Politics Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – February 21 2018 – Today’s content

Politics Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – February 21 2018 – 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="640"] 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). National Party Dominion Post Editorial: National MPs are fighting over a poisoned chalice Henry Cooke (Stuff): Taxpayers Union’s Jordan Williams’ personal email connected to Judith Collins website Barry Soper (Herald): Doing the numbers in political leadership race is futile Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Multi-talented Steven Joyce has nose in front Gwynn Compton (Libertas Digital): Calls for generational change out of step with aging electorate Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Five go to Wellington: the National battle boat fills up David Farrar (Kiwiblog): How caucus should vote on the leadership Bob McCoskrie: The Next Leader of the National Party – Where Do They Stand On Key Family Issues? Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): National deputy leadership will also go to vote Claire Trevett (Herald): Leader and deputy on table in crowded National race Craig McCulloch (RNZ): National’s deputy job up for grabs Claire Trevett (Herald): National Party MP Paula Bennett: Auckland important but gender irrelevant Lloyd Burr (Newshub): The bloody past of National leadership contender Mark Mitchell Newshub: National leadership hopeful Mark Mitchell on gay marriage and war Nicky Hager:Dirty Politics Chapter 9: Simon Lusk’s plan Daniel Couch (Spinoff): Why aspiring National leader Mark Mitchell’s war-for-profit past matters Ella Prendergast (Newshub): ‘I’m backing myself’ – Steven Joyce announces National leadership bid TVNZ: Steven Joyce confident he’s different to Key and English – ‘I have a reputation for getting things done’ Newshub: Don Brash: Judith Collins is the right person for this job Newshub: National needs MMP-savvy leader, claims David Seymour TVNZ: Jacinda Ardern refuses ‘passing judgement’ on crowded National Party leadership race   Government Henry Cooke (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern expects CPTPP text to be released on Wednesday RNZ: Chris Hipkins slams Ministerial Services for overpayments RNZ: Ardern, Peters mistakenly overpaid for accommodation Newswire: Ardern, Peters overpaid by $21K Interest: Ardern and Peters were receiving Wellington accommodation payments while they were living in official residences and have paid back more than $20k Herald: PM Jacinda Ardern and deputy PM Winston Peters overpaid by $21k Audrey Young (Herald):‘Hilarious!’ Jacinda Ardern reacts to her name being mis-spelt on Labour plaque David Loughrey (ODT): Clare Curran to brush up on proof reading Claire Trevet (Herald): NZ First leader Winston Peters re-elected, deputy vote next week Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): NZ First’s quiet leadership non-contest could heat up Bill Ralston (Listener): When governments tear themselves apart   Lobbying Bryce Edwards (Herald): The Government’s revolving door for lobbyists Peter Cresswell (Not PC): NZ’s new aristocracy of pull   Anne-Marie Brady and NZ-China relations Anne-Marie Brady (Herald): New Zealand v China – ‘We could be the next Albania’ NZ Herald editorial: SIS needs to tell us who was behind Brady break-ins Matt Nippert (Herald): Police back on China expert’s burglary case after PM expresses concern Philip Matthews (Stuff): PM to follow up break-in at house of academic studying China’s power Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): So why won’t Kiwis talk about Chinese influence over NZ?   Russell McVeagh, women in law Melanie Reid and Sasha Borissenko (Newsroom): Law firm not told of complaints against solicitor Michelle Duff (Stuff): Hey, Russell McVeagh. Why don’t you teach lawyers to stop harassing women? Rhonda Powell (Press): Women outnumber men in the law. So why does gender bias persist   Child welfare, poverty, inequality Rob Stock (Stuff): Why it’s so expensive to be poor Laura Walters (Stuff): NZ in a position to help lower ‘concerning’ newborn mortality rates in the Pacific   Transport Edward Gay (RNZ): Revealed: Hundreds of drivers lose licences after bribery scandal Stuff: Licence bribery scandal – hundreds of drivers lose licences   Education Simon Collins (Herald): Chris Hipkins’ plan to rein in schools competing for students Jo Moir (Stuff): Government to announce education reforms on a scale not seen since 1989 Jo Moir (Stuff): Convincing parents it’s time for substantial education reform won’t prove easy Laura Walters (Stuff): National complains to Auditor-General about Government’s handling of partnership school issue Richard Harman (Politik): Hipkins praises private training establishments Richard Shaw (Herald): Arts degrees teach what today’s employers seek   Regional development Jane Patterson (RNZ): Final sign-off for Regional Development Fund Teuila Fuatai (Newsroom): Embattled provinces look to regional fund   Obesity Herald: Business Debate: Should NZ introduce a sugar tax? Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): David Seymour fat-shames politicians in bizarre defence of Dancing With The Stars Newstalk ZB: David Seymour fat-shames fellow politicians   Environment and primary industries RNZ: Controversial EPA scientist steps down Stuff: EPA chief scientist Jacqueline Rowarth resigns position to take up education role Charlie Mitchell and Tim Newsman (Stuff): Southland school’s water at risk by expanding dairy farm, Education Ministry says Che Baker (Stuff): Blue Sky Meats fined $116,000 for unlawfully discharging meat works’ effluent Robin Martin (RNZ): Farmers face hefty riparian planting bills Gerard Hutching (Stuff): The world is eating more meat, not less, and that’s set to continue Andrew McGiven (Stuff): Converting cows to forestry stands unlikely to support a growing population Alexa Cook (RNZ): Tree goal will require better govt communication – consultant   Media Herald: Fairfax’s NZ arm has announced it will close or sell 28 mastheads. Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Stuff to close some community and rural newspapers as part of shift to digital Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Media giants: Taxpayers can pay for plurality Stuff: Three’s The Nation announces return, rebrands as Newshub Nation   Housing Chris Harrowell (Manakau Courier): Independent report examines state of New Zealand’s housing sector Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): NZ’s housing-related imbalances set to peak in 2018 Jamie Gray (Herald): Economic risk from rising house prices and higher borrowing likely peaked: S&P   Auckland Bernard Orsman (Herald): Phil Goff puts brakes on business class travel as council executives rack up $520,000 on overseas trips Simon Wilson (Herald): Auckland Council to close Waitakere Ranges RNZ: Kauri dieback: Council committee votes for more closures Bernard Orsman (Herald): Aucklanders to have say on regional petrol tax before knowing how it will be spent Brian Rudman (Herald): Cheap fares would tackle Auckland’s transport prices better than road tolls Todd Niall (RNZ): America’s Cup Village: What’s the plan?   Local government RNZ: Local councils slammed for failing to supply information Jonathon Howe (Stuff): The popular decision may not always be the right decision Benedict Collins (RNZ): Lobby group confident in fighting Māori wards David Williams (Newsroom): Debt keeps Christchurch’s mayor up at night Collette Devlin (Dominion Post): Council ponders enforcement action for Wellington building owners on its ‘red list’   State Services Commission Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): State Services Commission spends almost $10,000 per employee on office refit Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Government spends almost half a million dollars on new furniture   Other Rachel Stewart (Herald): For every confronting movie like Three Billboards there’s someone ready to take offence Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Banks didn’t agree to cut fees at same time, association says Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): Over $1mil to Te Tai Rāwhiti for te reo Māori ODT Editorial: The rights of rodeos and animals]]>