Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – March 06 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.
Mark Taylor
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Those who know ‘Kiwi Jihadi’ Mark Taylor say he’s vulnerable, lonely, needs help
1News: Jailed Kiwi jihadist Mark Taylor suffered brain damage as a child, relative says
Stacey Kirk and Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Mark Taylor’s former wife gives portrait of Kiwi jihadist jailed in Kurdish prison
RNZ: Kiwi jihadi Mark Taylor not so ‘bumbling’ – law expert
1News: Jacinda Ardern vows to keep New Zealanders safe against Kiwi jihadist, but expert says he ‘isn’t a threat’
Gordon Campbell: On justice for Kiwi jihadis
John Battersby and Rhys Ball (Stuff): The problem of the prodigal Isis supporters
Press Editorial: There must be consequences, but basic human rights remain
Herald Editorial: Repatriated jihadist Mark Taylor will be closely watched
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Government’s clueless about the danger Kiwi Jihadist Mark Taylor poses
Chris Wilson (Newsroom): Bring ‘Kiwi jihadi’ back to face justice
Jamie Walls (Herald): Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters goes on the offensive over the Kiwi jihadi Mark Taylor saga
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): PM Jacinda Ardern faces a test on what to do with bumbling Jihadi Mark Taylor
Jamie Ensor adn Miriam Harris (Newshub): ‘System failed him’: New Zealand Islamic group president wishes ‘Kiwi Jihadi’ Mark Taylor gets second chance
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): ‘We’re making no efforts to bring him home’ – Jacinda Ardern, Andrew Little shun ‘Kiwi Jihadi’ Mark Taylor
Jason Walls (Herald): PM Jacinda Ardern says former Isis fighter Mark Taylor ‘is our problem, we have to accept that’
Georgia Forrester (Stuff): ‘Kiwi jihadi’ Mark Taylor: Should NZ help to bring him home?
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘Kiwi Jihadi’ Mark Taylor: How other nations have dealt with citizen-turned-terrorists
Tax
Graham Adams (Noted): No dice: The unloved capital gains tax
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Sir Michael Cullen steps back into politics with debatable claims about CGT
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): NZ First suggests capital gains tax would need to be kept simple
Gia Garrick (RNZ): ‘Consultation’ needed on timing for CGT law change – Peters
Audrey Young (Herald): Simon Bridges gets the better of Jacinda Ardern over small business experience
Richard Harman (Politik): Temper flash from the PM
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Is Simon Bridges having most pleasurable time of his political career?
1News: Watch: Ardern praises Bridges’ ‘Wikipedia’ skills after his jibe at her ‘socialist youth’ past during small business tax debate
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Cullen and Bridges, who is in the right over KiwiSaver?
Alison Pavlovich (The Conversation): Why a proposed capital gains tax could mean tax cuts for most New Zealanders
Paul Glass (Herald): Why the ‘Future of Tax’ is not fair
Jason Walls (Herald): Government will share its tax information with a number of new countries
RNZ: Anti-tax evasion data sharing network expands to 90 countries
Electoral reform
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: How low can the MMP threshold go?
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Golriz Ghahraman a ‘clichéd leftie’
Zane Small (Newshub): Winston Peters belittles Greens’ approach to MMP threshold
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Ardern swoops in over Little on MMP threshold debate
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): PM rules out change to MMP threshold before next election
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promises no MMP threshold drop before 2020 election
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): No change to MMP threshold before next election – PM
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern rules out changing electoral laws for 2020 election
Census
Bruce Munro (ODT): And then there were nine
Brian Easton (Stuff): Census mess can be resolved with a new one in 2021
Thomas Manch (Stuff): 365 days and still counting: Census 2018 results nowhere to be seen
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Māori electorate seat at risk due to Census 2018 debacle
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Health boards, schools may lose funding as Ministries forced to use 2013 census data
Polytech reform, vocational training
Jamie Ensor, Delphine Herbert (Newshub): New Zealand’s largest trade apprentice provider rejects proposed vocational training shakeup
MItch McCann (Newshub): Trade leaders meet as Government proposes big changes to apprenticeships
Katie Bradford (1News): Government proposals to overhaul training sector sees push-back from construction industry
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Building industry fears apprentice changes could cause turmoil
Newshub: Industry summit on polytech changes (video)mb
School students’ climate change protest
An Open Letter from the Youth of Aotearoa – SchoolStrike
Richard Easther (Spinoff): The kids are revolting, and they’re smarter than you
RNZ: Climate change protest on school day divides MPs
Herald: Politicians have mixed views on students’ climate change protest
Alice Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): ‘It won’t help the world one bit’: MPs slam students’ protest on climate change
1News: ‘Not going to help the world one bit’ Judith Collins says as MPs voice opinions about school students’ climate change protest
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): Students plan school walkout to highlight climate change
Katy Jones (Stuff): Nelson schools support students’ strike for climate change
Environment
Jim Salinger and Michael Mann (Herald): Media should not give climate deniers a platform
1News: Zero Carbon Bill to be introduced in next few months, Climate Change Minister says
Steven Cowan: Empty words from Green co-leader James Shaw
Judy Lawrence (Spinoff): The Nelson fires are a climate change warning for New Zealand
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): New Zealand native species under threat due to marine heatwaves
Peter Williams (Magic Talk): James Shaw – ‘The current hypocrite-in-chief in the government’
David Farrar: Has Shaw got the Greens to agree to a GM u-turn?
Alexa Russell (Newsroom): Increasing anger over Waitakere track closures
Sean Hogan (1News); Road to Cape Kidnappers to be re-opened, after slip that injured tourists
RNZ: Council votes to open Cape Kidnappers after safety measures
Employment
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Wage theft flies under the radar, and the poor are missing out
YUDU: Tens of thousands of Kiwi workers sacked
RNZ: Checkoint: Migrant workers allegedly exploited by Bottle O store
Amy Ridout (Stuff): ‘Get out’: Polish backpackers reveal ugly downside of working in NZ
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): What’s the point in joining a union these days?
Samesh Mohaniall (Timaru Herald): Low unemployment rate brings fresh challenge to South Canterbury
Housing
Henry Cooke (Stuff): KiwiBuild a major stumbling block for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Government
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Wairarapa marae development provides affordable homes for whānau
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Here’s the dirty secret lurking in that ‘nasty’ house
Herald: Mortgage wars: HSBC launches record low 3.69 per cent two-year home loan rate
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): New council flats open to view
Amy Ridout (Nelson Mail): Anxious wait taking its toll on Nelson council housing residents
Health and disability
Jamie Ensor and Cleo Fraser (Newshub): ‘Wide variations’ in death rate following bowel cancer surgery across country should be investigated – report
Dave Macpherson (Daily Blog): Why Being Part of the Health Sector Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry, and why the Government won’t step in…..
1News: Despite modest improvement, NZ kids still among the most obese in the OECD, study finds
Newshub: Childhood obesity declining in most Kiwi communities (video)
Emma Espiner (Newstalk ZB): When the rules are different for Māori
1News: More measles outbreaks predicted as ‘anti-science’ material online feared a factor in disease’s rise
Albert Redmore (Newshub): No link between MMR vaccine and autism, confirms huge study
Amy Wiggins (Herald): New Danish study further discredits link between MMR vaccine and autism
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): Tighter controls on epilepsy drug ‘don’t go far enough’ to prevent harm to unborn babies
RNZ: Suspected swine flu outbreak in Hawke’s Bay
Astrid Austin (Hawkes Bay Today): Summer swine flu outbreak: Concern as more Hawke’s Bay orchard workers struck down
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Medical cannabis user’s charges dropped after her plight ‘struck a chord’
Michael Moynahan (Herald): Efforts to improve mental wellbeing should include the arts
Education
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Could a teacher mega-strike be on the cards?
Jessica Long (Stuff): National Party’s Nikki Kaye predicts third strike for primary schools ahead
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Student claims school threatened him with deportation for selling cheap uniforms
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Victoria University name change ‘not our business’ Wellington councillors say
Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): Iti to become Massey’s ‘activist in-residence’
Michael Hayward (Stuff): University of Canterbury enrollment numbers continue to cli
Public service
Sean Plunket (Magic Talk): Activist or public servant? The Privacy Commissioner must decide
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Public service should not treat all media queries as OIA requests – Ombudsman
No Right Turn: “The most transparent government ever” – yet again
Parliament
Phil Smith (RNZ): I hope you like numbers – a financy week at Parliament
RNZ: The House: Parliament’s to do list: Tuesday 5 March 2019
Foreign affairs and trade
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): NZ’s balancing act with the Five Eyes alliance
1News: Huawei a source of ‘very real national security concerns’ for US and NZ, American official argues
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): NZ aid allegations ‘may damage trust’
RNZ: Tuvalu hopes NZ agreement will bring greater communication
RNZ: Sopoaga ridicules citizenship swap idea calls instead for more climate action
RNZ: NZ asked to head security mission during Bougainville vote
Carrie Stoddart-Smith (Daily Blog): Maraturanga Maori & Free Trade
Mayoral contests
Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): The charade of Tamihere vs Goff on rates
Herald: Another hat in the ring: John Lehmann confirms bid for Auckland mayoralty
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Ana Coffey running for Porirua’s mayoralty
Virginia Fallon (Stuff): Three-term Porirua city councillor ‘Ana Coffey to contest mayoralty
Environment Canterbury
Paul Gorman (Stuff): Ngāi Tahu’s future Environment Canterbury representation under threat
No Right Turn: Good riddance
Point of Order: ‘Democracy’ rhetoric suggests Greens will oppose Ngai Tahu power grab – but let’s not count on it
Local government
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Prosecutions possible for owners of 10 earthquake-prone Lower Hutt buildings
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Council boss ‘floored’ Mataura’s proposed signage is being linked to Mongrel Mob
Primary industries
Heather Chalmers (Stuff): Kiwifruit pickers told to shop around for employers this season
Catherine Groenestein (Stuff): Drop in lamb numbers behind job losses at Waitotara meat processing plant
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Record fine for Waikato farmer for dairy effluent discharges
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): Dirty dairying farmer’s choice – pay the bank or protect environment
Gia Garrick (RNZ): Crime Amendment Bill targets livestock rustling
Laurel Ketel (Stuff): Nelson fire: Authorities look at reducing farming fire risks
Alice Angeloni (Stuff): Town water trucked to vineyards as dry summer gets ‘desperate’
Police
1News: Arming NZ cops would be an unnecessarily ’emotional’ move, former top crisis negotiator says
ODT Editorial: Routinely arming police
RNZ: Police minister Stuart Nash rules out routine arming of officers’
Amanda Thompson (Spinoff): In New Zealand, our cops don’t carry guns
Drugs
MItchell Alexander (Newshub): Revealed: National stalling its own synthetics Bill in bid to force Government to act
Chris Reed (Herald): Demand for hard drugs behind record border seizures
MIchael Morrah (Newshub): Sinaloa Cartel behind major recent New Zealand drug busts – experts
Ticket scalping
Jonathan Mitchell (RNZ): Ticketek considers throwing hat in the ring to replace re-seller
Newshub: Can the Government deter ticket scalpers? (video)
Immigration, Māori attitudes to Asia
RNZ; Sroubek ‘double’ Antolik likely to have visited New Zealand
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Māori feel positive about Asians, but not if they’re immigrating – study
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Māori see strong similarities with Asian cultures – survey
Fonterra
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Disappointing but not unexpected’: Fonterra boss on credit downgrade
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Fitch puts Fonterra on notice over credit rating
Andrea Fox (Herald): New Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell ‘best placed’ to turn company around
RNZ: Fonterra CEO won’t take $1.95m job for granted
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): ‘Much needed stability’: Miles Hurrell appointed permanent CEO of Fonterra
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Fonterra appoints Miles Hurrell as permanent boss after interim role
1News: Miles Hurrell gets permanent Fonterra role – with a $1.95m base salary
Newshub: Are huge CEO salaries justified?
Transport, Lime scooters
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): NZ Transport Agency’s cyber security under scrutiny after 82 data breaches
Brad Flahive (Stuff): E-scooter firm Lime dodges questions about its action on safety concerns with NZ fleet
Tim Miller (ODT): Lime, council reach deal over scooters
RNZ: Lime scooters to be allowed back on Dunedin streets
Mandy Te (Stuff): Lime job ad for people to return e-scooters to Auckland’s streets after glitch
Mainzeal
Nikki Mandow (BusinessDesk): Mainzeal decision opens insurance payout can of worms
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Mainzeal collapse could end Shipley’s career as director
Animal welfare
Stuff: Canterbury rodeo club hosting controversial National Finals Rodeo
1News: NZ’s leading food service company vows to sell only cage-free eggs by 2024
Women’s safety
Herald: New Zealand rated least dangerous place to live for women in Asia Pacific
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): New Zealand safer for women than Australia, Japan – study
Rugby
Gregor Paul (Herald): Don’t be deceived by World Rugby’s truth spinning
Hone Harawira (Daily Blog): Don’t let NZRU get away with killing Pacific Rugby
RNZ: Pacific players seek consultation over World Rugby plans
Eminem vs National Party
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): Eminem heads to the Supreme Court to appeal second damages decision
RNZ: Eminem lawyers take NZ National Party to Supreme Court over damages
Herald: Eminem representatives not backing down on Court of Appeal decision in National Party feud
Waikato River on Street View
Isobel Ewing (Newshub): Waikato River becomes first in New Zealand to be mapped on Google Street View
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Google’s 360-degree view of Waikato River goes online
Elton Rikihana Smallman (Stuff): Google’s virtual tour of Waikato River opens door for inspiration and opportunity
Other
Jarrod Gilbert (Herald): Here’s why it pays to exercise caution
Juha Saarinen (Herald): When Big Brother gets too smart… worry
Don Christie (Stuff): Govt slapping the wrong backs when it comes to tech innovation
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): ‘Archaic’ blasphemous libel law repealed in Parliament
Harrison Christian (Stuff): Prisons beef up drone defence amid rising risk of aerial smuggling
Kate Gudsell (RNZ): New Zealand plane hijacker Asha Abdille wants to go home to Somalia
RNZ: Manuka planting scheme takes on first 20 workers in north
RNZ: Z Energy inundated with info requests over fuel market survey
Emma Hatton (RNZ): New Zealand edges closer to open banking
RNZ: Subcontractor’s crane locked up amid Arrow International’s administration
Herald/E-Tangata: Conversations: Pepe Robertson on the Samoan Mau rebellion against New Zealand rule
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Criminal records and personal details found in abandoned quake-damaged Christchurch building
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian):Cook Islands considers name change to ‘reflect true Polynesian nature’
Alex Loo (Manawatū Standard): Lack of public consultation timeframe for self-identification bill frustrating for trans people
David Farrar: The Helen Clark Foundation
Bryan Bruce (Daily Blog): PM’s, Privilege and Poverty
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): How can child sex offender be granted a real estate licence?
Stuff: Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard back for New Zealand
1New: Marae: Māori man breaks tradition, takes on Pākehā wife’s surname
Grant Bradley (Herald): Dassault touts its Falcon 8X as a replacement for New Zealand’s ageing Boeing 757s
Point of Order: Defence people believe the govt is closer to placing order for Hercules replacements
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Simplicity’s bank profit clock criticised as ‘gimmicky’
