Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – November 20 2018
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
Foreign affairs and trade
Gordon Campbell: On how Malaysia has exposed our dodgy policies towards China
Richard Harman (Politik): Caught in the middle
Zane Small (Newshub): New Zealand ‘falls well short’: Jacinda Ardern defends foreign aid spending
Laura Walters (Newsroom): A global economy where no one is left behind
Laura Walters (Newsroom): NZ walks the talk in the Pacific
RNZ: APEC ends in flurry of announcements
RNZ: New Zealand announces support for Pacific exporters
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): NZ govt invests in people of Papua New Guinea
Herald Editorial: Apec could not reconcile US and China
Derek Cheng (Herald): PM describes Apec trade spat between US and China as ‘disappointing’
1News/AP: Jacinda Ardern ‘disappointed’ there was no joint statement from APEC nations
RNZ: PNG foreign minister denies report on Chinese forced entry
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Māori businesses raise cultural IP concerns in Singapore
RNZ: Disappointment over Chinese media restrictions at PNG summit
Pike River
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): Pike River families remember eight years after tragedy
Conan Young (RNZ): Emotional day for Pike River families
Derek Cheng (Herald): Govt considers apology to dead miners’ families on 8th anniversary of Pike River tragedy
Hollly Carran (Newshub): Bernie Monk hits out at Simon Bridges for calling Pike River apology ‘unnecessary’
Steven Cowan: He knew nothing
Employment
MIchael Morrah (Newshub): Labour Inspectorate’s refusal to investigate workplace complaints slammed
Madison Reidy (RNZ): Businesses to bear cost of migrant pay increase
Alastair Reith (Spinoff): Why didn’t we strike under National?
Mike Yardley (Stuff): Justice industrial action particularly maddening
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): ‘Payback’ and stress common problems for whistleblowers
Martyn Brabury: Whistleblower review is a whitewash joke
Education
Zane Small (Newshub): Chris Hipkins shakes off doubt over ‘100 percent qualified teachers’ plan
Simon Collins (Herald): Higher childcare fees and centre closures tipped as controls tighten
RNZ: Teachers want urgency on ECE changes
RNZ: Govt announces $3.5 billion early childhood plan
Stuff: Government outlines plan for early childhood learning
Paula Tesoriero (Herald): Inclusive education produces better outcomes for all
Cas Carter (Stuff):Generational divide highlighted by exam is far from trivial
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Thriving horticulture sector behind new degree at Massey University
1News: Next generation of Kiwi engineers wanted as personnel shortage in industry looms
Teachers’ pay dispute
David Cormack (Herald): A teachable moment
Josephine Franks (Stuff): ‘Why on earth would I want to teach in NZ?’ The Kiwi teachers staying overseas
National Party
Liam Hehir (Stuff): Recess a chance for National to catch its breath post-Jami-Lee Ross
Gia Garrick (RNZ): National’s written questions blitz at a new level – professor
Environment and conservation
Michael Daly (Stuff): 150 academics, researchers urge ‘robust and emergency’ climate action
RNZ: New Zealand scientists call on government to move faster on climate change
Jamie Morton (Herald): Call for urgent climate action backed by 150 New Zealand academics
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Water rationing in Hawke’s Bay as some rivers run dry
No Right Turn: An unfair allocation
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Kauri dieback-affected Waitakere and Hunua Ranges tracks to reopen before Christmas
1News: Some residents claim dust from Tauranga industrial area is affecting their health
Michael Hayward (Stuff): Takahē: Back from the brink
Derek Cheng (Herald): NZ partners with Chile to save the endangered albatross
RMA
Jason Walls (Herald): A consortium of some of New Zealand’s largest lobby groups want to see big changes to the RMA
Marta Steeman (Stuff): A coalition of powerful business groups urges a complete overhaul of the resource management system
Housing
1News:Jacinda Ardern rejects Simon Bridges’ claim that taxes have led to sharp increase in rents over the past year
Elton Rikihana Smallman (Stuff): No guarantee affordable housing won’t face more delays
Riverlea Environment Society (Stuff): New Hamilton subdivision should nurture nature, not extinguish it
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Why do Aussies get cheaper mortgage rates than New Zealanders?
Annette Lambly (Stuff): Whangarei’s Open Arms offers a place of shelter for those in crisis
Health
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): ‘Pain and suffering’: Auckland children wait months for dental treatment
Jason Walls (Herald): Health Minister David Clark has committed $20 million for a new health centre in Westport
John Anthony (Stuff): Ecostore removes ‘nasty’ fluoride claims from toothpaste marketing
1News: Northland Anaesthetic Technicians to strike for two days this week, accuse DHB of refusing to bargain
Tom Hunt (Stuff):$800,000 awarded in Wellington’s fight against cancer
Justice, corrections
Isaac Davison (Herald): Motel owners want to know guests’ criminal records – but Govt says that is not always possible
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Dearth of Māori rehab programmes in prisons questioned
Iulia Leilua (Māori TV): Iwi-driven solutions to keep wāhine Māori out of prison
Nelson Mail Editorial: Fighting for victim’s voice to be heard
Tommy Livingston (Stuff): Nationwide lighting strikes at courts as industrial action between union and ministry continues
George Block (ODT): Criminal justice group conducts Dunedin session
Media
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Paper cuts: ‘You need the local journalist who picks up on that local issue’
Sydney Morning Herald: Fairfax shareholders vote for Nine merger
Karl du Fresne: Ian Grant’s history of NZ newspapers
David Loughrey (ODT): Veteran Dunedin broadcaster dies
Grant Findlay (Newshub): Obituary: Dunedin broadcaster Neil Collins dies after short illness
Racism controversy at Hawera Christmas parade
Rosemma Strombom (Stuff): A descendent of slaves explains why blackface is so offensive
Tara Shaskey (Stuff): Blackface parade float netted $300 and a second place title
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Lions Club blackface float won 2nd place, $300 in parade – report
Police
Thomas Mead (Newshub): Exclusive: The top 10 speeding offences by police over last three years
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Police Association blames young, inexperienced officers for worst police speeding
Stuff: Police unlawfully detained suicidal man, but their actions were reasonable, report finds
Pride parades
Melanie Earley (Stuff): The other side of the uniform ban: The Kiwis who don’t want police at Pride
Southland Times Editorial: A momentarily pallid rainbow
RNZ: Future of Pride Parade in doubt over police uniform stoush
Danielle Clent (Stuff): All you need to know about a ban on police marching in uniform during Pride Parade
1News: NZDF won’t be taking part in Auckland Pride Parade, saying they’re ‘not comfortable’ with police uniform ban
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Defence Force won’t take part in Auckland Pride after police uniform ban
Stuff: Cops in uniform welcome to Wellington pride parade
Andrew Whiteside (Stuff): Auckland Pride police uniform ban: All LGBTQI+ people deserve to be heard
CTV building
1News: Husband of woman who died in CTV building collapse inspired by Pike River families to keep fighting for justice
RNZ: Court bid to reopen CTV building engineering investigation
Stuff: Reay’s resignation from IPENZ ‘nothing’ to do with disciplinary action, lawyer says
Kurt Bayer (Herald): CTV Building collapse families claim ‘double standards’ after Alan Reay action dropped
1News: Widower who lost his wife in CTV building collapse follows fight for justice to High Court in Wellington
Defence
Catherine Hutton (RNZ): Defence Force claims secret drone footage disproves Hager’s claims
Steven Price: Hearing into Hit & Run book
Alison Mau (Stuff): Robert Roper’s daughters say ‘the gloves are off’ when it comes to helping fellow victim
Kirsty Lawrence (Stuff): Minister cautions Defence Force against ‘unreasonably’ chasing sex victim for costs
Financial hardship
Zane Small (Newshub): One year on: How the Government’s measuring up for families
Māori TV: Christmas too costly for many to celebrate – Salvation Army survey
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Time for Salvation Army to stop headline-grabbing bollocks
Fiscal management
Arthur Grimes (Newsroom): Inequalities and the Wellbeing Budget
Norman Gemmell: (Herald): Government seems to want a second source of fiscal advice
Chris Trotter (Interest): Don’t mess with the middle class
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Tax plan could see Kiwi firms shift HQs to Australia, NZX warns
Terry Baucher (Interest): The previous National-led government appears to have successfully raised at least $1 billion of extra revenue annually with little or no fanfare
Regional development
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Wake up Shane Jones – don’t waste the regional fund
RNZ: Gas supply stumbling block to $1bn Taranaki project – MP
Deena Coster (Stuff): Billion dollar hydrogen project mooted for Taranaki: Shane Jones
Hamilton bus strike
Adam Hollingworth (Newshub): Scuffles during Go Bus strike as pay dispute turns ugly in Hamilton
Phillipa Yalden and Gerald Piddock (Stuff): Striking bus drivers call for iwi owners to intervene
Belinda Feek (Herald): Go Bus drivers stop buses from leaving Hamilton depot
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Waikato bus lockout: 72yo works 12-hour shifts to avoid becoming homeless
Daphna Whitmore (Redline): Bus drivers up against bosses, iwi, council and government
Transport, road toll
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): NZTA takes action on used-car testing
Chris Hutching (Stuff): NZTA crackdown on conflicts of interest over vehicle imports and testing
Jo Moir (RNZ): Motorcycle incidents: ‘This crash rate is going to drop’ when older riders stop
Jonathan Guildford (Stuff): Five dead, several injured in motorcycle crashes in past week as road toll nears ‘crisis point’
1News/RNZ: Two dead in Foxton crash today the lastest fatalities in horror 2018 on New Zealand roads
Ben Waterworth (ODT): Motorcycle club head objects to Nash’s call
Mark Price (ODT): Removal of rumble strips
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Wellington’s on the right track, thanks to council’s cycle lane plans
Local government
Todd Niall and Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Councillor still unhappy despite ombudsman clearing Auckland Council over stadium report handling
RNZ: Stadium report conditions ‘justified’ – Ombudsman
Mike Watson (Stuff): Deal will see Taranaki waste trucked to Marton landfill from mid 2019
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Rates rises likely to fall hardest on the poorest
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Councillor angry after wife fined for not using seatbelt in council carpark
Matthew Littlewood (Stuff): Alpine Energy not a ‘cash cow’ Timaru mayor Damon Odey tells subdued meeting
Shawn McAvinue (ODT): Grave concerns: Dunedin burials most expensive
Chris Morris (ODT): New freedom camping site proves popular
Evan Harding (Southland Times): 100 resignations at Invercargill City Council in past 16 months
Primary industries
Dave Nicoll (Stuff): M. bovis payments hit $6.1m in Southland, with more to come
Stuff: Woolshed injuries targeted
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): Push for authorities to subsidise farmers’ use of dung beetles to help reduce environmental impacts
Sally Rae (ODT): Biosecurity looming as No 1 factor: report
Drug laws
1News: Legalisation of synthetics not answer to addressing deaths of 45 users this past year, says Jacinda Ardern
1News: NZ Drug Foundation says current laws ‘don’t work’ with Jacinda Ardern’s goal of health-based drugs policy
Other
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): Has the ‘New Zealand dream’ turned sour for Auckland’s Pacific Islanders?
Ollie Neas (Spinoff): What lies inside Rocket Lab’s secret US military contracts?
Patrick O’Sullivan (Herald): Local Focus: Gaming machines lose out to Gisborne community protests
David Williams (Newsroom): As Dunedin renews, Ngāi Tahu moves
Nona Pelletier (RNZ): Economic outlook shines through gloomy sentiment
Cecile Meier (Stuff): Abortion: Separating the facts from the fiction
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Rich Chinese families to pay up to $25k-a-day for luxury Kiwi travel packages
Kristina Eddy (Newshub): Boxing: Amateur gyms tarnished by corporate tragedy
Deena Coster (Stuff): Man heads to High Court to get back on benefit
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Attempt to shut down women-only taxi service is hateful bollocks
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Hibiscus Coast residents angry after iconic kingfish ‘Murphy’ slayed
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Where’s our $100k? Small businesses struggle to get paid
ODT Editorial: Opportunity lost for women’s rugby
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): Teen activist and philanthropist with terminal cancer passes away
RNZ: Colin Craig to appeal defamation decision
Madison Reidy (RNZ): Construction firm Accent On Group in liquidation
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): Commerce Commission to appeal Steel & Tube $1.9 million fine
