RECOMMENDED AUDIO:
RDU Audio: Kate Gorgeous from RDU's best interviews of the week: includes Hinemoana Baker;John Key; Sue Bradford; and Brit Muso Scruff...
Scoop Audio: Scoop's Selwyn Manning & 95bFM's Paul Deady discuss: Australian David Hicks' guilty plea to a terrorism charge.
Scoop Audio: Scoop's Selwyn Manning & Radio Adelaide's Peter Godfrey: A science experiment by two teenage girls saw GlaxoSmithKline being fined $227,500 for false advertising + Parliament's Speaker is writing to the Chinese embassy informing its must respect NZ's free speech ideals.
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY: Questions And Answers - Thursday, 29 March 2007 Questions And Answers - Wednesday, 28 March 2007 Questions And Answers - Tuesday, 27 March 2007
NEW ZEALAND LEAD:
Health: Auckland DHBs Extend Medlab Contract While New Provider Chosen - The three Auckland regional District Health Boards advise that they have reached agreement with Diagnostic Medlab Ltd (DML) for the ongoing provision of full primary referred pathology services across the Auckland region. The transition to a new contract (effective from 1 July) will be seamless in all respects. The process of agreeing this new contract took into account clinical advice from the Chief Medical Officers to ensure patient safety and quality of service. See... Laboratory services continuity assured
ALSO: NZ Govt - Lab services agreement welcomed by Minister New Zealand Medical Association - NZMA welcomes laboratory services arrangement National - 11th hour extension to Pharmacy contract
Weather: Plenty of Chances to Sing In the Rain - MetService meteorologists have updated the heavy rain warning for Northland, Auckland and Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty, north Gisborne and for northwest Nelson, and maintain a weather watch on the Mount Taranaki area. "The reason this rain has lasted so long is because of the large anticyclone over Chatham Islands", commented MetService weather ambassador, Bob McDavitt. See... More Rain To Come
ALSO:
Police - Whitianga: Flooding Police - SH1 , Portland, Whangarei: Flooding Police - Northland Weather Update Police - Far North: Flooding
NEWS HEADLINES: Harawira - Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill Kindergartens Support 20 Free Hours Four Weeks Annual Leave A Union Victory Meat Industry Threatens Life on Earth Billboard exposure for Auckland’s top photographer Maori Television Unveils Anzac 2007 Schedule
Images: Section 59 Bill Protests At Parliament - Joining a dedicated group of religious zealots were members of the anti-tax 'do what thou wants the whole of the time ' party – the Libertarianz, and their guru, broadcaster Lindsay Perigo. Rounding out the numbers fighting for the rights of parents to continue to hit their kids (in a presumably loving manner) were National MPs and retired folk keen to make certain todays' youngsters didn't miss out on the discipline that kept them on the straight and narrow. See... Libz, Bible Scholars And Nats Fight S59 Repeal
ALSO: Scoop Full Coverage (part 2) - Section 59 Bill KiwiFM Audio: Kevin List and KiwiFM's Wammo state why this is not an anti-smacking bill. It is already an offence to give your child a crack. This bill removes defences that are letting people get off thrashing their kids.
Scoop Audio: Scoop's Kevin List on Radio Active - This is not an Anti-Smacking Bill… that law passed awhile ago. This bill removes a defence that allows thrashing parents to get off!
Health: Report Shows Govt Going With Manufacturers Not Medicos On Obesity - A new study into strategies for combating obesity has found big business is opposed to the recommendations of New Zealand’s leading health professionals. The study also reveals how expert medical opinion is being ignored because the government’s current policies are more aligned with the needs of food manufacturers. See... Report Highlights Divisions On Obesity Prevention
Ministry of Health - Classification System Helps Schools With Nutrition
Arts: Sheep In Coloured Jumpers Bring Visual Stimulation - How much better is a man than a sheep? A live sculptural installation takes place from Friday until Sunday in Civic Square, with twelve sheep in brightly coloured, 100% New Zealand woolly jumpers grazing within white picket-fence enclosures. See... Colourful Sheep Extravaganza At City Gallery
MORE ARTS: Radio New Zealand - Website Initiative NZ First For Classical Music The Film Archive - Film Archive tips its hat to some of our finest Auckland City Council - Auckland’s Living Room gets up and running Arts Access Aotearoa - ‘Outsider’ Art gaining recognition, in Parliament
Maori Education: Pilot Programme Helps Teachers Help Maori Students - A programme targeting Māori students has resulted in a marked improvement in their performance at school, Associate Education Minister Parekura Horomia said today. He said a report released today on Te Kotahitanga, a research and teacher professional development programme started in 2000, shows very encouraging results. See... Programme Has Promising Results for Maori Students
ALSO: NZ Govt - Horomia: Te Kotahitanga Phase Three Report Maori Party - Admission that Education System has failed Maori National - Te Kotahitanga results encouraging PPTA - Teacher-student relationships important
Health: PlunketLine Re-Opens, Funded By Donations - Plunket today launched the new PlunketLine telephone service that will be run in-house to ensure families continue to have access to expert help on child health and development. The service previously made use of external technology providers but is now based in Plunket offices and uses modern integrated contact centre technology. See... PlunketLine launched anew and running in-house
ALSO: National - PlunketLine delivering for parents
Biz News: Spark Up & Ready To Help Aspiring 2007 Entrepreneurs - Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Do you have an idea for a business? Do you want to make a difference in society? Do you want to learn business skills? Do you want to be inspired by those who have made it and learn how? Then you need to continue on reading and find out how Spark can give you all of the above and more. See... Spark Set To Assist New Entrepreneurs In 2007
SCOOP REPORTS:
Scoop Satire: Lyndon Hood Takes An Incoherent Look At The Week's Events - Does anyone know what Helen Clark ate when she had lunch with George Bush? And did she bring her long spoon? He called her a "straight-forward honest woman" so probably she called him a "war-mongering maniac" at some stage. Still, it was a weight off my mind when John Key said Helen Clark wasn't actually very close to George W. Bush after all. See... Lyndon Hood: The Week In No Particular Order
MORE SCOOP REPORTS:
Scoop Full Coverage - New Zealand PM's Visit To USA Selwyn Manning - State Visit Signals Shift In NZ/US Foreign Policy Kevin List - Iraq Invasion Peacefully Remembered At Parl't Lyndon Hood - Satire: Mr Field Goes To Wellington Scoop Full Coverage - Reserve Bank Lifts Rates Scoop Full Coverage - Section 59 Repeal Debate
Foreign Affairs: Footage Details Emerging US Engagement In Pacific - Scoop Video: Significant attention is now focusing on what Australia, New Zealand and the United States are planning in an attempt to take the uncertainty and instability out of the Pacific region. Scoop today releases footage (from November 06)) of NZ prime minister Helen Clark, US assistant secretary of state Christopher Hill and others discussing Pacific security; NZ/US free trade; how the US can make diplomatic use of NZ's anti-nuclear laws; and a renewed commitment by the US to increase its presence in the Pacific. Scoop Audio: Scoop's Selwyn Manning & Radio Adelaide's Peter Godfrey discuss: How New Zealand is moving to warmer relations with the United States highlighted by a NZ state visit to the White House.
Microsoft's logo at a German campus.
Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand visited Microsoft's corporate headquarters in Seattle last week. She was welcomed by CEO Steve Ballmer, senior vice-president and CFO Chris Liddell, a New Zealander, and Microsoft New Zealand managing director Helen Robinson.

During the visit, they looked at ways technology could help the continuing growth of New Zealand's economic development. Ms Clark also examined Microsoft's newest productivity software, mainly including offerings in the areas of video conferencing and online collaboration tools. "There is no comparison" between Microsoft's technology and that of the Beehive, Clark said after the meeting.

This disparity she blamed "unquestionably" on the state of New Zealand broadband Internet access, which still uses the outdated copper 'local loop' system. She also referred to the importance of fibre optic networks, which "some are now calling the 'fourth utility'."

Mr Liddell responded that despite New Zealand being behind in some areas, "...the rate of change is such that that is not really such a big issue. ...I don't see New Zealand at a disadvantage and one of the great things about New Zealand is we are early adopters of technology. Attitude is as important as current status."

"We have got what is radical telecommunications legislation reform, but you can't stand still and think that will do the trick either. We have got a lot of technological challenges but I think the will to address them," Ms Clark said.

Unlike other guests, Ms Clark was not given a copy of the new Windows Vista during her visit. Instead, she was given a glass plate and a paperweight.

The visit to Microsoft follows her meeting with United States President Bush.