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
ANZ, banking
Sam Stubbs (Stuff): ANZ’s David Hisco debacle shows New Zealand needs a banking Royal Commission now
Liam Dann (Herald): Pressure mounts on Sir John Key as ANZ turmoil grows (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): How do ANZ customers feel about financing the cars and wine CEO David Hisco put on the tab?
RNZ: ANZ boss’s departure raises ‘serious doubts’ over NZ board’s ability
Duncan Garner (Newshub): ANZ expenses debacle warrants independent investigation
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Union: ANZ staff who made Hisco’s mistake would have been instantly dismissed
Michael Cropp (RNZ): ANZ staff outraged at bosses expenses, says union
Newshub: Financial bosses on watch after David Hisco’s shock departure – expert
Rob Stock (Stuff): Sir John Key explains the expenses scandal that cost ANZ’s Hisco $6.4 million
RNZ: Checkpoint: ANZ CEO leaves due to ‘blind spot’ on recording expenses – John Key
Herald: Health concerns and ‘delicate employment matters’ reason David Hisco departure was delayed for weeks
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Sir John Key sold beach house to exiting ANZ boss David Hisco: ‘It was a transparent issue’
Anne Gibson (Herald): Ex-PM John Key sold ex-ANZ NZ chief Hisco his beachfront holiday house last year
Rob Stock and Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): ANZ chairman Sir John Key fronts media over chief executive Hisco’s departure
Maria Slade (Spinoff): Why ANZ chief executive David Hisco has left under a cloud
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Legal action predicted after top bank boss David Hisco departs ANZ (paywalled)
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): ANZ boss David Hisco: The car park sweeper who became the boss of NZ’s biggest bank
1News: ANZ chief steps down amid concerns over use of chauffeured cars, to forfeit right to $6.4 million in equity
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): ANZ chief executive leaving following review of personal expenses
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Dispute over charging bank for personal use of chauffeured cars & wine storage said to be at centre of Hisco’s ANZ departure
RNZ: ANZ boss departs under cloud
1News: ANZ chief steps down after review of personal expenses, health concerns
Act Party
Graham Adams (Noted): Can defending free speech boost David Seymour’s fortunes?
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: David Seymour’s anti-woke Act Party (paywalled)
Stuff: Can headlines really be turned into votes?
Zane Small (Newshub): Simon Bridges labels David Seymour’s free speech proposals ‘alluring’
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): How ACT use the Jordan Peterson effect to become politically relevant again
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Will ACT’s tax policy let you Seymour of your income?
Environment and conservation
Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): Consent sought to spill wastewater into pristine South Island lakes for decades
1News: Water bottling consents rise despite Government’s pre-election promise to reduce exports
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Government plan to protect Maui and Hector’s dolphins called a ‘pathway to extinction’
Jono Edwards (ODT: South misses out on dolphin protection
Conan Young (RNZ): Cats not fishing nets biggest threat to dolphins says proposed plan
RNZ: Trawling, set net banned area extension proposed to protect NZ dolphins
Jason Walls (Herald): The Government wants to increase the area where trawl net fishing is banned to save more dolphins
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Government wants more protection for Maui and Hector’s dolphins
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): DOC catches tourism operators operating illegally
RNZ: DOC releases figures on South Island tourist operator’s compliance levels
Kaitlin Ruddock (1News):Department of Conservation huts selling out like in-demand concert tickets
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Advice it was right to ignore
RNZ: The Detail: How will declaring a climate change emergency help us?
Tony Powell (Stuff): Climate emergency call promotes political will
Peter Whitmore (Herald): Climate change – NZ needs to do better (paywalled)
Kawe Roes (Māori TV): Single-use plastic nearly gone for good
Jamie Morton (Herald): Wilding war: The pine tree pests threatening to swallow up a quarter of NZ (paywalled)
RNZ: Wellington harbour fat and sewage contamination prompts warning
State care of children
1News: Jacinda Ardern rules out royal commission of inquiry into Oranga Tamariki’s practices
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Oranga Tamariki’s uplift decisions must be constantly questioned – Jacinda Ardern
Anna Whyte (1News): Too many children in state care and too many being harmed, says PM – ‘We want to end both’
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Government working on an independent authority to hold Oranga Tamariki accountable
1News: Children’s Commissioner calls on Kiwis to work together to stop children being sent into state care
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Social workers tasked with uplifting babies in dangerous situations will be ‘shaking in their boots’
Stuff: Taken from my parents, but it was for the best
RNZ: Oranga Tamariki inquiry won’t be released to the public in full
Kerri Cleaver (Newsroom): Video a game-changer in child protection
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Call for moratorium on Oranga Tamariki’s baby uplifts
Alex Loo (Manawatū Standard): Palmerston North group starts protests against Oranga Tamariki’s uplifting of children
Michael Neilson (Herald): Oranga Tamariki social worker apologises after ‘joke’ to mum about bonuses for uplifting children
Michael Neilson (Herald): Stacey Morrison on ‘heartbreak’ of seeing young mother desperately search for baby uplifted
Amy Williams (RNZ): Parents in dispute with Oranga Tamariki get support group
Spy agencies
Herald Editorial: I spy with my little eye something beginning with recalcitrance (paywalled)
RNZ: Operation Burnham inquiry: GCSB failed to hand over more than 100,000 emails
No Right Turn: “Oversight”
Health
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Watch: ‘Dear Prime Minister’ – daughter of terminally ill Southland man pens heartbreaking open letter
Rebecca Moore (1News): Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt ‘gets his kit off’ for good cause
RNZ: First Up: Life or Death under Pharmac – Part One
RNZ: First Up: Life or Death under Pharmac – Part Two
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Government facing serious questions over vaccine rations during meningitis outbreak
Herald: Govt could have bought more vaccines for Northland: National
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Hamilton hospital buildings: No WOFs due to faulty fire protection
RNZ: Poor resthome care likely contributed to woman’s death – commissioner
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Elderly woman who died after fall at retirement village was ‘failed by staff’
Sophie Trigger (Stuff): Elder abuse ‘rampant’ and ‘all-hidden’ in New Zealand
RNZ: Auckland measles cases rise to 115
Will Harvie (Stuff): NZ health care has a climate change problem
Justice and corrections
University of Auckland: Q+A with Khylee Quince: How can we fix New Zealand’s broken justice system?
Rhonwyn Newson (Newshub): Family justice system ‘a mess’ – Justice Minister Andrew Little
Zane Small (Newshub): Simon Bridges ‘sceptical’ about call for more Māori officials in Family Court
1News: ‘Not good for children’ – expert calls for family mediation to be mandatory before heading to court
Derek Cheng (Herald): Thousands of prisoners’ mental health and addiction needs addressed with $128m from $1.9b Budget funding
1News: Mental health, addiction services for offenders get $128 million funding boost
RNZ: $128m boost to support mental health of offenders
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): The hardships of giving up drugs while on the inside
Raniera Harrison (Māori TV): Once Were Warriors actor refuses dialysis in Corrections protest
Sharnae Hope (Waikato Times): David White finally retires after seven years of reliving Helen Meads’ death
Transport
RNZ: Motorists, MTI support ban on less safe car imports
David Linklater (Stuff): Proposed ban on ‘unsafe’ imports makes no sense
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Government considering banning three of NZ’s five favourite used car models
Damian George (Stuff): Young driver crashes increase despite introduction of tougher restricted licence test
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Foreign drivers flunking Kiwi driving theory test ‘concerning’
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Funding shortfall may put brakes on Christchurch transport projects
Lynley Hood (ODT): Is Lime’s easy ride lubricated by laissez-faire?
Rhonwyn Newson (Newshub): Trial begins to allow dogs on trains in Auckland
Amy Williams (RNZ): Waiheke ferry service database to test Fullers reliability
Government
Bryan Bruce (Daily Bog): I’m getting tired of the 9 years argument
Steven Cowan: Living in a zombie democracy
Emma Clifton (Stuff): Greens MP Julie Anne Genter on bicycles, babies and what’s going to make a better world
Primary industries
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Govt steps up to farmers’ plate usually served up by National
Jason Walls (Herald): New Zealand’s farm debt is close to $63 billion – a new bill seeks to ease the financial burden
1News: Government announces legislation aimed at helping farmers in financial distress
RNZ: Farm debt mediation scheme gets government backing
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Lenders to be required to mediate with indebted farmers who default on payments before taking enforcement action
RNZ: Compo hope after forestry firm pleads guilty over Tolaga Bay storm damage
RNZ: Hikurangi Forest Farms pleads guilty over debris damage in Tolaga Bay flooding
Local government
Tom Hunt and Matthew Tso (Stuff): Re-vote after councillor votes in favour of $850,000 for wife’s tennis group
Dave Armstrong (Dominion Post): Council politics: You cannot be serious
Alex Casey (Spinoff): The life and death of Wellington’s SXSW
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Councillor subpoenaed to give evidence in High Court over $41m pool complex
Mike Lee (Daily Blog): Civic Administration Building fire sale: The people ripped-off again
RNZ: Auckland Mayor wants urgent changes to the Building Act
Mandy Te (Stuff): Car park where ‘Remuera tractors’ were banned to be redeveloped
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Fisticuffs forecast as Wellington City Council moves towards intensification
1News: Wellington’s Civic Square to become home to national music school
RNZ: National music centre secures Te Ngākau Civic Square building
Imran Ali (Northern Advocate): Ombudsman drops investigation into MP Shane Reti’s complaint after Whangārei District Council complies, apologises
Christchurch
Rawiri Taonui (Spinoff): It is time to talk about Christchurch’s racist past, and present
Liz MacDonald (Press): Christchurch promotion agency’s central city plea: ‘Baby, come back’
Education
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Principals of small primary schools dismayed at latest pay offer
Zoe Hunter (Bay of Plenty Times): ‘The system is flawed’: Claim new teacher offer would see deputy paid ‘thousands’ more than principal (paywalled)
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Chris Hipkins’ thwarted budget ambitions
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): The Government’s big issue – can it tell the truth or hold a line?
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Govt provides $9.8mil boost for at-risk students
1News: Canning voluntary school donations for only decile 1 to 7 schools is ‘inequitable’ – National’s Nikki Kaye
Colin Craig
John Weekes (Stuff): Colin Craig defamation suit: ‘Enough is enough’, judge says
Sam Hurley (Herald): Oppressive’: Judge blocks Colin Craig efforts to question former press secretary Rachel MacGregor
Diane Maxwell
Rob Stock (Stuff): Retirement commissioner Diane Maxwell opens up about the trauma of bullying accusations
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): The interview: Diane Maxwell – why she won’t be leaving quietly (paywalled)
Housing
Liam Hehir (Stuff): Disastrous KiwiBuild shows socialism at its worst
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Quarter of first-home buyers say parents should help them out
Kirsty Johnston (Herald): Auckland councillor urges officials to investigate over ‘utility rooms’
Wilhelmina Shrimpton (Newshub): ‘Trespassed constantly’: Concern for number of rough sleepers driven out of South Auckland
Sport
Steve Deane (Newsroom): Sports funding debate asks the wrong questions
Max Towle (RNZ): Play on: Harbour Rugby refuses to leave Ravensdown-owned grounds
Other
1News: Judith Collins says National leadership ‘not on offer’ despite her polling higher than Bridges as preferred PM
Terry Barnes (Herald): Be glad NZ isn’t ruled by opinion polls (paywalled)
1News: Government announces $4 million scheme to pay volunteer firefighters
Jason Walls (Herald): Justice Minister Andrew Little has high hopes for the new Canterbury earthquake tribunal
David Williams (Newsroom): Avoiding click-hate: lessons for the terror trial
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern says $168m gun buyback scheme details released on Thursday
Nikki Mandow (Herald): Insurance disputes and the contract law review
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Kiwis running out of time for Government KiwiSaver top-up
Chris Keall (Herald): Google adds new privacy controls, but NZ watchdog still sees design flaw (paywalled)
Point of Order: Pacific Reset has climate change challenges in its sights – but China is a consideration, too
Sara Vui-Talit (RNZ): Muslim Kiwi says hate crime legislation must change
Audrey Young (Herald): The Kiwi whizzes who helped Scomo win the Australian election
Deena Coster (Stuff): Māori Land Court still waiting on final report into hapū after $480k theft
Point of Order:$56.1m to sort out Maori land ownership – but Mahuta will be cheered if the land remains undeveloped
Jason Walls (Herald): National MP Mark Mitchell served with Rory Stewart in Iraq and backs his bid to be UK PM
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): NZ third worst among wealthy countries for mums’ paid parental leave
Sharon Stephenson (Next): The truth about New Zealand’s adoption laws: Two families tell their tales
White Man Behind A Desk (Spinoff): Patrick Gower: ‘I spent five to six years trying to deny climate change’ (WATCH)
Carrie Buckmaster (Spinoff): The missing Māori inside the agency that investigates police misconduct
Ian Grant (Stuff): Cartoons underline a history of religious intolerance in NZ
Amanda Saxton (Stuff): ‘Go back to your country’: Community rallies against Islamophobes
Thomas Mead (1News): Victim of its own success: Timaru on a recruitment drive, amid 10-year low in unemployment
RNZ: Nine to Noon: Slow visa processing ‘hurting employers’
Rob Stock (Stuff): Call for compensation after rest home subsidy stuff-up
