Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – April 10 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
Euthanasia
Andrew Geddis (Pundit): The case for allowing aid in dying in New Zealand
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Voluntary euthanasia bill opponents say sponsor’s tinkerings desperate
Ruby McAndrew and Thomas Manch (Stuff): No agreement and disappointment after lengthy End of Life Choice bill hearing
Thomas Manch and Ruby McAndrew (Stuff): Parliamentary report on End of Life Choice Bill weighs 40,000 public submissions
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Lawyers denounce End of Life Choice Bill as ‘threat to Māori’
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Pasifika group protests End of Life Choice Bill at parliament
Jane Patterson and Jo Moir (RNZ): Euthanasia bill report tabled in Parliament
Herald: Act leader David Seymour’s euthanasia bill to be debated by politicians
Zane Small (Newshub): Justice Select Committee ‘unable to agree’ David Seymour’s euthanasia bill be passed
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Euthanasia select committee makes ‘no substantive changes’ after 16 months consideration
1News: Jacinda Ardern voices support for ACT leader’s End of Life Bill – ‘this is a deeply personal issue’
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): ‘Treat me like an adult’: Cancer patient’s plea to politicians debating euthanasia
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Pro-euthanasia group says now is the time for End of Life Choice Bill to pass
Census
Jo Moir (RNZ): Govt statistician criticised for delay finally reveals details
1News: Massey University official calls on Stats NZ head to ‘front’ on ‘failed’ 2018 Census
David Hargreaves (Interest): Maybe we should scrap the 2018 census and start again
Tax
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff):Capital gains tax polling is pointless when you set leading questions
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Has the Government lost the debate on CGT?
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Numbers don’t lie, time for the Government to wake up over CGT
Education and training
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): The clash between science and silence
1News: Does NZ’s education system need an overhaul? Minister eyes ‘long-term systemic issues’
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Former Education Minister Chris Carter urges primary educators to be ‘realistic’
Richard Wain (Newshub): Teachers want more talks but strike action still on the table
RNZ: Primary teachers demand far more money than latest offer
Briannna McIlraith (Taranaki Daily News): Taranaki principal backs possible strike action as profession ‘fights for overall survival’
Josephine Franks (Stuff): New Zealand’s two deaf education centres to merge
MItchell Alexander (Newshub): Students frustrated Government hasn’t reinstated postgraduate allowances to march
ODT: Knox College students ban alleged sexist ‘awards’
Jane Wenman (ODT): Vocational changes risk disruption
Hate speech, free speech, Royal Commission
Graham Adams (Noted): Religion the flashpoint in free speech debate
Gordon Campbell: On the pitfalls facing the Royal Commission
Jamie Ensor and Jared McCulloch (Newshub): Serious consequences for intelligence agencies possible after Christchurch Royal Commission of Inquiry – Jacinda Ardern
Gun laws, firearms
Herald Editorial: Parliament right to rush MSSA ban into law
RNZ: Gun retailers and owners uncertain of buyback scheme
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): How the Government will work out how much to pay for guns
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): National wants more groups exempt from new gun laws
Derek Cheng (Herald): Firearms ban to be in force before buyback scheme details released
RNZ: Government to ‘quickly’ move on further changes to gun laws
Derek Cheng (Herald): Police Minister to farmers: set up your own pest-control business
Esther Taunton and Collette Devlin (Stuff): Taking guns from farmers and making them use contractors ‘completely illogical’
1News: Farmers ‘will feel duped’ by ‘illogical’ gun ban bill unless changes are made, group warns
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): ‘It is completely illogical’: Federated Farmers slams firearm recommendations
Hawkes Bay Today: Gun City to tone down signage at new Napier store after community outcry
Hawkes Bay Today: Daughter-in-law of shot Hawke’s Bay cop Len Snee says he’d be alive if new gun laws were around in 2009
Crusaders name change
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Grant Robertson slams NZME for ‘baseless, appalling’ Crusaders name change article
Philip Matthews (Stuff): Bless the Crusaders’: A UN official praises the Chch response
RNZ: We don’t need to lose the Crusaders’ name’ – petition gathers momentum
Matt Chatterton (RNZ): What could a rebranded Crusaders look like?
Child welfare, state care of children
Stephen Winter (Newsroom): Care abuse survivors need more than changes to flawed system
Isaac Davison (Herald): Ombudsman given expanded oversight role for children in state care
Stuff: Becroft supports call for Māori children’s commissioner; PM plays down chances
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Children’s Commissioner supports call for Māori equivalent
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Winston Peters defends Sir Anand Satyanand over sex abuse inquiry criticism
National Party
1News: National Party review of its women’s safety finished but MPs apparently not consulted
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): National Party refuses to say if women MPs were interviewed in culture review
Lucy Bennett (Herald); National Party’s review of culture complete but not released yet
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Simon Bridges repeatedly refuses to comment on ’emotional junior staffer’ matter
Herald: National Party MP Paula Bennett turns 50 years old with a grin – and new shoes
Liquor stores, alcohol harm
Astrid Austin (Herald): Councillor who opposes Flaxmere liquor store tells hearing the suburb is suffering from an ‘alcohol Holocaust’
Andre Chumko (Stuff): Flaxmere bottle store met with furor from Hawke’s Bay community leaders
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Hawke’s Bay community want Treaty of Waitangi principles applied to liquor laws
Chris Morris (ODT) ‘Fine wine’ shop’s image questioned at liquor hearing
Chris Morris (ODT):‘High-end’ liquor store fights to keep licence
Health
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Official inquiry into Pharmac necessary
1News: Christchurch terrorist attack first responder delivers petition to Parliament over fair pay for paramedics
Rob Stock (Stuff): Paramedics petition Parliament for fair pay
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Fears St John’s rural ambulance funding under threat with Govt tertiary reforms
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): ‘Vaccinations should be free’ – Northland community fundraising for meningococcal W vaccine
RNZ: Man who lost father in mosque attacks denied ACC help
Cate Broughton and Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Spike in mental distress expected by Canterbury health authorities after terror attack
Meghan Lawrence (Stuff): ‘Dirty, filthy environment’: Taranaki DHB investigating mental-health ward conditions
Jennifer Eder (Stuff): Rural health training hub could be antidote to shortage of regional healthcare workers
Raniera Harrison (Māori TV): Māori, male and overweight? New study combines whakapapa and Super Rugby
Foreign affairs
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Why NZ must walk an independent path
Richard Harman (Politik): Why we are different to Australia- according to China
1News: Jacinda Ardern pushes back on claims China is behind NZ professor’s intimidation
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern denies intelligence pointed to China in Anne-Marie Brady burglaries
RNZ: Man wanted for arrest in NZ sworn in as Cook Islands MP
Environment and conservation
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Calls for special fund for likely costs of climate change
Eloise Gibson (Newsroom): Start climate planning now, NZ boards warned
Jamie Morton (Herald): ‘Land of the short white cloud’ – NZ glaciers’ huge loss of ice in just 42 years
Scott Palmer (Newshub): New Zealand’s glaciers could disappear almost completely by 2100 – scientists
Herald: NZ’s green image let down by its huge plastic waste consumption: Study
Primary industries
Simon Hartley (ODT): Gas and oil exploration move
Simon Hartley (ODT): ‘Expect resistance’, oil company told
Chris Hutching (Stuff): ‘Streamlined’ forestry sales to foreign buyers boost Govt’s billion trees target
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Major new study reveals attitude to climate change in rural sector
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Lazy Kiwis refuse to work in orchards for good money
Clothing industry
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Farmers, Trelise Cooper get an F for worker empowerment and wages from ethical report
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Nine Kiwi brands failing to protect workers, ethical fashion report says
Aimee Shaw (Herald): Fashion grades: Rating the retail brands that make your clothes
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): New Zealand fashion retailers improving protection of workers and environment – report
Local government
Phil Pennington (RNZ): E-scooter companies ride on as councils lack authority to charge or regulate
Herald: Hamilton City Council to spend $150,000 fighting SkyCity’s pokie plans
Brian Rudman (Herald): Drums of disquiet beat in the new Goff Jungle
Emma Dangerfield (Stuff): Second Waimakariri councillor announces intention to stand for mayor
Measuring wellbeing
Simon Kemp (Stuff):National happiness is worth measuring, but it’s far from perfect
Michael Reddell: Indicators galore
Eric Crampton: A compassionate Treasury
Social media
Chris Keall (Herald): Most Kiwis want govt to take harder line on social media: UMR Research
Zane Small (Newshub): PM Jacinda Ardern wants global action against social media giants like Facebook
1News: Jacinda Ardern touted to lead global campaign on social media issues – ‘I do think NZ has a role to play’
AP: Facebook, Google face Congressional hearing in US on white nationalism
Anzac Day
Emma Cropper (Newshub): ‘Never a doubt’: Christchurch RSA’s defiant response to Anzac cancellations
1News: Auckland Anzac Day services reduced from 84 last year to 26 in wake of Christchurch terrorist attack
Herald: Nearly 60 Anzac Day events in Auckland scrapped over security concerns
Mandy Te and Danielle Clent (Stuff): Anzac Day services set to go ahead across country despite Auckland cancellations
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Five RSAs cancel Anzac services, more could be on the way
Housing
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): KiwiBuild recalibration ‘not that far away’
Leith Huffadine (RNZ): Hikoi confronts Phil Goff over Ihumātao development
Dan Satherley and Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Study finds many property owners won’t fix houses despite knowing of serious health and safety risks for tenants
Elena McPhee (ODT): ‘Events’ cut emergency housing `Events’ cut emergency housing
No Right Turn: New Zealand landlords have it easy
Employment
Dennis Maga (Stuff): The minimum and living wage gap in closing, but not fast enough
Rob Stock (Stuff): Talley’s loses bid to get paralysis injury accident charge dismissed
Mainzeal
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Mainzeal liquidators seek twice as much compensation from ex-PM Jenny Shipley and co-directors
Rob Stock (Stuff): Liquidator appeals seeking $73 million from Mainzeal directors
RNZ: Mainzeal liquidators file counterclaim for $73m
Parliament
Zane Small (Newshub): Watch: Jacinda Ardern defends ‘economic slowdown’ in face-off with Simon Bridges
Alan Kenyon (1News): Winston Peters forced to apologise for joking Simon Bridges’ political strategy ‘based on a wing and a prayer’
Other
Michael Morrah (Newshub): SPCA lays live baiting charges against top greyhound trainer Brendon Cole
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Immigration numbers dropping without too much heavy lifting from Labour
Stephen Forbes (Interest): The Government must decide whether to accept a NZ Super Fund offer to build, fund and own Auckland’s light rail project
Mike Mather (Stuff): Teen on footage charge allegedly planned mass shooting at school
RNZ: Prime Minister not spoken to Winston Peters about his previous comments about Muslims
Herald: Legislation to restrict the maximum fee of clamping introduced into Parliament
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Stuff sale nears business end
Hannah Ellis-Peterson (Guardian): Burger King removes ‘racist’ ad showing man trying to eat with giant chopsticks
1News: Man fined for freedom camping after sleeping in truck after night drinking says penalty is ‘bureaucracy gone mad’
George Block (ODT): Stand-downs disrupting life of police
Leonie Hayden (Spinoff):In memory of Anzac Wallace
James Perry (Māori TV): Anzac Wallace more than an actor, friends and colleagues say
