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Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – March 26 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.
Today’s content

Royal Commission, role of spy agencies
Richard Harman (Politik): An inquiry into an invisible man
Laura Dooney (RNZ): Auckland Muslim man furious about SIS surveillance: ‘They’ve dropped the ball’
Jamie Ensor and Jared McCulloch (Newshub): Christchurch terror attack: Royal Commission Inquiry into intelligence services will be ‘brutal’ – terrorism expert
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): PM cool on chance of cyber-snooping project stopping mosque terrorism
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘Humiliation’: New Zealand Muslims’ rights breached by authorities, Human Rights Foundation reveals
1News: Royal commission of inquiry into Christchurch terror attacks to be held, Prime Minister says
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern announces Royal Commission into security agencies after Christchurch attack
RNZ: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces details of inquiry into security services
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into Christchurch mosque shootings
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Jacinda Ardern announces Royal Commission of Inquiry into mosque shootings, China visit next week
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Royal Commission of Inquiry announced following the Christchurch terror attacks
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): PM confirms Royal Commission for Chch attack
Charles Anderson (Guardian): New Zealand shooting: Jacinda Ardern announces royal commission into attack
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Māori Council backs Royal Commission of Inquiry into terror attacks
Jason Walls (Herald): National Leader Simon Bridges says the threat of white supremacy wasn’t a focus for NZ’s spy agencies
RNZ: GCSB and SIS’s ‘hands tied behind their backs’ – Simon Bridges
Stuff: Emergency response to Wellington spy HQ after letter sent containing ‘unknown white powder’

Gun reform, firearms
Jared Savage (Herald): Analysis: Why tracking guns is the common thread between Aramoana, the Napier siege and the Christchurch terror attack
1News: Jacinda Ardern supports gun registry idea as Government works towards new firearms laws
1News: Gun register favoured by Police Minister in second phase of post-Christchurch terror attack changes
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Government’s first round of gun law reform a success
Maria Slade (Spinoff): The cop who shot David Gray calls for end to NZ’s ‘uncontrolled’ gun culture
John Gibb (ODT): Initiatives ‘will make NZ safer
John Moore: The politics of gun reform in New Zealand
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): KiwiSaver providers answer questions on gun investments

Manifesto deemed objectionable by Chief Censor
Graeme Edgeler: Why the censor’s total ban on possession of “the Manifesto” is wrong
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘There should be limits’ to free speech – Council for Civil Liberties
RNZ: Chief censor defends classifying manifesto objectionable
No Right Turn: Objectionable
MIchael Reddell: Reading our censorship act

Hate speech laws
Sam Hurley (Herald): Christchurch mosque shootings: Does New Zealand need hate speech laws after terror attacks?
1News: Police Minister open to strengthening laws around hate speech
Newstalk ZB: Govt urged to introduce separate hate speech law
Daphna Whitmore: Counter hate speech with free speech

Social media, internet
Paul Brislen (RNZ): How to regulate social media
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Action on social media a question for Government following Christchurch mosque shootings
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): Facebook Live is unpopular, unsafe – and untouchable
Katie Fitzgerald and Miriam Harris (Newshub): Facebook ‘silent’ on Christchurch terror attack – NZ commercial communications council
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): A surprising ally on greater tech regulation
Ben Strang (RNZ): No Facebook accountability or contrition over terror attack – Privacy Commissioner
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): ‘Your silence is an insult to our grief’: Privacy Commissioner tells Facebook 
Chris Keall (Herald): ‘Your silence is an insult to our grief,’ Privacy Commissioner tells Facebook
Newshub: How can AI control the spread of fake news? (video)
Newshub: How artificial intelligence monitors online content (video)
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Why we should all walk away from social media
Reuters: Muslim group in France suing Facebook, YouTube over livestream video

Ardern’s leadership
Stuff: Jacinda Arden opens up about Christchurch shootings on The Project Australia
Aya Batrawy (AP): How Ardern addressed a ‘double standard’ over terrorism
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Nobel Peace Prize talk ‘doesn’t sit comfortably with me’ – PM
Alice Webb-Lidall (Newshub): Why Jacinda Ardern might have to wait to win Nobel Peace Prize
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Could Jacinda Ardern actually win the Nobel Peace prize?
Ahamad Fuwad (DNA India): How to deal with tragedy: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern sets an example for world leaders, emerges as liberal mascot

Peters abroad, Turkey, Australia
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Turkey trip a success despite stumbles
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Surely there were better places for Winston Peters to have a bit of Turkish shut-eye
Dominion Post Editorial: Winston Peters asleep at the wheel of foreign affairs
Newstalk ZB: Was Winston Peters ‘deceived’ by the President of Turkey?
Zane Small and Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Why Winston Peters didn’t confront Turkish President Erdoğan over Christchurch video
1News: Winston Peters says Turkish president’s Christchurch terror attack narrative has ‘utterly changed’
Jason Walls (Herald): Winston Peters in a state of ‘deep contemplation’ during a meeting with top Islamic officials
AAP: Australian politician calls for nation’s own inquiry into Christchurch terror attacks

Christchurch mosque shootings
Jane Clifton (Listener): After Christchurch, politicians need to hand in their dog whistles
Chris Trotter (Interest):  Political and racial aftershocks are starting to emerge following the Christchurch terrorist attacks
Thomas Manch (Stuff): The ‘growing’ white nationalist group with a ‘harmful and violent’ ideology
Donna Miles-Mojab (Stuff): Christchurch shooting: Why are we not using the word Islamophobia?
Jehan Casinader (1News): The truth about Islamophobia: Why have the voices of Kiwi Muslims not been heard until now? (video)
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern ‘devastated’ as anti-Muslim attacks continue after Christchurch shooting
David Cormack (Herald): Giving thanks
Trevor Richards (Herald): NZ in denial about its anti-Muslim racism
Martyn Bradbury: The Jordan Peterson backlash, White Supremacy Intelligence failures, Healing and confronting Islamaphobia, the importance of a fair trial, the limitations of Identity Politics & the safety of the Prime Minister: What Happens Next?
Sean Plunket (Magic Talk): How New Zealand won its’ war on terror in seven days flat
Liz Gordon (Daily Blog): He-who-must-not-be-named
Jess Berentson-Shaw (RNZ): Compassionate PM restoring old-time notion of public service
Rod Emmerson (Herald): The heartache, turmoil and absolute dread of Port Arthur
David Williams and Laura Walters (Newsroom): Muslim group: return $2m from China
MIchael Neilson (Herald): Debate intensifies over timing of ‘political’ vigil/rally at Auckland Domain
Martyn Bradbury: Could the woke do to Christchurch solidarity what they did to the Pride Parade?
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Police officers in every part of New Zealand will continue to carry guns
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Some widows needing extra support after mosque attack
Albert Redmore (Newshub): Christchurch terror attack widows at a loss after death of so many men
Albert Redmore (Newshub): ‘The test is yet to come’ for how Kiwis treat Muslims – expert
Herald: Licensing Trust member Paul Davie bullish over social media posts critical of Muslims
Elle Hunt (Spinoff): What does Islamophobia look like? Allow UK and Australian media to demonstrate
Mike Yardley (Press): Despite their sorrow over the terror attacks, NZ gangs have not changed

Foreign Affairs
Jamie Ensor and Jared McCulloch (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s upcoming trip to China welcomed by NZ-China Council
Jason Walls (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will on Sunday head to China for just one day of meetings
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to travel to China, meet President Xi Jinping
1News:Jacinda Ardern announces long-awaited meeting with Chinese president, now set for next week
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirms China trip amid speculation of soured relations
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Submissions reopen for inquiry on foreign interference in New Zealand elections

Tax
Herald Editorial: CGT should not be levied on all business investment
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Parliamentary library reveals Tax Working Group chairman’s former dismissive stance on CGT
Simon Louisson (The Standrad): We need more than capital gains tax to address inequality
Andrea Fox (Herald): Capital Gains Tax: What it means for farmers
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Beneficiary ‘hatred’: Federated Farmers regional president slated for tax moan
Jennifer Eder (Stuff): Farmers share tax reform fears but don’t back beneficiary bashing

Health, fundraising for health care
Emma Russell (Herald): Cancer patients wait up to 12 weeks for urgent treatment
Kelly Makiha (Rotorua Daily Post): Rotorua teacher needs $100k for cancer drug to live longer for his young sons
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Doctors urge parents to vaccinate children after baby diagnosed with meningococcal W
RNZ: Northland baby diagnosed with meningococcal W
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Parents warned after baby diagnosed with meningococcal
Northern Advocate: Another Northland meningococcal case sparks vaccination warning
Rob Stock (Stuff): Paramedics force St John to pull donation advert that ‘lacked respect’ for Christchurch dead
Farah Hancock (Stuff): Why we need a rheumatic fever register

Local government
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Gore District Council’s insurance company hires lawyer after child dies in oxidation ponds
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland’s $6 billion light rail project making slow progress
Jamie Gray (Herald): Proposed Napier Port float a step closer with HBRC vote
Point of Order: Anyone else want to weaken local government democracy? Oh, yes – the Hastings District Council
Janine Rankin (Stuff): Council petitioned to do more to reduce emissions
Nicholas Boyack (Dominion Post): Lower Hutt mayor wants more sportsvilles despite resistance from clubs

Parliament
Herald: A restructuring of Parliamentary Service has led to almost 30 resignations since Christmas
David Farrar: Two fewer Ministers, same no of staff
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Charge laid over ‘shoot everyone’ MP office threat

Education
Emma Hatton (RNZ): Victoria University of Wellington not ruling out judicial review of name-change veto
Damian George (Stuff): Wellington’s Victoria University defers name change decision
Elena McPhee (ODT): Council to discuss Otago bid
Hawkes Bay Today: Hawke’s Bay leaders come together to try to keep EIT in the region’s control
Newshub: What you need to know about the school ‘hub’ proposal (video)
George Heagney (Stuff): Workload too much for Manawatū principal

Primary industries
RNZ: Ministry for Primary Industries investigates ’emaciated’ cattle on ferry
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Nait a difficult beast but NZ ‘had no chance’ against M. bovis without it
Andrea Fox (Herald): Death throes of a dairy co-operative: Westland Milk a loss of more than just money

Environment
Brad Flahive (Stuff): 1 in 4 Wairau Valley industrial businesses polluting Auckland’s North Shore waterways
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Call for closure of Golden Bay freedom camping area near bird roosting site
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Avocado-wrecking beetle discovered in New Zealand
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Destructive beetle discovered in New Zealand for first time
RNZ: ‘Serious pest’ affecting avocado trees discovered in Auckland

Transport
Dave Armstrong (Dominion Post): Wellington clearly can’t solve its bus disaster. So Government must step in
Tim Miller (ODT): DCC to vote on scooter bylaw

Immigration
RNZ: Immigration NZ calls for Pacific citizens to register for ballot
Newshub: List of New Zealand’s visa waiver countries
Samesh Mohaniall (Timaru Herald): Chamber of Commerce makes submission over migrant visa concerns

Housing
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): Te Āti Awa to provide homes for future generations
Ben Leahy (Herald): The number of Auckland suburbs with million dollar price tags has tripled in five years
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Asking prices leap for Wellington houses

Other
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Te Papa seeking mollusc specialist after axing world-leading expert
Anne Gibson (Herald): South Waikato iwi advances treaty claim on sites of Mercury dam, power stations
RNZ: 9000 Corrections staff to get holiday pay arrears this year
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Fashion designer Adrienne Winklemann investigated over ‘made-in-NZ’ claim
Kelley Tantau (Stuff): Provincial Growth Fund unleashes ‘energy’ and ‘potential’ in Te Aroha
Imogen Neale (Stuff): New smaller police cars to be replaced due to safety fears over back seat headroom

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