Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – May 09 2019
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
Today’s content
Zero Carbon bill, climate change
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Zero Carbon Bill lives or dies on politics
Dave Frame (Stuff): Zero Carbon bill is a positive step
Wayne Mapp (Spinoff): The first stop in a Zero Carbon future should be an end to fossil-fuelled cars
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): James Shaw and the zero hour
Richard Harman (Politik): Why is James Shaw apologising to Todd Muller over climate change?
Catherine Hutton (RNZ): Checkpoint: Government’s Zero Carbon Bill already facing heavy criticism
Kate Gudsell (RNZ): Climate change plan: ‘Setting the bar so low’
Jason Walls (Herald): From Federated farmers to Greenpeace, the zero carbon bill has been slammed by its critics
Stuff: Zero Carbon Bill: Who supports it and who doesn’t
Herald Editorial:Zero Carbon Bill provides certainty for businesses
No Right Turn: Climate Change: The Zero Carbon Bill
Steven Cowan: Zero Carbon Bill: A toy water pistol to put out the raging fire
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Māori seek direct input into govt’s climate change policy
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Climate change plan “a start” but “lacks detail” – Iwi Chairs leader
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Taranaki environmental group says Zero Carbon Bill ‘not good enough’
Lisa McLaren (Stuff): Youth climate group excited their climate law brought to life
Paul Gorman (Stuff): Climate change bill’s emissions target 20 years too late – school campaigner
1News: Farms face softer greenhouse gas reduction target than carbon emitters
Eloise Gibson (Newsroom): Methane target: too soft, too hard or just right?
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Methane targets are achievable: Damien O’Connor
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): ‘Frustratingly cruel’: Farmer fury grows over Government’s climate change plans
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): No easy answers for farmers to reduce on farm methane emissions
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): 100pc renewable generation could wait to the 2040s, Genesis boss suggests
Laura Mills (Greymouth Star): Move ‘very difficult’ for the West Coast
Martyn Bradbury: If this Carbon Zero legislation was our generations ‘nuclear moment’, America just parked a nuclear ship next to David Lange’s grave and rolled all over him
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Landmark climate change bill goes to Parliament
Jason Walls (Herald): The Government’s ‘ambitious’ zero carbon bill will require a lot more biotechnical investment
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Climate change bill, independent commission announced
1News: Government releases details of long-awaited climate change Bill
Jason Walls (Herald): Climate change plan: Government unveils details of ambitious Zero Carbon Act
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Government announces Zero Carbon Bill details for fighting climate change
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Government commits to treating biological emissions differently to other greenhouse gas emissions; Fails to secure full support from National
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Split gas Zero Carbon Bill revealed
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Zero Carbon Bill revealed: everything you need to know
Kate Lyons (Guardian): New Zealand introduces bill for zero carbon emissions by 2050
Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): A community threatened by climate change can stay, as long as it pays up
Primary and extractive industries
Pattrick Smellie (Stuff):Zero Carbon policy just in time for Taranaki post-carbon economy summit
Katie Fitzgerald and Edward O’Driscoll (Newshub): Summit on a ‘just transition’ away from oil and gas to begin in New Plymouth
Christina Persico (Stuff): Just Transition Summit to look at New Zealand’s low-carbon future
Gavin Evans (BusinessDesk): Waihi gold mining ‘inherently unsustainable’, says Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage
Madison Reidy (RNZ): Government decision leaves 360 Coromandel miners in limbo
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Livestock numbers surge as Canterbury farms convert to dairy
David Ashby (Stuff): Solving Waimakariri’s water quality issues by working together
Tim and Deborah Rhodes (Stuff): Convert dairy farms and feed the world
Housing
Henry Cooke (Stuff): KiwiBuild: Government no longer guaranteeing 100,000 homes
Jason Walls (Herald): Housing Minister Phil Twyford is reviewing a key element of the Government’s flagship policy
Zane Small (Newshub): PM Jacinda Ardern refuses to stand by major KiwiBuild goal
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Twyford refuses to confirm whether ‘KiwiBuild recalibration’ will include 100,000 house target; expresses interest in using shared equity schemes
RNZ: Minister refuses to recommit to 10-year KiwiBuild target ahead of ‘reset’
Tova OBrien (Newshub): KiwiBuild: Is the Government’s flagship policy over?
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Uncertainty over 100,000 target for KiwiBuild
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): HNZ to build its first affordable homes in Napier
Mandy Te (Stuff): Councillor says families ‘mis-advised’ over moving home by Housing New Zealand
Amy Williams (RNZ): Insulation materials running out as landlords rush to meet deadline
Amy Ridout (Stuff): Former refugees without home after months-long search for rental
RNZ: ‘We’re all fighting for the same houses’ – Dunedin renters
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Market conditions right for first-home buyers to jump in, commentators say
Immunisation
1News: Unvaccinated children shouldn’t be excluded from education because their parents are ‘pro-plague’, says Education Minister
Herald: ‘Pro-plague’: Education Minister Chris Hipkins wades into vaccination debate
RNZ: Education Minister Chris Hipkins says anti-vaxxer parents are ‘pro-plague’
Simon Collins (Herald): Northland DHB asks unimmunised children to stay away from school for two weeks due to measles epidemic
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Unvaccinated kids should be allowed to go to school – Chris Hipkins
RNZ: Checkpoint: Northland schools encouraged to exclude unvaccinated kids
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): More Canterbury parents choosing not to immunise their children
Education
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Parents want Government spending on more than just teacher pay – Hipkins
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): More principals are subjected to physical violence – survey
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Threats and violence against school leaders increase, survey shows
Tim Brown (RNZ): Protest planned after student assault video at Southland school circulated
Katarina Williams (Stuff): MPs should decide on university name changes, Education Minister says
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Education Minister Chris Hipkins proposes amendment to law over university name changes
RNZ: University name change process to be amended
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Auckland Uni vice chancellor: Still no evidence of white supremacist claims
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Vice chancellor stands by ‘nonsense’ claim over white supremacy
Cannabis referendum, drug laws
Derek Cheng (Herald): Big Read: What would legal cannabis in NZ look like, and is it a good idea? (paywalled)
Herald: Cannabis referendum pass results decline but tracking to pass, according to new poll
Herald: Medical Association opposes cannabis legalisation but backs civil penalties for drug possession
1News: MPs ‘very, very unprepared’ for ‘significant infrastructure change’ required for legalisation of cannabis, US anti-cannabis activist says
Cecile Meier (Stuff): Cannabis referendum: Legalisation in California no game-changer after 18 months
Claire Trevett (Herald): Cannabis referendum ‘stoners tax’ could be golden haze for the Government (paywalled)
Zane Small (Newshub): MPs urged to reconsider allowing police ‘discretion’ over drugs
Zane Small (Newshub): Cannabis gummy bears could be banned under law reform
RNZ: Cannabis vote: National can’t promise it will respect referendum
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Yawn – Cannabis referendum is out and surprise surprise, it’s not binding
OCR cut
Kate MacNamara (Stuff): Please Adrian Orr, drop the Prince impression
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): OCR cut offers a boost for the housing market, but not everyone is a winner
Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): What happens if interest rates hit zero?
Liam Dann (Herald): Reserve Bank leaps into new era with a bold OCR cut – did they get it right? (paywalled)
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): Analysis: What the OCR cut means for you
Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): OCR cut: A small boost for home buyers, a setback for retirees
Scott Palmer (Newshub): The big drop: How the record-low OCR will affect you
1News: Banks start cutting mortgage rates after OCR lowered for first time in over two years
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff):Reserve Bank cuts official cash rate to all time low, banks cut mortgage rates
Liam Dann (Herald): Reserve Bank cuts Official Cash Rate to record low 1.5 per cent
Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): RBNZ cuts interest rates
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): Reserve Bank cuts official cash rate to 1.5% for first time in two years
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Boost for housing market as OCR cut helps keep loan rates at historic lows
Employment, migrant workers
Logan Savory (Southland Times): Southland disAbility Enterprises says it has lost WasteNet contract
MIchael Morrah (Newshub): Super Liquor terminates franchisees after workers exploited
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): Super Liquor Mt Albert workers allege they were paid $6 an hour
Liu Chen (RNZ): Ongoing visa delay for Chinese workers ‘worries’ National MP
1News: Jobs created by provincial growth fund may not be quite what they seem
RNZ: Court rejects meatworks companies appeal against paying for ‘donning and doffing’
Evan Harding (Southland Times): Southland union organiser warns employers to respect law or face consequences
Immigration
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Regional focus for new immigration skill shortage lists
1News and RNZ: Aged care nurses added to long-term skills shortage list
Stephen Forbes (Interest): Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway outlines immigration changes to address labour market skills shortages with focus on the regions and teachers
Parliament
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): National MP Nick Smith rekindles bitter history with Speaker Trevor Mallard
1 News: National MP Nick Smith’s lockout from parliament ends today
Audrey Young (Herald): Nick Smith suspension: What ‘naming’ means for the booted MP
Audrey Young (Herald): Suspended: Nick Smith hits back at ‘bully’ Speaker after getting the boot
Collette Devlin (Stuff): National MP Nick Smith has been suspended from the House
1News: National MP Nick Smith suspended from the House for ‘grossly disorderly conduct’
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Nick Smith suspended from Parliament
RNZ: National MP Nick Smith named in Parliament and suspended
Daniela Maoate-Cox (RNZ): Annual review debate continues at Parliament
Phil Smith (RNZ): Parliament’s to do list: Wednesday May 8: “It ain’t over till…”
Newshub: ‘Angry’ Simon Bridges receives mixed reaction in Parliament – Tova O’Brien
Alan Kenyon (1News); Winston Peters calls National Party ‘leaderless rabble’ during pointed Parliamentary address
1News: ‘Genuineness of who we are’ – Paula Bennett speaks out after being accused of being ‘not Māori enough’
Local government
Todd Niall (Stuff): Veteran politician Mike Lee might challenge Phil Goff for Auckland mayoralty
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): South Auckland land sale: ‘The poor subsidising the wealthy’
Marta Steeman (Stuff): An Auckland Council service centre in the CBD attracts $58 million offer
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Demolition on the cards but could a better Wellington library rise out of its ashes?
1News: Demolition could be on the cards for Wellington Central Library following structural concerns
RNZ: A rebuild among options for Wellington Central Library
David Farrar: Wellington Central Library stuffed
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Political colours likely back in Palmerston North council chamber
Laura Wiltshire (Hawkes Bay Today): The town Wellington forgot: Struggling Wairoa tells Parliament the town can fix itself (paywalled)
Child welfare, abuse of children in state care
1News: Government says respect, openness and learning among principles for historical abuse inquiry
RNZ: Government sets out how it will respond to historical state abuse inquiry
1News: Call on Government to do more for child poverty as numbers remain unchanged
Amy Wiggins (Herald): Toddler death: District health board hopes it will never happen again (paywalled)
Melanie Reid (Newsroom): Don’t take my baby
Iwi settlements
Michael Neilson (Herald): ‘Grave injustices’: How Ngāi Tahu went from being landless to a $2b powerhouse (paywalled)
Michael Neilson (Herald): ‘Economic juggernaut: Waikato-Tainui – the $1.4 billion iwi (paywalled)
Michael Neilson (Herald): ‘Virtual refugees’: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei – the iwi that refused to die (paywalled)
Foreign affairs
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Harassment of outspoken China expert continues
Newsroom: Chinese interference: Anne-Marie Brady’s full submission
Health
Herald: Cancer: Surviving disease in New Zealand can be a lottery (paywalled)
Nicholas Jones (Herald): ‘Appalling’ lack of services leading to amputations: Podiatry NZ (paywalled)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Govt’s ‘no’ on sugar tax is my cup of tea
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Health board given a blast
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Group appeals to Health Select Committee to save Lumsden Maternity Centre
Indira Stewart (RNZ): Mother of boys killed in crash lodges complaint against DHB
Alcohol
Michael Daly (Stuff): Kiwis drinking less than we used to, but increase predicted, research shows
Isaac Davison (Herald): Lancet study shows New Zealand’s alcohol consumption falling, against global trends
Dave Goosselink (Newshub): Why Otago University students reckon cheaper bars would encourage safe drinking
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Dunedin university students call on council to help lower alcohol prices
Te Mata Peak
Hawkes Bay Today: Mongrel Mob’s Te Mata Peak takeover: Authorities scramble to prepare for future gathering
Andre Chumko (Stuff): Police decision to close off a Hawke’s Bay road during Mongrel Mob ceremony labelled ‘an outrage’
1News: Police seek to address safety concerns over Mongrel Mob’s ‘intimidating’ Te Mata Peak patching ceremonies
Dan Satherley and Heather McCarron (Newshub): Gang takeover of ‘sacred’ place prompts meeting
Business
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Cadbury’s owner Mondelez sees NZ business shrink 29 per cent
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Cadbury’s NZ profit slumps after closing Dunedin factory
Simon Hartley (ODT): Mondelez revenue slump due to closure
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Fonterra close to selling off Tip Top to one of four bidders
Other
Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): Ardern’s biggest call is coming
RNZ: Operation Burnham Inquiry: Hit & Run authors to present at public hearing
Rawiri Taonui (Stuff): What’s in a name? How ‘Pākehā’ became corrupted
Anne Gibson (Herald): $6.1 billion-plus Government building programme revealed for next three years: first pipeline report out (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): New Zealand’s growing tax bill: Where’s it going?
Jared Savage (Herald): Fighting the Demon: Evidence from Professor David Nutt says pleasure of meth overpowers fear of prison in landmark Court of Appeal hearing
RNZ: Police Minister should ‘man up’, says mother of son killed in crash
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Mother of drugged driver crash victim seeks random roadside drug testing in petition to Parliament
John Tamihere (Herald): Left right labels get us lost (paywalled)
Mark Quinlivan and Mel Logan (Newshub): How our native mōhua bird went from ‘rare’ to ‘common’ in just 21 years
RNZ: Mohua among native birds increasing in numbers in South Westland valley
RNZ: Mosque attacks: Still no funding plan for mental health needs
Peter Griffin (Noted): Government needs to do more to counter digital threats to democracy
1News: Iwi Chairs Forum latest to back call for Government to introduce interest rate cap on personal loans
Toby Morris (Spinoff): Watch: Two Sketches meets the great cartoonist Sharon Murdoch
Mary du Ruyter (North & South): Meet New Zealand’s professional piss-taker Tom Sainsbury
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Te Papa’s biggest revamp in 21 years tackles the challenges of climate, pollution and extinction
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): Mt White Station buyer returning to New Zealand just before residency deadline
Matthew Theunissen (RNZ): Gun club’s intense firing worse since court’s closure order – resident
RNZ: Auckland rail workers to go on strike over pay
