Scoop Today - Real News In Real Time

Wednesday, 4 August 1999, 2:33 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Compulsory Labelling For GE Food Approved By ANZFA - Christine's Slap On The Wrist - Cultural Rethink Required On WINZ- What Are You Reading? - The Religious Properties Of Apples - Ballot Looms For East Timor - The Hillary I/V and much more...

Promo Bit

Are you finding the new Scoop Today format useful? Do you find the new rating information Scoop is providing interesting? Useful? Scoop wants to keep improving and we are interested in your suggestions. Please email editor@scoop.co.nz with your ideas/feedback on how Scoop can get even better.

Today's Scoops

Compulsory Labelling For GE Food Approved By ANZFA

- "New Zealand consumers will be better informed about the contents of the food they buy following a decision by the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Council," Health Minister Wyatt Creech said at the conclusion of a marathon session of the Council today. See... Consumers To Get Better Information About GM Foods [1] in the Parliament wire. Labour's Mark Peck says the decision is good as far as it goes, but we need more [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00050.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00049.htm

Christine's Slap On The Wrist

- Is this the end, or just another phase in a deepening WINZ stouch? Scoop's Alastair Thompson prefers the second theory - A Scoop Today Special - News Analysis with links To Reaction. See... Christine Talks The Talk As Her Wrist Is Slapped [1] in the Headlines wire. The Minister responsible Roger Sowry has now also issued a statement. See... Statement on SSC report into Christine Rankin [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9908/S00012.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00043.htm

Cultural Rethink Required On WINZ

- Scoop's Selwyn Manning takes a critical look at how the government has dealt with the Rankin fiasco in comparison to how they treat the unemployed. See... Cultural Rethink Required, An Auckland Perspective [1] in the Auckland wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9908/S00018.htm

Opposition Political Reaction To Rankin Announcement

- ACT: WINZ Boss Should Pay For Flight Debacle - [1] - Labour - Time to go, Christine - Labour [2] - Alliance - WINZ report shows need for State sector overhaul [3] - Greens - Rankin should be sacked [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00036.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00042.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00047.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00046.htm

WINZ CEO Censured

- The State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham has censured WINZ chief executive Christine Rankin over her department chartering an aircraft to take staff to a training conference at a cost of $165,000. Mr Wintringham said the case illustrated a lack of financial discipline at WINZ and had impacted on the credibility of the organisation. He said it also reflected badly on all other government departments, however it was not a sackable offence. Mr Wintringham said the charter will cost Ms Rankin money in terms of the $37,000 performance bonus she might otherwise have been entitled to but he still had confidence in her ability to lead the department. In a statement Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said she was satisfied with the actions of the State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham regarding the performance of Work and Income NZ (WINZ) Chief Executive Christine Rankin. See... Prime Minister Satisfied With SSC Actions [1]
in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00038.htm

A Personal Statement from Christine Rankin

- "I have read Mr Wintringham's statement and will naturally be discussing the matters he has raised with the WINZ management team. I want to say at the outset that I accept the two conclusions he has reached. "There was a lack of financial discipline in organising the Wairakei event and I, as Chief Executive, accept ultimate responsibility for that." See the Statement From Christine Rankin [1] in the general wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9908/S00026.htm

What Are You Reading?

- Scoop's top 20 rating items yesterday were... Scoop Today - Scoop Top 20 [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9908/S00013.htm

The Religious Properties Of Apples

- Is there such a thing as a Kosher apple or are all apples Kosher? Guy MacGibbon of the Whitireia Journalism Programme investigates. See... When Is An Apple Kosher? [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9908/S00014.htm

Veteran Campaigner Employment Spokesperson

- One of New Zealand's most recognised activists Sue Bradford, is this morning being launched as the Green Party Employment and Enterprise spokesperson. See... Sue Bradford Green Party Employment Spokesperson [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9908/S00005.htm

Businesses Behind Schedule For Y2K

- The Y2K Readiness Commission say that businesses are not where they were expected to be in terms of Y2K readiness. Yesterday they put out a public survey on Y2K, a rundown of what types of organisations are doing what and how they may be effected and another Y2K fact sheet. See all this at... Y2K Readiness Improves - But Not Meeting Estimates [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9908/S00025.htm

Ballot Looms For East Timor

- The United Nations says it has almost completed registering voters in East Timor for the August 30 ballot on East Timor. Meanwhile NZ MPs are readying to leave to observe, as Indonesia predicts chaos if the province votes for independence. Scoop's Ian Llewelyn takes a detailed look. See... East Timor, NZ MPs & Indonesia Prepare For Ballot [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9908/S00010.htm

That Interview

- Hillary Clinton last night entered the Monica Lewinsky debate with her explanation of why her husband - the leader of the free world - is a philanderer. The White House press corps were quick to put Hillary's observations to official sources - "Does the President have a problem fundamentally with what Mrs. Clinton said about him in her interview in Talk Magazine?" For the answer to this question and much more see... Transcript: White House On Hillary Clinton I/V [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9908/S00027.htm

Clinton Explains US Iraq Policy And Sandy Berger Talks About Peace In The Balkans

- In a detailed letter to Congress today US President Bill Clinton explained why the US plans to keep up pressure on the Iraqi regime. See... Letter From White House To Congress On Iraq [1] in the General wire. Also in the wire National Security Advisor Sandy Berger provides a "readout" on the outcomes of the stability pact meetings in Sarajevo. See... White House Briefing After Stability Pact Meetings [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9908/S00029.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9908/S00028.htm

New Driver Licensing Working

- Three months into the Government's new road safety initiatives including the driver licensing regime, we're already seeing huge road safety benefits, Transport Minister Maurice Williamson said today. See... Driver Licensing Regime Working [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00055.htm

ACT Concerned About Dairy Shares

- ACT say the country's Sharemilkers are concerned they will not get shares in the Dairy Mega-Co-op being set up in the Dairy Industry's major restructuring. See... Sharemilkers Must Get Shares In Mega-Co-Op - ACT [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9908/S00006.htm

Retail Trade Remains Flat

- Statistics New Zealand's retail trade figures for June 1999, show the underlying sales trend has remained flat. Since the beginning of this year the trend has increased 1.2 per cent. See... Retail Sales Remain Flat [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9908/S00006.htm

ACT Seek Urgent Employment Meeting

- ACT Northland-based MP Dr Muriel Newman is calling for an urgent meeting with WINZ after the department projected more Northlanders would join the dole queue and the region's economy will remain flat for the rest of the year at least. "I am seeking an urgent meeting with Sharon Brownie to discuss this report and WINZ initiatives to get Northlanders the jobs they need," she said. See... ACT MP Seeks Meeting Over Northland WINZ Report [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9908/S00054.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

• Linkedin
• Twitter - @althecat
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz