Club Bizarre Assists With Gig At Kings Arms

NEW ZEALAND LEAD:
NZ Economy One Quarter Away From A Recession - Economic activity decreased 0.1 percent in the December 2005 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows increases of 0.1 percent and 1.2 percent in the September 2005 and June 2005 quarters, respectively. In the year ended December 2005 the economy grew 2.2 percent, down from the 4.3 percent growth recorded in the year ended December 2004. See... GDP Declines 0.1 Percent

Herceptin: Costly Debate About To Begin For NZ's Health Service - The media turned out in force to discover that the cancer drug Herceptin has been provisionally approved by Medsafe. Herceptin is a hugely expensive drug that has lead to debate in other countries, notably the United Kingdom, about its cost vs its benefits. However, for many many of the reporters at todays media briefing - especially those from the major television networks - there was only one question that mattered and that was: "All going well, when will women be able to start getting Herceptin?" See... Herceptin: Will Media Pressure Blow The Budget?
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Weather:Wati Turns Left Heads For New Zealand - According to the latest forecast from the US Navy and Airforce Joint Typhoon Warning Center Cyclone Wati - which had been following in the footsteps of Cyclone Larry towards the Queensland coast - is about to make a 300 degree turn to the left and head for New Zealand. While it is unlikely to pack cyclone force winds by the time it reaches New Zealand it is highly possible it wil bring sustained damaging gale force winds and torrential rains to New Zealand's West Coast as early as Sunday. See… Supercomputer Weather: Cyclone Wati Heads For NZ

Economy: New Zealand Spends Up Large - The year-ended December 2005 current account deficit was $13.7 billion (8.9 percent of GDP), Statistics New Zealand said today. This compares with a deficit of $9.8 billion for the December 2004 year (6.7 percent of GDP). The $3.9 billion widening of the year-ended deficit was due mainly to a $2.1 billion increase in the value of goods imported over the period, combined with a $1.4 billion increase in the income earned from foreign investment in New Zealand. See... Annual Current Account Deficit Widens Further

Media: C4 sorry, promises not to air episode again - C4, which recently broadcast the controversial South Park “Bloody Mary” episode, has had its Standards Committee review the formal complaints received in relation to the programme. The Committee has decided not to uphold the complaints, based on compliance with the Television Code approved by the Broadcasting Standards Authority - an independent Government body. See... Broadcaster Apologises for South Park Offence
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Employment: Non Revolutionaries Get Trip To Beehive - News that some school students will be engaging further in the democratic process following Monday's 'strike' by Auckland school students in support of her Bill to remove youth rates has been greeted with pleasure by Green Party Industrial Relations Spokesperson Sue Bradford. On Monday, students at Takapuna Grammar were urged by their principal not to take part in the 'strike', and were promised in return that three students would be able to visit Parliament. See..Positive outcome from Monday's student 'strike'
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Whangamata Marina: Samuels Goes Into Bat For Opposing Team - The Whangamata Marina Society today welcomed the support for their position provided by Labour MP and Associate Minister of Economic Development Dover Samuels. “Mr Samuels is to be congratulated for raising the serious issues of legal process surrounding the Conservation Minister’s unilateral decision to overturn a ruling by the Environment Court,” Society President Mick Kelly said. He was commenting on an interview with Mr Samuels in today’s edition of The Independent. See... Marina Society welcomes Dover Samuels' comments
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Story of the Week: David Parker's Resignation - In a brief announcement at the beginning of caucus today the Prime Minister Helen Clark told media that she had accepted an offer from David Parker to resign from all portfolios. Yesterday Mr Parker resigned from the role of Attorney General. This morning, according to a spokesman for the PM, Mr Parker approached the Prime Minister and said that on reflection he wanted to step down from all portfolios. See... NEWSFLASH: David Parker Resigns All Portfolios
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Audio: PM's Press Conference Accepting Resignation

Audio: David Parker Press Conference Explaining Resignation

SCOOP REPORT:
Arts: The Festival Isn't Over Until the Opera Singers Sing - At this Festival, Parsifal has been promoted as the monolithic high art event. It stood head and shoulders above other offerings – circuses, various avant garde theatre productions, DJs and representations of the dangers of lodging our identities on the internet – as a work from a great tradition with proven pedigree. Parsifal also brought the mystique of Wagner opera to Wellington for the first time in nearly a decade. See...
Scoop Review: Parsifal
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