Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – November 21 2018
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
Water
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Government could take water companies from councils
Richard Harman (Politik): Councils under threat
Dominic Harris (Stuff): New regulations in the pipeline as Goverment unveils road map for three waters overhaul
RNZ: Govt prepares to overhaul water use rules
1News: Drinking water standards to be beefed up after Havelock North gastro crisis
Piers Fuller (Stuff): Jones leaves door open for smaller water schemes
Foreign affairs and trade
Paul Buchanan: A bridge too far
Tom Pullar-Strecker and Sydney Morning Herald: GCSB not confirming report China responsible for surge in cyber espionage
Press Editorial: Editorial: Is New Zealand kidding itself on trade war role?
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Why on Earth did Apec leaders agree to meet in Papua New Guinea?
RNZ: NZ aligned with principles not countries over APEC divisions – Ardern
RNZ: US expands regional presence as part of Indo-Pacific strategy
RNZ: Tonga and Vanuatu join China’s Belt and Road
Scott Palmer (Newshub): China dragging Pacific back to ‘colonial days’ – expert
Newshub: South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit New Zealand
Health
Chris Bramwell (RNZ): Govt plans to ban in-car smokes around children
1News: Rot and mould at Middlemore Hospital to be fixed as part of $80 million cash injection for South Auckland health facilities
Herald: The Government will spend $80 million on fixing ‘long-standing problems’ at Middlemore and Manukau SuperClinic
Hannah Martin (Stuff): $80m investment to fix leaky buildings with rotting walls at Middlemore Hospital
Hannah Martin (Stuff): More than one in 10 elderly Aucklanders malnourished – new research
Kiri Gillespie (Bay of Plenty Times): Striking midwives say profession at ‘crisis point’
Herald: Editorial: Group brings new twist to doctor roster
Karen Brown (RNZ): Rival doctors’ unions could lead to more strike action
Herald: Doctors’ union warns more strike action is probable over long work hours in 2019
Samantha Gee (Stuff): Surgery postponed as Nelson Hospital stretched to capacity
Karen Brown (RNZ): Tongue-tie surgery on babies ‘potentially dangerous’
Phil Pennignton (RNZ): Victim Support reviewing response to Ōtaki deaths
Defence
David Fisher (Herald): Secrecy debate over Hit & Run inquiry into NZSAS raid in Afghanistan
David Fisher (Herald): NZ Defence Force claims 105 errors in Hit & Run including false report of Taliban leader’s death
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Inquiry to look at claims over Afghan SAS raids in ‘Hit and Run’
No Right Turn: Secret “evidence” isn’t credible
Alison Mau (Stuff): When the Defence Force darling of the diversity speakers circuit suddenly has nothing to say
Simon Ewing-Jarvie: Is Your Reserve Big Enough?
Pride parades
Zane Small (Newshub): Auckland Pride Parade founder Gresham Bradley calls for board’s sacking
Herald: Future of Pride Parade in doubt as organisations continue to withdraw support
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Auckland Pride board could be rolled over ban on police uniforms in parade
Aroha Awarau (Stuff): Rupert Everett on Auckland Pride Board’s police uniform ban: ‘We can’t pretend they don’t exist’
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Pride Parade organisers a bunch of bitter idiots
Danielle Clent and Melanie Earley (Stuff): Westpac the latest organisation to pull out of Auckland Pride Parade
1News: Ponsonby Business Association pulls support from Auckland Pride Parade over police uniform ban
RNZ: Pride Parade supporter pulls funding over police uniform ban
Jamie Ensor and Scott Palmer (Newshub): Auckland Pride Parade loses support over uniformed police ban
1News: Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust withdraws support for Auckland Pride Parade after police uniform ban
Herald: Rainbow NZ pulls support for Auckland Pride Parade over ban of uniformed police
RNZ: Auckland Pride Parade police uniform ban: ‘We’re not backtracking’
Aroha Awarau (Stuff): Hate crime victim: Police were insensitive but I still support them marching in Pride
Education, child welfare
Kelvin McDonald (Māori TV): Kindergartens welcome govt ‘every child a taonga’ plan
Simon Collins (Herald): Penrose daycare tells child he can’t come back: ‘Seven hours minimum’
Danny Poa (Stuff): Unicef: Why is no-one asking Māori children what it’s like to be young and Māori?
ODT Editorial: The celebration of success
John Lewis (ODT): School extends internet control
Derek Cheng (Herald): 41,700 sign up for fees-free study, but total numbers are falling
Adele Redmond (Stuff): 50,000 expected to receive no-fee tertiary study this year
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Paula Bennett rubbishes Labour’s fees-free tertiary policy as a ‘complete failure’
1News: Government’s $2.8 billion fees-free tertiary education policy is an ‘unfair’, failure: National
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Otago University defends standard of graduates after medical students accused of cheating
Dan Dalgety (RNZ): University of Otago investigating ‘cheating’
ODT: Otago University investigates cheating at med school
Megan Sutherland (Newshub): Allegations of cheating in Otago University medical exam investigated
Government
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Announced: the date after which blaming the last government is banned
MItchell Alexander (Newshub): Budget blowout: Extra $50,000 spent on Māori-Crown relations portfolio development
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Karel Sroubek residency decision entirely made by immigration minister
Stuff: Nanaia Mahuta made the BBC 100 Women 2018 list, but Jacinda and Helen didn’t
CTV building
Anne Marie May (RNZ): CTV engineer cancelled membership with body investigating him
Stuff: Head of CTV building engineers could have faced $5000 penalty over collapse, court told
Pike River
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Fallout from Pike River re-entry reveals ugly side of politics
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): Police and coroner meet Pike River families after re-entry plan approved
RNZ: Pike River families meet with police in Greymouth
Environment
Mike Joy: Extract: A glimpse of light in confronting NZ’s environmental crisis
Veronika Meduna (Listener): As China shuts its gates to our plastics and paper, how can NZ stem the tide?
BBC: Dead sperm whale found in Indonesia had ingested ‘6kg of plastic’
Alex Braae (Spinoff): What would real climate action actually look like?
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): We’re worried about the environment, but don’t know how to take action
Eloise Gibson (Newsroom): 125,000 buildings at risk from first metre of sea level rise
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): New funding to tackle kauri dieback and myrtle rust may not be enough
Chris Harrowell (Stuff): Government invests $14m into research on kauri dieback and myrtle rust diseases
Isobel Ewing (Newshub): Government announces special funding to fight kauri dieback
Jamie Morton (Herald): Scientists get $13m boost in war on tree-killing scourges
1News: Government commits $13.75m to fight against Kauri dieback, myrtle rust
Mānia Clarke (Māori TV): BioHeritage agency’s tikanga Māori approach to science
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Kiwis want bags gone, including thicker bags
Transport, road toll
Christina Persico (Stuff): $29m to improve ‘killer’ SH3 between New Plymouth and Waitara
Jason Walls (Herald): Transport Minister Phil Twyford earmarks $29 million for safety improvements on SH3
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Cyclists and hikers want a safe path through the hills
Herald: Heartbreak behind the climbing road toll: Twelve lives claimed in five days
Donna-Lee Biddle (Stuff): Bus strike: What the living wage would mean for bus drivers
ODT: Dunedin drivers show solidarity for locked out Hamilton staff
Mitch McCann (Newshub): Govt warns 35,000 cars still have ‘explosive’ Takata airbags
1News: About 35,000 vehicles in NZ have faulty airbags as summer travel looms
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Queenstown Airport to be visited by millions by 2045
Luke Kirkeby (Stuff): Air New Zealand price hike may lead to more homeless felines
Local government
Brian Rudman (Herald): Online voting won’t cure lack of interest
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Tauranga shop owners relieved at bylaw banning begging
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Health and safety laws stopping us from helping beggars, homeless – Tauranga Mayor
1News: Tauranga’s homeless don’t need sympathy and gold coins, says advocate who supports rough-sleeping ban
Sam Kelway (1News): Tauranga council bans begging, rough sleeping near shops
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Tauranga bans begging and sleeping near shops and restaurants
Matt Shand (Stuff): Tauranga City Council bans begging
Emily Writes (Spinoff): Why does a Wellington councillor want to charge homeless people to live in their cars?
David Loughrey (ODT): Public to be consulted about Fortune building
Auckland
Todd Niall (Stuff): Ports of Auckland sale could be back on the agenda
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Mayor Goff: First among unequals
Bill Ralston (LIstener): There’s no such thing as a free lunch, let alone a waterfront stadium
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): ‘Shaken trust’: Auckland Council apologises to churches over handling of rates hikes
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Sudden rate hike draws wrath of Auckland church leaders
Herald:Auckland churches given a reprieve before new rates come in
Anne Gibson (Herald):Kiwi Property calculates major damage from council fee hike: ‘severe’ effect
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Phil Goff loses control of Auckland’s stadium strategy after his critics get the upper hand
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Speedway standoff: Moving motorsport from Western Springs put on hold after surprise council vote
Dileepa Fonseka and Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): Speedway slows down: Decision delayed until wider stadium decision takes place
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Speedway move a waste of ratepayer money – stakeholder
Justice, corrections
RNZ: WATCH: Who’s in prison?
Sam Hurley (Herald): Senior Ministry of Justice and union staff talk ahead of court-ordered mediation
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Recidivist drink-driver Gavin Hawthorn’s home detention sentence ‘unsafe’ – victim advocate
Matt Stewart and Damian George (Stuff): Recidivist drink-driver Gavin Hawthorn convicted again, leading to call for permanent driving ban
Emma Jolliff (Newshub): ‘Appalling’: Porirua man Gavin Hawthorn escapes jail after 12th drink-driving conviction
Georgina Campbell (Newstalk ZB): NZ’s worst drink driver caught drunk behind the wheel again
Drug laws
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Cannabis referendum decision before Christmas
Benedict Collins (1News): Jacinda Ardern defends controversial synthetic cannabis fly spray claim
Stuff: Cannabis buyers get option to ‘buy New Zealand-made’
Employment
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Hawke’s Bay apple growers’ fear looming labour shortage
Mary-Jo Tohill (Stuff): Bluff wants to become a ‘living wage’ town
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Time to ditch the outdated 9 to 5 workday
Housing
Robin Martin (RNZ): Price point casts doubt over KiwiBuild homes in New Plymouth
Christina Persico (Stuff): $23 million housing development for New Plymouth suburb
Jason Walls (Herald): Housing Minister Phil Twyford says 68 KiwiBuild homes will be built in New Plymouth
Annette Lambly (Stuff): Whangarei’s Open Arms offers a place of shelter for those in crisis
Ihumātao development
John Anthony (Stuff): Ihumātao residents illegally occupying ‘our land’, Fletcher Building says
Maxine Jacobs (RNZ): Sacred land protest at Fletcher Building AGM
Super Fund
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): The Super Fund: a $40 billion nest egg which could quickly become a political football
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Government could push NZ Super Fund into venture capital
Police
Philip Chandler (Mountain Scene): IPCA report ‘pretty annoying’
Megan Sutherland (Newshub): Police unlawfully detained suicidal man but acted reasonably, watchdog rules
Primary industries
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Dairy prices for farmers predicted to fall further
David Hargreaves (Interest): Fonterra needs to find the right balance in tackling its many problems, while juggling the demands of a difficult global dairy backdrop
Other
Matt Nippert (Herald): Report says China researcher Anne-Marie Brady’s car ‘tampered with’
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom):Dead man working
Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes (Māori TV): A major win for the community
1News: Wine industry given ‘a free ride’ with alcohol content labels’ 1.5 per cent leeway
Isra’a Emhail (RNZ): Quota refugee increase puts pressure on mental health provider
David Williams (Newsroom): Dunedin: a lot of balls in the air right now
Herald Editorial: Hawera blackface float – How did they get it so wrong?
Brian Gaynor (Herald): Why Reserve Bank should hand over role of regulation
Chris Tooley (Spinoff): Is Whānau Ora about to be scrapped?
Peter Cullen (Stuff): Hearing the stories of abuse victims
David Williams (Newsroom): Widow makes plea to PM
AAP: Ship destined for NZ stopped in Australia after stink bug infestation discovered
Mere McLean (Māori TV): Finalists prepare for Māori Language Awards
Charlie Gates (Stuff): Catholics eye central city site for possible new Christchurch cathedral
Skara Bohny (Stuff): Meeting organised to oppose Stoke Kiwibank and NZ Post closure
Elton Rikihana Smallman (Stuff): Here are the best places to live in NZ – but they’re at odds with best for business
