Scoops top 20 rating stories today were…
(Note: The top two rating items today received roughly 500 hits each from a government proxy server. Scoop can only guess as to the reasons the department concerned was so interested in these items but it seems likely we have had a close encounter with a rogue robot. The items the robot took a very close look at were John Howard's story on Asian Banks and this mornings weather report.)
3: Rough
Passage Expected For Producer Board Bills
The government is planning to push through three significant bills reforming the Kiwifruit, Apple and Pear and Dairy boards over the next four sitting days, however the passage of the legislation is not expected to plain sailing.
4:
Lotto
CEO David Bale - Resignation Press
Release
In the last twelve years I have enjoyed the confidence and support of four prime ministers and seven ministers of Internal Affairs. It is obvious from her public statements that this is not the case with Mrs Shipley. I always thought that helping ...
5:
Only
Indonesia Can Save East Timor
Now
As violence threatens to take still more lives in East Timor there are probably only three people capable of making any difference in East Timor: The President of Indonesia B.J. Habibe, leader of the largest opposition party Megawati Sukarnoputri, and ABRI ...Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
6:
Resignation
is appropriate says PM
"I believe David Bale's resignation as Chief Executive of the Lotteries Commission is appropriate," Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said today.
7:
Peter
Dunne - Thank You Tau
United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says bully-boy politics from Tau Henare and Mauri Pacific are the main reason the Government has dropped plans for tax cuts legislation before the election.
8:
Resignation
Of Lotteries Chief Executive
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Jack Elder, to whom the Lotteries Commission is responsible, has thanked David Bale for his 12 years service as Chief Executive.
9:
Auckland
APEC Clean-Up Deja Vu For Choudry
APEC Monitoring Group organiser Aziz Choudry says the current makeover of Auckland for the upcoming APEC Leaders Summit follows in the footsteps of controversial "clean-ups" at previous Summits.
10:
No
Coalition Position Decided -
Peters
Surprise, surprise... NZ First Leader Winston Peters, said today that reports about New Zealand First being more likely to go with Labour had been too "literal an interpretation" of comments he made on a Saturn Television programme.
The Alliance said it is the ineffective State Services commission and the government cronies on the lotteries board that should resign not the Chief Executive of the lotteries commission.
12:
WINZ
Pays $207,500 for Maori advice
Work and Income New Zealand has failed to meet its own targets for Maori unemployment despite paying consultants over $200,000 for advice on improving Maori outcomes.
13:
It's
official - National stands for
nothing
"National's inability to get its tax cut legislation passed before the elections makes a nonsense of their election campaign," Labour finance spokesperson Michael Cullen said today.
14:
Questions
Of The Day (1-6)
Clark And Shipley On Housing - Business Confidence - Stock Exchange Tax Allegations - Unions And Balaclavas - Party Deserters And Tax - Timberlands
15:
The
real culprits still have their
jobs
Labour state services spokesperson Trevor Mallard said while Lotteries Commission chief executive David Bale had 'done the honourable thing' in resigning, the main culprits in the lottery commission salary saga still had their jobs.
16:
Scoop
Exclusive - Be Wary Of Police Offer,
Minto
Inside APEC Series - "If people don't actively exercise their democratic right to protest then they will lose those rights." John Minto warns APEC protesters to be wary of a police co-operation offer.
17:
House:
Members Day And House
Mechanics
Today is probably the second to last Private Members day of this Parliament and past patterns would indicate that none of the private members bills currently on the order paper have much life left in them.
18:
Witches
Against APEC Put Spell On APEC
Buildings
On Tuesday August 31 at 11.30am a hex will be placed on the Auckland Town Hall, Aotea Centre and Auckland Museum. These three buildings will host the meetings of APEC officials and leaders taking place in Auckland from 7-13 September. Witches Against ...
19:
Apartments
Hit Record High
In July 1999, 2,528 new dwellings were authorised for construction, including 548 apartment units.
20:
Smokers
Of The World Protest March
For those few who still think this is just a protest for bleating 'scumbag smokers', Joy Faulkner has a message for you: "Wake up!! This march is," she says," about getting big brother government off our backs and out of our lives."
21:
National
Radio Midday Bulletin
Lottery Boss Quits - Labour's Reaction - Ansett Illness - Nurses Strike - Henare Disappointed - Timor Violence - Quake Experts - Shell Defence - Cromwell Deaths - Suppression - Attempted Abduction - Air NZ Rat
22:
ACT
Tauranga Team Considering
Tactics
ACT Deputy Leader Hon Ken Shirley said from East Timor today that the ACT team in Tauranga was considering whether he should withdraw as a constituency MP for Tauranga and just go for the list vote .