Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – December 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.
The Beehive and Parliament Buildings.
Russel Norman (Stuff): Rotten to the core: The chilling truth revealed by the SSC report
Russel Norman (Spinoff): How the NZ state enabled oppressive and systematic Stasi-like surveillance
Press Editorial: More questions about spies and the public service
ODT Editorial: An ‘affront to democracy’
Herald Editorial: State agencies must take more care using private eyes
Oasis: Peter Hughes Inquiry on Public Service Spying
Emma Hatton (RNZ): Thompson and Clark probe – all you need to know
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Thompson & Clark, a preferred security and surveillance firm, dumped from Government work
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Gerry Brownlee knew Southern Response hired private spies
RNZ: Bridges on Thompson and Clark spying: ‘I never had anything to do with this’
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Simon Bridges asked to explain Government agency surveillance
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Private investigators used vehicle register to spy on environmentalists for years
RNZ: Nine to Noon: Spying on citizens: has the public service lost its way?
Robin Martin (RNZ): Review of New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals called for after State Services report
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Only a first step in the data battle
Catriona MacLennan (Newsroom): The rise of gatekeeping within public service
Minimum wage
Mike Treen (Daily Blog): Facts refute critics of minimum wage increases – make the minimum wage a living wage
1News: Small businesses may be impacted over minimum wage increase, Business NZ says
Derek Cheng (Herald): Biggest minimum wage boost in history to benefit 210,000 people
RNZ: An extra $48 a week for some NZ families – Minimum wage to go up to $17.70 an hour
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Govt to lift minimum wage to $17.70 an hour next year
Anna Whyte (1News): Boost for low-paid workers with minimum wage to jump to $17.70 an hour from April
Zane Small and Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Government to raise minimum wage by $1.2
Jamie Ensor and Jenna Lynch (Newshub): How much the minimum wage increase will add to Kiwi wallets
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): A brief history of the minimum wage in New Zealand
1News: ‘It’s been a long time’ – cleaner Mareta Sinoti among thousands who’ll take home more pay with minimum wage increase
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Govt indicates further $1.20 and $1.10 hikes in 2020 and 2021; Bridges says National would increase the min. wage by 50c a year
1News: Minimum wage increase ‘too far, too fast’ – National’s Simon Bridges
No Right Turn: Delivering
David Farrar: Highest minimum wage in the developed world
Year in review
Graham Adams (Noted): Strange lessons of 2018: What goes on when we’re not looking
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Politics wasn’t all scandal and leaks this year
Bryce Edwards (Newsroom): Political debate in 2018
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Parliament’s risen for the year
1News: 1 NEWS political team’s biggest surprises and most revealing moments of 2018 (video)
Newshub: Politics in 2018: The year in review (video)
Rhonwyn Newson (Newshub): Kiwis doing great things: Unsung heroes of 2018
Public Address: WOTY: The Kindness Scandal
Environment and conservation
Kate Gudsell (RNZ): Calls to improve water testing after deadly bacteria found in Canterbury rivers
Paul Gorman and Tom Kitchin (Stuff): Antibiotic-resistant bacteria discovered in two Canterbury rivers
Holly Carran (Newshub): Antibiotic-resistant E. coli discovered in three popular Canterbury rivers
Herald: Nationwide river stocktake needed after ‘disturbing’ findings
David Clarkson (Stuff): Company denies discharging ammonia gas into Christchurch stream
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Tuatara, kea and pāua are among Kiwi creatures threatened by climate change
Steven Cowan: Climate change: the politicians fail again
RNZ: Fur seal pups beheaded and dumped in Canterbury bay
1News: DOC investigating after six seal pups found decapitated in Christchurch bay
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): EPA report released on ‘environmental effects’ of 1080 aerial operations
Lois Williams (RNZ): Russell forest possums ‘down 80 percent’ since 1080 drop
AAP: Scary statistic: 90.5 per cent of plastic is not recycled
Megan Sutherland (Newshub): Peter Burling ‘sad’ after finding My Food Bag beach balls in Waitematā Harbour
1News: America’s Cup hero Peter Burling ‘sad’ to find deflated My Food Bag beach balls in Waitematā Harbour
IPCA findings on Haumaha bullying allegations
Jared Savage (Herald): Wally Haumaha: Women speak out on ‘Dirty Politics’ in IPCA report
Jared Savage (Herald): ‘Inappropriate, unprofessional’: Damning report into Wally Haumaha’s behaviour
Thomas Manch (Stuff): High-ranking cop Wally Haumaha belittled staff, report to sa
RNZ: Wally Haumaha belittled female staff – IPCA
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Wally Haumaha belittled and humiliated staff – IPCA
Justice, corrections
RNZ: Survey reveals volume and nature of crimes committed in New Zealand last year
Kirsty Lawrence, Tony Wall and Blair Ensor (Stuff): Corrections acknowledges child sex offender should have been moved faster
David Fisher (Herald): Big Read: The desolation of Kaikohe and the single punch which ended a man’s life
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): A morning procession of male violence, sad histories and young men sent to jail
Sensible Sentencing Trust wrongly label man paedophile
RNZ: McVicar sorry for Sensible Sentencing Trust’s paedophile mistake
Michael Daly (Stuff): ‘Negligent, cavalier’ Sensible Sentencing Trust wrongly labels man a paedophile
Sam Hurley (Herald): Innocent man’s photo wrongly posted next to paedophile’s details by Sensible Sentencing Trust
RNZ: Sensible Sentencing Trust wrongly labels man as paedophile
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Sensible Sentencing Trust erroneously lists innocent man’s picture with paedophile description
Foreign affairs, migration
Newshub: Refugee group backs UN migration pact
Collette Devlin (Stuff): New Zealand votes for UN migration compact after legal advice
Gia Garrick (RNZ): Legal advice: Migration compact doesn’t compromise sovereignty
Derek Cheng (Herald): NZ to vote in favour of UN Migration Compact
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): New Zealand will support United Nations Global Migration Compact
AAP: New Zealand to back non-binding UN migration agreement
Laura Walters (Newsroom): NZ supports UN migration compact
Megan Gattey (Stuff): Here’s how much New Zealand’s population would change if everyone who wanted to migrate here actually did
Dan Satherley (Newshub): New Zealand’s population would balloon to 11 million without migration rules – survey
Jason Walls (Herald):New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Australia Chris Seed to head Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Eric Crampton: Coalitions mean plausible deniability
Google, media
Pattrick Smellie (Stuff): Google gets lesson: Want to offer news? Hire journalists
1News: ‘Not a great deal I can do’ to enforce suppression laws on Google, says Andrew Little after meeting with tech giant
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Andrew Little gives Google a serve over Grace Millane suppression breach
Guardian: Grace Millane murder: New Zealand rebukes Google for emailing out suspect’s name
1News: Jenny Suo named as the new host of 1 NEWS Tonight
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen, Wikitōria Day (Māori TV): Miss World Oceania returns home with the crown
Māori TV: Miss World Oceania arrives home
Health
RNZ: Report highlights discriminatory disabled care system
Max Abbott (The Conversation): NZ mental health inquiry calls for fundamental change
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Nicky Stevens’ mother and brother meet Health Minister David Clark, urge more whānau support
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): New ways of working needed to address health inequities for Māori and Pacific people says Hawke’s Bay DHB
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Health board: Safe midwife staffing ‘not always achievable’
RNZ: Middlemore Hospital nurses and staff to rally over safety concerns
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Grey Power slams Government over Aged Care Commissioner failure
Alex Casey (Spinoff): Dinner with a cool granny in the neighbourhood? Sign us up
David Williams (Newsroom): The fight to save cash-strapped CanTeen
Stuff: Euthanasia: My dad ended his struggle with MS by starving himself
Samantha Gee (Stuff): Birth education programme based on Māori practices kicks off in top of the south
Edward Miller (Spinoff): Have New Zealand doctors been working in slave gloves?
Phil Taylor (Herald): Readers donate $155,000 for eye care in Vanuatu
Drug laws
1News: ‘A lot of policy work to be done’ before cannabis referendum, law expert says
Russell Brown (RNZ): Cannabis vote: Lead-up needs to hit the public’s sweet spot
Nandor Tanczos (Stuff): The people of New Zealand are owed a proper choice
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Stupid, naive drug move bungle of year
Mike Yardley (Herald): Cynical cannabis referendum from a Government that’s soft on crime
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Finally, we get a say on cannabis: The weed vote will rally the masses at 2020 election
Zane Small (Newshub): Exacerbate or minimise harm? Chlöe Swarbrick on cannabis referendum
Jonathan Fletcher (Stuff): Don’t completely decriminalise cannabis, just be more lenient
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Damning review of synthetics law
Parliament
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): $66.50 for coffee and eggs? The huge cost of processing MPs’ receipts revealed
Jason Walls (Herald): Coalition’s scrapping of plans for new parliamentary buildings cost taxpayers up to $3m
Jason Walls (Herald): Speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard, is exploring the idea of an MP training camp
Phil Smith (RNZ): The House: When Parliamentary questions become Christmas gifts
Peter Dunne (Interest): What I want is a political party I can vote for at the next General Election
1News: Watch: Winston Peters has House laughing as he unveils long scroll of Government’s ‘achievements in 2018’
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Speaker Trevor Mallard honours Newshub’s Tova O’Brien for ‘compassionate’ Jami-Lee Ross coverage
RNZ: Highest annual turnover of staff ever at Parliament
David Farrar: Jacinda and “Simple Simon”
National Party, Chris Finlayson valedictory
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Reflecting on Simon Bridges’ turbulent year as chief
1News: After failing to mention Simon Bridges in valedictory, Chris Finlayson offers muted appraisal of his 2020 election chances
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Chris Finlayson snubs Simon Bridges in valedictory speech
Claire Trevett (Herald): Chris Finlayson put in effort to deliver a better NZ
David Farrar: The Finlayson valedictory
Point of Order: Chris Finlayson bows out – but first he shares his thoughts on good governance
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): National Party Leadership Coup set forJanuary?
Transport
Damian George (Stuff): Vision Zero: Should New Zealand’s open road speed limit be lowered to 80kmh?
Damian George (Stuff): Team responsible for launching Wellington’s new bus network not up to the job – report
Laura Dooney (RNZ): Cause of Wellington’s bus network failure revealed
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Review confirms failings with Wellington’s bus network
Newshub: Report reveals raft of failings from Wellington’s new bus network
Elton Rikihana Smallman (Stuff): Passenger rail could bring development to transport corridor
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Hamilton to Auckland train ‘can’t be fast enough’ – Mayor
Isobel Ewing (Newshub): ‘Wasteful spending’: National rubbishes Hamilton to Auckland train service trial
Nicole Lawton (Stuff): Auckland cyclist knocked unconscious after crash with e-scooter
Poverty, inequality
Graeme Colman (Stuff): Kiwis want a speedier end to child poverty
Bryan Bruce (Daily Blog): Hunger is the measure of our Economy
CPAG: Wellbeing Budget and Child Poverty Reduction Act lay foundations for change
Eva Corlett (RNZ): Families turned away from Auckland City Mission due to high demand
1News: Families turned away from Auckland City Mission because there’s not enough food to hand out
Mere McLean (Māori TV): Love Soup community kai service grows
Mānia Clarke (Māori TV): Minister to consider more ‘satellite offices’ on marae
Housing
Pattrick Smellie (Listener): Why residential property investment is falling out of trend
Nick Goodall (Herald): Top 10 predictions for housing market in 2019
Greg Ninness (Interest): First home buyers battling rising house prices & higher interest rates
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Long-vacant HNZ land in Lower Hutt to get 37 homes
1News: Staff verbally abused and seriously assaulted claims Queen Street business owner, who blames Auckland’s homeless population
Education
Jessica Long (Stuff): Costly price for New Zealand children led down path of inadequate water skills
John Lewis (ODT): Further backlash over Esol cuts
Don McKinnon (Stuff): Why we need a national policy on teaching foreign language
David Cohen (RNZ): Victoria Uni debate: ‘A change in name is more than a classification’
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Brash ban review clears Massey vice-chancellor
Local government
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Part of Napier Port to be sold to protect region from climate change
Eric Crampton: Sunk costs in politics
Cleo Fraser (Newshub): Car-free CBD? Auckland’s High Street to ban cars on Thursday
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Bailout for Christchurch Town hall approved to ensure 2019 opening
Robin Martin (RNZ): Cyclone costs New Plymouth $4.5m and exposes water vulnerabilities
Christina Persico (Stuff): Report into ex-cyclone Gita response identifies $4.5m cost and 28 areas for improvement
Primary and extractive industries
Guy Trafford (Interest): The major impactors in 2019
Allan Barber (Interest): Reflections on the year that was
Sally Rae (ODT): Alliance chairman queries Govt’s subsidy stance
Alexandra Nelson (Newshub): ‘Pretty sad situation’: Waihi gold mine extension slammed by watchdog
Cameron Madgwick (Stuff): Oil and gas industry agrees with Greenpeace about Climate Commission
Cameron Madgwick (ODT): Rejecting natural gas makes us a foolish outlier
Te reo Māori
Māori TV: Hinurewa Poutu appointed to Te Matawai
Eden More (RNZ): New products used to normalise te reo Māori
Auckland Pride
Mandy Te (Stuff): Auckland Pride Parade to continue in 2019 despite reports of cancellation
RNZ: Auckland Pride Parade: ‘We will reinvent the Gala’
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Auckland Pride Parade 2019 still on, but will be radically different
Sport
Madeleine Chapman (Spinoff): Stop investing so much in rowing and give that money to basketball
Gregor Paul (Herald): The silent war raging in New Zealand Rugby
Te Papa
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Te Papa spent thousands on legal costs against web series Get It To Te Papa
Puawai Cairns (Spinoff): Biculturalism in our national museum can’t be a one-way conversation
Marama Fox pleads guilty to drink-driving charges
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Former Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox pleads guilty to drink driving
Belinda Feek (Herald): Former Māori Party MP Marama Fox admits drink-driving
RNZ: Former MP pleads guilty to drink drive charge
Other
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Building safety inspections cut back despite councils’ shortcomings
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Twyford would “absolutely” allow SPVs to fail
Chris Morris (ODT): Sexual abuse survivor to visit Vatican
Ben Waterworth (ODT): $995,000 boost for redevelopment ‘exciting’
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Govt signs off $mil funds for Māori Wardens
RNZ: Coroners to give greater consideration to Māori values
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Bill to change whānau access to tūpāpaku passes third reading
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Black Power, Mongrel Mob in talks to form anti-Australia gang coalition
RNZ: NZ’s current account deficit hits highest level in nine years
Alice Webb-Liddall (Newshub): Popular YouTuber claims internet craze ‘planking’ was ‘killed’ by John Key
