motoring awards, the AA Motoring Excellence Awards will take place in March this year. amongst both new vehicles and areas of concern to motorists, such as the environment, safety and customer satisfaction. They also reward excellence in motoring journalism, #x201D; says entered by 22 new car distributors this year.
That #x2019;s nine Zealand #x2019;s new car distributors represented, #x201D; says Ms February by a panel of expert motoring judges. The 2007 AA Excellence Award categories are: Small Car, Compact Car, Environmental, Safety, Customer Satisfaction, and Motoring Journalist. There will also be a Supreme Winner.
The People's No.1 MP in Tonga, Akilisi Pohiva, has been arrested on sedition charges resulting from the arson attacks that destroyed NukuA'lofa in November..
Scoop's Selwyn Manning talks to KiwiFM's Wallace Chapman about what lies behind this arrest. A 42-year-old Grey Lynn manager has been fined $2500 and ordered to pay court costs of $520 after pleading guilty to four charges of possessing objectionable publications -- including movies of children being sexually abused by adults. Judge Fred McElrea in the Auckland District Court (January 18) also ordered Michael David Steffens to undergo 18 months’ supervision.
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- With clear and cool southern skies proving perfect for star-gazing, New Zealanders have been out comet spotting and capturing images of Comet McNaught as it passes by Earth. Comet C/2006 P1 (McNaught) was discovered by Australian astronomer Rob McNaught at Siding Springs Observatory on August 7, 2006. At this point it was still 525 million kilometres from the Sun and very faint.
That is twice the distance of Mars. See..
. New Zealand troops serving in Afghanistan’s Bamyan province gave a huge boost to tourism this week, opening two new bridges to improve access before the summer sightseeing season. Located on the main roads into the province from Kabul and the Yakawalang district, the two bridges are part of a three bridge development project managed by the 108-strong New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZ PRT).
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- Radio New Zealand has announced changes to its corporate branding and on-air identity with the introduction of new logos for its networks and services. The new look for Radio New Zealand will take effect from Monday 22nd January. A name change for the National Radio and Concert FM networks will be introduced at the same time.
National Radio will be known as Radio New Zealand National and Concert FM becomes Radio New Zealand Concert. See..
. If it’s extreme shenanagins not extreme sports stars you’re after, then Taranaki Warf and the Lagoon will be the place to be at Vodafone X*Air February 9 and 10. For the first time you will be able to bring your bike, board, or blades and bust out your own moves on the purpose built street course and mini ramp.
The Fruju Interactive Zone will be set up on Taranaki Warf alongside the Hurricane and Explorer amusement rides. See..
. - At the halfway mark of their deployment, the New Zealand Defence Force contingent serving in the Solomon Islands can add saving lives to their list of achievements. Members of the 45-strong contingent, which includes 33 Territorial Force soldiers, intervened recently to save a man from being beaten by a crowd of infuriated stall owners at a market in Honiara.
The New Zealand soldiers were carrying out a routine patrol through the capital when they were approached by worried locals and alerted to the incident. See..
. Amnesty International is cautioning consumers to check the origins of their diamond purchases. Profits from the trade in conflict diamonds, worth billions of dollars, were used by warlords and rebels to buy arms during the devastating wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.
These wars cost an estimated 3.7 million lives. See.
.. - DRUMMERS seldom steal the limelight, unless they’ve got magnetic character and their chops together.
Ringo Starr and Keith Moon had it - especially the comedy - so did Ginger Baker and Mitch Mitchell from rock’s early days, through to Dave Grohl of the recent beat masters. They are pumped for Friday's main stage appearance at Big Day Out. For the full interview, See… Ticket scalpers are making a lot more than an easy buck extorting their Auckland Big Day Out tickets on the online auction site Trademe.
The first 42,000 tickets to New Zealand’s only international music festival sold out last Monday, which is the fastest sale in the festival's history. "Our outlets have reported incredible demand for tickets this year right from the outset," said Campbell Smith from Big Day Out promoters CRS Music Management. See.
.. - STATE OF IT by Selwyn Manning: David Lewis, the Prime Minister's chief press secretary has resigned his position, citing changes in family circumstances as the reason of his departure.
David Lewis has been the Beehive's safest pair of hands, having helped the Labour Party, and its Prime Minister Helen Clark and her office, navigate through a most turbulent 2006. See..
. returns to selected cinemas around New Zealand for limited seasons beginning in Wellington on the 25th of January at the Paramount Theatre. The documentary focuses on a half-century old coastal campground at Opoutama, a place that is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
One summer this most sacred piece of coastline was closed to make way for a multi-million dollar residential subdivision. See..
. - This bold new film by Sándor Lau is a documentary about Starfish, who survives by washing car windows at intersections on the mean streets of South Auckland. He's a born hustler with an extreme personality, magnetic charisma, infectious humour, and a vicious temper.
Wammo and Scoop's Kevin List discuss: Big Day Out, Ahmed Zaoui, David Lewis, and the State House Garden Awards… Wammo IVs to Keith Locke who is in Tasmania regarding Ahmed Zaoui and why his family ought to be allowed to live in New Zealand. He also quizzes Mr Locke about his Tasmanian holiday..
. Wammo IVs Gary Reese (Campaigns Manager for Amnesty International NZ) regarding Blood Diamond campaign. Has the ring you wear come to you by way of murders and mercenaries?
New National Party leader John Key and his deputy Bill English have been eager to set a new strategic agenda, taking popular planks of the old Brash-policy-regime and mixing it with election-winning centrist rhetoric. Selwyn Manning and Wallace Chapman discuss the Nat-Strat. Wammo IVs Auckland University's Paul Buchanan on US security policy regarding Iraq.
Paul Buchanan is a former Pentagon security analyst and is the Director of the Working Group on Alternative Security Perspectives at the University of Auckland. Saddam Hussein has been hanged, the video displays Shiite observers taunting the former leader while he stood with a noose around his neck. Scoop co-editor Selwyn Manning and KiwiFM's Wallace Chapman discuss: What now for Iraq?
Saddam Hussein's appeal to have his death sentence quashed has failed, Iran says get lost to UN Security Council sanctions and announces its intent to proceed with its nuclear programme, so is Iran really rising as the major state of influence in the Middle East region?
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