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

New parties: Coalition New Zealand Party launched, Alfred Ngaro party mooted
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Christian Party plan hasn’t got a prayer (paywalled)
Tim Watkin (Pundit): Three Christians walk into a bar… and none of them win election
Laura Walters (Newsroom): The birth of Destiny’s child
Raniera Harrison (Māori TV): Harawira remaining ‘tight-lipped’ over political alliance with Destiny
Claire Trevett (Herald): MP Alfred Ngaro on a date with Destiny, abortion, and a new party (paywalled)
Press Editorial: The crowded field of Christian politics
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Brand ‘Destiny’ too flashy and weird to succeed
Zane Small (Newshub):‘It should be a secular process’: The implications of religion in Parliament
Alex Braae (Spinoff): We love you, Brian Tamaki
Steve Braunias (Herald): Date with Destiny: Steve Braunias on the Tamakis’ party launch (paywalled)
Rosemary McLeod (Stuff): Christian virtue’s a tough act to uphold
RNZ: Checkpoint: ‘A voice for the silent majority’
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Hannah Tamaki calls for 97 percent immigration cut
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Coalition NZ: Hannah Tamaki, KFC, abortion, Alfred Ngaro
1News: Coalition New Zealand Party leader Hannah Tamaki defends party’s lack of policies, calls for people to join
Dubby Henry (Herald): New Coalition New Zealand party leader: Who is Destiny Church’s Hannah Tamaki?
John Weekes and Collette Devlin (Stuff): Smart move making Hannah Tamaki lead new Destiny Church-derived party, expert says
Kendall Hutt (Stuff): Children, families and prisoners are top policy priorities for Coalition New Zealand – for now
1News: Watch: Hannah Tamaki talks abortion and which political party Coalition NZ could work with – ‘I’m pro-life’
Dubby Henry (Herald): Destiny Church’s Hannah Tamaki to lead new party ‘Coalition New Zealand’
1News: Brian Tamaki and wife Hannah launch Coalition New Zealand political party 
1News: Brian Tamaki re-enters politics just weeks after floating the idea on Q+A
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Destiny Church launches political party, promising ‘politics with teeth’
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Hannah Tamaki to lead new political party Coalition New Zealand
RNZ: Destiny Church leaders Brian and Hannah Tamaki launch ‘Coalition New Zealand’ party
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Comedian Tim Batt trolls Brian and Hannah Tamaki’s Coalition Party with domain name purchase
Herald: Brian Tamaki’s party hits first hurdle as comedian purchases party domain
Jessica Mutch McKay (1News): Man Up programme could be driver behind Brian Tamaki’s new political party plans
No Right Turn: Destiny’s Child

Budget
Richard Harman (Politik): Robertson and the new debt target: there is less to it than meets the eye.
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Grant Robertson blurs the line on his debt target
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): He’s loosened the straitjacket, now escape the asylum
1News: Anyone who says NZ shouldn’t borrow money is ‘fiscally illiterate’, says top economist after Government changes debt target
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Grant Robertson’s debt promise shows how desperate the left have become in NZ
Liam Dann (Herald): Government’s debt trick an election game changer (paywalled)
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Economist welcomes Robertson’s plan for looser debt target
Liam Dann (Herald): Government gives itself more wriggle room on debt
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Government signals it would loosen its debt target rules in future
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Government to ease fiscal responsibility rules but will meet Budget target
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Robertson announces new debt range
Collette Devlin (Stuff): National: Government’s debt target move waves white flag
Zane Small (Newshub): Finance Minister Grant Robertson blasted for ‘loosening the purse strings’
1News: Debt target adjusted to give Government ‘more capacity’
John Anthony (Stuff): ‘Wellbeing Budget’ will deliver ‘intergenerational outcomes’, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says
Michael Reddell: A useful but modest step forward on fiscal management
Point of Order: Robertson changes the debt target and extols the fiscal virtues of flexibility
Peter Verstappen (Stuff): Will the well-being budget deliver for Nelson’s needy?

Francis Report
Herald: Police ‘involved’ in Parliamentary staffer assault allegation, Paula Bennett says
1News: Safety for women in Parliament ‘needs to improve’, says Jacinda Ardern
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Paula Bennett slams Trevor Mallard’s comments
Stuff: Answers on Parliament assault complaints wanted – Paula Bennett
Derek Cheng (Herald): Nikki Kaye reveals taking out a trespass order for a man with ‘amorous intentions’ (paywalled)
RNZ: Parliament’s power imbalances make it harder to report bullying – MP
Catherine Delahunty (Spinoff): A survivor’s guide to detoxifying the New Zealand parliament
RNZ: Government rejected a code of conduct for staff in 2013
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Is it time for Trevor Mallard to step down as Speaker? (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: Parliament should hold itself to highest standards (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: The scourge of bullying

Parliament
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Questions over relationship between PM and lobbyist
Kiwiblog: David Seymour on free speech
Spinoff: Golriz Ghahraman on dealing with the ‘scared, panicked, angry mob’
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): By trying to paint David Seymour as a killer, Greens are risking a Kavanaugh effect backlash
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Simon Bridges again biggest spender in latest MPs’ expenses report
Collette Devlin (Stuff): MPs’ quarterly expenditure list shows $1.5m of taxpayer funds on travel and accommodation

Police pursuits
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Two deaths: Police made wrong decision to chase car, IPCA finds
Patrick Gower (Newshub): Grandmother of 15yo killed after pursuit calls for change in the way police chase
George Heagney (Stuff): Fatal Palmerston North police chase shouldn’t have happened
Herald: IPCA investigation find police shouldn’t have pursued vehicle involved in fatal fleeing driver crash
RNZ: Officer involved in fatal pursuit given further training

Foulden Maar mine proposal
Simon Hartley (ODT): Letters of support for diatomite mine revealed
Michael Steedman (ODT): Clarity hard to find in shadows

Operation Burnham Inquiry, defence
Grace Cocker (Newshub): Nicky Hager accuses Defence Force of lying at Operation Burnham inquiry
Jonathan Mitchell (RNZ): Defence Force did not obey Rules of Engagement, Hager says
Lucy Bennett (Herald):Operation Burnham inquiry continues with questions over rules of engagement
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Operation Burnham Inquiry: Safeguards for Afghan detainees and ‘dubiously lawful killing’ questioned
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Former defence minister gives evidence to Operation Burnham inquiry
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Operation Burnham inquiry continues with details of detainee treatment
Jonathan Mitchell (RNZ): Call for an investigation into a man’s abuse while in the military
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Soldier shot during training at SAS facility ‘recovering well’

Transport
Debrin Foxcroft and Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Secret video appears to show trucking boss telling driver to falsify logbook
Cleo Fraser (Newshub): Trucking firm ‘pressured staff to falsify logbooks’ – NZTA
Anne Gibson (Herald): Northland’s biggest log hauler wins court action: Semenoff victory against NZTA
Ben Strang (RNZ): Speed cameras: Police seek to offload costly work to NZTA
RNZ: Funding approved for Wellington to Hutt Valley cycling and walking path
Matthew Theunissen (RNZ): Fuel tax anniversary: Auckland still cheaper than most of NZ
Melissa Nightingale (Herald): Wellington fuel prices higher than Auckland despite no regional fuel tax
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Lime scooters may be squeezed for speed along central city Dunedin footpaths
Tim Miller (ODT): Council keen on scooter speed squeeze
1News: Public know ‘probably very little’ about drug driver testing, expert says
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Multiple bus drivers complain about manager’s bullying

Employment
Michael Pulman (Spinoff): People with disabilities are more than cheap labour
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Why is it legal to pay disabled woman $2.30 an hour to untangle Air NZ earphones? (paywalled)
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Advocate: No one will hire disabled workers if made to pay minimum wage
Brian Fallow (Herald): Looking for an alternative to the jobs apocalypse (paywalled)
1News: Farmers retail staff wanting better pay conditions walk off the job in Auckland
RNZ: Farmers staff walk off the job over living wage demands
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Wintec puts spotlight on consensual relationships in workplace

Education
Simon Collins (Herald): South African teachers turned down for NZ residence because their pay too low (paywalled)
Simon Collins (Herald): Urgent talks granted on teachers’ pay claims but strike still ‘full steam ahead’
Simon Collins (Herald): Area schools join teachers’ strike, no talks in sight
1News: ‘We share the same issues’ – Area schools vote to join largest nationwide teachers’ strike
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Area teachers vote to join mega-strike on May 29
Peter Lyons (ODT): It’s been the best of times
1News: Exclusive: Auckland University insists cheat detection systems robust amid claims of widespread ghostwriting
Paul Hobbs (1News): Auckland Uni Vice Chancellor says no interest in upping international student numbers despite Govt target

Housing
Simon Wilson (Herald): In praise of Government’s KiwiBuild housing scheme (paywalled)
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): No mercy for landlords who fail to insulate properties – MBIE
Blair Voorend (Hawkes Bay Day): Hawke’s Bay housing crisis: Renter’s dream of a house bus punctured by KiwiSaver provider
RNZ: RBNZ plans to ease loan restrictions – at some stage

Health
Ruby Macandrew (Stuff): Dying long after the flames are out: Firefighters call on lawmakers to extend ACC to cover occupational cancers
Gia Garrick (1News): Calls for law to acknowledge high rates of cancer among firefighters – ‘Dying at record numbers’
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Pharmac Investigation: The secret list
RNZ: Drugs and Money
Luke Kirkness (Herald): More than $20 million spent extracting rotten teeth, fresh petition to tax sugary drinks
RNZ: Nicky Stevens’ family meet Waikato DHB commissioner
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Commissioner to consider request to withdraw Waikato DHB complaint in Nicky Stevens case (paywalled)
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Domestic violence survivor in the dark for months about counselling through ACC
ODT: Dunedin woman seeking financial aid for suicide bereaved
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Corinda Taylor wants financial aid for families of suicide victims facing bureaucratic processes
Peter Jackson (Northern Age):GP crisis not Kaitaia’s alone

St John ambulance
Katie Fitzgerald and Hayley Jacobsen (Newshub): St John workers not allowed into meeting about pay, union claims
Belinda Feek (Stuff): St John strike action dispute between unions as pay negotiations heat up (paywalled)

Christchurch mosque shootings, “Christchurch Call”, online extremism
Al Gillespie (Herald): First terrorism prosecution over mosque shootings poses risks (paywalled)
Finn Hogan (Newshub): Scant signs of meaningful change in Silicon Valley – expert
David Hall (Listener): Counterterrorism experts on why we must engage with online extremists
RNZ: People still donating to victims of mosque attacks, almost $11m gifted
Carolyn Webb (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern mural source of ‘humanity’ for Australians
Herald: ‘What about the homeless?’ Backlash at Jacinda Ardern mural

Environment
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Dr Jane Goodall warns New Zealand’s environment is ‘in crisis’ in new agreement
Brian Easton (Pundit): Plundering the Planet
1News: Local iwi concerned over ‘irreversible harm’ to Whakatāne aquifer after Chinese water bottling plant granted consent
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Councils are declaring climate emergencies – but what does that mean?
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Christchurch City Council declares climate emergency to protect future generations
RNZ: Vanuatu PM pleased with NZ climate action
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Submit!
Leith Huffadine (RNZ): Student who took National government to court over climate change says Zero Carbon bill a ‘relief’
Stuff: Swapping cars for bikes could save over $30m in fuel bills

School students’ climate change protest
Jessica Long (Stuff): Why climate change is important to Year 11 Wellington student and activist
Grace Wilkie and Libby Morrison (Spinoff): Why we’re striking again
Patrick Crewdson (Stuff): Why Stuff invited a school student to be guest editor
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Meet Stuff’s guest editor: 17-year-old climate change activist Mia Sutherland
1News: Thousands of school students set to strike for action on climate change today
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Students put politicians on notice over climate action
Jessica Long (Stuff): Climate activists ready for second student-led strike action as Zero Carbon bill opens for submissions
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): School Strike 4 Climate participants planning ‘lie-in’ on Queen St
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Auckland teens stage lie-in to make politicians ‘wake-up’ to climate change
Brooke Jenner (RNZ): Students’ laid-back preparation for climate change action
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Rise Up: Young climate change activist’s anthem for student strikes
Josh Drummond (Spinoff): How to protest about climate change when you don’t actually like protesting
Hayden Donnell (Spinoff): Attention, sensible youths, ‘Milkshaking’ is not the way to counter hate speech

Nga Rohe Moana o Nga Hapu o Ngati Porou Bill passes
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Mana of Moana returned to hapū of Ngāti Porou
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Govt affirms mana moana of Ngāti Porou hapū

Primary industries, Fonterra
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Time to stop unethical phosphate trade: North Otago farmer
Russel Norman (Newshub): Opinion: Farmers have been mollycoddled long enough
AAP: Fonterra confirms closure of Vic factory
RNZ: Fonterra closing processing plant in Australia

Firearms
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): Gun owners upset by ‘heavy-handed’ police raids complain to IPCA
Jono Galuszka (Manawatū Standard): Opposition shares more details about embarrassing gun theft from police station

2015 Fox Glacier fatal helicopter crash, CAA
RNZ: Fox Glacier helicopter crash: CAA ‘failed in regulatory role’
Michael Morrah (Newshub): ‘Huge issues in the industry’: Father of pilot killed in Fox Glacier helicopter crash calls for tougher scrutiny of regulator
Joanne Carroll, Jessica Long and David Clarkson (Stuff): Fatal Fox Glacier helicopter crash report finds major failings
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): Family unhappy with crash report
Cushla Norman (1News):Pilot in fatal Fox Glacier crash wasn’t properly trained, investigation finds
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Pilot who crashed helicopter into Fox Glacier and killed seven was not properly trained, report finds
RNZ: Multiple failures in lead up to Fox Glacier helicopter crash that killed 7

Crusaders
Tim Brown (RNZ): Crusaders stand by players under fire after South Africa tour
1News: ‘We are good people’ – Crusaders coach on players facing homophobic abuse allegations
RNZ: Richie Mo’unga and George Bridge to play for Crusaders this weekend

Spark
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Commerce Commission warns Spark over broadband price rise messaging
RNZ: Spark broadband price rise a fair trading breach – ComCom

Child welfare, Catholic Church
1News: Centre set up to help needy families in Canterbury, needing support themselves
RNZ: Abuse survivors outraged it took 15 years to defrock priest
Stuff: Priest who served in Hamilton and Dunedin defrocked by Catholic church
1News: Abusive former Dunedin priest, Magnus Murray, defrocked by the Vatican

Foreign affairs
RNZ: NZ ‘asking for explanations’ over USP allegations
RNZ: Cooks Opposition left out of NZ visit
RNZ: Niue premier defends awarding of controversial parliament contract
Michael Reddell: The PRC, trade, foreign investment etc

Other
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Mr Moa scientist cuts 30-year Te Papa connection over staff treatment
Kaitlin Ruddock (1News): Half-million dollar support programme for Nelson forest fires dropped
Frances Hancock & Nicola Short: Clock is ticking on Ihumātao land impasse (paywalled)
Louise Humpage (Newsroom): Time’s right for a ‘Ministry for Inclusion’
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘Underwhelming’ child poverty targets easier to achieve than KiwiBuild – campaigner
Michael Hayward (Stuff): Dispute over building’s structural design not indicative of wider issues – MBIE
1News: SkyCity’s plans to launch online gambling platform ‘disturbing’ – Dr Lance O’Sullivan
LIstener Editorial: What we must learn from the Israel Folau controversy
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): When is a T-shirt not a T-shirt?
Verity Johnson (Stuff): Don’t get mad with the alt-right trolls – get even-tempered
Andre Chumko (Stuff): Six months after Eddie Peters was killed in Hastings, his whānau wait for justice
Daisy Hudson (Mountain Scene): Missing skydiver’s family wait for answers
Mark Jennings (Newsroom): MediaWorks: When winning is not enough
Chris Morris (ODT): Email ‘quarantine’ at DCC to prevent ‘abuse’
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Simeon Brown slams Government blocking Bill to increase supply synthetic drugs penalty
Zane Small (Newshub): Mormon leader Russell Nelson labels Jacinda Ardern ‘courageous consensus-builder’
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Former trustee of Far North Māori fund pleads guilty to $1m fraud
Sam Hurley (1News): Former trustee of Far North Māori fund Stephen Henare admits stealing $1m midway through High Court trial
Christine Rovoi (RNZ): Pacific Mamas drape Auckland Town hall with gift of love