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
Bullying and harassment
Jessica Mutch (1News): Parliament’s bullying and harassment report set to prompt major cultural change – 1 NEWS understands
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Parliamentary inquiry into bullying looks set to be damning
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Workplace Relations Minister orders probe into bullying
Collette Devlin and Tom Hunt (Stuff): State Services Commission orders agencies to adopt new set of bullying standards
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Bullying files lost to the rubble of Stats House after Kaikōura earthquake
Social media, hate speech, free speech
1News: MPs David Seymour and Louisa Wall clash over Israel Folau case during hate speech debate
1News: Christchurch Call rushed, generalities says international digital rights advocate
Charlotte Carter (Stuff): Deepfakes and synthetic media an ‘abiding concern’ – political scientist
Chris Keall (Herald): NZ study highlights the risk of ‘deep fakes’ on social media – and why our lawmakers should leave it alone
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): ‘Deepfake’ videos could be next social media minefield – researchers
Bryan Bruce (Daily Blog): Hate in the time of the Internet
Zane Small (Newshub): Judith Collins labeled ‘ageist’ as David Seymour attacks her defence of Golriz Ghahraman
Donna Miles-Mojab (Stuff): Why not rebut Ghahraman’s arguments, rather than label her a menace?
Cathy Odgers: Lefty Woke Sook With LLB Runs To Law Society For Golly Gosh
Christian party
Richard Harman (Politik): Now Bridges faces a dilemma
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Stars aligning for a Christian Party (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Ngaro’s challenge: a camel through the eye of a needle
Dave Armstrong (Dominion Post): Thou shalt not covet a Christian coalition partner – and certainly not their ass
1News: Bridges making ‘absolutely’ no election deal for Botany even if Ngaro forms new Christian conservative party
John Minto (Daily Blog): The fantasy world of Alfred Ngaro
Operation Burnham inquiry, secrecy
David Fisher (Herald): Revealed: Documents too secret to be seen – but now the inquiry into the NZSAS raid says they should be public (paywalled)
Gordon Campbell: On why we shouldn’t genuflect to calls for secrecy
Government, OIA, transparency
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Government ignores plea to outlaw ministerial interference in OIA responses
No Right Turn: Ignoring the Ombudsman
Jo Moir (Stuff): First batch of ministerial diaries due, but scepticism abounds
Liam Hehir (Stuff): Government’s paralysis can only help Labour’s popularity
Housing
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Underwrite triggered: More unsold Kiwibuild houses bought by govt
Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): The reasons why new houses cost so much
BusinessDesk: Fletcher-commissioned Deloitte report shows building material costs are low
Zane Small (Newshub): KiwiBuild fails to attract any buyers in Canterbury
David Hargreaves (Interest): Collins says there ‘hasn’t been a single sale’ since the first KiwiBuild houses went on sale in Canterbury three months ago
Michael Cropp (RNZ): Council powerless to stop ‘waste of space’ housing development
Anne Gibson (Herald): Bunnings flat pack house no DIY dream: licensed builders needed for low-cost homes
Denise Piper (Stuff): Northland’s homeless hope to move out of the bush and into a real home
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): How young people in Wellington are beating the housing crisis
Sahiban Hyde (Hawkes Bay Today): Hawke’s Bay housing crisis: HNZ house turns into ‘a place for squatters’ after tenant abandons it, neighbour says
Dan Satherley (Newshub): The things landlords can and can’t ask you
Super, KiwiSaver
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest):Peters flags major Super and KiwiSaver changes that Ardern won’t ‘speculate’ on
RNZ: Peters and Ardern send mixed messages over KiwiSaver changes
Jason Walls (Herald): Deputy PM Winston Peters says Cabinet is looking into changes to NZ Super eligibility
Kawe Roes (Māori TV): More money into the SuperGold card
Jason Walls (Herald): Government to spend almost $8 million on a new website and creating a SuperGold card app
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Pre-Budget announcement: $7.7m for SuperGold Card, digital literacy training
RNZ: SuperGold card gets $7.7m technology boost
1News: Government investing $7.7 million into SuperGold Card website upgrade, new app
Pike River
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Are the public being short-changed by Pike River media ban?
David Williams (Newsroom): ‘Hopefully we’ll find some loved ones’
1News: Tomorrow’s Pike River re-entry ‘symbolic, intimate affair’ for families Jacinda Ardern says
Herald: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern backs Pike River Mine families over re-entry plan
Newshub: Pike River Mine re-entry attempt set down for Tuesday
Liz McDonald (Stuff): New date for Pike River mine drift re-entry after failed attempt
Herald: Pike River Mine – victims’ families understand a new re-entry attempt will be made tomorrow
RNZ: Pike River re-entry attempt planned for tomorrow, families say
1News: Re-entry into Pike River Mine will happen tomorrow, 1 NEWS understands
Prisoner vote ban
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Ban on prisoners voting ‘humiliation’ of Māori, Tribunal told
Waatea News: Prison vote ban attack on Māori rights
Foulden Maar mine proposal
Chris Morris (ODT): Cull: mine support not too early
RNZ: Dunedin mayor’s U-turn on controversial diatomite mine
Elena McPhee (ODT): University has no stance on mine site
Paul Little (Herald): So much to learn about fossil treasure trove (paywalled)
Juliet Gerrard: The fable of Foulden Maar – a case study in the collision of scientific evidence and government policies?
Health
1News: Ambulance services to get boost but won’t be fully Government funded – sources
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hints at ambulance service funding boost
ODT Editorial: Inequities in rural health
Mandy Te (Stuff): Lives at risk: Defibrillator shortage in countryside and poor neighbourhoods
Lois Williams (RNZ): Regional population surge puts pressure on rural GPs
Jamie Morton (Herald): Medical revolution: how we’re re-training our bodies to kill cancer (paywalled)
Kate Newton (RNZ): Joining the dots: What’s really causing New Zealand’s measles epidemics
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Prime Minister Ardern ensures officials contact Christchurch attack hero denied ACC help
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Mental health change part of hospital rebuild
RNZ: DHB apologises for poor care of mentally ill woman
Southland Times: Report finds Southern DHB failings in providing care to woman
Miranda Cook (ODT): Woodhouse not convinced on hospital
RNZ: Foam contamination probe a meaningless gesture, says National
Libby Wilson (Stuff): Poorly paid and under trained – hospital guards at risk: union
Deena Coster (Stuff): Taranaki mental health facility remains hot spot for staff in terms of abuse and assaults
Environment and conservation
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Can the Zero Carbon Bill work? Ruth Richardson has the answer
Richard Harman (Politik): PM to meet farmers over greenhouse gas targets
Nita Blake-Persen RNZ): Checkpoint: New Zealanders dumping record amounts of waste
Sam Kelway (1News): Hearing underway for Chinese water bottling plant planning on taking water from Whakatane aquifer
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Dr Jane Goodall urges climate change protesters to follow up marches with proactive action
Andre Chumko (Stuff): National framework needed to stop councils’ inconsistencies with climate response – expert
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Climate emergency on cards as city council promises to fulfill ‘duty of care’ to planet
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): No plans for Waikato Regional Council to declare climate emergency
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): Air quality review could see Blenheim’s breaches increase 10 fold
Paul Gorman (Stuff): Government report reveals MetService considering new hot weather warnings
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Kiwis must change to achieve predator-free New Zealand, report warns
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Govt urged to discuss gene tech for pest eradication
1News: Soft plastic recycling bins return to Auckland as businesses find new uses
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Scientists look to mātauranga Māori to slow biodiversity decline
Ryan Anderson (Stuff): Four Sisters walking track closed after kauri dieback discovered nearby
RNZ: Genesis Energy to end coal use ‘if we can’ by 2030
No Right Turn: Genesis clings to coal
Australia
Chris Trotter (Interest): Labor lose the unlosable
Mike Yardley (Stuff): Clear warnings for Ardern from Australian election outcome
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Lessons for NZ in shock result: Curran
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): NZers in Aus: PM urged to get tough with new government
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Australian election: Surge in NZ immigration website searches
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘Just call Jacinda’: Australian TV host Lisa Wilkinson’s advice for Scott Morrison
Geoffrey Palmer (Stuff): My memories of Bob Hawke, a good friend of NZ
Foreign affairs and trade
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Nat’s foreign policy raises good questions
Audrey Young (Herald): National leader Simon Bridges says NZ needs to make its position more clear on foreign policy
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National want free trade agreement with the US, bypass UN for sanctions
Jane Patterson (RNZ): US at centre of National’s foreign policy – Bridges
Anna Whyte (1News): National Party want to implement New Zealand-United States free trade agreement
Zane Small (Newshub): National wants freedom to impose sanctions when United Nations won’t
1News: Kiwis entering UK given greater access to automated passport eGates
Abortion
Liz Beddoe (Newsroom): NZ’s chance to go the other way on abortion
Susan Strongman (RNZ): Abortion removal from Crimes Act petition gains support
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Opinion: Women don’t have to convince you they ‘deserve’ an abortion
Education
Martin van Beynen, Sam Sherwood and Blair Ensor (Stuff): Marlborough Boys’ College teacher allegations sicken parents
1News: Education Minister calls briefing on ‘sensitive matter’ at Marlborough Boys’ College concerning a teacher and pupils
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): Police investigating Marlborough Boys’ College teacher allegations
John Gibb (ODT): Researcher looks to improve deaf education
1News: Rotorua Intermediate students disconnect from distraction and go phone-free
Joel MacManus and Alison Mau (Stuff): Uni assault reporting a ‘shambles’
Chelle Fitzgerald (Critic): Beset By Debt | Overblown Student Loans
Employment
Jess Cartwright (1News): Disabled workers in Southland “heartbroken” at prospect of losing their jobs
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Pay dispute that ‘severely’ impacted KFC chain over the weekend goes to mediation
Jo Cribb (Herald): Gender pay equity? The cheque’s still in the male (paywalled)
Domestic violence, sexual assault
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Shane Jones rubbishes claim colonialism is to blame for family violence
Albert Redmore and Erin Speedy (Newshub): Women’s Refuge hails new Budget as historic step against domestic violence
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): $320m package to tackle family and sexual violence ‘fantastic start’
RNZ: $320m package to tackle family and sexual violence ‘a good foundation’
Kris Gledhill (Stuff): How does victims’ compelling evidence still see accused rapists acquitted?
1News: Sexual assault survivor recounts being ‘bullied’ by defence lawyer in court to point where it was ‘hard to think straight’
Anna Leask (Herald): Pet Refuge: Why domestic violence victims don’t ‘just leave’
Anna Leask (Herald): Pet Refuge: Founder Julie Chapman follows up KidsCan charity with pet-saving mission
Emma Cropper (Newshub): Victims of domestic violence to be assisted by Pet Refuge
Child welfare
RNZ: Father threatening to sue Oranga Tamariki over investigation
1News: Oranga Tamariki teams up with Sport NZ to give Kiwi kids in Government care better access to sport
Primary industries
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): Federated Farmers issues warning to share milkers over contracts
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): ‘New Zealanders continue to die unnecessarily’: Coroner speaks out over quad bike deaths
Stuff: Coroner calls for working party to improve quad bike safety
RNZ: Kiwis ‘needlessly dying’ on quad bikes, coroner says
ODT: Shareholders to vote on Westland sale
Transport
Todd Niall (Stuff): Case to upgrade Northland rail line ‘marginal’
Stephen Forbes (Interest): Report spells out the costs and benefits of upgrading Northland’s rail network to cater for port growth
Melanie Earley Stuff): Free public transport for Auckland under-15s could come into effect in September
Nicole Lawton (Stuff): Auckland Harbour Bridge SkyPath march: Police ready to take ‘appropriate action’
1News: Police issue warning over ‘illegal’ protest that plans to cross Auckland Harbour Bridge
Mandy Te (Stuff): Pets still waiting to ride public transport with owners
Jono Galuszka (Stuff): Highway cycleway U-turn comes after questions from MP Julie Anne Genter
Stuff: Cycleway planning process ‘slipshod’, residents’ association lawyer says
RNZ: Court told of council ‘breaches’ over Island Bay cycleway
Laura Smith (ODT): ICC to consider e-scooters
Virginia Fallon (Stuff): Safety upgrades delayed for ‘Wellington region’s most dangerous road’
Fox Glacier helicopter crash
David Loughrey (ODT): Helicopter company ‘misled’ inspectors – CAA
Michael Cropp (RNZ): Fox Glacier crash: CAA admits inspectors’ oversight ‘should have been better’
Annabelle Tukia (Newshub): CAA admits safety inspection failings over fatal helicopter crash
Budget
Liam Dann (Herald): Budget preview: CGT call leaves tax strategy “in tatters” (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): The People’s Budget to screen 8pm Sunday 2nd June
Huawei
Leo Kelion (BBC): Huawei’s Android loss: How it affects you
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Huawei banned from using Google apps on its devices – report
Herald: Google suspends Huawei’s Android licence – report
Banks
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): RBNZ to use external experts and focus groups in next phases of the biggest review of NZ bank capital requirements ever undertaken
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Reserve Bank plan ‘has significant negative consequences for our country’: banks
BusinessDesk: Bankers’ Assn says RBNZ bank capital proposals would hurt the economy
Police
Herald: Police chase: Two teens in hospital after horrific crash in West Auckland
Nicole Lawton Stuff): Teens injured in horrific crash after police pursuit in Te Atatu, Auckland
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Former Taranaki police sergeant sentenced to home detention for indecent assault
Tara Shaskey (Stuff): Ex-Taranaki police sergeant sentenced to home detention for sexual assaults
Local government
Todd Niall (Stuff): $14 million blowout and central library woes challenge Auckland Council budget
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): “I’m here to look to invest”
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Auckland brings China and the US to the table
Luke Kirkeby (Stuff): Council leak reveals museum funding boost
Crusaders homophobia allegations
Mark Longley (Newshub): Super Rugby 2019: Man who accused Crusaders of homophobic slurs threatens to release footage of incident
Stuff: Crusaders make contact with those claiming homophobic slurs in Cape Town
Māori TV: UPDATE: Crusaders ‘strongly refute’ homophobic verbal attack allegations
1News: Crusaders coach standing by players accused of making homophobic slurs in Cape Town, describes incident as ‘selfie gone wrong’
Stuff: Crusaders coach Scott Robertson says alleged homophobic slurs were misconstrued
1News: Crusaders CEO to meet with three players accused of making homophobic slurs in Cape Town following Super Rugby game
Other
Southland Times Editorial: Census prosecutions? Do you really want to go there, Stats NZ?
Andrew Little (Herald): Legalising cannabis needs a mandate
Liz McDonald (Stuff): EQC inquiry hears calls for more empathy, transparency and expertise
Marae: Struggle continues for Te Reo Māori 40 years after it was recognised as an official language
RNZ: Cultural restoration: Dual names proposed for Fiordland sites
Terry Baucher (Interest): Tax, bodies corporate and unintended consequences
Phil Smith (RNZ): Parliament’s back-up debating chamber
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Long delays for synthetic cannabis users seeking help in Napier
BusinessDesk: Weak services sector growth raises concerns about NZ economic slowdown
Duncan Bridgeman (Herald): Investors’ dim view of auditing profession
1News: New study reveals most cases of animal cruelty go under the radar
Kereama Wright (Māori TV): Māori King to meet the Pope
