Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 10 2018

Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 10 2018 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] Government surplus Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Grant Robertson’s maiden surplus adds to weight of expectation on Government Audrey Young (Herald): Grant Robertson does a good impression of Bill English and Steven Joyce Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): Invest to close the wellbeing deficits Richard Harman (Politik): Robertson is nervous Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Robertson’s ‘prudence’ – more a matter of ‘can’t spend’ than ‘won’t spend’ BUSINESS Henry Cooke (Stuff): Why you can’t use the $5.5b surplus to bring down the fuel tax Jason Walls and Carla Penman (Herald): Simon Bridges calls for surplus to be used to reverse petrol tax hikes Jo Moir (RNZ): ‘We’ve got the opportunity’ – Greens expect big spend after surplus Jason Walls (Herald): Greens Co-Leader James Shaw calls on Government to spend its $5.5b surplus Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): ‘Party time’ Government surplus an election bribe for Labour – Garner Cameron Bagrie (RNZ): $5.5b surplus demands respect Jessica Long (Stuff): Government’s $5.5b surplus announcement raises hackles of teachers’ union NZEI Greg Presland (The Standard): Grant Robertson is a financial genius Tova O’Brien and MItchell Alexander (Newshub): Government flush with tax cash Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government’s surplus grows so substantially it hits 2022 debt target early 1News: Government posts $5.5 billion surplus, numbers employed up, average wages rise Jason Walls (Herald): Finance Minister Grant Robertson: The books show NZ is prepared for a ‘rainy day’ Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Government books billions better than expected Jane Patterson (RNZ): Government books reveal a $5.5 billion cash surplus Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): The Crown’s tax take has grown quicker than its expenses Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Simon Bridges says surplus shows ‘raid on back pockets’, demands Govt lower taxes Megan Sutherland (Newshub): ‘Shh, bubba’: Neve steals the show as Jacinda Ardern addresses Govt surplus in live video Environment and conservation Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): New Zealand is busy bickering about petrol prices while the world burns Dominion Post Editorial: Climate change is nothing to smile about Greg Roughan (RNZ): ‘Risks to health, livelihoods, food security, water supply’ AP: Climate change “matter of life or death” The Standard: Carbon Truths Newshub: James Shaw says electric car incentives coming ‘soon’ Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern ‘can’t give a date’ when New Zealand’s rising emissions will decrease Jason Walls (Herald): Greens, Greenpeace call on Govt to reject an oil company’s bid for a two-year permit exemption Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Protests today outside Taranaki energy companies Shannon Redstall (Newshub): We need to go to war on climate change Jess Berentson-Shaw (Spinoff): Strategies for actually doing something about the climate change shitstorm Lisette Reymer (Newshub): Farmers confused after new climate change report RNZ: More swimmable rivers by 2020 difficult to achieve – expert Andre Chumko (Stuff): New strategy to tackle ‘critical’ state of New Zealand’s biodiversity Derek Cheng (Herald): Govt launches work on new strategy to tackle biodiversity crisis RNZ: Govt to develop new strategy to prevent ‘biodiversity crisis’ Emma Richardson (Stuff): Why aerial 1080 is more than a science debate Newshub: Research shows bees may be spreading myrtle rust Aine Kelly-Costello (Newshub): Banning plastic bags and straws may be good PR, but are we actually helping the environment? Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Forest & Bird outlines ‘serious concern’ about Waimea dam local bill Petrol prices Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Petrol Pump Politics Gordon Campbell: On the political cost of rising petrol prices Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): Q+A: Are petrol retailers profiteering? 1News: As finger pointing escalates, take a look at how the costs for a litre of petrol break down Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Comparing petrol prices between New Zealand and overseas Michael Daly (Stuff): How your rising fuel taxes will be spent Dylan Thorne (Bay of Plenty Times): Government in the spotlight as pain at the pump increases 1News: Service station staff verbally abused by motorists angry at rising petrol prices 1News: ‘Enough is enough’ – Ardern outlines what Government’s doing about high petrol prices RNZ: NZ pays highest pre-tax petrol price in OECD – Ardern 1News: Petrol company boss pushes back against Jacinda Ardern’s ‘fleecing’ claim, says they need to make a profit 1News: Auckland Business Chamber boss says ‘ineffective’ fuel tax the ‘tipping point’ in sky-high prices Damien Venuto (Herald): Comment: The ‘Gull Effect’ on petrol prices is great – until it withers away Herald: Rural women could miss out on critical care as petrol price hits midwives Herald: Petrol prices: The highest and lowest places to fuel up in New Zealand Carla Penman (Herald): Plans beyond nationwide boycott to target petrol companies one by one Kiri Gillespie (Bay of Plenty Times): Bay of Plenty’s cheapest fuel prices revealed – service stations surveyed Lindy Laird (Northern Advocate): Northlanders feeling pain at the petrol pump as price hike hits Greg Presland (The Standard): Do we have cheaper fuel or do we trash the planet? Point of Order: No-one befogged by a flair for fancy footwork and cries of foul over fuel ‘fleecing’ Mental health Tracy Neal (RNZ): Rural dwellers less likely to seek help on mental health – survey Raniera Harrison (Māori TV): Māori males in rural communities at “high-risk” Kaitlin Ruddock (1News): Christchurch mum walking 300km to Beehive over child and adolescent mental health services Hamish Fletcher and Cameron Smith (Herald): Xero New Zealand chief executive Craig Hudson fighting mental health stigma in the workplace Michael Botur (Noted): Acting against suicide: Rob Mokaraka’s second shot at the stage Migrant exploitation Zac Fleming (RNZ): Most serious immigration crime going uninvestigated RNZ: Exploitative Chorus sub-contractors ‘promising visas’ Chris Keall (Herald): Chorus subbie tells of tough life on the front line Zane Small (Newshub): Chorus subcontractors ‘exploiting’ migrant employees RNZ: Chorus in urgent talks after probe reveals exploitation Joel Ineson (Stuff): Calls for legal migrant prostitution after research finds some exploited Housing Herald Editorial: Twyford should restore social housing scheme Anne Gibson (Herald): Housing Minister Phil Twyford sends National’s apartment reform bill to ministry for consideration 1News: Auckland’s homeless count finds 336 ‘unsheltered’ but total estimated to be 800 Herald: Auckland homeless count numbers in: About 3000 without permanent housing Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Official count reveals 800 homeless people in Auckland Spinoff: Auckland homeless count results released Leah Te Whata (Māori TV): “Colonisation made me homeless” Greg Ninness (Interest): KiwiBuild is no magic wand for young people on average incomes 1News: Property data expert says Capital Valuations ‘irrelevant’ in a moving market Paul Mitchell (Manawatū Standard): Palmerston North social enterprise builds $2.5 million worth of Homes for People in its first year EQC and Canterbury quakes Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Opinion: EQC should be abolished Zane Small (Newshub): ‘One stop shop’ launched for Christchurch earthquake claims Lucy Bennett (Herald): Streamlined process for outstanding quake claims established 1News: New one-stop service for people with outstanding Christchurch earthquake insurance claims established 1News: Thousands of Canterbury’s important archives have new home, nearly eight years on from earthquakes Primary industries Gerard Hutchings (Stuff): PM Ardern admits Government could have done better over Mycoplasma 1News: Farmers brutally honest in front of Jacinda Ardern when asked about Government’s handling of M bovis 1News: More than $25 million paid out to 169 farms so far in Mycoplasma bovis cull Chris Bramwell (RNZ): M bovis recovery package rolled out Newshub: M. bovis recovery package – what does it include? Lucy Bennett (Herald): Jacinda Ardern and Damien O’Connor announce faster recovery package for M. bovis-affected farms Lois Williams (RNZ): A&P shows go cattle-free over disease fears Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Fonterra farmers’ expected income falls by up to $78,000 Local government Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Secret plans for new, ‘free’ waterfront stadium Mandy Te (Stuff): Apartment buyer has to pay $7500 rates bill because previous owner allegedly ran an Airbnb RNZ: Auckland animal grazing reviewed after two people hurt by cattle Matt Shand (Stuff): Retired judge appointed to investigate Tauranga City Council staff after Bella Vista Katie Doyle (RNZ): Pride in new rainbow crossing on Wellington’s Cuba street 1News: Wellington’s Cuba St honours LGBTQI community with rainbow pedestrian crossing RNZ: Repair bill for broken Len Lye sculpture to be covered by insurance Newshub: ‘You break it, you buy it’ – Wellington Mayor to sculpture breaker 1News: Scaling of Len Lye water sculpture a ‘public display of stupidity,’ says Wellington Mayor 1News: Man who snapped $300,000 Wellington waterfront sculpture says there ‘wasn’t a sign’ telling people not to do it Tim Miller (ODT): Anger at inner-city freedom camping site Police and corrections RNZ: Two probes into police trainees are criminal investigations Blair Ensor (Stuff): New police recruits investigated for indecent assault, drinking in uniform, intimidation RNZ: Four police recruits stood down over misconduct allegations Herald: Ten new police recruits investigated, four for allegations of serious misconduct Newshub: New Zealand Police recruits investigated for misconduct – report Derek Cheng (Herald): Cannabis major focus of Police Association conference Chelsea Boyle (Herald): Country first: Detector dogs sniffing new psychoactive substances in prisons Cyberbullying Carla Penman (Herald): The true cost of cyberbullying to NZ: $444m each year RNZ: Cyber bullying: The growing menace costing NZ $444m Zane Small (Newshub): Cyberbullying costing New Zealand $444 million a year – NetSafe Kiwisaver Rob Stock (Stuff): KiwiSaver fee scrutiny after $447 million paid in annual fees Gareth Vaughan (Interest): FMA increases focus on KiwiSaver fees Madison Reidy (RNZ): More KiwiSavers withdrawing funds to survive financially Rob Stock (Stuff): KiwiSaver ‘lump’ sum deposits pour in for taxpayer subsidies Power outages, prices Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Auckland electricity lines company Vector faces charges over excessive power outages Zane Small (Newshub): Commerce Commission takes on Vector over power outages Grant Bradley (Herald): Genesis Energy says Meridian Energy’s tactics unhelpful National Party Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Could Simon Bridges really be rolled? Greg Presland (The Standard): National’s firearms forums – what could go wrong? China-NZ relations David Williams (Newsroom): Govt urged to probe China’s influence David Williams (Newsroom): CCTV installed in China expert’s office Culture and intellectual property John Boynton (RNZ): Foreigners teaching haka: ‘The words were wrong, and the actions’ Meghan Lawrence (Herald): Belgian brewery apologises for any offence caused by ‘Māori Tears’ beer Meghan Lawrence (Herald): International beer label dubbed ‘Māori Tears’ deemed culturally offensive Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Anger over ‘ignorant’ Belgian brewery advertising ‘Māori Tears’ beer Education Lois Williams (RNZ): Assault law needs changing to give teachers more power: Principal Jessica Long (Stuff): Teacher dropped child like ‘sack of spuds, disciplinary tribunal hears Simon Colins (Herald): Catholic Church seeks order to evict Māori protesters from Hato Petera College in Northcote RNZ: Judge reserves trespass decision for protestors occupying school Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Lessons learnt over cheap school builds Eric Crampton: Scholarships for the wealthy Victoria University of Wellington:Proposed name change is an important step to securing the future for University of Wellington Health Newshub: Why alcohol policy is not working (video) Donna Chisholm (LIstener): When doctors get it wrong and what you can do about it Sean Nugent (ODT): Maternity centre exploring ‘legal avenues’ Stuff: National announce it would reinstate Lumsden Maternity Centre if elected in 2020 David Farrar: I got it wrong on Deborah Powell Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Correctly pronouncing Māori names ‘gives you mana’ Esther Richards (Stuff): Euthanasia: Why are we so afraid of death? It’s inevitable Transport Jamie Morton (Herald): EVs travelling further than fuel vehicles – report Bernard Orsman (Herald): Fast track: Proposal for trains between Auckland CBD and airport Brian Rudman (Herald): Time to bite the bullet on Auckland rail Emma Cropper (Newshub): ‘Disaster for Auckland’: Transport groups’ urgent plea to derail airport to CBD train plan Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Public transport groups oppose Auckland light rail plan Business Cameron Bagrie (Herald): Why the Grinch is coming for Kiwi retailers Mere McLean (Māori TV): Traditional welcome for World Indigenous Business Forum delegates Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): World Indigenous Business Forum begins today Employment Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Minimum wage rise could leave households worse-off Peter Cullen (Stuff): Law changes should help those harmed by their employment 1News: Rest home worker gets $19,000 compensation after being sacked for taking $1 packet of chips Media Greg Dixon (Listener): Nothing stinks worse than a media beat-up – just look at the Wairarapa brouhaha Newshub: Are we looking at rural issues through ‘an urban lens’? Other Bernard Lagan (Listener): Australia’s banking inquiry is devastating. But would NZ fare any better? No Right Turn: Unnecessary intrusion RNZ: Paralympians’ parity package gets over line Muriel Newman: Time To Have A Say On Entrenching The Maori Seats Hannah Martin (Stuff): Support systems not set up to handle #MeToo ‘tsunami’, survivor says Laurel Stowell (Whanganui Chronicle): Ratana Pa gets ready for massive celebration Jennifer Eder (The Marlborough Express): Man admits assaulting a child after smacking 4-year-old son on bottom RNZ: Fisheries enforcement NZ Navy’s Pacific priority Katina Michael (The Conversation): Travelling overseas? What to do if a border agent demands access to your digital device Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Prominent NZers receive Queen’s Awards RNZ: Mark Lundy’s convictions for murder of wife, daughter upheld]]>