Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – April 1 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.
Foreign affairs
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern takes charge of the China relationship
Richard Harman (Politik): Ardern in China: the big test
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): What Jacinda Ardern’s trip to China will achieve
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Ardern’s mission in Beijing: Forging new ties with China amid growing uncertainty
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Ardern’s first trip to China a test of resolve, more than mending bridges
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Why Jacinda Ardern’s visit to China really is a ‘big deal’
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): China’s Ambassador Wu Xi calls for greater China and NZ co-operation
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Huawei and regional security top talking points for PM’s China trip
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): What’s at stake in Jacinda Ardern’s China visit
1News: Jacinda Ardern’s one-day visit to China hoped to ease tensions
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Sharp decline in official trips to China since Labour took power
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern’s two dates at the Great Hall of the People, with a detour on the way
Audrey Young (Herald): Pressure on Jacinda Ardern to raise her voice in China against treatment of Uighur Muslims
AP: Human Rights Watch urges Jacinda Ardern to discuss Muslims during China visit
Stuff: Jacinda Ardern urged to discuss Chinese government’s abuses of Muslims
1News: China-New Zealand Year of Tourism launch a ‘milestone’ in nations’ relationship, tourism minister says
RNZ: Delayed China and New Zealand tourism programme launched
Giles Dexter (Newshub): China-New Zealand Year of Tourism officially opened at Te Papa
Newshub: China tourism promotion finally gets underway
Peter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: Winston Peters’ international Islamic damage control campaign success
Derek Cheng (Herald): Winston Peters criticises Brunei for imposing strict Sharia law
Stuff: NZ ‘deeply concerned’ about Brunei death penalty for homosexuality, says Winston Peters
Newshub: Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters condemns Brunei’s homophobic new law
1News: Winston Peters calls Brunei introduction of stoning to death for homosexual sex acts ‘seriously regrettable’
Cathy Odgers: National may have taken too many official trips to China
Government review of laws on hate speech and hate crimes
RNZ: Opposition leaders urge caution on hate crimes proposal
RNZ: Little plans fast-track review of hate speech laws
Michelle Duff (Stuff): Hate crime law review fast-tracked following Christchurch mosque shootings
Albert Redmore (Newshub): ACT leader David Seymour says any possible hate crime laws would be divisive and ineffective
Reuters: NZ criticised in wake of Christchurch terror attack for not recording hate crimes
RNZ: Lawyer warns against rushing hate speech law changes
1News: Calls for new anti-hate speech law from Christchurch Muslim student leader
Laura Walters (Newsroom): ‘We live in a dangerous world’ – Human Rights Commissioner
Internet, social media
Herald Editorial: Facebook needs more than ‘policy’ to ban killing videos
Brian Gaynor (Newshub): Facebook needs to face up to hard questions
Dan Satherley and Lauren Paddy (Newshub): ‘More Facebook can and should do’ – InternetNZ
Mike Hosking (Herald): When it comes to hate, this is why Facebook’s response is talk, not action
Newstalk ZB: Tech commentator dismisses Facebook’s response as ‘too little, too late’
RNZ: Chief Censor wants action on ‘weaponization of social media’
Katie Fitzgerald and Alice Wilkins (Newshub): Facebook changes ‘too late’- Chief Censor
1News: Facebook’s response to live streaming concerns in wake of Christchurch terror attacks not enough, Chief Censor says
Herald:‘Proof will be in the pudding’: PM responds to Facebook announcement it is clamping down on hate
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Facebook looking into restrictions on livestreaming
RNZ: Netsafe cautious on Facebook’s promise of live-streaming changes
Lauren Paddy and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Facebook appears ‘genuinely committed’ to change – NetSafe
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Facebook’s white nationalist content ban will push hate ‘underground’ – Free Speech Coalition
1News: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls for worldwide ‘rules for the Internet’ in wake of Christchurch terrorist attack
Dan Satherley and Alice Wilkins (Newshub): Facebook has ‘too much power over speech’ – Mark Zuckerberg
BBC: Mark Zuckerberg asks governments to help control internet content
Phil Taylor (Herald): Facebook to clamp down on hate in response to Christchurch mosque attack
Herald: Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg’s letter to New Zealand
1News: Facebook and Instagram break their silence, reveal what they are doing about hate in wake of Christchurch attack
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Facebook to crack down on hate speech and livestreaming after Christchurch attacks
Andrew Gunn (Stuff): We’re taking urgent steps to address this
Lizzie Marvelly (Herald): We’re tolerant and inclusive so what’s going wrong?
Gun control, firearms
Brian Easton (Pundit): Are We Too Slack?
Tony Wall (Stuff): ‘Haunted’ John Banks says semi-automatic weapons should have been banned in 1990
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Gun City calls for supporters to push back against swift gun law reform
Florence Kerr (Stuff): Gun City rallies support in three-step programme to challenge gun law reforms
Blair Voorend and Laura Wiltshire (Hawkes Bay Today): Napier councillors to meet Gun City after petition to stop store gets 600 signatures
Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Stuart Smith (Stuff): Will gun law changes make us a safer country?
Carmen Parahi and Florence Kerr (Stuff): Gang bosses say weapons won’t be handed back after Christchurch mosque shooting
Heather Roy: New Gun Laws just for the Law Abiding?
Christchurch mosque shootings
ODT Editorial: Balancing security and human rights
Herald Editorial: PM’s example shows up world leaders
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Labour ‘did not support’ spy agency changes – Judith Collins
RNZ: Timeline: Security services, government and Muslim community before the Christchurch mosque attacks
Paul Spoonely (E-Tangata): The Far Right is Right Here
Kate Hannah (RNZ): Don’t be fooled, far right groups have not been silenced
William Harris (ODT): Deft handling of terror attack praised
Calla Wahlquist (Guardian): Moderate media, a compassionate leader: how New Zealand reacted to a tragedy
RNZ: Remember the heroes
Isra’a Emhail (RNZ): Terror victim’s family’s anxious wait for news: ‘we thought he was missing’
Richard Swainson (Stuff): Are we incapable of reading hate without succumbing to hate?
David Clarkson (Stuff): Custody remands for keeping Christchurch terror attack video
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): Was PM right to wear headscarf?
1News: Alleged Christchurch gunman’s rights behind bars cannot be withheld ‘just because we don’t like him’ – professor
Herald: Criminal law expert says man accused of Christchurch attack may have fair ground for complaint
1News: Alleged Christchurch shooter makes formal complaint about treatment in prison
Carmen Parahi (Stuff): Alleged Christchurch mosque shooter makes formal complaint from prison
Herald: Christchurch terror attack: Accused gunman complains about lack of entitlements in prison
Dan Satherley and Bridget Grace (Newshub): Suspected gunman complains he’s being denied visitors and phone calls – report
RNZ: Alleged mosque gunman lodges complaint – report
Herald: Government MP Aupito Sua William Sio apologies for ‘pain’ caused by terror attack death toll post
Adele Redmond (Stuff): Insulation company claims it’s being targeted because of confusion with white supremacist branded company
ODT Editorial: This is who we are
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Christchurch terror attack memorial service: Kindness the cure, PM says
Charles Anderson (Guardian): Christchurch memorial: standing ovation for Ardern at New Zealand service
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘The nation that discovers the cure’: Jacinda Ardern’s anti-racism speech sparks standing ovation
RNZ: Pacific leaders attending the national remembrance service in NZ
Zane Small (Newshub): Australian PM Scott Morrison hugs Jacinda Ardern, commends Christchurch terror response
1News: ‘NZ has responded to hate with love’ – Australian PM says attending Christchurch remembrance a ‘privilege’
AAP/1News: Australia’s PM pays respects to victims of Christchurch terrorist attack
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Privacy, security not incompatible
David Williams (Newsroom): ‘A nightmare with beautiful moments’
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Australians back call for Jacinda Ardern to be their Prime Minister
David Slack (Stuff): How to deal with your racist uncle in the new New Zealand
Minimum wage, employment
1News: Simon Bridges slams today’s minimum wage increase as ‘too far, too fast’
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Stand by for price rises to pay for employment changes
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Teachers wonder how min wage increase will be paid for
Sam Kelway (1News): More than 200,000 Kiwis to be better off from tomorrow following minimum wage increase
RNZ: Superannuation and minimum wage go up tomorrow
Aimee Shaw (Herald): Wage hike: Businesses brace for minimum wage to increase by $1.20 to $17.70 per hour
John Chetwynd (Herald): Business owner presents case for living wage
John Farrow (ODT): Social media use may have employment repercussions
Politicians and parties
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern grows in stature as Simon Bridges diminishes
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Christchurch crackdown could provide opening for ACT to increase meagre support
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Winston Peters must show leadership on setting tone on immigration, race relations – expert
Steve Braunias (Herald): Secret diary of after the tragedy
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): How could Christchurch atrocity impact the 2020 election?
RNZ: Name suppression extended for person accused of attacking James Shaw
Stuff: Judge orders psychiatric assessment of man accused of hitting James Shaw
Ryan Anderson (Stuff): MP Shane Reti’s car showered in glass in freak incident
Herald: MP Shane Reti escapes unscathed after car showered in glass in unlucky incident
Gareth Morgan leaves TOP
Rob Stock (Stuff): TOP’s money plan now financial backer Gareth Morgan is gone
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Gareth Morgan gone for good: How TOP plans to rebuild
Rob Stock (Stuff): Gareth Morgan leaves the political party he founded
Derek Cheng (Herald): Gareth Morgan quits The Opportunities Party
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Gareth Morgan closes his wallet on TOP, as the party rejects his top-down approach
Albert Redmore (Newshub): Gareth Morgan cuts all ties with The Opportunities Party
1News: Gareth Morgan announces resignation from The Opportunities Party
RNZ: The Opportunities Party founder Gareth Morgan resigns
Health
Finn Hogan (Newshub): NZ moving ‘fatally slow’ to combat bowel cancer – Sir David Skegg
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Warning as power drills, pliers used in DIY dentistry by Kiwis who can’t afford dentists
Philippa Tolley (RNZ): NZ’s heart-breaker: rheumatic fever rates on the rise
Lorna Subritzky (Newstalk ZB): Elected officials should not push anti-vax agenda
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Hamilton city councillor sorry for wearing anti-vax t-shirt to autism fundraiser
Katie Fitzgerald and Heather McCarron (Newshub): ‘Wise’ to keep unvaccinated Canterbury kids away from school – expert
Lauren Paddy (Newshub): Care workers’ strike a ‘tragic indictment’ on employer – union
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Questions for ACC after mosque attacks
Martin Johnston (Herald): District health boards to check mass-casualty plans after Christchurch Hospital review of massacre
1News: Canterbury DHB review underway into Christchurch Hospital’s handling of mosque terror attacks
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Budget increase for delayed Christchurch hospital building
RNZ: Junior doctors to strike again – but not in Canterbury
Stuff: Four-day resident doctor strike called, DHBs say it’s ‘duplicitous’
Alison Mau (Stuff: After the terror attack let’s free St John from having to beg
Phil Quin (Stuff): Wowsers should take a deep breath before banning vaping
Astrid Austin (Hawkes Bay Today): From ‘equity for all’ to ‘equity for Māori’: Hawke’s DHB backs Minister’s call
Elspeth McLean (ODT): The gaps in the screen
Jared Savage (Herald): Whistleblower and family of cancer patient Carmen Walker who bled to death write to Solicitor General Una Jagose to seek new Coroner’s inquest
Jennifer Eder (Stuff): Whooping cough rates highest in Nelson Marlborough
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Fine line for Govt on mental health report
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Mental health discharge plan bad result
John Roughan (Herald): Where’s the action on the suicide crisis in New Zealand?
Euthanasia
Martin Johnston (Herald): Ninety per cent of submissions on euthanasia bill say no to assisted dying
RNZ: Majority of submissions against bill to legalise euthanasia
SunLIve: Cancer sufferer ‘afraid of the way I will die’
Media
Paul Thompson (RNZ) Editorial: Explaining RNZ’s mosque shootings coverage – and why we’re naming the accused
Colin Peacock (RNZ): Curbing comments to calm the farm online
Jeremy Rose (RNZ): Reporting Islam before and after 15/3
Aaron Smale (Spinoff): Media, Māori and me
Kelly Dennett (Stuff): The importance of hearing uncomfortable truths
Finn Hogan (Newshub): Extended Interview: Stephen Davis (video)
Tax
Tim Hazledine (Herald): No-exemptions CGT is efficient and fair
Liam Dann (Herald): More Kiwis support capital gains tax than oppose in new poll
Greg Ninness (Interest): The Mansion Effect a doubtful outcome of Capital Gains Tax
Derek Cheng (Herald): National reveals Govt advice on how a CGT potentially hinders business
Duncan Garner (Stuff): Capital gains tax could be the death of Labour’s election chances
Eric Crampton: Gemmell’s foil
Housing
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): KiwiBuild ‘almost no chance of success’ in current form
Jane Patterson (RNZ): National questions Housing Ministry consultant and contractor spend
Charlie Gates (Stuff): Another Canterbury Kiwibuild house hits the market for the second time
Oliver Hartwich (Interest): The rest of Phil Twyford’s housing policy is sufficiently ambitious and radical to solve NZ’s housing problems without recourse to KiwiBuild
David Farrar: A good speech by Twyford
Danielle Clent (Stuff): More than 50,000 Housing NZ homes still contain toxic lead-based paint
Carmen Hall (Bay of Plenty Times): Rental crisis in Tauranga causing distress and desperation for those who need a home
RNZ: Industry will struggle with building consent surge, says expert
Immigration
Dale Husband (E-Tangata): Paul Spoonley: We can be better at welcoming migrants
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Immigration NZ criticised for blaming visa delays on mosque shootings
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Former refugee family placed in damp Dunedin home feels abandoned
Lorna Thornber (Stuff): What it is like for migrants moving to New Zealand
Controversial Hamilton City councillors
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Two Hamilton City Councillors spark outrage
Cleo Fraser (Newshub): ‘Dickhead’: Hamilton Councillors slam colleague for Christchurch comments
Libby Wilson and Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Hamilton City Councillor in spotlight again after historic Facebook post resurfaces
Aaron Leaman and Florence Kerr (Stuff): Hamilton City councillor urges Kiwis not to mourn Christchurch terror attack victims any more
Herald: Hamilton City Councillor James Casson criticises nationwide reaction to Christchurch terror attack
Local government
Jono Edwards (ODT): New councillors certain for ORC
Laura Dooney (RNZ): Wellington starts planning for up to 80,000 more residents
Todd Niall (Stuff): An electoral double-whammy on Auckland Port’s future
Anne Gibson (Herald): Investment expert questions Ports of Auckland’s dividend source
Cleo Fraser (Newshub): Beggars banned from asking for money within five metres of shops in some Tauranga suburbs
1News: Begging bylaw stopping Tauranga’s vulnerable from gathering near shops to be enforced from Monday
RNZ: Tauranga begging bylaw starts tomorrow
Andre Chumko (Stuff): Relief and frustration at Hastings council’s appointment of Māori representatives
Māni Dunlop and Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Hastings councillors vote in favour of more Māori representation in committees
Sahiban Hyde and Laura Wiltshire (Hawkes Bay Today): Intolerance of Māori world view is ‘obsolete and needs to be ignored’ says iwi director
Donna-Lee Biddle (Stuff): New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective slams Hamilton City Council after solicitation ban
Andrew Bydder (Stuff): Is it sensible for council’s to use public money to bail out public entities?
Laura Dooney (RNZ): Wellington starts planning for up to 80,000 more residents
RNZ: Group that sank plans for Basin Reserve flyover braced for new fight
Tm Newman (Nelson Mail): Council moot more transparent workshops policy
Evan Harding (Southland Times): Invercargill being ‘run remotely’ by outsiders
Tina Law (Stuff): Travel bill for Christchurch City Council falls 63 per cent
Environment and conservation
Geoff Simmons (Interest): On why we need to listen to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Emma Jolliff (Newshub): Interview: Simon Upton (video)
Matthew Tso (Stuff): Clampdown on New Zealand’s waste sees Hutt council ditch certain plastics for recycling collection
RNZ: Hutt City stops recycling type three to seven plastics
1News: Rural recycling programme shredding tonnes of unwanted farm plastic receives funding boost
1News: Forest and Bird call for emergency pest control funding for DOC
Laine Moger (Stuff): Dirty secret’: More than 60 schools still burning coal for heating
RNZ: Raw sewage makes Wellington swim site unsafe
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Three iwi plan sanctuary to bring wildlife back to National Park area
RNZ: Cuts to eel catch will be considered, says Fisheries Minister
Simon Hartley (ODT): Deep-water prospecting may resume
Education
Jai Breitnauer (Spinoff): Hey, Ministry of Education, what the hell do you want us parents to do?
Simon Collins (Herald): Rotorua toddler suffers brain injury after choking on apple at childcare
Liana MacDonald (E-Tangata): The pros and cons of not looking Māori
Kirsty Wynn (Herald): Father threatens legal action if school keeps using essential oils in class
1News: Major training group calls for Government to slow down over moves to overhaul vocational education sector
Joel MacManus and Alison Mau (Stuff): Otago University students told to ‘pay for bed linen’ after rape report
Charlie O’Mannin (Spinoff): Dunedin’s Knox College sexual assault scandal: what you need to know
Rachel Helyer Donaldson (Newsroom): What too much screen time can do to kids
Transport
Damian Geroge (Stuff): Thousands of buses face cancellation under new legislation: Bus and Coach Association
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland to join London, New York and Paris with underground rail system
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Big risks to come at City Rail Link’s end, project boss says
Phil Pennington (RNZ): E-scooters being ridden illegally last year, documents show
Ella Predergast and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Tighter rules for second, longer Auckland e-scooter trial
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): E-scooter companies Lime and Wave to abide by strict rules during second Auckland trial
RNZ: Wellington bus fiasco: ‘There is … no going back’
Stuff: Capital transport options: How should Let’s Get Wellington Moving spend up to $4 billion
No Right Turn: The false economy of cuts
Jimmy Ellingham (Manawatū Standard): Old-fashioned thinking about Manawatū-Hawke’s Bay highway proves baffling
Laine Moger (Stuff): ‘Chinamans Hill’ bus stop name shows ‘normalised racism’, Auckland man says
Primary industries
Rob Stock (Stuff): Bank powers to be reeled in over farm debt foreclosures
Lois Williams (RNZ): ‘Devastated’ Northland mānuka honey producers seek chemical markers definition review from MPI
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): MP Patterson critical of overseas investment in agricultural processing companies
John Anthony (Stuff): Young Māori farmer competition labelled ‘racist’ by members of Facebook farming community
Carly Gooch (Stuff): Compensation still unclear for farmer whose land was cut up for firebreaks
Rob Kidd (ODT): Rodeo enthusiast fined over cow-abuse case
Child welfare
Mihingarangi Forbes (Newshub): Oranga Tamariki ‘smacks of racism’ – Dame Tariana Turia
Charlotte Carter (Stuff): Plea to Oranga Tamariki: Lock our grandson up ‘before he kills himself or somebody else’
Other
David Fisher (Herald): ‘Secret’ evidence in closed hearing – how police want to defend access of blogger’s details without a legal warrant
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Treasury admits axing of reports may be seen as reducing transparency
Liam Dann (Herald): Interest rate u-turn is middle-class welfare
Patrick Gower (Newshub): ‘There’s got to be a better way’ – grandfather of police chase victim calls for changes
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): UK watchdog’s Huawei report finds ‘no backdoors’ for espionage
John Armstrong (1News): Where was the royal family in New Zealand’s hour of need?
Libby Wilson (Stuff): Former Afghan interpreters ‘in no man’s land’ desperate for mental health support
Jason Walls (Herald): The role of Race Relations Commissioner has been vacant for nine months
John Weekes (Stuff): More domestic violence victims expected to come forward as new law dawns
Giles Dexter (Newshub): New Bill gives 10 days’ paid leave to domestic violence victims
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Calls grow for roll-out of drug courts across New Zealand
Herald: Whale Oil company owes more than $670,000 – liquidator
Zane Small (Newshub): Number of requests to change sex on birth certificates revealed
RNZ: Flood-hit Westland residents: ‘We’re on our own’
Bruce Munro (ODT): An agent of change
RNZ: Consumer confidence stable
Chris Hutching (Stuff): Auckland leads with record number of cranes
RNZ: Fewer freedom camping problems in South Island this summer – authorities
Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): Shear commitment to te reo Māori
Sean Plunket’s Working Group with Bomber Bradbury & Damien Grant: This week – How NZ reacted, Jacinda’s leadership, Future of NZ First, trade & morality, Brexit & Facebook (podcast)
Angie Skerrett: Criticism of Māori farming competition ‘ridiculous’ – Federated Farmers
