Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
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Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.
Euthanasia
Henry Cooke (Stuff): David Seymour narrows euthanasia bill to only cover patients with 6 months to live
Boris Jancic (Herald): Euthanasia bill moves forward despite fierce opposition in Parliament
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Euthanasia eligibility changes made in David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill
1News: Louisa Wall weeps during euthanasia speech as she touches on family member’s terminal illness
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Euthanasia bill’s amendment-laden journey through Parliament
Zane Small and Jenna Lynch (Newshub): End of Life Choice Bill: MPs debate who should be eligible under proposed euthanasia law
Jo Moir and Craig McCulloch (RNZ): MPs debate euthanasia bill in Parliament
Boris Jancic (Herald): Euthanasia critics look to drag out battle in Parliament
Anna Whyte (1News): Seymour’s proposed euthanasia changes bring Greens onboard but opponents not convinced
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Act leader David Seymour praises Winston Peters’ cooperation ahead of potential euthanasia Bill changes
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): MPs mull amendments to the End of Life Choice Bill
No Right Turn: Member’s Day: End of Life Choice
Ihumātao
Wayne Mapp (Herald): Jacinda Ardern has too much to lose at Ihumātao (paywalled)
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): King Tūheitia to visit Ihumātao protest site
Michael Neilson (Herald): Ihumātao: United Nations human rights body raises ‘concerns’ over Government approach, Māori consultation
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Ihumātao: Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta meets SOUL co-founder
Michael Neilson (Herald): ‘PM deeply involved’: Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta to meet SOUL leader Pania Newton over Ihumātao dispute
Leonie Hayden and Don Rowe (Spinoff): The occupation of Ihumātao: week one
Pattrick Smellie (Herald): Corporates offer key to deadlock at Ihumātao (paywalled)
Ted Dawe (Herald): Ihumātao is about respecting our past
Glen McConnell (Stuff): Ihumātao is a watershed moment for this generation, it cannot be ignored
RNZ: Simon Bridges accuses PM of ‘bad error of judgement’ over Ihumātao
Te Aniwa Hurihanganu (RNZ): Ihumātao protest: Kaimahi ‘do what needs to be done’
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): New Zealand rocked by Māori protests on child removals and use of sacred land
Peter McKenzie (Spinoff): How art and technology mobilised an army of support for Ihumātao
Water
Derek Cheng (Herald): Government sets out new plans for water management and regulation
1News: Government to create ‘dedicated watchdog’ to regulate water quality
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Government approves drinking water watchdog in response to Havelock North campylobacter outbreak
RNZ: New govt regulator to have ‘final say’ on safe drinking water
Richard Harman (Politik): The huge water bill
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Havelock North residents unconvinced by new water management agency
Dominic Harris (Press): Christchurch faces mandatory chlorination under new government-led water agency
Jono Edwards (ODT): Failures in meeting standards on drinking water vex Laws
Education
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): China’s ‘request’ to shut down AUT event could have been an order – academic
Herald Editorial: China’s silencing of dissent unwelcome (paywalled)
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Student visa delays cost polytechs $70m
Logan Savory (Southland Times): SIT chief executive Penny Simmonds hopeful of positive announcement
Steven Joyce (Herald): Hold on to our apprenticeship system (paywalled)
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Derek Cheng (Herald): Education Minister’s ‘wide’ power on school donation exemptions
Simon Collins (Herald): Ministry of Education paid 1776 teachers below minimum wage
1News: Nearly 1800 teachers paid less than minimum wage, most now back-paid
Josephine Franks (Stuff): School board chairs take out full-page ad in support of principals
Katie Fitzgerald and Hayley Jacobsen (Newshub): Board of Trustees chairs pen open letter to Government over principals’ pay
1News: More than 700 board of trustees chairs back primary school principals in pay dispute
RNZ: Open letter by primary school boards back principals’ pay demand
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Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Parents can handle coroner’s criticism: They’re just want to see other children kept safe
Marty Sharpe and Katarina Williams (Stuff):Walking group calls for coroner to be censured over comments about children walking to school
Herald: Coroner’s decision sparks debate: Should adults accompany kids walking to school?
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Principal of Carla Neems says plenty of his pupils walk to school without an adult
Dave Armstrong (Dominion Post): Walking to school used to be part of the Kiwi way of life, and it should be again
Emily Writes (Spinoff): The coroner was meant to explain a tragedy. Instead, he compounded it
Stuff: Parents divided on what age children should be allowed to walk to school alone
Five Eyes
Stuff:‘Five Eyes’ nations discuss giving police secret access to WhatsApp messages
Reuters: Five Eyes, including New Zealand, calls for law enforcement access to encrypted data
RNZ: Five Eyes partners increase pressure on social media companies
Peter Ellis appeal
Press Editorial:It’s now or never for Peter Ellis
Sam Hurley (Herald): Supreme Court to hear Peter Ellis’ case as he fights to clear his name
1News: Peter Ellis granted leave for new appeal
RNZ: Peter Ellis granted leave to appeal case to Supreme Court
1News: As dying Peter Ellis appeals convictions again, court should consider ‘moral panic’ of the ’90s, ex-lawyer says
Stuff: Peter Ellis is a step closer to getting dying wish to clear his name
Foreign Affairs
1News: Winston Peters thanks Asian nations for ‘humbling’ words of support after Christchurch terrorist attacks
Audrey Young (Herald): Trade Minister David Parker meets Britain’s new trade minister Liz Truss
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB):It’s time we showed some mettle with our Australian neighbours
RNZ: Australia’s new visa rules ‘will lead to a lot more angst’
RNZ: NZ govt defends PM’s Tokelau visit
RNZ: Tokelau comments show ignorance and divisiveness – Aupito
Christine Rovoi (RNZ): NZ’s drug issues fuelling problems in Pacific, warns expert
Transport
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Division over calls to release secret Let’s Get Wellington Moving letter
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): National MP Chris Bishop demands release of Lets Get Wellington Moving letter
Georgina Campbell (Herald):Julie Anne Genter grilled over Let’s Get Wellington Moving letter
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Questions raised over how NZTA protects sensitive information
Robert McLachlan (The Conversation): New Zealand poised to introduce clean car standards and incentives to cut emissions
State care of children, Oranga Tamariki
David Fisher (Herald): Those investigating claims of children abused in state care have ‘hundreds’ of names of alleged perpetrators (paywalled)
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): MPs welcome new operation model for Oranga Tamariki
Maternity care
1News: Government votes against inquiry into Lumsden Maternity Centre downgrade
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Government MPs say no to independent inquiry over Lumsden Maternity
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Bid for Lumsden Maternity Centre inquiry fails
RNZ: Lumsden Maternity decision inquiry bid fails at select committee
Pam Jones (ODT): Midwife wants to show PM
Michelle Duff (Stuff): The last midwife, and the first babies born in the world
Health
Simon Wilson (Herald): The trouble with National’s cancer plan (paywalled)
Gil Barbezat (ODT): Colorectal cancer care: are the politicians actually listening?
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): New doctors’ cancer education, training worse than 20 years ago: study
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Waiting list for radiation oncology treatment at the Southern DHB on decline
Zane Small (Newshub): Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer confirms health ministry didn’t take up extra vaccines offer for Northland
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Appointment of support locum neurosurgeon delayed
Kelley Tantau (Stuff): Hauraki Rail Trail included in council’s vapefree, smokefree policy
Rino Tirikatene (Southland Times): Don’t mainstream Māori mental health service, SDHB
Ruth Nichol (Listener): Why is NZ’s infant death rate still so comparatively high?
Primary and extractive industries
Jamie Morton (Herald): NZ genetic engineering laws ‘old and tired’, top scientist says
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): New Zealand must learn to talk about ‘evolving technologies’ – Sir Peter Gluckman
Mitch McCann (Newshub): Spot testing of Northland kiwifruit orchards for toxic chemical spray Hi-Cane
Luisa Girao (ODT): Intensive grazing in winter under examination
Luisa Girao (ODT): Feds largely support plan but seek consent rule change
Maja Burry (RNZ):Federated Farmers quest for ‘fair labelling’ of plant-based products: ‘Call it almond juice’
Elena McPhee (ODT):Plaman withdraws; maar still vulnerable
Farah Hancock (Newsroom):Future still uncertain for Foulden Maar’s fossils
Elena McPhee (ODT): Application to purchase land for mine withdrawn
RNZ: Plaman dumps mining plan for Foulden Maar crater lake
Jono Edwards (ODT): Opponents stymied at Dunedin oil and gas hearing
RNZ: Zero Carbon Bill targets ‘unachievable’ – retiring National MP
No Right Turn: Climate Change: No magic required
Jamie Mackay (Herald): National farming spokesman Todd Muller: Why Labour Government is not delivering (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government pushed to accept methane ‘silver bullet’ for NZ dairy farming emissions
Environment
1News: ‘Put aside silly politics and act’ – Chlöe Swarbrick urges climate emergency declaration
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Industrial emitters will pay more for emissions, eventually
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Subsidising pollution forever
Vince Dravitzki (Stuff): Most private cars would go in my radical plan to urgently cut emissions
Kelley Tantau (Stuff): Hauraki District Council opt to acknowledge ‘climate urgency’ not emergency
Tim Miller (ODT): Council votes to incentivise use of low-emission vehicles
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Converting three Fonterra factories to gas could save 100,000 tonnes of carbon emissions
Saeid Baroutian (Newsroom): Healthcare’s massive carbon footprint
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Emma Hatton (RNZ): Residents oppose planned water-bottling operation in Petone
Nikki Preston (Herald): DOC and Motutapu Farms seeking diversion for burying cows on heritage site (paywalled)
Lois Williams (RNZ): Is it a log – or is it art?
Eloise Gibson (Newsroom): Does ‘compostable’ plastic really break down?
Anna Whyte (1News): In first month of plastic bag ban, 178 reports of businesses breaking the rules
National Party
Hearld: Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie won’t be charged over ‘you deserve to die’ message to Jami-Lee Ross
1News: MP Sarah Dowie cleared after police investigation into text to Jami-Lee Ross
Zane Small (Newshub): No charge for National MP Sarah Dowie over text to Jami-Lee Ross
RNZ: No charges against MP Sarah Dowie over Jami-Lee Ross text
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): No charges for Sarah Dowie in relation to text
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Duncan Garner (Newshub): Simon Bridges isn’t looking like a future Prime Minister
Tim Newman (Nelson Mail): Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon keeping mum on political speculation
RNZ: Luxon staying silent on preferred prime minister poll result
Greens
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Greens aim to boost Dunedin support
David Farrar: How the female Green MPs are going to get screwed over by their gender quota rules
Local government
Blair Ensor (Stuff): Appointment of Crown observer to Westland District Council a ‘political nonsense’ – mayor Bruce Smith
RNZ: Westland District Council in the dark over allegations of wrongdoing
Todd Niall (Stuff): Should you read Auckland Council’s pre-election report?
Samantha Gee (Nelson Mail): Different voting systems confuse Nelson voters says DHB
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Speed cameras, red light cameras … now parking cameras for Wellington
Justin Lester (Dominion Post):I want our central library back as much as anyone
Tina Law (Press): Lianne Dalziel confirms bid for third term as Christchurch mayor
Matt Rilkoff (Taranaki Daily News): He says it like he sees it, but Murray Chong sees things very differently to most
Leighton Keith (Taranaki Daily News): Councillor accused of harassment after being issued with parking ticket
Denise Piper (Stuff): Children of Whangārei District councillors to get ratepayer-funded childcare
Immigration, refugees
Robin Martin (RNZ): Meeting halted after iwi leader says city not ready for refugees
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Immigration sting finds 38 foreigners illegally employed as sex workers across New Zealand
Richard Davidson (ODT): Lawyers and MPs put their weight behind family
Housing
1News: Kiwis, not migrants, putting pressure on NZ house prices, new research finds
David Hargreaves (Interest): ‘Kiwis push up house prices more than migrants’
Shiban Hyde (Hawkes Bay Today): ‘Never again’: Mum and two toddlers sleep in Napier park after emergency housing denied (paywalled)
Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): Population increase sees more challenges for Northland
Parliament
Brent Edwards (NBR): Coalition, National at loggerheads over electoral law (paywalled)
Sandeep Singh (RNZ): Should New Zealand do away with a three-year parliamentary term?
No Right Turn: Denial of real choice
Alan Keynon (1News): ‘Good tie!’ Judith Collins and Speaker share banter over his fashion in Parliament
David Farrar: Identity politics friendly fire
Employment
Frank Greenall (Herald): Sleepyhead’s workers’ village – When wasn’t enhancing the health and wealth of your workforce not great for business? (paywalled)
1News:Employment Relations Authority slams Subway chain after Northland franchise fined for worker exploitation
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Subway’s ‘baffling’ lack of oversight of employment standards
Kim Baker Wilson (1News): Auckland retail workers storm major mall as they demand better pay
RNZ: Hundreds of retail workers rally for living wage at St Lukes mall
Christchurch mosque attack
David Williams (Newsroom): Terror on TV news: Lessons from Australia
Tina Law (Press): Government help for Linwood businesses impacted by mosque shooting falls short
Jordan Oppert (1News): Man pleads guilty to having banned Christchurch terrorist attack video
David Clarkson (stuff): Man in Trump shirt sentenced for abuse outside Christchurch mosque
Business
RNZ: Business operators more pessimistic
RNZ: More women at board tables, but fewer executives
Other
Claire Trevett (Herald): Simon Bridges’ ‘part-time PM’ jibe about Jacinda Ardern a lesson all round (paywalled)
Ollie Neas (Spinoff): Spying on Earth: Rocket Lab’s payloads get more and more interesting
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Government backtrack on rate caps criticised
Brent Edwards (NBR): Complaints body wants tougher enforcement of predatory lending (paywalled)
Gordon Campbell: On the two public inquiries at odds over the need for shutting out the public
Derek Cheng (Herald): Govt looks to regulate online gambling with overseas provide
Luke Appleby (1News): Corrections find the phone inmates used to live stream sparring session inside Auckland’s Paremoremo prison
1News: Jacinda Ardern labelled ‘masterful’ by US Democratic candidate during debate
Jason Walls (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled ‘masterful’ by US Presidential candidate
Stuff: US presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg uses Jacinda Ardern as age example during debate
1News: New Zealand in ‘a little bit of a crisis around animal welfare’, rescue group says
1News: New Zealanders’ demand for vets seriously outstripping supply
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Govt funding for extra security measures in dairies leads to reduction in reported robberies
RNZ: David Tokohau Samuels named new Te Puni Kōkiri chief exec
Guy Williams (ODT): Boom over for tourism, CEO warns
James Nokise (RNZ): Marilyn Waring on her time in Parliament: ‘I wasn’t able to stomach the place’ (paywalled)
1News: A near-zero Official Cash Rate could spell good news for home buyers
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): Fly My Pretties to headline Tuia 250 commemorations in Picton
Jean Balchin (ODT): Social media enabling broader participation in group activism