

Treasury Secretary says public service prone to wasteful spending [10]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00199.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00198.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00186.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00170.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/sections/nzpolitics.html#eliasspeech [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00203.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00216.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00214.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/24665.html [10]

Q+A Transcript: Friend Or Folate?
Guyon Espiner Interviews John Key: - Government wants folic acid in bread deferred until May 2012; Cabinet to release consultation document today - PM urges bakers to follow through on commitment to introduce folic acid bread for pregnant women More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00189.htm

ALSO:

Public submissions on folic acid open Wednesday [2]

Q+A Panel Alisdair Thompson, EMA Helen Kelly, CTU [3]

Q+A: Local Govt. Minister, Rodney Hide [4]

Would the real Food Safety Minister stand up? [5]

Media Release on Folic Acid Fortification [6]

Sad day for public health [7]

Folic Acid decision a step in the right direction [8]

Bakers Assc Welcomes Govt's Approach on Folic Acid [9]

Government pulls out of bread additive agreement [10]

One News: Dr Peter Gluckman on folic acid in bread [11]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00207.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00191.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00188.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00206.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00159.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0907/S00089.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0907/S00487.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00196.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/lifestyle/24628.html [10]

[11] - http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/govt-dumps-folic-acid-in-bread-plan-2852528/video [11]

Artefact Or Fiction? Flagpole Receives Few Salutes
Dr. Paul Moon has warned that an item being sold by tender by auctioneers Dunbar Sloane this August, as almost certainly a fake. The item – described as a “Piece of Wooden Flagstaff Cut Down by Hone Heke” was first put up for auction by Dunbar Sloane in March, but withdrawn because of concerns about its provenance. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00192.htm

ALSO:

Complaint to Human Rights Commission over flagpole [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00190.htm [2]

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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

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Mooniversaries: Explore The Moon In Google Earth
Forty years ago today, on July 20, 1969, the world watched as the crew of Apollo 11 took the first human steps on the surface of the Moon. In celebration of this historic occasion, Google is launching Moon in Google Earth, an interactive 3D atlas of the Moon, viewable with Google Earth 5.0. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0907/S00037.htm

ALSO:

Spacewalk No. 2 unfolds on 40th moon anniversary [2]

High-flying duo ride the 'Rocket Experience' on 40th anniversary [3]

Kiwi play is a giant leap for stage productions [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/24696.html [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/24670.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/24671.html [4]

Scoop Business: Pyne Gould To Buy Equity Partners For NZ$18M
Pyne Gould Corp., the finance group aiming to become a bank, agreed to acquire Equity Partners Asset Management, an asset manager controlled by Pyne director George Kerr for NZ$18 million. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/07/21/pyne-gould-to-buy-equity-partners-for-nz18m/

ALSO:

OceanaGold shares halted for placement [2]

While you were sleeping: Stocks gain on CIT rescue [3]

[2] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/07/21/oceanagold-shares-halted-for-placement/ [2]

[3] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/07/21/while-you-were-sleeping-stocks-gain-on-cit-rescue/ [3]

Employment: Low-Wage Habits Harm Productivity
Professor Erling Rasmussen, author of a new book 'Employment Relations in New Zealand' being launched tomorrow at AUT, says New Zealand's low productivity goes back several decades and there are very real barriers to the country lifting its performance. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0907/S00518.htm

ALSO:

Big firms offer better pay – but at what cost? [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0907/S00524.htm [2]

Finance: Veda Advantage Offers New Credit Ratings
A new credit scoring system launched on 2nd August will help New Zealanders get a better understanding of how they rate... all information about a person is collated together to produce a single score – which measures the applicant’s potential credit risk. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0907/S00480.htm

ALSO:

Potential Dangers with Credit Scoring System [2]

How will the new credit rating system affect you? [3]

New credit system lets you know where you stand [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0907/S00504.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/24655.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/24690.html [4]

Age discrimination: Supreme Court finds against Air NZ
The Supreme Court has, by majority, allowed an appeal by Mr McAlister, a senior pilot/flight instructor, who alleges that Air New Zealand Ltd has unlawfully discriminated against him in his employment on the ground of age, contrary to the Employment Relations ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0907/S00499.htm

Agriculture: Minister Addresses Pork Board
Immediately after the airing of the ‘Sunday’ programme, I went with Chris and visited two local Canterbury pig farms to get a better appreciation of the husbandry issues that pig producers have to deal with. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00194.htm

ALSO:

Pig Welfare Conference Fat Porkies, Marketing Spin [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00193.htm [2]

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COMMENT

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David Liechty: Important Dates in the Monetary History of the United States
Prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Colonies were subject to the rule of English Common Law and pronouncements of the English Crown and Parliament. Charters from the English Government delineated legal powers granted... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00206.htm

Duncan Graham: Jakarta Bombings Spark Genuine Anger
‘Where, after all, is the Muslim outrage at these events, as their ancient, deeply civilized culture of love, art and philosophical reflection is hijacked by paranoiacs, racists, liars, male supremacists, tyrants, fanatics and violence junkies? Why are ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00211.htm

Connie Lawn’s 15th blog: Death of an Anchorman, and demise of traditional news
Many in America – especially those in their forties and older, are mourning the death of the once famous CBS anchorman – Walter Cronkite. He died at 92, after a full career which covered the major events in modern history. Those included the ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00210.htm

ALSO:

Legendary CBS anchor Walter Cronkite dies at 92 [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/24613.html [2]

Michael Collins: Give It Back Goldman!
There are a number of stories out there about Goldman Sachs gaining unfair advantage in the financial markets. One concerns a former employee who allegedly swiped a special program to maximize automated stock trades. Questions were raised about the propriety ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00188.htm

Martin LeFevre: The Meaning Of Life
At the only sandy ‘beach’ in Lower Park, a big group of parents and children frolic in the water. It’s a lazy summer afternoon when the temperature reaches nearly 110 degrees. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00196.htm

John Minto: The Media Cannot Be Trusted
The debate over national standards in education turned pear-shaped last week. The media waded into the fray with editorials across the country attacking school principals and teachers for their opposition to the publication of so-called league tables which ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00186.htm

Stateside With Rosalea Barker: Top’O’The Mornin’ News To Ya!
Imagine my surprise at seeing a graphic of the NZ flag at the top of the KTVU early morning news bulletin today. The news was that a 7.8 earthquake had occurred offshore of NZ’s “southern islands” and that it had triggered a tsunami warning “as ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00187.htm

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LIFESTYLE

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Art: NZ Body Artist Announced As World Champion!
Yolanda Batram was announced as a World Champion at the World Body Painting Festival championships which is being held in Seeboden in Austria. Yolanda competed in the Special Effects Face Painting Category which had the theme “Poetry the power of words” ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0907/S00247.htm

Conservation: Rare Dolphin In Wellington Harbour
A rare dolphin residing in Wellington Harbour has been confirmed as a male Hector’s dolphin. Sporting the distinctive rounded dorsal fin which is a characteristic of Hector’s dolphins, he was nicknamed ‘Harbour Hector’ by locals, who have been ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0907/S00311.htm

Argument Knocked Off: Museum, Hillary Family Reach Agreement
The Board of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and Peter and Sarah Hillary, are pleased to advise that they have reached agreement on matters arising from Clause 9 of Sir Edmund Hillary’s will. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0907/S00306.htm

ALSO:

PM pleased at resolution of dispute [2]

MOTAT Celebrates The Birthday Of Edmund Hillary [3]

Row over Sir Ed's belongings settled [4]

Influenza A (H1N1) 09 Swine Flu - Update 111 [5]

New Flu Centres Open in Rolleston and Rangiora [6]

Swine flu warnings as school resumes [7]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00210.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0907/S00200.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/24679.html [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0907/S00095.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0907/S00096.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/24661.html [7]

Dirty Deeds: AC/DC Coming To New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND will be the first to see AC/DC -- the greatest rock and roll band on the planet who have sold over 200 million records worldwide -- perform on the Australasian leg of their massive Black Ice World Tour. Tickets to their Wellington concert on ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0907/S00237.htm

Scoop Wellington: Wellington’s 17-day Film Fest Begins
The 38th Wellington Film Festival begins today. It has a new name – the New Zealand International Film Festival – but it’s the same popular annual mid-winter event that attracts a local audience of around 70,000 every year, quite an achievement for a town this size. Bigger than the biggest stadium crowd. More »[1]

[1] - http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=8376

ALSO:

International Film Festival : Modern Life (Review) [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00175.htm [2]

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WORLD

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Australia: $88m To Explore The Space Frontier
On the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, Australia is poised to once again play a crucial role in space discovery, with the Rudd Government announcing that it will provide $88.4 million to ensure we are a major partner in the revolutionary ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00316.htm

West Papua Movement: Police Brutality In Nabire
Photographs and eyewitness testimony is continuing to emerge from Nabire, West Papua, of continued and systemic Indonesian police brutality on peaceful demonstrators, including the unprovoked shooting of Melkias Agapa by paramilitary personnel, amid ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00317.htm

ALSO:

15 persons on trial for subversion [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00315.htm [2]

Australian Dead: Force Member Killed On Operations In Afghanistan
An Australian soldier serving with the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan was killed while on operations north of Tarin Kowt yesterday morning, Saturday, Afghanistan time. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00319.htm

HIV/AIDS: Spread Love, Not Infection...
With these catchy slogans, a health organisation distributed condoms to people in New Delhi, much to the irritation of political outfits like Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena, who along with their political activities in India, also play ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00324.htm

Terrorism: Ban Deplores Deadly Hotel Bombings In Jakarta
New York, Jul 17 2009 1:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned this morning’s bombings of two hotels in central Jakarta that have reportedly killed at least nine people and injured dozens of others. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00294.htm

Jakarta bombs spark genuine anger
NZ Govt - More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00211.htm

ALSO:

On Bomb Attacks In Jakarta, 17 July 2009 [2]

Eye witness accounts emerge from Jakarta bombings [3]

Third bomb in Jakarta hotel defused [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0907/S00183.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/24611.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/24603.html [4]

United Nations: Kazakhstan Has ‘Room For Improvement’
New York, Jul 15 2009 11:10AM In spite of the high degree of inter-ethnic and inter-religious cooperation and tolerance in Kazakhstan, a United Nations human rights expert said there is still “room for improvement” on minority issues in the Central Asian ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00283.htm

UNHRC: Asylum-Seekers Sent Back To Libya By Italy
New York, Jul 14 2009 1:10PM The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is looking into the cases of dozens of asylum-seekers who were returned to Libya by Italian authorities after they were intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00271.htm

International Criminal Court: Charles Taylor Takes Stand At Trial In Court
New York, Jul 14 2009 2:10PM The former Liberian president Charles Taylor took the stand today in his own defence during his trial at the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), where he is facing charges of war crimes and crimes ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00274.htm

Crime: Killing Of Russian Activist
New York, Jul 16 2009 2:10PM Russian authorities must conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the murder of a prominent activist looking into alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya, top United Nations officials said today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00288.htm

War: Terrorism Kills More Afghans Than Any Military Action
New York, Jul 13 2009 12:10PM The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has spoken out against the use of suicide bombings and other terrorist activities, which it says kills more civilians than any other military action. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00248.htm

ENDS

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Top Scoop Stories July 21st, 2009 News Summary