Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – January 28 2019
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
![](https://eveningreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Bowen_House_Beehive_Parliament-1024x768.jpg)
The Beehive and Parliament Buildings.
Jami-Lee Ross, Sarah Dowie
Graham Adams (Noted): Parliament’s star-crossed lovers who crossed each other
1News: Simon Bridges says under-fire MP Sarah Dowie still has a future with the National Party
Audrey Young (Herald): Why the news media was obliged to name National MP Sarah Dowie
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): The long road to Sarah Dowie’s naming in Jami-Lee Ross saga
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Should MP Sarah Dowie have been named by media?
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): Nats played dirtier than anyone
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Bigger issues to deal with than emotive texts
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Dowie’s reign as Invercargill MP looks to be over
Logan Savory (Southland Times): Sarah Dowie: A journey from talented dancer to representing Invercargill in parliament
Logan Savory (Southland Times): Southern political figures tight-lipped as police investigate text
Herald: Text message investigation: No immediate show of support for National MP Sarah Dowie over Jami-Lee Ross text
RNZ: National steers clear of investigation on text allegedly sent to Jami-Lee Ross
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Jami-Lee Ross has the same agenda, different tactics
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross not ruling out a return to local politics
David Farrar: Dowie named
No Right Turn: Hoist by her own petard
PM in Europe, trade
Chris Trotter: The Jacinda Problem: Where She Goes, We Go.
Jane Kelsey (Daily Blog): NZ Joins Breakaway Push for WTO E-Commerce Rules that Protect Google etc from Regulation
RNZ: Government doesn’t understand e-commerce rules – Kelsey
Jacinda Ardern (Project Syndicate): Why New Zealand Looks to Europe
1News: Jacinda Ardern has been ‘absolutely phenomenal’ in Europe, generating ‘huge’ media interest – Joy Reid
Steven Cowan: Teflon Jacinda
Joy Reid (1News): Analysis: A free trade deal with the EU would be really big for NZ. Here’s why
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern hopeful of FTA with the EU by the end of the year
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern joins EU in making veiled attacks on US protectionism
Stuff: Jacinda Ardern and EU leaders promise ‘ambitious and comprehensive trade agreement’
Lloyd Burr (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern meets European Union leaders to discuss free trade deal
1News: Jacinda Ardern eager to secure $20 billion European Union free trade deal ‘as soon as possible’
1News: Watch: Jacinda Ardern quizzed over her most ‘over-the-top’ Davos political moments
Zane Small (Newshub): Gareth Morgan: Identity politics ‘sucker’ Jacinda Ardern took ‘lipstick on pig’ out of context
Education
Simon Collins (Herald): Epic battle starts over Tomorrow’s Schools reforms
Simon Collins (Herald): School divide may force compromise on radical shakeup
Simon Collins (Herald): Auckland Grammar boy’s hair may be test case for school independence
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Hundreds of teacher vacancies as schools reopen
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Class sizes of 60-plus if teacher shortage isn’t fixed right away – PPTA
RNZ: Disruptions expected in schools due to staff shortages
Lynlee Smith (Stuff): Are teachers valued in New Zealand?
Josephine Franks (Manukau Courier): South Auckland school scraps donations and provides free stationery
Herald Editorial: The tech pest a headache for parents
Adele Redmond (Stuff): School uniforms – why do they cost so much
Michael Reddell: School days and years
Martin Johnston (Herald): National MP Nicola Willis wants to chop up to two weeks off schools’ summer holiday
Nicola Willis (Herald): Shorter school holidays could work for parents, kids and schools
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Union talking directly to Education Minister over pay dispute
Jessica Long (Stuff): Teachers’ unions tight-lipped on potential strike action as students return to school
Jani Wilson (E-Tangata): I help Māori students grow their dreams
Rob Stock (Stuff):‘Not achieved’ replaced by ‘achieved’ in $10.2 million Sorted in Schools turnaround
Mary-Jo Tohill (Stuff): Telford students poised to hear minister’s verdict
John Tamihere to stand for Auckland mayor
Todd Niall (Stuff): Which John Tamihere will run for Auckland mayor?
RNZ: Tamihere bids for Auckland mayoralty: ‘My name’s JT, not JC’
Herald Editorial: John Tamihere offers a shake-up to mayoralty but he could be vulnerable to attack
Newshub: ‘Old stories’ may derail John Tamihere’s mayoralty bid – expert
Simon Wilson (Herald): John Tamihere on Roast Busters, front bums and running for Auckland mayoralty
Herald: John Tamihere ready to ‘shake it up’ as he annouces bid for Auckland mayoralty
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Exclusive: John Tamihere to stand for Auckland mayor, pledges to shake up Auckland Council
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Christine Fletcher calls Phil Goff a weak leader who has failed Auckland
Todd Niall (Stuff): John Tamihere and Christine Fletcher team up to challenge Auckland Mayor Phil Goff
1News: John Tamihere announces bid for Auckland mayor, crosses party line for running mate
Dan Satherley and Ruwani Perera (Newshub): John Tamihere confirms run for Auckland mayoralty
Mānia Clarke (Māori TV): Social Housing behind Tamihere mayoralty bid
Scott Palmer (Newshub): John Tamihere’s most controversial moments
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Tamihere brings together left-right coalition to defeat Goff, Auckland for us not them & the ‘annoying The Spinoff’ rule of thumb for winning
RNZ: Goff: Revenue gap of $4.3b if fuel tax dumped
Housing
Chris Trotter (Interest): How middle class housing subsidies overwhelmed the social housing priorities of the Labour Party’s rank-and-file members
Peter Lyons (ODT): Housing issue more complex than Govt might have thought
Catherine Harris and Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): Kiwibuild should build more rental properties economist Shamubeel Eaqub says
Tom Dillane (Herald): Twyford admits KiwiBuild ballot a ‘temporary measure’ after 50 per cent sale rate revealed
Duncan Garner (Stuff): Twyford trips on his own cocky swagger
Catherine Harris (Stuff): KiwiBuild still making a difference: industry players
RNZ: KiwiBuild developer stands behind plan
Anne Gibson (Herald): Foreign buyer ban prompts house-builders to seek special clearance
Brendon Harre (Interest): Finding someone to lead the building of 100,000 affordable homes is proving to be a big ask
Brenda Harwood (ODT): Dunedin housing ‘severely unaffordable’
Dan Satherley (Newshub): National blames MMP, minor parties for housing crisis
Isaac Davison (Herald): ‘Unfortunate’ landlords advised to clean up meth damage which posed no health risk
Tax
Liam Dann (Herald): Brace yourself – the capital gains tax debate is about to go nuclear
David Farrar: The five measures of fairness for a CGT
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): $70,000 no longer the benchmark for ‘high earning’, critics say
Economy
Herald: New Zealand ranked third freest economy in the world
Liam Dann (Herald): Living in economic no man’s land
Rod Oram (Newsroom): Reasons to be cheerful despite Davos gloom
ODT Editorial: Economic growth needs ‘tall poppies’
International relations
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): The year ahead for NZ’s foreign policy
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand is not discriminating against Huawei
1News: Australia orders criminal deported to NZ, even though he’s never lived here
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Australia deporting ‘New Zealander’ who’s never even been here
Paul Little (Herald): Time for Kiwis to address Australia’s race relations record
RNZ: NZ will not give official recognition to one side in Venezuelan crisis
Health
Katarina Williams (Stuff): From grin to grimace: The pain of paying for adult dental care
Stuff: ‘Beyond frustrated’ junior doctors to strike for a third time
Herald: ‘Ongoing battle for a fair deal’: Resident Doctors issue strike notice
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Hospital midwives ready to strike for second time
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Minister issues warning to SDHB
David Loughrey (ODT): Historic facades to make way for hospital
Hamish McNeillly (Stuff): Former Cadbury site to be chockablock with Dunedin’s new hospital
Donna-Lee Biddle (Stuff): Baby boomers ‘blase’ as NZ’s deadly melanoma rates remain highest in world
Rob Stock (Stuff): Make health insurance cheaper for elderly, by making the young pay more
Brianna McIlraith (Stuff): Outrage as tobacco giants pay Instagram ‘influencers’ to promote vaping product
Employment
Joel Ineson (Stuff): Numbers on disabled work scheme have plummeted
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): E tū union gets in behind proposed ‘class action’ lawsuit against Chorus’ main UFB contractor
RNZ: National attacks Fair Pay Agreements report before release
Fire Service
Southland Times Editorial: If Fire Service bullies can’t stand the heat …
RNZ: Culture of bullying could take years to change – Fire and Emergency boss
Alison Mau (Stuff): Our fire ‘heroes’ need more than good intentions to solve culture problem
Cannabis, drug policy
Danyl Mclauchlan (Spinoff): Why a public vote is the wrong way to determine drug policy
Derek Cheng (Herald): Tightly regulated framework likely for 2020 vote on cannabis
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Nick Smith snorts at Government’s ‘soft approach to drugs’ in annual Rotary speech
Deena Coster (Stuff): Medicinal cannabis company’s crowdfunding campaign reaches $820K
David Clarkson (Stuff): ‘Medicinal cannabis’ grower admits sales
Jo LInes-MacKenzie (Stuff): Cops let Ngaruawāhia marijuana grower off with a warning
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Ngāruawāhia woman with 45 marijuana plants in garden let off with a warning
Media
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): The Edge to stop playing Chris Brown, following rape allegation
David Farrar: Media asking Government Ministers for help with a complaint
Steve Braunias (Herald): Secret diary of … 2019: Permission to shock?
Joseph Parker interview
Alex Casey (Spinoff): ‘I’m still living it’:a Roast Busters survivor’s story
Lizzie Marvelly (Herald): Roast Buster interview about ratings, not a matter of public interest
Environment and conservation
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Kiwis want tougher water quality rules to protect rivers from polluters
Kate Gudsell (RNZ): New Zealanders want tougher protections for waterways
Henry Cooke (Stuff): NZ First slows climate change law
David Williams (Newsroom): Opposition builds against eco-tourism project
Kaitlin Ruddock (1News): Roving rangers help look after DOC’s busiest camp sites over busy summer period
RNZ: Cruise ships to dim lights and keep sea birds safe
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): Gondola proposed for one of Auckland’s most sacred mountains
Gifts to public officials
RNZ: Revealed: Reserve Bank, ComCom staff entertained by firms they regulate
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): Exclusive sports events risky for regulators: expert
Justice
Cleo Fraser (Newshub): A look inside NZ’s experimental Drug Courts
Derek Cheng (Herald): Released prisoners set up to fail due to poor support – justice advisory group
Edward O’Driscoll (Newshub): Reducing youths detained in custody ‘challenging’ – Ministry for Children
Domestic, family violence
RNZ: Govt agencies sharing details on family violence will save lives – Jan Logie
Mengzhu Fu (RNZ): Domestic violence against migrants: we need action
Police
RNZ: New crime reporting tool used 3700 times since launch
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Mother claims teen’s text abuse was ignored by police officer
Defence
Karoline Tuckey (RNZ): NATO seeks NZ support for new Iraq training programme
Derek Cheng (RNZ): Nato asks NZ to join new training mission in Iraq
RNZ: National favours providing further training support in Iraq
Kirsty Lawrence (Stuff): Whopping pay rises see more than two thousand NZDF staff earn six-figure salaries
RNZ: Defence Force won’t investigate death of Singaporean Aloysius Pang
Inequality
RNZ: Charity feeds thousands of school children each week
Newshub: Demand for KidsCan’s help doubles in just five years
Māori TV: Greatest ever demand in emergency kai parcels
Transport
Todd Niall (Stuff): Three NZTA directors resign in wake of fall-out over enforcement issues
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Transport Agency extends free WOF offer for two months
ODT Editorial: Interpreting foreign driver data
Meriana Johnsten (RNZ): Govt ‘lip service’ to concerns about Chch commuter rail
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Opposition to Wellington’s Rainbow Crossing nearly lead to police intervention
Political parties
RNZ: New centrist green party could be ‘valuable addition’ – Bridges
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Blue-Greens movement could be National’s answer to toppling Ardern
RNZ: Plans firming up for new green party to partner National
Emma Cropper (Newshub): New ‘centrist green’ political party could partner with National
No Rjght Turn: An astroturf party?
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Vernon Tava Blue Green fantasy shows how desperate National are becoming
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): A battle for the conservatives: How National is using drug reform and migration to cut NZ First’s lunch
1News: Māori Party and TOP in talks ahead of 2020 election
Primary industries
Pat Deavoll (Stuff): Beekeepers urged to vote for a commodity levy
Maja Burry (RNZ): Proposed honey levy divides beekeepers
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): Change coming as Waikato’s farmers look to lower their emissions
RNZ: East Coast fishing vessels complying with crayfish catch limits
Matt Brown (Stuff): Restrictions loom for river irrigators in Marlborough
Commerce
Gavin Evans (BusinessDesk): Government plans tougher anti-competition measures
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘Powerful firms’ in the Government’s sights
Migration, Immigration NZ
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Suspected ‘slave’ boss says he will deny charges
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Relatives from Albania denied New Zealand visas for wedding
Gavin Evans (BusinessDesk): New data reveals net migration may have peaked in 2016
1News: New Zealand net migration decreases, trending down after 2016 high
Local government
Belinda Feek (Herald): Unruly tourists: Mayor Phil Goff stands by ‘a***holes’ and ‘rubbish’ comments
RNZ: Kawerau mayor suggests chlorine dose for online critics
Waihopai spy base protest
Tim O’Connell (Nelson Mail): Annual Waihopai spy base protest takes aim at Donald Trump
Newshub: Marama Davidson to make Waihopai spy base protest debut
Other
Matt Nippert (Herald): PM Jacinda Ardern canned film subsidy curbs after meeting Peter Jackson
Bruce Munro (ODT): What are the risks?
Megan Sutherland (Newshub): Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters shares his 2019 predictions
Peter Wilson (RNZ): Political year kicks off and the government takes a hit
Katie Todd (RNZ): Bank to close Chch branch despite petition
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Te Papa restructure risks loss of irreplaceable science expertise – critics
Deborah Hill Cone (Herald): Shame on us? Why we need to stop public shaming
Dale Husband (E-Tangata): Karanina Sumeo: Speaking for ourselves
Buddy Mikaere (E-Tangata): Pukehinahina–Gate Pā: A personal Māori perspective
Denise Garland (Spinoff): Pro tip, UK brewers: Māori is a culture, not a beer style
Kim Knight (Herald): Auckland Zoo’s new director Kevin Buley defends the role of zoos
Tom O’Connor (Stuff): The dark side of deer velvet
RNZ: Soon-to-be-released jailhouse lawyer labelled as a ‘legal genuis’
RNZ: Tenzing’s sons visit Mt Cook, learn from ‘strong’ Māori culture
Kerre McIvor (Herald): Putting yourself at risk means putting others at risk
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Fewer than 4000 homes will be without access to Government-backed broadband in four years
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Wellington politicians turn sleuths, and become an injured dog’s best friend
ABC: Death of Niue’s sole duck `a sad time’