Monday, 30 June 2014, 5:04am

Gordon Campbell: On Labour’s Polling, Rio Tinto, And Why The Swiss Are Worse Than Luis Suarez

The latest 3 News poll results has the combined Labour/Green bloc struggling at exactly 40%, still almost ten points behind National’s tally...

If only, if only…Labour must also be legitimately thinking. Pick up three or four points on the centre-left and this election is still conceivably a contest, rather than a rout. So far, National has been adept at keeping the focus on the Opposition. Yet on the campaign trail, the policy agenda for a third term National-led government – currently that’s a mystery wrapped in an enigma – will become a live issue. More>>

 
 

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Parliament Today:

Court Case Continues: Fluoride Re-Introduced To Hamilton's Water Supply

The High Court has refused Safe Water Alternative NZ Inc’s (SWANZ) application for interim relief of fluoride into Hamilton’s water supply. This means that the process to put fluoride back into the water supply will now begin. More>>

Representation, Taxation: Environment Canterbury Review Kicked For Touch

Last year commissioner governance was extended until 2016 to continue the progress the Commissioners have made... the next steps in the review will be to continue to liaise with key stakeholders ahead of the release of a discussion document in October/November. More>>

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Govt Filibusters Member's Bill: Paid Parental Leave Extension Falls Short

A bill extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks appears to have been successfully blocked by National from passing in this Parliament. . More>>

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Auditor-General: Report On On Treasury/DPMC/SSC Shared Services

"The central agencies did not follow best practice in setting up CASS. CASS was set up by the intended date, but important and fundamental aspects of the change were not done well." More>>

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New Top Rate: Labour’s Alternative Budget

A Labour Government will run surpluses while investing in health and education, and paying off National's record debt, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says. More>>

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Wood, Trees: Stop Playing Politics With West Coast Windfall Timber

“Given that the storm that caused this windfall was three months ago, the government’s use of urgency to pass legislation this week is clearly based on playing politics. Labour is proposing that a Select Committee consider the Bill and report back to Parliament within two weeks, still allowing for the legislation to be considered before the election." More>>

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Equal Opportunities: Commission Calls For EEO Targets For The Public Service

“EEO targets need to be the way forward for New Zealand. Unfortunately we’ve not seen huge progress in the advancement of women, Maori, ethnic minority and disabled workers as mandated in the 1988 State Sector Act,” said Dr Blue. More>>

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Solid Energy: 135 Stockton Job Losses Confirmed

Solid Energy has today confirmed to its Stockton Mine staff that it will reduce the mine’s output and make changes to the way work is organised. The change, outlined as a proposal to staff on 6 June, is in response to continuing low international coal prices. More>>

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Ruataniwha: Board Of Inquiry Backs Dam Project With Conditions

The Board of Inquiry into the $230 million Ruataniwha Dam project in Hawke’s Bay has granted resource consents subject to strict conditions… More>>

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Scoop Business: BDO Cuts $18.5 Mln Deal Over Capital + Merchant Claim

Audit firm BDO Spicers has agreed to an $18.5 million settlement of a claim against it from the liquidator of failed lender Capital + Merchant Finance. More>>

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EMA: 6 Point Business Election Wish List

An overhaul of local government consenting processes, employment readiness certificates for school leavers, automatic extensions of migrant work visas, soft loans to encourage innovation, and reducing the tax on Kiwisaver savings to 15 per cent – these are among the Employers and Manufacturers Association targets in its Election Manifesto 2014 issued today. More>>.

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Scoop Business: Telecom Reveals TV Plans, Lures With Vikings

Telecom Corp, New Zealand’s largest telecommunications provider, has detailed its new internet television plans, Lightbox, including luring customers with popular American primetime shows, as part of its business change as it chases earning growth. More>>

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Wellington, Queenstown: 'Housing Accord' Plans Spread

Under the proposed Wellington Housing Accord, the Government and council would work collaboratively to encourage a good supply of quality housing in the capital. It sets a target of 7000 additional homes over the next five years. The Accord is subject to formal approval and is due to be discussed publicly this Thursday at the Wellington City Council. More>>

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12 Stores, 64 Workers To Go: Union Shocked At Postie Announcement

“Neither employees or the union were advised that there was a review on the future of stores before Postie went under Administration. No indication was given at last Thursday’s creditors meeting that so many stores would be closed and redundancies made." More>>

  • Scoop Business - Postie Plus to shut 12 stores, eliminate 64 workers
  • ... And Another Mine Opens: Bathurst To Begin Work At Denniston

    Bathurst Resources Limited is pleased to announce that it has received the Authority to Enter and Operate for the Escarpment Mine Project from the landowner - the Department of Conservation. More>>

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    John Chuckman: Iraq, ISIS, And Intervention: Just What Is Going On?

    As so often is the case in foreign affairs, we will never know with precision what is happening in Iraq. The governments involved have reasons to disguise what they are doing, and a number of governments are indeed at work there. More>>

    Joel Cosgrove: MANA and Industrial Relations: “Between equal rights, force decides”

    Fightback participates in the MANA Movement, whose stated mission is to bring “rangatiratanga to the poor, the powerless and the dispossessed.” Capitalism was imposed in Aotearoa through colonisation, and the fight for indigenous self-determination is intimately ... More>>

    Grant Duncan: Time To Consider Full State Funding Of Political Parties?

    Mr Donghua Liu's claims of making large donations to the Labour Party are (as I write this) under dispute by party officials who say they can find no record of them. But there is no doubt about a $22,000 donation to the National Party in 2012. More>>

    Werewolf: Secret Histories Of The Pacific

    David Robie has been slogging away on the front lines of Asia-Pacific journalism for decades, both as a practitioner and a journalism educator. His new book chronicles that work through reprints of his writing and reporting, coupled with some fresh context, follow-ups and personal recollections. More>>

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    Michael Collins: Ukraine President Once Agent For U.S. State Department

    Two diplomatic messages from the WikiLeaks Public Library on U.S. Diplomacy indicate that newly elected President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko was an agent for United States State Department. More>>

    Fightback: Why Fightback Supports The MANA Movement

    The decision by the MANA Movement to enter into a formal alliance with the Internet Party has drawn criticism from Right and Left. Fightback has voiced criticism of our own. More>>

    INSS Insight: The Palestinian Unity Government

    The Palestinian unity government was sworn in on June 2, 2014 in Ramallah on the basis of a presidential decree by President Mahmoud Abbas, after Fatah and Hamas came to an agreement on the makeup of the cabinet. More>>

    Binoy Kampmark: The Benefits Of War: Abbott’s “Discrete Settlement” Program

    The Abbott Government has made a point to shock more than awe in its short time in office. (It is hard to be awed by the Prime Minister, whose behaviour has been expected.) It has taken the program of the previous Labor government further in chastising and ... More>>

     

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    Al Jazeera: Egypt Verdict Defies Logic And Any Semblance Of Justice

    Following today’s verdict in Cairo, Al Jazeera English managing director Al Anstey said: “Today three colleagues and friends were sentenced, and will continue behind bars for doing a brilliant job of being great journalists. More>>

    Papua New Guinea: Indonesian Troops Fire On PNG Soldiers Along Border

    Indonesian troops have opened fire on a PNG Defence Force border patrol, increasing further tension at the Papua New Guinea-Indonesia border. The flare-up at the border compelled the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration to summon the Indonesian ... More>>

    World News: Internet Well On Way To 3 Billion Users - UN Telecom Agency

    Releasing new statistics today, the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) announced that by end 2014, there will be nearly three billion Internet users – two-thirds of them from the developing world – with mobile-broadband ... More>>

    Syria: Gunfire Impedes Food Delivery To Palestinian Refugees

    Gunfire stopped distribution of food today in a besieged Palestinian refugee camp, a United Nations spokesperson confirmed today, reiterating demands that the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees be allowed to safely and without interruption distribute ... More>>

    Ukraine: Ban Welcomes Release Of Abducted Military Observers

    Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the release earlier today of European military monitors and accompanying Ukrainian staff abducted a week ago in the country's crisis-torn eastern region, even as he expressed sadness at the loss of life... More>>

    Canada: Govt Tries To Shut Down Debate On Online Spying Bill

    The government looks likely to shut down debate on its controversial Online Spying Bill C-13 , which MPs are scheduled to discuss later today. The move comes after tens of thousands have spoken out on a pro-privacy petition organized by OpenMedia.ca ... More>>

    US State Department: John Kerry On Support For Israel

    For more than thirty years in the United States Senate, I didn’t just speak words in support of Israel, I walked the walk when it came time to vote and when it came time to fight. As Secretary of State, I have spent countless hours working with Prime ... More>>

    North Africa: Mass Imposition Of Death Penalty In Egypt Outrageous

    UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday strongly condemned the shocking imposition of the death penalty on 683 individuals in Egypt yesterday after mass trials that she said clearly breached international human rights law. More>>

     
     
     

    Over-Diagnosis: Breast Cancer Screening Programme Targets Women Too Soon

    New Zealand should re-consider the age at which its breast cancer screening programme starts in light of growing questions about the balance of benefits and harms for women under 50, public health experts from the University of Otago Wellington say. More>>

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    No Govt Funding Right Now: Team New Zealand Secures Money

    Emirates Team New Zealand chairman Dr Keith Turner says the team has now reached the point where it has the confidence to mount a challenge for the 35th America’s Cup. More>>

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    Not Boring: Winners Announced For New Zealand Post Book Awards

    It can’t be a boring book when The Boring Book wins a prestigious New Zealand prize for children and young adult books - the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year. The Boring Book is also the winner in the Awards’ Picture Book category. More>>

    Taking off The Bird Suit: Lady Comedy Surprisingly Comedic

    Taking off The Bird Suit, a new show at BATS Theatre looks to combine two mutually exclusive concepts - women and comedy. “I called an audition for an improv show and all these women turned up... Some were even funny. It was *super* weird,” says Christine Brooks, director of the show. More>>

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    Mime News: French Mime Laurent Decol To Tour NZ

    From the 28th of June until the 14th of July, acclaimed French mime Laurent Decol will be holding workshops and performing during his first ever tour of New Zealand. More>>

    Media Take: Maori Television Takes On Media Matters

    What makes the New Zealand media tick? Who decides which stories get covered, which ones don’t and how the subjects are treated? Maori Television’s new current affairs show, MEDIA TAKE (formerly Media3) will answer these questions and a lot more... More>>

    Werewolf: Muslim Female Superhero Fights Misogyny!

    When Deena Mohamed first began writing her Qahera comic strip a year ago, she was a 19 year old student in Cairo, Egypt. Almost overnight, Qahera struck a nerve around the world... More>>

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    Werewolf: Watch The Seas

    Philip Matthews On Godzilla And Other Monsters “We are not alone" was a famous tag line of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which viewers might have taken as a warning before they saw the film, and as a reassuring thought afterwards. If those things were going to come, then you should at least hope they would be a benign force... More>>

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    Werewolf: 3 Feet High And Rising

    Gordon Campbell On De La Soul The album's 25th anniversary is a good opportunity not only to recall 3 Feet High and Rising with affection, but to salute a time when hip hop could throw Johnny Cash, Eric Burdon, the Mad Lads, Bo Diddley, Steely Dan and scores of other into the Daisy Age blender without bothering about the legal consequences. More>>

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