Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – March 01 2019
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.
Provincial Growth Fund
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Hall of mirrors for Government on Provincial Growth Fund success
Tova O’Brien, Mitchell Alexander, Zane Small (Newshub): Government ignored Treasury advice on $9.9m Westland Milk Provincial Growth Fund loan
Jessica Mutch McKay (1News): Government pushed ahead with Westland Milk loan despite Treasury advice
Jason Walls (Herald): The Treasury warned the Government that it should defer any decision on giving Westland a loan
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Government ignored Treasury advice over $9.9m Westland Milk loan
Jo Moir (RNZ): Govt loaned millions to private firm despite advice to defer
Chris Knox and Jason Walls (Herald): Northland has been allocated $100m from the Provincial Growth Fund but that’s $50 million behind Tairāwhiti
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Provincial Growth Fund about getting ‘good PR’ – economist
Māori TV: Hek Busby waka centre to receive $4.6mil from PGF
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): Sir Hek Busby waka centre to be built in Doubtless Bay with $4.6m grant
Point of Order: Kelvin Davis dishes up an $8.2m serving from the PGF trough for projects in his home patch
Police
RNZ: Danger means arming police where we’re heading – Police Association
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Christchurch shooting: All frontline cops told to arm themselves
RNZ: Christchurch police to carry firearms ‘until further notice’
Chelsea Boyle (Herald): All frontline Canterbury cops carrying firearms until further notice
Jamie Ensor, Grace Cocker and Juliet Speedy (Newshub): Canterbury police walking streets with guns after serious shootout
No Right Turn: A threat to public safety
RNZ: Fatal shootings: Police Assocation wants tighter gun control
Sam Hurley (Herald): Attention now on police employment investigation after Kevin Burke’s acquittal on sex charges
Harrison Christian (Stuff): Senior Northland cop Kevin Burke found not guilty of sexual assault
Harrison Christian (Stuff): Cop Kevin Burke sexual assault trial: Police admit failures in investigation
Tax
Richard Harman (Politik): The curiously low key Beehive
Peter Dunne: Trite and banal responses from political parties to TWG recommendations
Damien Venuto (Herald): How lobby groups stole the capital gains tax debate
Matthew Hooton (Herald): When CGT fails, look out for tax rises
1News: Majority of KiwiSaver users would be better off if all Tax Working Group’s proposed changes implemented – expert
Listener Editorial: The proposed capital gains tax could do the opposite of what it claims
Foreign affairs and trade
John Anthony (Stuff): Air New Zealand gives handouts to taxpayer funded lobby group New Zealand China Council
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Is NZ’s deportation stance hypocritical?
Lucy Bennett (Herald): New Zealand and Fiji commit to stronger relationship as part of NZ’s ‘Pacific Reset’
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Winston Peters commits to giving Fijian military more support as countries engage in ‘reinvigorated relations’; Welcomes more seasonal workers from Fiji
RNZ: Fiji points to healing of NZ-Fiji relations
RNZ: NZ ministers warmly greeted in Kiribati
Bruce Munro and Robert Patman (ODT): Global Insight: NZ needs to be ‘friendly but firm’ with China
Bonnie Flaw (Stuff): Brexit: New Zealand’s counsellor picks ‘business as usual’
Phil O’Reilly (Herald): Britain’s mess shows good policy cannot be taken for granted
Health
Dennis Maga (Stuff): The Wellbeing Budget and the health of medical workers
RNZ: Junior doctors’ contract with DHBs to lapse
Hawkes Bay Today: ‘Something is seriously wrong’: Hawke’s Bay DHB put on notice by anaesthetic technicians
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Prime Minister says she will speak with parents of Nicky Stevens
1News: Nurses fear mental health funding boost for Canterbury won’t make staff safer
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Government approves $79m for Christchurch mental health upgrade
RNZ: Most Princess Margaret Hospital mental health services to relocate to new facility
Zane Small (Newshub): Government pumps $79 million into Canterbury mental health services
1News: Government investing $79 million into new mental health facilities at Christchurch’s Hillmorton Hospital
Lucy Bennett (Herald): More funding announced for mental health facilities moving from Princess Margaret to Hillmorton
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): Angry patients demand answers after files ‘accidentally dropped’ in Christchurch street
Herald: Heat from suicide prevention advocates forces ‘Hot As Hell Curry’ name change
1News: Christchurch restaurant changes name of ‘suicide curry’ eating challenge after mental health advocate’s protest
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Meat co-op launches workplace initiative to raise awareness of suicide
Herald: Ministry of Health urges those travelling into New Zealand to ensure they have been vaccinated
1News: Measles alert for Auckland not linked to Canterbury outbreak – health officials
RNZ: Fourth measles case in Canterbury, one in Auckland
Libby Wilson (Stuff): No new Waikato measles cases, ministry says outbreaks “imported from overseas”
Education and childcare
1News: Cut bureaucracy in school system that ‘creates inequality’ and put in place ‘education hubs’ – expert
Simon Collins (Herald): Birkenhead College requires parent-controlled ‘spyware’ as condition for students to access school Wi-Fi
John Lewis (ODT): Schools spread net for overseas pupils
Alice Angeloni (Stuff): Tomorrow’s Schools: ‘Enough reporting to ministries’ – principal
Jessica Long (Stuff): More work needed to lift 44 schools out of financial difficulty, Government says
Jessica Long (Stuff): Wellington Girls’ College given $25 million from Government for new buildings
Jean Bell (Bay of Plenty Times): Intellectually challenged Te Puke High School student kicked out of class over beard
Bob McCoskrie: 30,000 sign petition to stop New Zealand schools teaching ‘gender diversity’
Natalie Marriott (Stuff): Teachers in New Zealand are undervalued and underpaid, and our kids are suffering
Carla Forbes (Southland Times): Don’t try and fix the Southern Institute of Technology that is not broken
Sarah Dowie (Southland Times): SIT’s very identity imperilled by Govt reform
Katy Jones (Nelson Mail): Nelson urged to provide feedback on radical plan to fix polytechnics sector
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Investigation into Hutt Valley daycare mistreatment claims delayed
Employment
Julie Iles (Dominion Post): Government commissions new study on the future of work
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Future of work inquiry terms released
Gia Garrick (RNZ): Govt resumes regular meetings with unions
1News: PM says tipping should be built into wages, after Uber adds new option
Newshub: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern not keen on Uber’s new ‘tipping’ feature
RNZ: Juken fined $365k after worker suffers serious injuries
1News: Kiwi company fined $365,000 after employee suffered third-degree burns in work accident
Mainzeal
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Jenny Shipley’s downfall raises questions about NZ’s political class
Anne Gibson (Herald): Mainzeal: anatomy of a corporate downfall
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Mainzeal judgment brings lessons in corporate governance
Local government
Stephen Forbes (Interest): Local Government New Zealand calls for greater devolution during joint symposium with the New Zealand Initiative
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Māori world view for local governance frameworks
Michael Reddell: Pondering localism
Chloe Ranford (Malborough Express): Novel idea to use surplus funds to keep rates down surprises council
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Nicky Wagner rules out run against Lianne Daziel for Christchurch mayoralty
1News: Christchurch council to impose water restrictions while wells upgraded
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Strictest water restrictions since earthquakes on way in bid to bring well repairs back on track
Laura Whiltshire (Hawkes Bay Today): Tukituki plan change: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council ‘dances on grave of difficult decision’
Alex Loo (Manawatū Standard): Push to increase ward representation at Horowhenua Local Government Commission hearing
Matthew Tso (Stuff): Golf club land eyed up by Wellington regional council for flood protection
Auckland
Simon Wilson (Herald): Last chance for Queen’s Wharf?
Laura James (1News): Aucklanders to have their say on changes to dog rules
Amy Wiggins (Herald): Council supports proposal to lengthen summer hours dogs are banned from beaches
Zane Small (Newshub): Auckland Council votes to take fireworks ban to Government
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Auckland Council votes to ask govt to ban fireworks sales
Laura James (1News): Auckland Council calls on Government to ban the public sale of fireworks – ‘there is a mood for change’
Martin Johnston (Herald): Fireworks popular in New Zealand since they arrived in the traditions of early British and Chinese immigrants
1News: Banning private sale, use of fireworks would sacrifice quality of life for animals’ comfort, importer says
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Fireworks ban will ruin the lives of children and families
Herald: Auckland Council may pay out another $350m for leaky buildings
Lime scooters
RNZ Checkpoint: Lime to add 300 more e-scooters to Christchurch footpaths
Tina Law (Stuff): Lime secures 300 extra scooters and 12-month lease for Christchurch streets
1News: Lime Scooters allowed to continue operating in Christchurch for another year after brake issues assurance
RNZ: Lime tells Christchurch council its scooters are ‘absolutely safe’
Ryan Dunlop (Herald): Lime’s back on the menu? Auckland and Dunedin councils to make announcement today on e-scooter future
David Loughrey (ODT): Lime scooters could return today after safety changes
Nicole Lawton (Stuff): Lime suspension: e-scooters could be back on Auckland streets soon
Herald: Lime scooters: Decision on their future to be made by tomorrow
Housing
Marta Steeman (Stuff): Building long-term rentals in New Zealand faced big challenges, a new report says
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): First home buyers miss out after RBNZ tweak
Jeni Cartwright (CPAG): Parents aren’t asking for the earth, just a safe, affordable home for their kids
Alex Loo (Manawatū Standard): Old Palmerston North state houses get demolished to make room for new ones
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Landlord censured for cold, rundown house
Tim Miller (ODT): Many sources for solutions to housing issues, forum told
Dominic Harris (Press): MPs urge planning law changes to protect against housing intensification
Sam Thompson (Sun Live): We are homeless, say campers at boat trailer park
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Queenstown homes now more expensive than Auckland
Transport
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): ‘Overdue’: Experts call for action on life-saving motorcycle technology as Government considers plan
Catherine Hutton (RNZ): Govt forced KiwiRail to backtrack on locomotives decision, documents show
Phil Pennington (RNZ): NZTA snub could cost ratepayers millions, says Auckland SkyPath trust
Media
Chris Keall (Herald): TVNZ positions for paywall as online revenue grows
Belinda Feek (Herald): Sunday programme’s gay conversion hidden camera complaint not upheld: BSA
1News: BSA rules TVNZ’s Sunday programme was justified in using hidden camera in story about gay conversion therapy
Gambling
Damian George (Stuff): Sports betting and ‘pokies’ big movers as gambling spend increases by $49 million
Isaac Davison (Herald): Kiwis spent equivalent of $648 each on gambling last year, with the biggest share going to pokies
Justice, corrections, crime
Anna Leask (Herald): New family violence charge nets 19 alleged abusers each day – police say stats are ‘shocking’
Michael Daly (Stuff): Average five people a day charged with strangulation, suffocation since law change
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Spring Hill prison managers ‘hauled over coals’ over bullying allegations
Alice Webb-Liddall and Kethaki Masilamani (Newshub): Malcolm Rewa to appeal Susan Burdett murder conviction, claiming ‘jury bias’
Environment
Wayne Mapp (Spinoff): The power of Jacindamania could help fight climate change. Will Ardern use it?
Eva Corlett (RNZ): Henderson Creek community group vows to hold authorities to task
Business
Liam Dann and Jenny Ruth (Herald/BusinessDesk): Gloomy business expects banks to get tougher on lending
RNZ: Business confidence dips on global concerns after string of increases
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘Momentum has waned’: Business confidence stalls again in ANZ survey
Electricity industry
RNZ: Authority says power generators didn’t collude to increase prices
BusinessDesk: NZ generators cleared of collusion, may face Aussie inquiry
Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): A very undesirable trading situation
Construction industry
Duncan Bridgeman (Herlad): Arrow administration: More construction firms will fail, says economist
Stuff: Chows eye up construction firm Arrow International after administrators take over
RNZ: Arrow International goes into voluntary administration
Herald: Construction firm Arrow International put into voluntary administration
Sexuality
Max Towle (RNZ): Being queer and Christian in 2019
Damian George (Stuff): Huge rainbow painted at end of Wellington Airport runway to celebrate Pride Festival
Herald: Wellington Airport paints giant Pride rainbow on runway embankment
Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Bill deferred
Sarah Murphy (RNZ): What are the next steps for the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Bill?
Daphna Whitmore: A turning point for women’s rights
Other
Ian Hyslop (Newsroom): Kiwi life can’t really be just all about rentals
RNZ: Nearly $900k to boost civil defence response projects
Lucy Bennett (Herald): MPs’ travel expenses released
George Block (ODT): Rape Crisis at breaking point
1News: Inside Parliament: Sex, drugs and tax ‘n’ poll
John Moore: Critical politics alternative analysis – Whaleoil blogger bankrupt, Cohen as Trump’s Judas, Trump and Kim Jong Un
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): First 5G spectrum auction on track for early 2020
Chris Morris (ODT): MP wants Invermay change scrapped
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Hundreds mark 24th Pākaitore protest anniversary
Brian Fallow (Herald): Weighing the cost of stronger banks
Kyle MacDonald (Herald): Is the Portugal Model a good approach to drug use for New Zealand?
Herald: Jami-Lee Ross’ new logo looks to have taken a lot of inspiration from Labour, National and NZ First
Stuart Smith (Malborough Express): Proposed water tax a ‘burden’ on low-rainfall regions
Paul Cully (Stuff): ‘The death of Pacific Island rugby’: World Rugby blasted over World League
RNZ: Sport: Proposed World League would mean ‘death of Pacific rugby’
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Here’s what makes us feel wealthy now
Marta Steeman (Stuff): Wellington office tenants struggle with few choices and fast rising rents
Andre Chumko (Stuff): Hope for the East Coast as hemp-growing course sees huge demand
