Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – April 16 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
Louisa Akavi
Jo Moir (Stuff): Winston Peters accuses International Red Cross of putting kidnap victim in more danger
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern says Government was ‘explicit’ in wish to not name Louisa Akavi
Tracy Watkins (Stuff)): Why IS hostage Louisa Akavi’s story needs to be told after years of secrecy
Claire Trevett (Herald): PM Jacinda Ardern’s ‘no comment’ on Isis hostage speaks volumes
Ryan Bridge (Newshub): Major miscommunication between the Red Cross and Government
Press Editorial: Compelling reasons for keeping extraordinary story under wraps
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Why PM won’t say a word about kidnapped Kiwi nurse
Katie Fitzgerald and Kethaki Masilamani (Newshub): Louisa Akavi: No surprise Government was tight-lipped – expert
Herald: Red Cross believes kidnapped Kiwi nurse Louisa Akavi is alive and will be found
Derek Cheng (Herald): Red Cross surprised by PM’s objections to naming kidnapped Kiwi nurse Louisa Akavi
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Red Cross ‘surprised’ by Jacinda Ardern’s objection to kidnapped nurse Louisa Akavi being named
Stuff: Red Cross: Why we decided to name New Zealand Isis hostage Louisa Akavi
Tracy Watkins and Henry Cooke (Stuff): Kiwi nurse held by Isis: Jacinda Ardern says Government position is still that Louisa Akavi should not have been named
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern objects to public naming missing Kiwi Red Cross nurse
RNZ: NZ nurse captured by Islamic State, Louisa Akavi, info ‘not for public domain’ – Jacinda Ardern
Zane Small and Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern exercising caution with comments about Louisa Akavi over fear of Islamic State propaganda manipulation
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Rukmini Callimachi and Adam Goldman (New York Times): ISIS Kidnapped Her 5 Years Ago. The Red Cross Thinks She May Still Be Alive.
Tracey Watkin (Stuff):Isis captured Kiwi nurse’s plight: the story we couldn’t publish
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Kiwi nurse held by Isis: Why we’ve waited five years to tell Louisa Akavi’s story
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): The Secret Hostage
Tracey Watkin (Stuff): Islamic State’s Kiwi hostage: Inside the top-secret rescue effort
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): New Zealand nurse Louisa Akavi revealed as Islamic State hostage
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Islamic state captive: Louisa Akavi, the hardy Kiwi nurse with the skills to survive
Tracy Watkins (Stuff):Isis captive Louisa Akavi has ‘true goodness in her heart’ – family
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government is still trying to bring Kiwi nurse Louisa Akavi home
Stuff: Islamic State’s foreign hostages: Propaganda tools and bargaining chips
David Fisher and Claire Trevett (Herald): Revealed: New Zealand nurse Louisa Akavi kidnapped, held by Isis for six years
Audrey Young (Herald): Caution still required despite revelations about how Isis kidnapped nurse Louisa Akavi
Herald: Captured by ISIS: Islamic State sought $33m for Kiwi nurse abducted in Syria five years ago
Isaac Davison (Herald): Louisa Akavi, Islamic State hostage, headed to conflict zones because she was ‘restless as’
Isaac Davison (Herald): ‘She’s not once been forgotten’: Friend of NZ nurse Louisa Akavi held hostage by ISIS pays tribute to ‘amazing human being’
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Government releases details about secret mission to save IS-abducted nurse Louisa Akavi
Tova O’Brien, Patrick Gower and Brook Sabin (Newshub): Why New Zealand does not pay ransoms for hostages
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Louisa Akavi: Why the Red Cross thinks she’s still alive
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): The life of Louisa Akavi, a truly selfless New Zealander
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): ‘We just want her home’: Family of Louisa Akavi issues emotional statement
1News: NZ nurse kidnapped by ISIS could be among 70,000 in Syria camp – NY Times journo
1News: Kiwi aid worker abducted by ISIS in Syria five years ago likely still being held, Red Cross says
RNZ: Red Cross on nurse captured by IS in Syria: ‘We call on whoever is holding Louisa to release her immediately’
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Fears grow for New Zealand nurse Louisa Akavi kidnapped in Syria in 2013
Kim Griggs (RNZ): Who is Louisa Akavi, the New Zealand nurse kidnapped by Islamic State?
Helen Davidson and Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): New Zealand nurse Louisa Akavi, kidnapped in Syria, may be alive, Red Cross says
1News Colmar Brunton Poll
1News: Labour widens gap over National, jumping to 48% in first poll since Christchurch attack
1News: New poll: Jacinda Ardern receives highest rating since taking office, while Bridges falls
1News: Analysis: Desire among National MPs for stability may save Simon Bridges after latest poll dip
Audrey Young (Herald): Poll relief for Simon Bridges may only be temporary
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Bridges looks for small mercies as slide continues
National Party, Nuk Korako to retire
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Why Judith Collins should be made National leader. (And why she shouldn’t)
RNZ: National Party may not have approached its women MPs in culture review – Simon Bridges
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Bridges stands by ’emotional junior staffer’ comments, but won’t repeat them
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): National MP Nuk Korako announces retirement from Parliament
1News: Port Hills based National list MP Nuk Korako retires from Parliament
Jason Walls (Herald): National MP Nuk Korako says he will retire from politics in a month to make way for a new candidate
Zane Small and Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Nuk Korako resigns as National MP
RNZ: National MP Nuk Korako announces retirement
Hate speech, Israel Folau
Graham Adams (Newsroom): Folau broke hidden rule of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
Liam Hehir (Stuff): Calls for censorship reforms are loud but not clear
Chris Trotter: Recognising Hate Speech When You See It.
1News: Shouting abuse outside a mosque, ‘racist’ pamphlet and Israel Folau’s comments – what is hate speech?
1News: Brian Tamaki alludes to Israel Folau, threatens ‘war’ if Bible verses labelled hate speech
Herald: ‘This will be war if you call the Bible hate speech’ says Brian Tamaki
RNZ: Israel Folau sacked, given 48-hours to appeal
Tax, IRD, budget
Richard Harman (Politik): Is NZ First about to make a capital gain?
David Hargreaves (Interest): Whether by design or not the Tax Working Group has ended up being a public referendum for Capital Gains Tax – and it’s likely to work out well for the Government
Terry Baucher (Interest): Stress on the Brightline, the implications from a CGT on Māori land, and how automatic tax refunds are developing
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘Hell yes’ New Zealand should have a capital gains tax – economist
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Time to rethink how we account for government
Jason Walls (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Cabinet this afternoon officially signed off the Budget
Herald: Watch: PM won’t say if she signed off Capital Gains Tax
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern confirms 2019 Wellbeing Budget signed off but still no CGT details
BusinessDesk: Govt signs off its first ‘well-being’ Budget
Michael Daly and Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Simon Bridges expects Government to make decision on CGT today
Chris Keall (Herald): Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck intensifies attack on Capital Gains Tax
David Farrar: Two thirds of CGT revenue would come from inflation!
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Tax department prepares for biggest shutdown ever; 1.6 million Kiwis set for refunds
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): IRD half way through 1500 job cull
Newshub: What you need to know about IRD changes (video)
Euthanasia
Alex Penk (Stuff): End of Life Choice Bill report offers only ambiguity for MPs before second reading
RNZ: Lawyers, academics urge scrutiny over euthanasia bill ‘loopholes’
Emma Hatton (RNZ): Youth worker worried about euthanasia bill’s impact on suicide
Stuff: MPs Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Maggie Barry share their views on euthanasia, or assisted suicide (audio)
Christchurch mosque attacks, high terror threat level
John Armstrong (1News): Christchurch Royal Commission must dig deep to heal nation’s wounds
RNZ: Mosque attack victim donations system too slow, unfair to families – Pakistan Association NZ
Ben Leahy (Herald): Security analyst says police called for fewer Anzac Day events because staff are exhausted
Emma Dangerfield (Stuff): University of Canterbury graduation street processions cancelled following police advice
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Students won’t parade through streets for University of Canterbury graduation following police advice
Albert Redmore (Newshub): High terror threat level in NZ is justified – police
Holly Carran (Newshub): Christchurch still in a state of high security, one month after attacks
Simon Rogers and Logan Church (RNZ): Christchurch terror attack: The day NZ changed forever
Kate Evans (Listener): What New Zealand can learn from Norway’s response to their terror attack
1News: Bail denied for teen accused of sharing ‘target acquired’ image of Christchurch mosque
RNZ: Man who shared ‘target acquired’ image of mosque denied bail
RNZ: Christchurch man still in custody over mosque shooting livestream charges
Education
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Government launches $12.2m programme to bolster te reo Māori in classrooms
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Funding for te reo Māori lessons for teachers to ‘normalise’ use of language
Tema Hemi (Māori TV: Integrating te reo Māori across the education system
Ruth Smith (Māori TV): Māori-medium resources the way of the future
Q+A: Rote learning times tables ‘one of the worst things we do to kids’ – maths professor
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Anti-trans education activists ‘got a right to be heard’ – Simon Bridges
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Prime Minister Ardern wants female students to back their own ability
Jessica Long (Stuff): A decade of neglected student loans sees 8280 people owe $115 million
Charlotte Cook (RNZ): Knox College sexual assault claims not dealt with years ago – students
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): Anonymous sexual harassment disclosure policy floated at Victoria
Sam Kelway (1News): University of Waikato opens $55 million campus in Tauranga
Transport
Dave Armstrong (Dominion Post): The muppet show: Who are the councillors responsible for Wellington’s bus disaster?
Stephen Forbes (Interest): The NZTA says the growing use of public transport means its funding system has to change
Anne Gibson (Herald): NZTA v Whangarei trucker Semenoff: back in court next month
RNZ: Unauthorised staff issued WOFs at Auckland garage, NZTA finds
Matthew Rosenberg (Stuff): Councillor slams NZTA over slow progress on SeaPath
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): Auckland Transport under fire for slow transition to electric bus fleet
Paul Gorman (Stuff): NZ Transport Agency says no to Mandarin traffic signs in South Island’s Mackenzie Basin
Health and disability
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): NZ’s deadly public health battle
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Pharmac’s early access scheme needs work – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Kiwi father’s emotional plea to Jacinda Ardern to fund lifesaving drug for rare disease
RNZ: Shortage of Pasifika in NZ heathcare sector
RNZ: Personal and planetary health linked in Pacific
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Opioid addiction: Increase in number of people over 60 getting help
Newshub: Increase in opioid addiction for over 60s (video)
Andre Chumko (Stuff): Cancer patient who died after falling in hospital had inadequate care plan – review
Herald: Inadequate care lead to death of patient: CCDHB found to have breached health code
RNZ: Lumsden Maternity Centre downgrade may force expectant mothers to travel further
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Rural women’s group welcomes new Midwifery Workforce Accord
Laine Moger (Stuff): Painted braille signs ‘invisible’ to the visually impaired visiting Auckland event centre
Environment and conservation
Matthew Littlewood (Stuff): Call for increased coffers for pastoral lease land purchases
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): Bleak outlook for these seven NZ species
Mihingarangi Forbes (Newshub): Could ocean credits be the new carbon credits?
Jono Galuszka (Manawatū Standard): Owners of Feilding Sale Yards fined more than $100,000 for letting effluent run into waterways
Stuff: Hakarimata Summit Track temporarily closed for DOC work on kauri dieback
John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy (Spinoff): It’s urgent. And it’s political: Jacinda Ardern on climate change.
Local government
Matt Shand (Stuff): Poor management plagues Tauranga City Council in four major projects
Evan Harding (Stuff): Ria Bond joins Invercargill mayoralty race
Waikato Times: Hamilton mayoral candidate Angela O’Leary wants future rates increases to be aligned with CPI
Matthew Tso (Stuff): Shake-up halves number of Hutt City ward councillors
Daisy Hudson (Mountain Scene): Anti-bed tax lobby fills war chest
Jenny Shipley
John Anthony and Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): No decision on Dame Jenny Shipley’s New Zealand China Council role as board undergoes review, chairman says
Herald: Dame Jenny Shipley’s New Zealand China Council role up in the air: reports
Spark and RWC
1News: Spark reveals pricing options to view Rugby World Cup matches
RNZ: Spark to broadcast more Rugby World Cup games
Other
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Operation Burnham: Lawyer for Afghan villagers seeks a halt to closed hearings
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Warning: Retirement will be tough for increasing number of NZers who don’t own homes
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Court orders Chinese owner of Wairarapa farm to settle access row before he sells
1News: Shane Jones rejects notion Billion Trees Programme is stripping farming community of land
1News: ‘That’s obviously just wrong’ – Simon Bridges supports ban on foreign political donations
Laura Mills (Greymouth Star): Contract extensions for staff at Pike River Recovery Agency
Herald Editorial: Building-trade warm words solve nothing
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Government’s energy policy could drive electricity prices up 39 percent
Albert Redmore (Stuff): Industry’s focus on animal welfare blamed for national egg shortage
Jo Lines-MacKenzie (Stuff): Aggressive behaviour at Waikeria prison injures officers
Stephen Forbes (Interest): Chapman Tripp says government legislation designed to crack down on predatory lending could drive some borrowers to high cost loans
Greg Barns and Craig Tuck (Stuff): US pursuit of Assange is an attack on what it means to be a citizen
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Service sector growth at lowest level since 2012
Stuart Smith and Priyanca Radhakrishnan (Stuff): Grieving families waiting up to five years for inquests
Frances Everard (Herald): A bill providing leave after miscarriages should extend to abortion
David Cormack (Herald): Won’t somebody think of the children?
