Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – April 15 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
National Party leadership, parliament, parties
Richard Harman (Politik): Pressure increasing on Bridges leadership
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Simon Bridges’ beleaguered leadership
Henry Cooke (Stuff): The magic number keeping Simon Bridges safe, for now
Audrey Young (Herald): Another lopsided week for Jacinda Ardern and Simon Bridges
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): MPs can’t turn off the politics, even when the doors are closed
David Farrar: An interesting poll
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): After Christchurch terror, now it’s goodbye to hope and unity in politics
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): ‘Heart of a leader and mother’: Hillary Clinton lavishes praise on Jacinda Ardern at New York summit
Phoebe Watt (Next): Why the star of Jacinda Ardern just keeps getting bigger and brighter
Point of Order: PM’s perfect pitch wins plaudits on the world stage and piles up political capital at home
Police
George Block (ODT: Forty percent of us flagged by police
Derek Cheng (Herald): Police charges for drug use still falling – except for methamphetamine
Tax
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Government ’embarrassed’ by watered-down CGT policy – Simon Bridges
Jason Walls (Herald): National leader Simon Bridges says Government’s capital gains tax plans will be revealed next week
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Shane Jones drops capital gains tax clue
Chris Trotter: Making The Tradies Pay
Ryan Bridge (Newshub): Watered down capital gains tax on the cards
Terry Baucher (Interest): CGT criticisms, upcoming changes to online GST and loss ringfencing
Jason Walls (Herald): Taxpayers’ Union says two-thirds of Govt’s CGT revenue would come from higher than advertised rate as there was no inflation allowance
Andrew Harris (Stuff): Why a capital gains tax may not be that simple
Point of Order: Capital gains tax among the measures suggested by OECD to ease the plight of the middle classes
Free speech
LIstener Editorial: Guns aren’t a cornerstone of democracy, but free speech is
Phil Quin (Stuff): MP lacks credibility in urging hate speech law
Peter Gluckman (Herald): Today’s democracy needs some difficult conversations
Jason Walls (Herald): Act Leader David Seymour: Kiwis need to resist an ‘Orwellian future’
Karl du Fresne: Guess what? Hate speech can be punished using existing laws
Bill Ralston (LIstener): In defence of free speech
Israel Folau
Martyn Taylor (Stuff): Israel Folau: Should companies bow to social media outrage?
Michael Reddell: Honouring Israel Folau
Patrick Thomsen (E-Tangata): Israel Folau’s demise is also partially ours
Dominion Post Editorial: Forcing out Israel Folau is not a challenge to free speech
David Long (Stuff): Israel Folau’s wife Maria Folau could feel implications from netball over his anti-gay posts
Steve Braunias (Herald): Secret diary of Israel Folau
Kate King (1News): ‘About as much chance of Australia beating the All Blacks by 50 points’ – Israel Folau hasn’t got a leg to stand on in contract dispute, says barrister
Paul Cully (Stuff):Israel Folau controversy: Rugby Australia has dug its own hole
News.au: ‘It’s a tough time’ – Israel Folau breaks his silence
One Treaty, One Nation pamphlet
Amber-LeightvWoolf and Anna Loren (Stuff): One Treaty, One Nation pamphlet ‘racist and stupid’, but not hate speech – academic
Phil Taylor (Herald): Anti-Māori pamphlet show gaps in hate speech law: Andrew Little calls for action
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Controversial 1Law4All pamphlet ‘peddles myths’ – Andrew Little
Gun laws, firearms
Jessica Mutch McKay and Benedict Collins (1News): Inside Parliament: Gun Bans & Buy-Backs
Rob Stock (Stuff): Automatic and semi-automatic weapon ban for NZ Super Fund
Jason Walls (Herald): The Superannuation Fund has divested almost $20m from seven gun-producing companies
RNZ: Superannuation Fund excludes guns from investment portfolio
Zane Small and Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Government closes potential export loophole in gun buyback scheme
1News: Semi-automatic firearms ban extends to exports
Stuart Nash (Hawkes Bay Today): Firearms ban makes NZ a safer place
Daniela Maoate-Cox (RNZ): Gun law reform’s speedy select committee followed typical process
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Military enthusiast with ‘one-of-a-kind’ gold plated AK-47 not ready to give up his guns
Hone Harawira (Daily Blog): Blaming black boys for a white boy massacre
Christchurch mosque attacks
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Christchurch mosque shootings: One month on and it’s a long road to recovery
Amber-Leigh Woolf and Tom Hunt (Stuff): One month on from Christchurch mosque shootings, big changes are still coming
Katie Kenny (Stuff): How did the Christchurch gunman stay under the radar of state agencies?
Thomas Manch (Stuff): What is known about the identitarian movement backed by the Christchurch shooting accused
Kumar Yogeeswaran, Chris Sibley, Danny Osborne, Marc Wilson, Mike Grimshaw (The Conversation): Everyday racism fuels prejudice and hate. But we can challenge it
RNZ: Govt announces $1m funding boost for ethnic communities after Christchurch terror attacks
Stuff Police to release ‘second by second’ response to Christchurch mosque attack next week
Isra’a Emhail (RNZ): Terror victims: ‘More can be done and it needs to be done quicker’
1News: NZ ‘has a major role’ to play globally if Jacinda Ardern is willing to come down hard on Facebook – expert
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Global Council for Tolerance and Peace seeks NZ university input after Christchurch mosques attacks
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Christchurch terror attack: Northern Irish teen charged over death threats to Jacinda Ardern
Brian Hyland (Herald): Teen charged with death threat against NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Stuff: Northern Irish man charged with making threat against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Thomas Mead (Newshub): Mosque abuser says his mental health is to blame for racist tirade
1News: ‘I’m so sorry’ – Christchurch labourer profusely apologises for shouting abuse outside mosque
Anne Clarkson, Tom Kitchin and Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Man who abused Muslims at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch pleads guilty
Sam Clarke (1News): Small increase in mental health, family violence issues as police remain vigilant in wake of Christchurch attack
Anna Leask (Herald): Girls, women praise accused gunman, claim they love him in twisted Twitter video
Anzac Day
Jonathan Guildford (Stuff): Second Christchurch Anzac event cancelled in the wake of terror attack
1News: Police discourage rogue Anzac Day events but will not clamp down on them, commissioner says
Kim Baker Wilson (1News): RSA and police in standoff over who is responsible for cancelled Anzac Day events
Health and disability
Duncan Garner (Stuff): Dear Jacinda, can you help keep Mum alive please?
Laurie McGinley (Washington Post): Here are the disturbing links between cancer and obesity
Belinda Feek (Herald): Lung Foundation launches petition for more Pharmac funding
RNZ: Two in five Auckland and Northland children have teeth cavities by age five
Cate Broughton (Stuff): ACC spent six months and $17,000 fighting a Wellington stroke victim’s claim
Emma Russell (Herald): Luck of location: Getting publicly funded weight loss surgery depends where you live
RNZ: Big regional variance in weight loss operation availability – research
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Bariatric surgery a postcode lottery, research shows
Erica Wood (1News): Experts want free mental healthcare for Kiwis but say there isn’t enough money
Herald Editorial: Why Pharmac should fund SMA drug
Alice Peacock (Herald): Saving Charlotte: Bennett to present Parliament with petition calling for funding of SMA drug
James Baker (Stuff): Twelve thousand vote petition for life saving drug to be delivered to Parliament
Katie Doyle (RNZ): Teenage pregnancy on the decline
Newshub: Teenage pregnancies halved over past decade
Kate Nicol Williams (1News): Calls for easier access to communication aids for disabled groups
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): SDHB won’t delay the downgrade of the Lumsden Maternity Centre
Stuff: Resident doctors announce five-day strike, starting late April
RNZ: Junior doctors vote to strike for five days
Vita Molyneux and Dan Satherley (Newshub)]: Resident Doctors announce a five day strike for late April
Heather McCarron and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Midwives hope deal will reverse staff shortage
Georgia Forrester (Stuff): Midwives and NZ district health boards finally reach settlement
Katie Fitzgerald and Miriam Harris (Newshub): DHBs and midwives reach settlement
Ageing population
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Government strategy aimed at dealing with an ageing New Zealand
RNZ: Consultation opens on govt strategy for aging population
Paul Mitchell (Stuff): Small-town elderly struggling without bank branches in the digital age
Euthanasia
Finn Hogan and Simon Shepherd (Newshub): Debate: David Seymour clashes with anti-euthanasia advocate
Peter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: Euthanasia debate likely to lead to referendum
Leighton Smith (Herald): Who should be making right-to-die decision?
Education, polytech reform and vocational training
Liz Gordon (Daily Blog): The speed of school reform
John Lewis (ODT): Review causing board election uncertainty
Andrea Vance (Stuff): ‘It was a horror story’: Education chiefs ignored historic school abuse, victim claims
Kristy Wynn (Herald): Parents want support after bullied teen attempts suicide
Albert Redmore (Newshub): National MP Joanne Hayes under fire for accepting ‘dangerous’ education petition
Stuff: Education Minister Chris Hipkins adds $9m to classroom building projects
Simon Collins (Herald): Private girls’ schools led by St Cuthbert’s College dominate inaugural Crimson Education NZ school rankings
John Roughan (Herald): Schools should be places of specialised excellence
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): ‘Hasty’ consultation on tertiary reforms sparks judicial review
1News: Major training organisation prepares legal action over planned polytech merge
RNZ: Māori success to be focus of new polytech model
Eloise Gibson (Newsroom): Smears and fury in big telescope lobbying
Eloise Gibson (Newsroom):AUT backs sender of “mental health” email
ODT Editorial: This culture must change
Denise Piper (Stuff): Northland marae bans women from site during building phase
Korey Te Hira (Herald): Student loan scheme should help Kiwis study overseas
Child welfare
Rob Stock (Stuff): Parliament told of foster children’s income gap at age 24
Elton Rikihana Smallman (Stuff): Oranga Tamariki recruiting whānau to take vulnerable children
RNZ: Waikato-Tainui signs agreement with Oranga Tamariki
University of Auckland white supremacy allegations
Matthew Theunissen (RNZ): Growing white supremacy at Auckland university ‘utter nonsense’
Dan Satherley (Newshub): University of Auckland vice-chancellor rubbishes reported rise in white supremacist activity as ‘utter nonsense’
1News: Auckland University says claims of widespread white supremacist groups on campus ‘utter nonsense’
Herald: University of Auckland says it is ‘unaware’ of any white supremacist movement on campus
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Auckland Uni says ‘increased awareness’ of racism behind white supremacist complaints
Dan Satherley (Newshub): University of Auckland blames reports of white supremacists on ‘increased awareness’
RNZ: Dealing with white supremacy concerns at Auckland university
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): White supremacist movement growing at Auckland uni, students say
Don Rowe (Spinoff): Open letter claims white supremacy and ‘climate of fear’ at University of Auckland
Auckland
Todd Niall (Stuff): Tamihere rolls first policy dice in Auckland mayoral race
Taroi Black (Māori TV): Central government should foot the bill for Auckland infrastructure
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere backs Eden Park concerts and new sports venue
Heather McCarron and Dan Satherley (Newshub): John Tamihere throws support behind struggling Eden Park
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Tamihere sets out his stall on the future of Auckland sport venues
Simon Wilson (Herald): Stadium or museum for the Auckland waterfront – or both?
Janika ter Ellen (Newshub): Anger after Auckland Council proposes slashing dog access to beaches
Local government
Paul Gorman (Stuff): Christchurch City Council gives $50,000 to anti water-bottling campaigners for court action
John McCrone (Stuff): Going halves: Negotiating Christchurch’s EQ recovery exit package
Michael Hayward (Stuff): Calls for changes to Local Government Act to allow bus service transfer ignored by Govt
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): Why did West Coast plans for a waste-to-energy plant fail?
Jimmy Ellingham (Manawatū Standard): Councillors shouldn’t turn away people wanting to speak to them
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Palmerston North’s council chamber a far cry from the digital age
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): Wellington places named after controversial historical figures could be renamed
Rebecca Moore (1News): Wellington City Council look to more accurately reflect Te Reo Māori in place and street names
Paul Mitchell (Stuff): Local Government Commission grants exemption to maintain Horowhenua District Council status quo
Census
ODT Editorial: When it all goes horribly wrong
Lincoln Tan (Herald): NZ’s failure to recognise minority ethnic communities slammed
Media
Colin Peacock (RNZ): Mediawatch: Governments gear up to crack down on social media
Aimee Shaw (Herald): Advertising organisations call for Government to take action on social media standards
Colin Peacock (RNZ): Mediawatch: Global squeeze on Vice prompts local closure
Danielle McLaughlin (Stuff): Why Julian Assange’s arrest is troubling for whistleblowers
Herald Editorial: Next step for a polarising Julian Assange as he prepares to battle extradition
John Roughan (Herald): Writing the Herald’s editorials has been a humbling privilege
Employment, migrant exploitation
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Chorus should have done more to mitigate risk of worker exploitation, report finds
Madison Reidy (RNZ): Chorus failed to prevent migrant exploitation – review
1News: Christchurch company fined $250k after fatal accident in which steel beam fell on worker
Environment and conservation
Zane Small (Newshub): Climate change risks to be assessed as New Zealand’s emissions labelled ‘disturbing’
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Sea level rise will cause $7b worth of damage to Wellington unless emissions are drastically cut
Amanda Larsson (ODT): OMV blots NZ’s copybook
Breanna Barraclough (Newshub): Declining Arctic sea ice slumps to ‘uncharted territory’ in worrying graph
Josephine Franks (Stuff): School climate strikers grieving after Christchurch shootings, but planning for future
Jamie Morton (Herald): DoC: Forest ‘mega-mast’ may spell local extinctions
Dan Satherley and Heather McCarron (Newshub): Iwi urged to back appeal against Great Barrier Island sediment dumping
Sarah Gardner (ODT): ORC working for smooth renewal of water permits
Jamie Morton (Herald): Working with cat owners to protect wildlife and stop control debate turning feral
Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): Descendants of Matakarapa call for a restore of Foxton Loop
Jono Galuszka (Manawatū Standard): Regional and city councils scrap over who should pay to fix flood-damaged road
Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Residents volunteer to pay $200,000 to reopen track at regional park plagued with kauri dieback
Ihumātao
Morgan Godfery: The politics of Ihumātao
Taroi Black (Māori TV): Government urging all Ihumātao parties to talk
Housing
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Govt claims it’s ‘well on track’ to building 300 KiwiBuild homes by July
RNZ: Housing NZ calls for consultation ahead of Puriri Park development
Antonia Watson (Stuff): The cost of cold, damp homes is too high
Fiona Barber (Stuff): Neighbours, please don’t fence me in
Economy
Jason Walls (Herald): The Finance Minister requested members of RBNZ’s new board be paid an ‘exceptional fee’
RNZ: Robertson: NZ economy well placed to handle impact of global downturn
Point of Order: Budget surpluses are Robertson’s aim but well-being pressures will test his prowess
Construction sector
RNZ: ‘Genuine transformation’ needed in construction industry
Rob Stock and John Weekes (Stuff): Prime Minister launches accord to repair broken building sector
Jason Walls (Herald): New Government and industry plan aims to fix construction sector’s biggest problems
Newshub: Industry agreement to fix building and construction sector
RNZ: Government announces construction industry agreement
Transport
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Truckies ‘scared as hell’ over safety crackdown
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Greater Wellington pays $1.6 million to external contractors over region’s bus problems
RNZ: Unreliable Wellington buses lead residents to charter their own
Ben Strang (RNZ): Speeding tickets: Fines from one Whangarei camera $4.8m in a year
STuff: Talk Wellington: How capital streets might look if people and life were bigger priority than cars
RNZ: Waiho Bridge reopens after being rebuilt in 18 days
RNZ: Two Auckland garages suspended for incorrectly issuing WOFs
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): Auckland Transport under fire for slow transition to electric bus fleet
Damien O’Carroll (Stuff): Dunedin leads kiwi EV uptake
Michael Hayward (Stuff): Cantabrians test electric cars as council hopes to lessen emissions from vehicles
Primary industries, biosecurity
Māori TV: Hawke’s Bay seafood company fined $62K
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): Owner of M. Bovis-infected farm who had to shoot newborn calves: ‘you just learn to grit your teeth and do it’
Karoline Tuckey (RNZ): Demand for cage-free eggs contributes to national egg shortage
Tim Brown (RNZ): Clutha dry: Farmers call for drought declaration
RNZ: Stewart Island oyster farmers get $2.4m compensation
1News: Fruit, vegetable controls lifted in Auckland as no more fruit flies detected
RNZ: Biosecurity NZ lifts Queensland fruit fly controls in North Shore
Push for gender equality in top jobs
MIchael Reddell: CEOs, the PM, and the degraded state of the public sector
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Men need to take the lead on gender equality: top accounting boss
Foreign affairs
Derek Cheng (Herald): MPs head to Africa, Turkey to improve relations
RNZ: NZ helps launch electrification project in PNG’s Enga
1News: Pacific Update: Cook Islands MP will be arrested if he returns to NZ, police say
News.au: Ex-Bandido bikie Emil Tangaroa to be deported to New Zealand, fiance and kids to remain in Australia
Jenny Shipley
Jo Moir (RNZ): Time’s up for Jenny Shipley at NZ China Council
Richard Griffin (Stuff): Jenny Shipley finding out a hard lesson – there’s no free pass in business
Spark
RNZ: Spark misleading customers ‘a massive incompetence’
RNZ: Spark fined $675k after failure to stop bills, 7000 customers still owed
Nelson Mandela exhibition
1News: Nelson Mandela exhibition opens at Auckland’s Eden Park
Robert Burgess: ‘Please accept three hearty cheers, for one man with morality and guts’
D’Angelo Martin (Māori TV): Harawira recalls Mandela at Eden Park exhibition
Other
Lois Williams (RNZ): Insight: Provincial Growth Fund – slush fund or lifeline?
Stuff Circuit: Big Decision: The abortion debate: should our law be changed?
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Anxiety as Maxwell investigation again delayed
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Citizens Advice Bureau says they need funding from agencies referring people to them
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Dead airman’s family devastated by ‘broken promise’ on fatal Anzac Day crash inquiry
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): New Zealand visa applications ignored for months as immigration struggles with targets
Jennifer Eder (Stuff): Firefighters call for health and safety reform over toxic chemical exposure
Emma Hatton (RNZ): End of fast fashion nears: ‘The model isn’t going to be viable’
Jehan Casinder (1News): Pike River survivor Daniel Rockhouse returns to the coalface
Susan St John (Daily Blog): Paying too much to keep us warm?
Mike Mather (Stuff): Jury service shirkers called back to court for a dressing down by judge
RNZ: Inmates in Christchurch prison take on new musical course
Dale Husband (E-Tangata): Matthew Tukaki: Making it up every day
Zane Small (Newshub): Chinese visitors to New Zealand drop during peak Chinese New Year period
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Chinese New Year not so happy for New Zealand tourism
Louise Tong (Herald): Reserve Bank proposals should be assessed by the Productivity Commission
Rob Stock (Stuff): Business confidence dips into negative territory
ODT Editorial: Sending wrong message
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Labour uses Facebook ‘thumbs up’ logo on website
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): The Prime Minister with a dark side
Daily Blog: Sean Plunket’s Working Group with Bomber Bradbury & Damien Grant: This week – Assange, ANZAC Day, Folau & Guns
Herald: NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s partner Clarke Gayford on fatherhood: ‘Oh boy’
