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
Climate change, environment
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government extends tax break for oil rigs, despite promise not to subsidise fossil fuel industry
RNZ: Jacinda Ardern supports, does not commit to ‘climate emergency’ declaration
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Climate change still contentious for farmers (paywalled)
Catherine Leining (Newsroom): A first step to pricing agricultural emissions
1News: Taxing agricultural sector before applying technology is ‘nonsense’, says National
Stuff: Earth Overshoot Day: Kiwis consume a year’s worth of resources in five months
Neville Nicholas (Stuff): Global warming predicted forty years ago, anniversary
Jamie Morton (Herald): Why the climate change crisis requires a ‘careful revolution’ (paywalled)
Abigail Smith (Stuff): Why I’m climbing Wellington’s Majestic Centre
RNZ: Greenpeace activists that scaled Wellington building arrested
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Oil activists scaling Wellington’s Majestic Centre reach target
Kya Raina Lal (Spinoff): As the oceans rise, the Pacific refuses to be left behind
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Paul Gorman (Stuff): ECan asks Govt to prioritise studies of links between nitrates and health
Robin Martin (RNZ): Questions remain over freshwater quality in Taranaki region
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Takaka freshwater group urges protections for Te Waikoropupū Springs
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Forest & Bird launches Environment Court appeal to protect Northland fairy terns
Matthew Littlewood (Stuff): Bid to protect 40,000ha of South Island high country from invasive weeds
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Plastic pollution is putting NZ’s ‘clean green’ image at risk
Herald: Could ‘plastic shaming’ help NZ’s waste woes?
Kendall Hutt (Stuff): No ‘obvious signs’ of pollution in Auckland harbour after Sephora seen dumping waste
Electric vehicles, Greens attack ad
Zane Small (Newshub): Greens remove attack ad on National despite James Shaw, Marama Davidson’s defence
Anna Whyte (1News): Green Party pull ad mocking Simon Bridges’ accent after heavy criticism online – ‘Lowered the tone of the debate’
Jason Walls (Herald): Green Party co-leader James Shaw apologises for attack ad after wave of online criticism
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Greens apologise for Simon Bridges attack ad
RNZ: Greens apologise for Simon Bridges attack ad
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Simon Bridges finds Green Party attack ‘pretty funny’ but the party has pulled the ad
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): ‘Good for them’: Simon Bridges says Green Party attack ad was funny
Ben Uffindell (The Civilian): Green Party still says 16-year-olds should be able to vote, just not allowed to make their ads anymore
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National Party leader Simon Bridges refuses to commit to repealing feebate policy
Parliament
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Labour’s secret internal polling reveals National below 40 percent
Audrey Young (Herald): Bridges-Ardern curtain-raiser before Judith Collins and Megan Woods face off (paywalled)
Kate Aschoff (RNZ): The House: Youth MPs send climate change hurry-up to MPs
1News: Campaign underway to give 16-year-old New Zealanders voting rights
1News: NZ First propose referendum on euthanasia, saying ‘politicians alone should not decide’ the issue
Brian Easton (Pundit): Letter to my MP on the End of Life Choice Bill and a Referendum*
State care of children
1News: Children’s Commissioner says he’s ‘deeply disturbed’ by latest Oranga Tamariki statistics
Julie Iles (Stuff): Three quarters of harm in state care happens to Māori children: Oranga Tamariki report
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Māori over-represented in state care harm statistics
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Most children harmed in State care are Māori – Oranga Tamariki report
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Legality and ‘disconnection’ between Māori kids and whānau
Elizabeth Strickett (Spinoff): Listen to Māori midwives – they know more than you think
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David Fisher (Herald): Sensitive personal state ward details open to all in Archives NZ blunder (paywalled)
Political questions in Govt department surveys
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): IRD, DOC and Stats NZ under fire for political questions in polling
Jason Walls (Herald): The State Services Commission says it is ‘disappointed’ by ‘ill-judged’ IRD survey question
RNZ: Departments review policies after SSC report into political leanings survey questions
1News: Political questions asked by Government agencies ‘ill-judged, inappropriate’ – SSC
Review of relationship property laws
Isaac Davison (Herald): Couples could share income for 5 years after breakup under Law Commission’s proposals to modernise relationship property laws
Isaac Davison (Herald): Law Commission tells Govt to ditch 50-50 split of family home
Zane Small (Newshub): Government to consider Law Commission’s recommendation of abolishing 50-50 split of family home
RNZ: Break-up laws need a shake-up, says Law Commission
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Law Commission report: Relationship break-up laws must change
Education
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Education Minister promising to end unpopular decile system
Josephine Franks (Stuff): NCEA overhaul: Parents and public invited to workshops on changes
Chris Morris (ODT): Campbell Park claims persist
Infometrics: Chart of the month: Māori education critical to unlocking opportunities
John Lewis (ODT): Exam breaches on rise in Otago-Southland
Elena McPhee (ODT): Worry Govt plan may hit campus
Gun law reform
John Battersby (Stuff): We need a register, but not just so it seems like we’re doing something
Lew Stoddart (RNZ): Make entry into registry easy as possible for gun owners
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Caution over firearm register as advocates back firearm law reform
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Newshub uncovers loophole in the Government’s gun ban
Laura Walters (Stuff): Govt gun law blunder embarrassing
Derek Cheng (Herald): Gun law reform: ‘I made a mistake’ – Police Minister Stuart Nash
1News: Prime Minister and Police Minister admit mistake in gun law change announcement
RNZ: Firearms register a ‘pointless exercise’ – former police officer
James Fyfe (Newshub): Venue, time change for Auckland gun buyback event
Mandy Te (Stuff): Auckland’s second gun buy-back event set for this weekend
1News: Council of Licenced Firearms Owners argues that gun register won’t keep Kiwis safe
ODT Editorial: Gun reform could heat up
Dominion Post Editorial: Govt can’t let real criminals out of its sight in sweeping gun law change
Workplace safety
Boris Jancic (Herald): Work safety watchdog WorkSafe turns to cancer deaths with $57m budget boost
RNZ: Government boosts WorkSafe funding by $60m
Tobacco industry
Māori TV: Te Ao with Moana: Vaping – “It may not be healthy at all”
Māori TV: Te Ao with Moana: Vaping – ‘It’s attacking & attracting our rangatahi’
Māori TV: Te Ao with Moana: Philip Morris NZ official statement to Te Ao with Moana
Health
Melissa Nightingale (Herald): Te Kiri Gold doctor struck off over unapproved clinical trials on cancer patients (paywalled)
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Maternity crisis: Health Minister David Clark hints extra help for Middlemore will be announced soon
Libby Wilson (Stuff): Too many senior doctors, or not enough? Spat over numbers at Waikato DHB
Samantha Gee (Stuff): Nelson Marlborough Health more than $11m behind budget
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Measles outbreak: Hospitals seeing ‘complex’ admissions as national number rises to 349
Giles Dexter (Newshub): Surgical mesh victims slam Ministry of Health for ‘completely underestimating’ problem
Kaitlin Ruddock (1News): Kiwi women living with complications from surgical mesh describe day-to-day struggles
Herald: Aged-care workers in New Zealand face same brutal conditions as described by Aussie worker
Ihumātao
Tom Furley (RNZ): Ihumātao protesters remain at site entrance after evictions
Don Rowe (Spinoff): ‘I’ve had my tangi’: Police descend on the occupants of Ihumātao
Ryan Anderson and Imogen Neale (Stuff): Three protesters arrested at south Auckland’s Ihumātao
RNZ: Three people arrested at Ihumatao
RNZ: Protesters at Ihumātao served eviction notices
Newshub: Police called to help evict protesters from Auckland’s Ihumātao housing development
Māori TV: “No arrests at this stage” police release Ihumātao statement (+ gallery)
Local government
Todd Niall (Stuff): Can Auckland’s election be a generation game?
John Banks (Herald): Auckland deserves better from mayor and council (paywalled)
Sam Hurley (Herald): Serious Fraud Office accuses ex-Auckland Council worker of taking bribe for goods contract
Edward Gay (Stuff): Auckland Council worker charged with taking bribes for IT contract
Bernard Orsman (Herald): How your rates are spent: How a giant sculpture is taking Auckland parks into the future (paywalled)
RNZ: Muslim leaders request clarification on swimwear policy at public pools
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): Human rights lawyer Deborah Manning leads fight over Western Springs pines
Tina Law (Press): Christchurch Adventure Park close to going bust before ratepayer bailout, reports reveal
Dileepa Fonseka (Dominion Post): City with a broken heart: Civic Square key focal point for election issues in CEO pre-election report
Nikki Preston (Herald): Hearing for SkyCity’s pokie application to go ahead; complaint about mayor being dealt with separately
Police
Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): Officer’s move to fire warning shots at offender unjustified: Independent Police Conduct Authority
RNZ: Warning shots fired near fleeing driver were unreasonable – IPCA
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Report finds police should not have fired warning shots during Huntly chase
Sport
Hamish Bidwell (RNZ): Opinion: Silver Ferns stymied by their own sport
Adrian Seconi and Steven Hepburn (ODT): Lack of money patently unjust or just fact of life?
Kevin Norquay (Stuff): Netball World Cup: Silver Ferns are sadly undervalued and underpaid
Herald: Netball World Cup 2019: Jacinda Ardern challenges sponsors to pay Silver Ferns World Cup bonus
Herald: Netball World Cup: ANZ ‘happy to contribute’ to Silver Ferns prizemoney fund
Laura Dooney (RNZ): Netball World Cup prize money: ‘There needs to be recognition for the value of womens sport’
Stuff: Netball World Cup: Jacinda Ardern praises Silver Ferns ‘fossils’ in Parliament
Abortion
Zane Small (Newshub): How Labour and National will approach abortion law reform
Lily McElhone (Salient): Legalising Abortion Is Still Best Option, Even for Pro-Lifers
Anna Whyte (1News): Groups on both sides of abortion debate bring their messages to Parliament
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Protestors march through Wellington streets in support of reproductive rights
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Protesters call for abortion to be removed from Crimes Act
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): Womens rights to an abortion
Housing
Jason Walls (Herald): Government pushes out the unveiling of the KiwiBuild reset until late August
Emma Dangerfield (Stuff): Poor design blamed for ‘depressing’ Housing NZ units lacking sunlight
Luisa Girao (ODT): Invercargill housing issue worsens
Christchurch mosque shootings
1News: Using ACC to treat Christchurch terrorist attack victims’ PTSD wouldn’t be fair to others, Ardern argues
Sophie Cornish and Kurt Bayer (Herald): Christchurch mosque shooting: Cost tops $6m for Canterbury DHB
Charlie Gates (Stuff): Former race relations commissioner slams inquiry into Christchurch mosque shooting
Transport
1News: Jacinda Ardern calls Simon Bridges’ attacks on Government’s transport plans ‘laughable’ in spirited transport debate
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Mechanics take NZTA to court over licence suspensions
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Shortage of truck safety certifiers puts pressure on industry
Astrid Austin (Hawkes Bay Today): Greg Murphy to Julie Anne Genter: NZ’s road safety priorities are ‘broken’ (paywalled)
Deena Coster (Stuff): $200m Mt Messenger bypass appeal hearing wraps up in Environment Court
Lisette Reymer (Newshub): ‘Families have been shattered’: Compensation refused for businesses impacted by City Rail Link construction
Primary industries
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Govt unveils changes to biosecurity and animal tracing
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Biosecurity funding overhaul: Scant detail worries farmers
David Williams (Newsroom): Deeply flawed system a cause for concern
Andrea Fox (Herald): M. bovis cattle disease fight: We’re winning so far, says Government (paywalled)
Peter Bodeker (ODT): Eliminating ‘M.bovis’ tough but correct call
RNZ: M bovis levy comes into effect in September
Other
Danyl Mclauchlan (Spinoff): Piketty’s Capital comes to the big screen, urging us to make the world less terrible
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): 12 eye-watering facts about the new British prime minister, Boris Johnson
Neal Curtis (Newsroom): A new dawn of the worst and most injurious
Friedrich Soltau (Newsroom): What happened to the UN sustainability goals?
1News: ‘My vote’s only as good as my neighbour’s’ – PM tight-lipped on cannabis voting intentions
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Regulator softens power price hit for Aucklanders
Tim Woodhill (Stuff): Friend or foe: with countries, it isn’t that simple
RNZ: Jacinda Ardern to visit Tokelau
Maria Slade (Spinoff): Where Kiwis donate their money, and why starving children in Africa don’t rate
Lois Williams (RNZ): Ngāpuhi negotiations await replacement of non-viable Tūhoronuku mandate – Little
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Iwi to negotiate with Crown for return of Pink and White Terraces land
Deena Coster (Taranaki Daily News): Select committee report on Parihaka bill backs name protection
Karl du Fresne (Stuff): Still no justice for Trades Hall bomb death
Lida Ayoubi adn Melanie Johnson (The Conversation): NZ considers changes to copyright law as part of promise to help end global ‘book famine’
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Iain Lees-Galloway to decide former child gang member’s New Zealand residency
RNZ: Sir Edward Durie, Donna Hall win defamation suit against Māori TV
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Why Trade Me suspended accounts selling ‘Make Ardern Go Away’ hats
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Australian commentators say Jacinda Ardern doesn’t deserve the Nobel Peace Prize
RNZ: Kaiako stands in solidarity with Mauna Kea protestors
Madison Reidy (RNZ): Lawyers, accountants report 250 suspicious transactions to police
John Weekes (Stuff): Former prisoners speak out after ‘nightmare’ invasive searches at Auckland Region Women’s jail
Stuff: Christchurch gas explosion: Investigation could take a year to complete
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Nine will ‘focus on the long term’ with bids for Stuff below fair value
Tze Ming Mok (Spinoff): Violent racist guilty of violent racist attack. The law says: nah, no hate crime
