Politics Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – 13 December 2017 – Today’s content

Politics Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – 13 December 2017 – Today’s content Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. [caption id="attachment_297" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] The Beehive and Parliament Buildings.[/caption] Below are the links to the items online. The full text of these items are contained in the PDF file (click to download). SIS Dominion Post Editorial: Watchdog bites the SIS for acting illegally David Fisher (Herald): Spies ‘unlawfully’ accessed data then refused to talk about it properly – oversight body Tracy Watkins (Stuff): SIS criticised by government watchdog over ‘unlawfully accessing’ information No Right Turn: The SIS breaks the law again Government Newshub: How the Government is tracking halfway through its first 100 days Laura Walters (Stuff): Chief Ombudsman’s provisional ruling on secret coalition doc says it’s not ‘official’ Chris Bramwell (RNZ): Ombudsman backs govt over coalition document Emma Hurley (Newshub): Ombudsman rejects report he sided with Government over secret document No Right Turn: Not official information Karl du Fresne (Stuff): A new Government exercises the levers of power Richard Harman (Politik): The Government gets ideological Herald: British medical journal holds up PM Jacinda Ardern as example of voice against free markets Greg Presland (Standard): The Herald thinks Jacinda Ardern is a Marxist Newshub: New Government ‘not quite gelling’ – Chris Trotter Michael Reddell (Croaking Cassandra): Two BIMs and a bureaucrat Leith Huffadine (Stuff): As republic debate reignites, what would it take for NZ to go it alone? Stuff: Reader report: New Zealand needs its own head of state   2017 in review Martyn Bradbury (Waatea News): Māori Politics 2017 – wins and losses Guy Williams (Stuff): Government-changing Metiria Turei is my Kiwi of the year Parliament Audrey Young (Herald): Willie Jackson gets caught out on basic question 1News: ‘You’re beginning to try my patience’ – weird ruling stops Stuart Nash speaking in House, gets him scolding from Speaker 1News: Watch: Look who’s back! Smiling Sir John Key makes low-key return to the House Newshub: Former Prime Minister Sir John Key spotted in Parliament Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Beyond three-year cycles: The change Jacinda Ardern wants Ruby Macandrew (Stuff): Wellington teen puts the country’s newest MPs under the microscope Māori Party Heta Gardiner (Māori TV): O’Sullivan wants sole Māori Party leadership position Stuff: Dr Lance O’Sullivan wants solo Māori Party leadership position Rachel Smalley (Herald): Why Lance O’Sullivan should be the sole leader of the Maori Party Reserve Bank Herald Editorial: New RB Governor should work well with Labour Liam Dann (Herald): Adrian Orr seen as a politically savvy choice as Reserve Bank governor Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Adrian Orr breathes new life into influential role Economy Pattrick Smellie (Listener): Does low business confidence foreshadow an economic downturn? Jamie Gray (Herald): Finance Minister Grant Robertson faces cooling economy at first mini-budget International relations and MFAT Bryce Edwards (Newsroom): Time to discuss China’s soft power in NZ Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): China’s influence back in the spotlight Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Australia ‘most pervasive influence’ on NZ – Bill English RNZ: English: NZ has always dealt with foreign influence Victoria University (Newsroom): Three ways NZ can improve its China literacy The Standard: Why Malcolm Turnbull is nearly right Audrey Young (Herald): Barnaby Joyce warns Jacinda Ardern to ‘stay away’ from Manus Island issue Jane Patterson (RNZ): Exploit NZ’s leverage in Iraq, says expert Andrea Vance (1News): MFAT mistake costs Kiwi taxpayers $262,000 Environment Eloise Gibson (Newsroom): Government to release long-delayed sea level rules Herald: Coastal developments ‘dumb’ in face of rising seas, says Climate Change Minister James Shaw Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): ‘It’s just so dangerous’: Squalid conditions reported at water bottling plant Herald: Proposal to take water from Murupara lacking detail: Council Anusha Bradley (RNZ): NZ Super among big investors pressuring climate polluters Terrence Loomis (Daily Blog): Ending Our Reliance on the Oil and Gas Industry – Fossil Fuels Aotearoa Research Network John-Michael Swannix (Newshub): Northland’s Maitai Bay faces seafood ban to replenish stocks Ellie Hooper (Noted): Going beyond plastic bags: The next step in the fight to save our oceans Education Newshub: National Standards has sent kids’ education backwards – Chris Hipkins John Gerritsen (RNZ): Teachers leaving Auckland for cheaper houses Adele Redmond (Stuff): Four in five NZ schools could stop asking families for donations, survey shows Simon Collins (Herald): Treasury warns of ‘gap’ in school data without national standards Peter Lyons (ODT): NCEA’s main lesson: do just enough to suffice Derek McCormack (Herald): Society needs graduates as well as trades people Water Brian Rudman (Herald): Douse the water deniers ODT Editorial: Getting to grips with our water 1News: Infrastructure think tank calls for a single nation-wide water authority in NZ Health Amy Wiggins (Herald): Cancer patients in New Zealand waiting months for treatment as hospitals struggle to cope Tom Furley (RNZ): Whangarei Hospital blood bank’s accreditation suspended Stuff: New medicinal marijuana legislation to spark debate in the House Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Medical cannabis legislation to get rolling next week Stephen Blyth (Spinoff): It’s going to take more than a referendum to sort out NZ’s drugs issues Megan Gattey (Stuff): Surgical mesh ban a ‘knee-jerk reaction’ that may hurt women: Doctors Emma Jolliff (Newshub): Doctors say blanket restriction of surgical mesh not the way to go Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): Most DHBs keep no records on self harm in respite care Herald: Maori more likely subjected to mental health treatment, placed in seclusion Euthanasia Newshub: Euthanasia Bill likely to be debated on Wednesday Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Assisted dying: Politicians draw on their own consciences Claire Trevett (Herald): MPs takes sides as euthanasia bill heads to vote Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Euthanasia bill campaign launched Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Battle lines being drawn over euthanasia as campaign for law change begins Laura Walter (Herald): Contentious euthanasia bill to be debated, voted on Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): For terminally ill patients euthanasia is very real Mike Hosking (Herald): Euthanasia debate needs a referendum, not MPs David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Which voters most support euthanasia? Employment Willie Jackson (Daily Blog): Focus on real jobs with security, forget ‘bludgers’ rhetoric Mkke Treen (Daily Blog): Open letter to Russel Creedy from Unite over Alternative holiday theft Child welfare Ella Predergast (Newshub): National won’t join child poverty conversation unless Govt ‘shows it’s serious’ – Bill English Newshub: Government blames KidsCan funding woes on National RNZ: Minister says KidsCan funding a process, not a guarantee Newshub: KidsCan CEO, Minister for Children at odds over ‘funding cut’ RNZ: KidsCan may lose govt funding: ‘Children will go hungry’ Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Losing focus on ‘vulnerable’ could cost lives: Bill English Other Max Towle (RNZ): Why is our prison population booming and how can we fix things? Michael Morrah (Newshub): Man accused of live-baiting greyhounds had been investigated before Todd Niall (RNZ): Wishlist: Goff wants govt to kick in for new stadium Rod Oram (Newsroom): Twyford chases an illusory pot of gold Laura Dooney (RNZ): Wairarapa says no to council amalgamation Ric Stevens (Press): Council should ignore consultation results and give Cathedral restoration $10 million David Farrar (Kiwiblog): How does NZ do with atheists? Herald: Revealed: PM’s Secret Santa wish Ruby Nyika (Stuff): Former PM Helen Clark honoured with home-town doctorate Herald: Helen Clark receives honorary doctorate from Waikato University Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Government’s claim to KiwiSaver savings is a myth that continues Leanne Italie (Stuff): Merriam-Webster dictionary’s word of the year for 2017: ‘Feminism’]]>