Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – August 28 2018
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
Housing
Herald Editorial: Stronger Tenancy laws could help lower house prices
RNZ: Renting situation ‘an absolute nightmare’
1News: Should landlords be allowed to evict tenants without citing a specific reason?
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB):Changes to rent laws will hurt landlords and tenants
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Tenancy changes ‘won’t put rents up’
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Landlords planning to raise rents due to tenancy overhaul may struggle
Herald: Real Estate Institute of New Zealand welcomes new plan to overhaul tenancy laws
Moana Makapelu Lee (Māori TV): Tenancy law reform to make “life better for renters” says govt
1News: Tenant who says landlord hiked rent after pulling out parsley, painting fence welcomes proposed rental law shakeup
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Rule changes could be bad news for tenants, investors warn
Elena McPhee (ODT): Tenancy proposals triggering jitters
Anne Gibson (Herald): Tenancy law overhaul could ‘protect bad tenants’ – property investor boss
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): Long-time renter calls for greater security in rental law overhaul
No Right Turn: A start on fixing tenancy laws
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Sweeping rental law change proposals announced
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Limits on rent increases and an end to rental bidding as Government reviews rental rules
1News: Government wants public feedback on proposals aimed at improving the lives of renters, including limiting rent increases
Jason Walls (Interest): Phil Twyford unveils details of overhaul of ‘antiquated’ renting law
Māori TV: Public feedback needed to make life better for renters
RNZ: ‘It’s a pretty punishing experience for many renters’
Herald: Housing Minister Phil Twyford unveils plan to overhaul tenancy laws
1News: Judith Collins calls Residential Tenancy Act reform a ‘knee-jerk and uninformed decision’
Stuff: Renters ‘like letting fees’, property investor group says
Chris Harrowell (Stuff): Salvation Army opens its wallet to build more social housing in Auckland
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Over 2000 pre-qualifying for first KiwiBuild homes
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Wellington’s Arlington site to get Government KiwiBuild homes and wet house
Rob Stock (Stuff): Government plans to change the boarding house rules
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Helping the homeless – it takes more than good will
Richard Davidson (ODT): Efforts to address housing shortfall
RNZ: Bay of Islands’ housing shortage affects tourism workers
Business and economy
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Prime Minister says fair pay agreement development ‘has left a bit of a vacuum’
Rod McNaughton and Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy (Stuff): Business advisory council members will be key to its success
Herald: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern fronts to business leaders, announced new advisory group chaired by Air NZ boss
1News: Air NZ CEO Christopher Luxon to lead Prime Minister’s new Business Advisory Council
RNZ: PM announces new business advisory council
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern launches new Business Advisory Council
Newshub: Jacinda Ardern promises no new surprises for businesses
Tracey Watkins (Stuff): Prime minister looks to kill the elephant in the room with economic speech
John Anthony (Stuff): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to address big business crowd in Auckland
Donal Curtin: A different view of productivity
David Hargreaves (Interest): What’s wrong with ‘performance’ anyway?
National Party and Simon Bridges expenses leak
Liam Hehir (Stuff): Split between liberals and conservatives derails Australian government
Gordon Campbell: On counting the cost from the Bridges leak
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Simon Bridges still unconvinced expenses leaker is a National MP
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern admits speaking to Speaker Trevor Mallard about leak inquiry but says it was perfectly innocent
Chris Bramwell (RNZ): PM rejects she influenced calling off expenses leak investigation
Newstalk ZB: Ardern: I didn’t tell Mallard to axe expenses inquiry
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: The mysterious cancelling of limogate’s Simon Bridges leak inquiry
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Forces aligned against Bridges within National might move against him over holidays
Government, Clare Curran demotion
Bryce Edwards (RNZ): This government has lost its new car smell
RNZ: PM: Clare Curran sacking from cabinet was proportionate
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Derek Handley still tipped for CTO job despite Curran debacle
David Cormack (Herald): Ardernfreude
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Constituents have their say on Curran demotion
Point of Order: Among the questions about Curran – can she make a Cabinet comeback?
Jack Vowles (Newsroom): Cool your jets on waka-jumping bill
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Ngāti Porou welcomes Baby Neve and $200k govt funds
Newshub: Jacinda Ardern had to buy own food, clothes with pocket money
International relations and trade
Simon Mark (The Conversation): Here’s how to reset New Zealand’s cultural diplomacy in the Pacific
!News: Winston Peters says resignation of Australian Foreign Minister risk to Pacific aid efforts
1News: Australia’s new leadership unlikely to help struggling New Zealanders living there – advocate group
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Survey: Kiwis generally positive about relationship with China
Michael Reddell: The China Council surveys New Zealanders
Health
Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): Rest home industry ‘understaffed, under-trained and often appalling’
1News: University of Otago to open $28 million dental teaching facility in South Auckland
Sarah Robson (RNZ): New dentistry facility to meet needs in South Auckland
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Ministry rejects need for inquiry into hospital building spend
Newshub: Affordable dental care coming to south Auckland (video)
Newshub: New $28.2 million facility bringing affordable dentistry to south Auckland
Emily Ford (Stuff): South Auckland to benefit from new dental facility, hospital boss says
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Otago Uni dental school’s $28m Auckland expansion
Jared Savage (Herald): Bay of Plenty DHB promises change of culture in mental health and addiction services after ‘very negative’ staff report
RNZ: NZ drug-funding agency seeks to cut barriers for Pasifika
Rob Stock (Stuff): Commerce Commission approves infant formula advertising restrictions
Ben Leahy (Herald): ‘Unfortunate Experiment’ patients and families should get personal apologies: survivor
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): People asked to reconsider need for ED after record visits
Hannah Ross (Western Leader): Waitākere and North Shore hospitals ask public to save ED for emergencies
1News: ‘Intensive planting’ expected as NZ’s first medical cannabis company gets approval
ODT Editorial: How should we define success?
Mere McLean (Māori TV) Suicide prevention worker urges different approach
Environment and conservation
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Bottler caught illegally taking water likely to avoid serious punishment
Emma Dangerfield (Stuff): Fine for North Canterbury farmer who cleared 70ha of braided riverbed for commercial gain
Cherie Sivignon (Nelson Mail): Waimea Irrigators finds investor to help plug funding gap for dam plan
Tara Shaskey (Stuff): Hearing resumes for activist group’s appeal over South Taranaki council’s drilling rules
Newshub: Environment Southland proposes new cat ban
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Nelson timber firm fined $270k for toxic emissions
1News: Mega-dredging ship set to begin Lyttelton Port deepening work
Bill Ralston (LIstener): Plastic bags have had their day – so what’s next?
Primary industries and animal welfare
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Farmer at centre of M. bovis outbreak faces charges
Mānia Clarke (Māori TV): 500-strong protest march for animal rights
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Irrigation efficiency unlikely to free up more water – study
Steve Lowndes (Stuff): Banning dairying not the answer for Canterbury
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Checkpoint: Marahau still on the mend six months after weather havoc
Maja Burry (RNZ):Insight: Farmland – not so free to roam
Bloomberg: Counterfeit manuka honey causing legal headaches in the US
Greg Boyed
1News: Corin Dann and Q+A team pay tribute to former presenter Greg Boyed
1News: Fair Go pays tribute to former ‘wonderful colleague’ Greg Boyed
Justice and crime
David Fisher (Herald): The High Court judge’s challenge: Show me the evidence long sentences put people off committing crime
Sam Hurley (Herald): Auckland Prison officers accused of lashing out against inmate, perverting course of justice
Edward Gay (RNZ): Paremoremo prison guards on trial in Auckland
Charlotte Carter (Stuff): Guard kicked inmate in head after fight at Auckland Prison, court hears
Emilie Rākete (Spinoff): Is New Zealand exploiting prison workers?
Lincoln Tan (Herald): New information-sharing system links police with Immigration NZ
Newshub: Calls for New Zealand tobacco tax to fund retailers’ security
Provincial Growth Fund
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Government eyes Gisborne wharf development out of provincial growth fund
Christine Rose (Daily Blog): Game theory and NZ Coalition Politics : Agenda Setters, Co-operation, Triumph and Suckers
Education
Jessica Long (Stuff): Calls for Government to scrap NCEA fees and pay students’ course-related costs
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Negotiations to continue for teachers over pay rise
Hadley McLahlan (Stuff): Where will the children play? Kindergartens are losing out
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Overhaul for home-based early childhood education
Catherine Harris (Stuff): Tighter regulations signalled for in-home child care
Jo Lines-Mackenzie (Stuff): Subsidies and work pressure fuel childcare growth
Jake McKee Cagney (Stuff): Thames childcare centre part of rising trend of licence suspensions against such facilities
Shane Te Pou (Spinoff): Māori don’t need Chris Hipkins to tell us what’s best for our mokopuna
Tarannum Shaikh (Stuff): Education Review Office gives the tick to bush school’s unconventional curriculum
Isaac Davison (Herald): AUT to cut 40 jobs at Society and Culture faculty, blames falling interest in arts and humanities
Melanie Earley (Stuff): AUT staff ‘shocked’ by plan to cut 40 jobs from society and culture faculty
Melissa Nightingale (Herald): More than 2000 submissions on name change for Victoria University
Jesse King (Herald): Good things come in threes as new Community Education Whanganui manager prepares to launch courses and receives sponsorship
Gambling
RNZ: Gambling still heavily impacting Maori and Pasifika communities
RNZ: Migrants and problem gambling: ‘I thought it was a way of getting easy money to live on’
Transport
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Petrol prices hit new record as another tax increase approaches
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Truck engineer kept quiet about deficiencies
Bridget Grace (Newshub): Auckland’s park and ride system ‘a joke’, says AA
Meghan Lawrence (Herald): ‘The Park & Ride at GI is s***’: Early morning parking scramble despite car park crime
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Takaka Hill road to be repaired by 2020
Local government
Debrin Foxcroft (Auckland Now): Auckland local board member unable to stop salary while on six-week jaunt through Europe
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland’s future is brighter than Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
Todd Niall (Stuff): Left and Right blocs dominate Entrust candidate list
Mary Varnham (Dominion Post): How did our council get the new bus service so terribly wrong?
Dave Armstrong (Dominion Post): My free plan for better Wellington buses
Jessica Long (Stuff): Wellington City Council to foot near $500k bill to fix Newtown School’s pool
Jimmy Ellingham (Manawatū Standard): It shouldn’t be left to a judge to shed light on the cognitive state of an election candidate
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): No change proposed in how councillors are elected
Sport
Newstalk ZB: PM Jacinda Ardern says rugby funding better targeted at grassroots game
Herald: Finance Minister says All Blacks have not asked him for more money
Dylan Cleaver (Herald): No, the All Blacks don’t need more government funding
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Taxpayer cash for the All Blacks would be self-defeating stupidity
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Give the All Blacks government cash and make them ambassadors
Marc Hinton (Stuff): What about tax breaks to help retain the top All Blacks?
Joe Porter (RNZ): Taxpayers asked to pay to keep All Blacks in NZ
Steve Hepburn (ODT): NZR has word to Govt on rising costs
Felicity Reid (Stuff): NZ footballer first girl to be denied a spot in boys’ team for at least two years
1News: ‘I didn’t feel worthy of being Māori’ – Quade Cooper opens up about struggling with cultural identity after moving to Australia as a youngster
Stuff: Unwanted Wallabies star Quade Cooper would like to play for NZ Māori
Richard Knowler (Stuff): Popularity of Black Ferns results in bigger TV audiences
Eric Watson tax avoidance allegations
Matt Nippert (Herald): IRD says Eric Watson’s companies owe $112m
John Anthony (Stuff): Rich-lister Eric Watson’s Cullen Group defends $60m tax avoidance allegations in High Court
Employment
Mat Danaher (Stuff): Job security should not be too much to ask for in the security industry
RNZ: KiwiRail and union strike innovative pay deal
Chris Hutching (Stuff): Union proclaims KiwiRail pay deal a ‘landmark’
BusinessDesk: KiwiRail pay hike favours lowest paid workers
Ian Blair (Herald): Equal pay can help bring more women into engineering
Heritage
Laura Dooney (RNZ): Te Papa whale skeleton stored in ‘grubby’ building with birds and rodents
Brian Easton (Pundit):Ake, Ake, Ake!
Brian Easton: Submission to the National Archives and National Library Ministerial Group
Other
Newshub: Patrick Gower enters deadly Pike River mine
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Maraenui: No local support for synthetic addicts
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Kiwi banks’ parent companies may face charges
BusinessDesk: Not enough demand to move Ports of Auckland to Northport
John Drinnan: Wrong Answer For Q & A Prime Time Makeover
1News: Free te reo language software developer upset about multinational’s forays
Belinda Feek (Herald): NZ gangs relish a resurgence in numbers
Newshub: Kiwi students can now apply for NASA Internships after agreement with US
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Nasa to accept star Kiwi students into prestigious internship programme
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Working For Families: Keeping The Wheels Of Capitalism Turning
Susan St John (Daily Blog): Myths that hurt children
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Bacon back in latest country of origin labelling proposal
Simon Hartley (ODT): NZOG to start financial year with $98m
