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
Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): The smiling assassin returns for his biggest hit
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): ANZ is building a case for stronger bank regulation
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): The scale of departing ANZ NZ CEO David Hisco’s public humiliation by his employer doesn’t fit the crime he’s said to have committed
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Hisco first NZ scalp of Banking Royal Commission
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Hisco fiasco a sign the bauble has burst (paywalled)
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: David Hisco’s departure from ANZ brings banking elite into 2019 (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): NZ bank conduct review won’t address David Hisco concerns (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: Profits and perks in the banking sector (paywalled)
Jason Walls (Herald): Finance Minister Grant Robertson slams ANZ chairman John Key for blaming ANZ’s censure on a junior staffer
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff):ANZ completed probe into Hisco’s expenses before staff were told of sick leave
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Finance minister says ANZ ‘has questions to answer’ about CEO departure
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Reserve Bank knew of Hisco’s departure from ANZ two weeks ago
Rob Stock (Stuff): Profits, strikes, settlements and huge paypackets: The ANZ career of David Hisco
1News: ANZ union workers slam CEO David Hisco’s ‘outrageous’ exit following chauffered cars controversy
Herald: ANZ staff ‘outraged’ over David Hisco company spending revelations: union
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): David Hisco’s family member believed to have used chauffeur- driven cars
Bryan Bruce (Daily Blog): A is for Avarice
Point of Order: Fallout from the Hisco affair is bound to spread to RBNZ moves to regulate bank capital
Michael Reddell: Can anything good come out of the ANZ?
Government
Asher Emmanuel (Spinoff): Nothing to declare: new questions in lobbyist-turned-chief-of-staff saga
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Robertson’s $50 billion debt buffer
Zane Small (Newshub): Number of Crown cars stung by speeding tickets revealed
Operation Burnham inquiry, defence
Chelsea Boyle (Herald): Operation Burnham inquiry: ‘Disillusioned, worn down’ Afghan villagers pull out
RNZ: Afghan villagers pull out of Operation Burnham inquiry
Katie Fitzgerald and Delphine Herbert (Newshub): Afghan villagers pull out of Operation Burnham inquiry
Edward Gay (Stuff): Afghan villagers pull out of Government’s Operation Burnham inquiry into SAS raid
No Right Turn: The whitewash becomes a farce
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ODT Editorial: Paying our way in defence
1News: Rocket attacks in vicinity of Camp Taji, no Kiwi casualties says PM
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Rocket attack at Camp Taji in Iraq: No NZ Defence personnel affected – initial reports
Collette Devlin (Stuff): No New Zealand casualties after rocket attack on Camp Taji – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Health
Tim Brown (RNZ): Terminally ill man seeks to trigger referendum to reform cancer care
Damian Rowe (Southland Times): Blair Vining campaign helping others speak out about health system
Denise Piper (Stuff): Cancer patient ‘forgotten’ as treatment waiting time targets missed in Northland
1News: Health Minister concedes DHBs are under pressure – ‘I want to put more money in’
1News: Anti-vaxxer movement contributing to New Zealand’s immunisation target failure – Health Minister
1News: National accuses Health Minister of changing story over Northland vaccines
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): Reti criticises govt’s Northland vaccination campaign
Boric Jancic (Herald): Opposition turns its sights on Pharmac funding
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Why are Kiwi babies dying of syphilis? (paywalled)
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Growing number of Kiwi babies dying of syphilis: ‘This shouldn’t be happening’ (paywalled)
Libby Wilson (STuff): Fire issues flagged in Waikato DHB buildings stop WOFs being issued
Herald: Waikato DHB says buildings are safe despite 13 having failed WOFs
Cannabis
1News: ‘Prohibition doesn’t work’ – David Clark says he’ll vote in favour of cannabis legalisation
Ben Leahy (Herald):Cannabis crash victim’s mum lives with horror five years on (paywalled)
Environment and conservation
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): Permission sought to discharge wastewater into iconic lakes
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Three-decade consent to spill wastewater into southern lakes sought by Queenstown Lakes council
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Queenstown Lakes District Council applies for consents for wastewater overflows
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT):Laws criticises QLDC waste water application
Jono Edwards (ODT): Environment Ministry, ORC have different ‘goal posts’ for water
Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): Government investigates royalty on bottled water
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Nationally owned water brand proposed to bring public returns
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Time for Government action on bottled water exports
RNZ: New Zealand dolphins’ toxoplasmosis vs trawling risk report starts scat spat
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Graph shows the frightening impact of global warming on New Zealand
Leith Huffadine (RNZ): Students who organised school climate action planning general strike
1News: Proposals released to change catch limits for 20 fish stocks around the country
Tara Shaskey (Stuff): Aerial drops of 1080 begin in Egmont National Park
Jamie Ensor and Hayley Jacobsen (Newshub): Significant funding boost for Kiwi Antarctic research programmes
Mining
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): Foulden Maar fight rumbles on
RNZ: Decision stands to approve access permits for coal mining on Crown land
State care of children
Stuff: The other side of the Oranga Tamariki baby uplift story
Jo Moir (RNZ): Removing babies sometimes necessary – Willie Jackson
1News: Jacinda Ardern rules out royal commission of inquiry into Oranga Tamariki’s practices
Stuff: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern backs Oranga Tamariki over uplifted babies
Derek Cheng (Herald): Oranga Tamariki review will be done on ‘whānau’ time – Minister
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Govt reveals terms for Oranga Tamariki inquiry
1News: Terms of reference released for review into Oranga Tamariki newborn uplift case
Jamie Ensor and Hayley Jacobsen (Newshub): Oranga Tamariki social worker looking into Hawke’s Bay uplift hopeful lessons will come
Aaron Smale (Newsroom): The Māori Problem
Transport and roading
Northland Age: No plans for radical speed reductions: Phil Twyford
RNZ: Kāpiti Coast speed limits to drop in light of safety review
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Drop in foreign driver ‘hysteria’ on NZ roads
John McKenzie (1News): Renewed calls for law change after ‘stunning’ percentage of foreign visitors fail driving test
1News: Just seven visitors from over 200 tested passed New Zealand’s written driving test
Herald: Results of tourist driving report of ‘great concern’: Only 3% pass theory test
Tess Brunton (RNZ): 97% of international drivers who sat New Zealand driving theory quiz failed
Stuff: How well do you know the road code?
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): The three NZ driving questions stumping tourists
Phil Pennington (RNZ):Transport Agency knew of truck-trailer safety issues for months before acting
RNZ: Suzuki defends the Swift after report proposed banning cars with poor safety ratings
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): Shane Jones warns Tūhoe against closing off Lake Waikaremoana by stealth
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Palmerston North’s evening bus services continue for now
Cushla Norman (1News): Commuters demand action over Wellington region’s most dangerous road
Emma Hatton (RNZ): Residents want Haywards Hill upgrade fast-tracked, fear fatalities
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Auckland Transport addressing ‘dangerous behaviour’ on northwestern cycleway
Primary industries
Nita Blake-Persen (RNZ): Checkpoint: More than 400 injured and sick animals sent to meat works
Gordon Campbell: On asking the banks to be nicer to farmers
Dominion Post Editorial: Banks and farms can profit from talking a little more
Richard Harman (Politik): Possible changes to ETS and overseas investment law to prevent rural land boom
Jason Walls (Herald): Ministers attempt to ‘defang’ claims that the one-billion-trees policy is bad for farmers
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Trees aren’t taking over rural communities, says Forestry Minister Shane Jones
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): Veteran environmentalist tells farmers to brace themselves for change
Krysta Neve (Stuff): James Cameron is right, New Zealand has a titanic agriculture problem
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Meat-free New Zealand – are we there yet?
Act Party, free speech
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): ‘Threatening or inciting violence’ not covered by free speech – Seymour
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Philip Arps deserves every second of the 21 months and NO this isn’t a free speech issue
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): ReACTionary Politics
RNZ: We will stick up for freedom of speech’ – Bridges
Brian Rudman (Herald): David Seymour’s Act of hari-kari has synchronicity (paywalled)
Collette Devlin (Stuff): National leader Simon Bridges opposed to ACT flat tax policy
Point of Order: A flat tax? Alas, RNZ burnt up its interview time while grilling Seymour about free speech and the racism bogey
Andrew Geddis (Pundit): Imagine a world of speech without rules …
Cameron Walker (Spinoff): David Seymour is tilting at free-speech windmills
Alex Birchall: This is the left’s chance to take charge of free speech – but we will probably waste it
Housing
1News: KiwiBuild ‘a welfare scheme for property developers’ – Judith Collins
Audrey Young (Herald): Home sellers will be required to give IRD numbers to stop avoidance of brightline tax
Greg Ninness (Interest): Government tightening land transfer rules so IRD can catch more property speculators
RNZ: Most first home buyers don’t want help from parents – survey
Kelly Makiha (Rotorua Daily Post): New hope for family of seven with disabled children living in tent (paywalled)
1News: Auckland property prices experience biggest ‘slump’ in five years
Lana Andelane (Newshub): The Big Sleepout: Participants to endure coldest night in June to raise awareness of homelessness
Stuff: Build-to-rent property developments offer renters better quality and security of tenure, real estate firm says
Education
David Cormack (Herald): Unions flexed their might to show why they’re still vital (paywalled)
George Heagney (Manawatū Standard): New pay offer doesn’t please primary principals
Jessica Long (Stuff): Non-union educators unhappy about three-month processing for $1.4b deal
Ben Leahy Herald): New Zealand universities mostly up in world rankings, but teacher cuts are hurting
RNZ: Most New Zealand universities improve in global league table
Local government
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Meet the Candidates: ‘Imperfect’ Auckland mayoral hopeful John Tamihere on his fiery campaign
Stephen Forbes (Interest): Auckland Council confident of keeping debt under $9 billion at year’s end as staff numbers grow
RNZ: Wellington City Council to debate climate emergency declaration
Blair Jackson (Southland Times): Councillor pushes for climate change stance in Southland
Alex Loo (Manawatū Standard): Massey University Students’ Association president running for city council seat
Katie Bradford (1News): Police investigating online death threats against high-profile Auckland councillor
Foreign affairs
AP: Winston Peters urges ‘restraint’ as US sends more troops to Middle East in face of ‘growing threat’ from Iran
RNZ: New Zealand condemns attacks on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Peters ‘admires courage’ of Hong Kong protestors
Christchurch mosque shootings
Sam Sherwood and David Clarkson (Stuff): ‘Unrepentant, hardcore white supremacist’ jailed after sharing terror video
Herald: Mosque shooting: White supremacist Philip Neville Arps appeals jail sentence for distributing footage
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Mosque shooting: White supremacist Philip Neville Arps jailed for 21 months for distributing footage
David Clarkson (Stuff): Businessman jailed for distributing Christchurch mosque killings video
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): Censor’s rating of mosque video justified by promotion of killing Muslims
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Mosque live stream: Review board upholds video’s classification, dismisses appeal
Patrick Gower (Newshub): Philip Arps unapologetic after jailing, compares himself to Hitler’s deputy
Brian Tamaki
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki invited to Wellington mosque
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Facebook to remove Brian Tamaki ‘hate speech’ advert which questions opening of Auckland Muslim school
Herald: Facebook to take down Brian Tamaki’s Muslim hate-speech post
Police
Sam Hurley (Herald): Corrupt Auckland cop guilty of illegally accessing police intelligence system
Stuff: Police officer used ‘excessive and unjustified’ force against woman
RNZ: Off-duty police officer used excessive force in domestic dispute between friend, former partner
RNZ: Better permit process means speedier gun imports – police
Abortion
Sophie Bateman (Newshub: One in five New Zealand pregnancies end in abortion
Georgia Forrester (Stuff): More Kiwi women in their 30s having abortions compared with a decade ago
Herald: Fall in teen abortions but overall abortion rate steady
David Farrar: 2018 abortion statistics
Other
Derek Cheng (Herald): Treasury’s public website given security test just days before it was ‘hacked’
1News: Simon Bridges says Judith Collins’ analysis of his leadership is ‘right and fine’ after MP refused to rate his performance
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Confidential payload aboard Rocket Lab’s sixth orbital mission
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Multimillion dollar payout for Kiwi fast-food employees after Restaurant Brands reviews holiday pay
Māori TV: $4mil package for Fire and Emergency volunteers
Robin Martin (RNZ): Waitara leaseholders upset by council’s asking prices
Pita Turei (Herald): Leave Ihumātao land decisions to iwi (paywalled)
RNZ: Consumer confidence falls again, but still optimistic
Simon Hartley (ODT): Consumer confidence suffers another hit
Lee Kenny and Sam Sherwood (Stuff): From Tampa boat refugee to Fulbright Graduate Award, former Christchurch schoolboy will now study in New York
Lisa Martin (Guardian): Tampa refugee taken in by New Zealand wins Fulbright scholarship
Julie Iles (Stuff): Crowd-funding effort to turn Wellington Trades Hall into a museum
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Patrick Gower reveals worst call he’s made as a journalist
Tommy LIvingston (Stuff): Concerns for Kiwi stonemasons after advanced silicosis rise in Australian benchtop craftsmen
Kereama Wright (Māori TV): Ngāti Whare planting seeds of hope
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Girl in school’s First XV told her team won’t get any points if she plays in tournament
Rachel Froggatt (Newsroom): The strategic case for gender equity on sports boards
