Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – December 12 2018
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
The Beehive and Parliament Buildings.
‘Every Four Minutes’ Report on family violence, justice, name suppression
Derek Cheng (Herald): New Zealand lacks comprehensive strategy to counter family violence – new report
Alice Webb-Liddall (Newshub): ‘Every 4 minutes’ report on domestic violence prevention presented to Government
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Protecting children from family violence will prevent them perpetrating it later – report
Jo Moir (RNZ): Domestic violence found in all communities – report
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Colonisation trauma linked to family violence – Report
Andy Fyers (Stuff): Most victims of violent crime in New Zealand are women
Michele A’Court (RNZ): The things we do to keep ourselves safe
Liam Martin (Herald): Prison numbers are dropping but home detention is too harsh
Derek Cheng (Herald): Grace Millane case: Justice Minister Andrew Little calls for international media to stop naming murder-accused
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Andrew Little’s plea to British media
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Breaching Grace Millane murder accused’s name suppression could mean her killer walks free – Justice Minister
Jamie Ensor (Stuff): Grace Millane: PM Jacinda Ardern won’t support Millane’s alleged killer being granted secrecy
Derek Cheng (Herald): PM: Name suppression laws not about to change
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Justice Minister Andrew Little urges British media to ensure justice for Grace Millane
Graeme Edgeler (Public Address): Name suppression appeals
Deena Coster (Stuff): Talks underway to bring iwi justice panels to Taranaki
Sam Hurley (Herald): Mystery doctor gives evidence in inquest into Kiwi’s Samoan prison death
Sam Hurley (Herald): Samoan Government refuses to disclose evidence over Kiwi’s prison death, but NZ doctor had documents
Anneke Smith (RNZ): NZer found dead in Samoan jail may have been forced into drum
Child welfare, state care, poverty
David Fisher (Herald): No change to law protecting children despite coroner’s urging to close ‘loophole’
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Police inquiry into teacher-student relationship deficient – IPCA
Jamie Ensor and Michael Morrah (Newshub): Police investigation into inappropriate teacher-student relationship ‘flawed’ – IPCA
Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes (Māori TV): IPCA finds investigation deficient
Herald: Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft says porn most concerning issue for young people
No Right Turn: A convenient failure
RNZ: Child poverty reduction bill will help cut number of deprived children – PM
Ian Shirley (Briefing Papers): At last – A fundamental shift in social policy
MIchelle Duff (Stuff): 10,000 child removal orders in five years: Is this system working?
MIchelle Duff (Stuff): The number of newborn babies removed from their parents is rising
MIchelle Duff (Stuff): Catherine loves her kids, but they will never be in her custody again
MIchelle Duff (Stuff): They learn to recognise the whiff of a p-house: Life as a social worker
MIchelle Duff (Stuff): Jess, Gabriel and Dad
Medicinal cannabis bill passed
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Medicinal cannabis law great for drug dealers and Helen Kelly
Anna Whyte (1News): People in palliative care will have legal defence for using marijuana after Parliament passes medicinal cannabis bill
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Medicinal cannabis bill passes, with regulated market promised within a year and a legal defence until then
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Parliament passes medicinal cannabis Bill, promises regulated market and legal defence
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Medicinal cannabis bill passes third reading
RNZ: Medicinal cannabis bill passes final hurdle in Parliament
Eleaor Ainge Roy (Guardian): New Zealand passes laws to make medical marijuana widely available
Nic Beets (Newsroom): Cannabis: make it legal, don’t make it pay
Health
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Communities in $40m obesity prevention scheme ‘not doing any better’
Lois Williams (RNZ): 5000 people vaccinated in Northland for men-W
Herald: Consumer NZ report shows most sunscreens not living up to label claims
Southland Times Editorial: Dementia village an answer to mounting need
Astrid Austin (Hawkes Bay Today): Mental health nurse remains off work after Hawke’s Bay choking incident at Hawke’s Bay Hospital
Teuila Fuatai (Newsroom): Funding hospitals limits early suicide prevention (interview)
ODT: Swift action wanted on GP shortage
Alice Angeloni (Stuff): Man refused hip surgery told to talk to iwi – look at retraining, come back in a year
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Georgie Ferris’ weight dropped to 33kg – now she wants to help other EDS sufferers avoid the factitious disorder label
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Napier’s dirty water blamed on maintenance work
Ruby Macandrew (Stuff): Innovative cancer research gets a $600k leg up from Kiwi Freemasons
Ben Strang (RNZ): Former cop left waiting for months for post-traumatic stress payout
Yvonne O’Hara (ODT): Mental health services access key
1News: Grateful heart transplant recipient pleads for Kiwis to have the ‘donor’ chat with their families this Christmas
Bob McCoskrie: Overwhelming Opposition Confirmed On Assisted Suicide Bill
Salvation Army State of our Communities report
RNZ: Towns throughout NZ worried about drugs and housing crisis
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Salvation Army report reveals ‘massive issues’ with drugs, racial tensions
Government
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Treasury concerned over Shane Jones’ spending, but he signed off millions anyway
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Shane Jones ‘handing out cash’ like Pablo Escobar – National
Jason Walls (Herald): Ministers ordered to cut low-priority spending in preparation for next year’s Budget
Point of Order: The reports are coming in – and they bring fresh challenges for the Ardern Govt
Waitara Lands Bill
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Long-running land dispute at Waitara close to resolution
Taranaki Maori Women’s Network: To: Members of the New Zealand Parliament: Re: The New Plymouth District Council (Waitara Lands) Bill
Housing
RNZ: Checkpoint: MSD ordered to wipe debt of seriously ill beneficiary
RNZ: Twyford: KiwiBuild boss’ absence an unwelcome distraction
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Housing Minister Phil Twyford confirms KiwiBuild head hasn’t been at work for weeks
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Twyford refuses to comment further on KiwiBuild boss Stephen Barclay
1News: Public deserves to know what’s going on as Kiwibuild boss remains absent from work – Simon Bridges
Gia Garrick (RNZ): Letting fees come to an end
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Officials warn tenants could take impact of end of tax breaks for landlords
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Letting fee ban could make renting more expensive
Foreign affairs and trade
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): US warning to New Zealand on China
Don McKinnon (Herald): Huawei ban shows limits of China’s influence
Stephen Hoadley (Stuff): Could the South China Sea be a flashpoint that could ignite a US-China war?
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): China looms large ahead of Peters’ US trip
Jason Walls (Herald): Foreign Minister Winston Peters to meet with US Vice President Mike Pence this week
Michael Reddell: Human rights, Helen Clark, and the PRC
Dominion Post Editorial: A safer route for migrants could be a risky one for politicians
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): If you’re afraid of the United Nations, you’re afraid of ghosts
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Government decision on signing United Nations migration pact delayed further
John-Michael Swannix (Newshub): Should New Zealand sign a new international agreement on migration?
Environment and conservation
Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): ‘We speak out at our peril’: Science on water quality has been ignored, scientist says
Steve Urlich (Stuff): A shot of cash can help save our natural capital
Paul Callister, Deirdre Kent and Robert McLachlan (Stuff): There’s no easy way to cut aviation emissions, except by flying less
David Williams (Newsroom): What Canterbury’s water-bottling case tells us
Paul Gorman (Stuff): Court decides industrial consents not to be used for water bottling
Katie Todd (RNZ): Court victory for opponents of water bottling plant in Christchurch
RNZ: Community group loses appeal against poison drop
Tom Furley (RNZ): Iconic Waitakere track may reopen this summer
Jenny Suo (1News): Upgrades made to West Auckland track will handle walkers without spreading kauri dieback – council
Jennifer Eder (Stuff): Yealands Wines founder Peter Yealands pleads guilty to polluting stream
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Waimea Dam to aid eels on journey to Pacific – scientist
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Pet dogs trained to sniff out invasive fish species
Education
Peter Lyons (ODT): Education reforms chance to bring back fairness to system
Adele Redmond (Stuff): 800 overseas teachers ready for schools to hire for 2019, Ministry of Education says
Dennis Slade (Stuff): St Kentigern College lacks ethics in sporting arms race
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Bill proposes one of 10 ‘priority’ languages be taught in primary schools
Henry Cooke (Stuff):Labour will support National bill on language classes at primary school
Jason Walls (Herald): NZ First will be the only party in Parliament to oppose National’s ‘own’ language policy
Zane Small (Newshub): Should schools reinforce second languages? New Zealand First doesn’t think so
David Farrar: Government to support Kaye bill on second languages
Audrey Young (Herald): Asia NZ Foundation welcomes chance for NZ to make decisions about language learning
Brian Rudman (Herald): Christmas issues strike our schools
Geoff Lewis (Stuff): Wintec’s central Hamilton site ripe for redevelopment
George Block (ODT): Scarfies buy Starters Bar
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Otago University Students’ Association buys Dunedin pub
Transport, roading
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Time to change NZTA review
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Trucks, buses also drawn into dodgy WOF saga
Katie Fitzgerald (Newsroom): Auckland Transport gets approval for 30km/h speed limits, but AA isn’t happy
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Car regos: the winners and the losers from ACC change
1News: Rego costs will change from mid-2019 – will you pay more or less?
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Air New Zealand strikes extended to three days before Christmas
Newshub: Air New Zealand strike extends to three days in the lead up to Christmas
RNZ: Air NZ engineers vote to strike for three days next week
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Industry welcomes resignation of NZ Transport Agency boss
No Right Turn: Accountability
Alex Loo (Stuff): Route for Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway revealed
Gary Farrow (Stuff): Extension of expressway from Cambridge to Piarere won’t happen within a decade
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Who says we all want more cycle ways?
RNZ: Major disruptions to Auckland train services today
David Farrar: How much the Government gets for you to fill up your car
KiwiSaver
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Minister Kris Faafoi seeks advice on KiwiSaver changes for people with life-shortening conditions
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Government looks to right ‘unfairness’ highlighted by Down syndrome KiwiSaver
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): KiwiSaver providers field self-harm threats from those who want early access to their money
Local government
Emma Hatton (RNZ): Lower Hutt pool stayed open despite quake risk
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Council kept Lower Hutt pool open for months knowing it was a quake risk
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Iwi gutted council snubs them for homeless contract
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Water quality whitewash? Auckland mayor under fire over clean beaches claim
Stuff: Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon hits out at his own council
Virginia Fallon (Stuff): Debt-laden Kāpiti council’s investment plan ‘unusual’, auditor-general cautions
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Rotorua flooding: Serious council oversights highlighted
Logan Church (RNZ): Some Kaikōura residents ‘disgusted’ at decision to move properties
Parliament
Victoria University of Wellington (Newsroom): Women MPs reveal death threats, bullying and harassment
Bill Ralston (Listener): The bullying allegations show that Parliament needs transparency
Daniela Maoate-Cox (RNZ): Parliament’s collaborative committees
Year in review
Rachel Stewart (Herald): Environment, Facebook, free speech among big issues of 2018
Russell Brown: Public Address Word of the Year 2018
Ngāpuhi Treaty claims
Mikaela Collins (Herald): Hapū reject evolved Ngāpuhi mandate but still have concerns
RNZ: Wahine to have greater role in Ngāpuhi negotiations
Primary industries
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Call for national plan for improved water storage
Megan Sutherland (Newshub): Needle found in strawberry in Timaru supermarket
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Fonterra to reward and punish farmers over animal welfare and environment
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Farmers want to cut emissions but don’t know how, report finds
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Banking survey shows more farmers feel under financial pressure
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): ‘Like a cup of cold sick’: Nathan Guy’s attack on suggested farmers tax
Christmas
1News: ‘Māori Santa’ set to appear at Wellington Christmas event after crowdfunding effort
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): More than 3000 people interested in bringing Māori Santa to Wellington
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Christmas glitter, tinsel and ‘pointless plastic’ an environmental danger
1News: Christchurch SPCA urgently needs your help to house animals during busy Christmas period
Herald: The Grinch who stole Christmas: Auckland Council ban pair from selling Christmas trees
Fireworks petition
1News: Should private fireworks be banned? Petition with 18k signatures presented
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): Petition to ban private sale of fireworks presented to parliament
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Nearly 18,000 people sign private fireworks ban petition
Media
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): Stuff: the media monster no one wants to own
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): NZ inquiry needed into Google and Facebook
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Health Promotion Agency spends big on Facebook
Karl du Fresne (Stuff): News media should be a champion of free and open debate
Other
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Statistics NZ pushes Census 2018 deadline further as issues continue
Chris Hutching (Stuff): No let up in foreign investment despite tighter rules
ODT Editorial: Out of touch educated elites
Sarah Templeton (Newshub): Kiwi woman launches ‘safe dating’ forum for women
David Farrar: NZ still top for freedom
Jane Bowron (Stuff): The joys of being young again, now that I’ve changed my identity
Tracy Neal (RNZ): A step too far: Great Walks fall out of favour with overseas tourists
Māori TV: Ngāi Tahu tourism boss receives PM’s award
RNZ: Gondola proposed as a traffic solution for Queenstown
Steve Hepburn (ODT): Lack of paid admin adds to club pressures: survey
Gavin Evans (BusinessDesk): Greater transparency sought in gas sector
Colin Williscroft (Stuff): Steel and rubble removal to kick-start Christ Church Cathedral rebuild
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Call for law society resignations after members veto sale
1News: Government allocates $600,000 to racecourses nationwide to improve safety
ODT: Funds boost safety of race tracks in South
Emma Dangerfield (Stuff): New bottle shop proposal could take Rangiora’s off-licence tally to 11
