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 by Dr Bryce Edwards.
Abortion
Jo Moir (RNZ): Abortion reform: Little says no deal as Peters springs referendum call
Stuff: No referendum on abortion law – Andrew Little
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Winston Peters pulls rug out from under Andrew Little – again
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Winston Peters reserves the right to surprise on a daily basis
Boris Jancic (Herald): NZ First blindsides Andrew Little with talk of abortion referendum
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): NZ First MPs hint at public referendum for abortion bill
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Winston Peters suggests NZ First want binding referendum on abortion
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Justice Minister Andrew Little caught off guard as New Zealand First hints at abortion referendum
Jo Moir (RNZ): Abortion law reform: NZ First has no plans to call for referendum
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): NZ First ambushes Labour on Abortion – WTF is going on?
1News: Jacinda Ardern will vote in favour of abortion law changes – ‘I don’t believe it should be in the Crimes Act’
Henry Cooke and Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Simon Bridges will vote for abortion bill at first reading but wants more safeguards
Boris Jancic (Herald): National leader Simon Bridges to back abortion law changes at first reading
RNZ: Abortion law reform: Obligation placed on health professionals – Little
Gordon Campbell: On reforming the abortion laws
ODT Editorial: Welcome change to abortion law
Dominion Post Editorial: Decision on abortion is heart-wrenching but not criminal
RNZ: Opinion: Abortion is a medical necessity, reform is needed
Ihumātao
Zane Small (Newshub): Green MPs attend Ihumātao protest where ‘Jacinda = Traitor’ sign held up
Chris Trotter: Endgame: Will Winston Peters Blow Up The Coalition Over Ihumatao?
Katie Fitzgerald and Hayley Jacobsen (Newshub): Ihumātao protest: Māori Party call for Jacinda Ardern to visit site
Auckland University: Q+A: Ihumātao: Can protests really change things?
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Calls for government to allow return of privately owned land to Māori
Chris Keall (Herald): Labour MP vents on Ihumātao: ‘Back-room deals must stop
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Ihumātao protest: Jacinda Ardern has ‘no intention’ to visit site
Emma Cropper (Newshub): No sign of progress towards peaceful resolution at Ihumātoa protests
John Anthony (Stuff): Ihumātao: Here’s what Fletcher Building’s 480 home development would look like
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Ihumātao: Auckland councillors call for reduced police presence
Herald: Ihumātao standoff: Police reject claims protester pushed over
1News: Ihumātao protestors rally outside Fletcher’s Auckland office amid claims of police ‘aggression’
John Tamihere: My thoughts on the injustice of Ihumātao
Tayi Tibble (Newsroom): Ihumātao: Everyone was there, e hoa
RNZ: Hundreds turn out for Ihumātao solidarity rally in Wellington
1News: Actor Julian Dennison joins Ihumātao protestors outside Parliament
Herald: Film star Julian Dennison joins Ihumātao gathering in Wellington
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Ihumātao housing protests: More demonstrations in Christchurch as tensions rise in Auckland
Jonathan Guildford (Stuff): Christchurch protesters march in support of Ihumātao occupation
Labour Party
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Jacinda Ardern talks a lot but says little about Labour Party sex scandal
Jason Walls (Herald): Minister Grant Robertson was just one of the MPs who spoke at the ‘President’s Dinner’ event (paywalled)
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Complainants explain why they cut ties with Labour over handling of bullying, sexual assault allegations
Herald: Labour Party members quit over investigation into allegations against staffer
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern confirms Labour reviewing investigation into bullying, sexual harassment after fresh allegations
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern confirms independent review after sexual harassment complaints
Derek Cheng (Herald): Summer camp victim: Labour Party leadership is ‘useless’
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): Investigation into Labour staffer to be reviewed
Greens
Sue Bradford (Pundit): The Greying Of The Greens
Rachel Stewart (Herald): Monty Python or Shakespeare – tragic theatre of the Greens (paywalled)
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): James Shaw ‘actually a Labour Party member in his heart’ – Simon Bridges
Transport
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Ombudsman investigates after Julie Anne Genter refuses to make letter public
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Chief Ombudsman to investigate Julie Anne Genter’s secret letter
Damian George (Stuff): Ombudsman to investigate Julie Anne Genter’s refusal to release letter to Transport Minister Phil Twyford
MIchael Morrah (Newshub): Civil Aviation Authority chair Nigel Gould in Phil Twyford’s sights over response to sexual harassment complaints
Employment
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Service sector adds jobs despite wage hike
Jason Walls (Herald): Grant Robertson says the 11-year low unemployment rate is welcome news for Govt
Anna Whyte (1News): Unemployment falls to lowest rate in 11 years, wages rise 4.4 per cent
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Kiwi workers in hot seat as unemployment down, wages up
Liam Dann (Herald): Unemployment defies gloomy forecasts, hits new low
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): Unemployment figures at lowest point since 2008
Zane Small (Newshub): New Zealand unemployment rate lowest since before 2008 financial crisis
Economy
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Economists warn: High employment, rising wages hide slowing growth
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Grant Robertson need to get his tools ready for the next crisis
Herald Editorial: Why OCR cuts don’t work anymore (paywalled)
David Hargreaves (Interest): Academics and business people question wisdom of more OCR cuts
1News: Economy ‘anything but hunky-dory’, Simon Bridges says amid predictions of economic slowdown
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Business community not liking Government’s confused economic agenda
Foreign affairs
Richard Harman (Politik): Getting squeezed
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): ‘A more uncertain world’: NATO chief on the global order
Zane Small (Newshub): NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg hails progress in Afghanistan as New Zealand pulls back
Anna Whyte (1News): NZDF taking up three roles in Afghanistan focused on women and peace – PM
Jason Walls (Herald): Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and PM Jacinda Ardern address media
Jason Walls (Herald): Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg: Kiwis showed that ‘love always prevails over hate’
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Nato secretary-general ‘impressed’ by NZ response to terror attack
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Laura Walters (Newsroom): Govt raises interference concerns with China
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Peters quiet, Ardern quieter on Chinese interference reports
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Fear and freedom in a cold Quad
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Hong Kong extradition bill protesters in NZ get death threats
Scott Palmer and Tom McRae (Newshub): Watch: Tensions flare during Hong Kong demonstration at Auckland University
Harrison Christian (Stuff): Hong Kong protesters gather at Auckland University
Banks
Rob Stock (Stuff): Financial watchdog says new banking laws needed to protect customer
Sydney Morning Herald: ANZ to scrap most bonuses to end aggressive selling to customers
1News: Westpac to refund 93,000 customers after overcharging $7 million in fees
Herald: Westpac refunding $7 million to customers over incorrect fees
RNZ: Westpac refunds hit $7m after overcharging customers
Anand Satyanand resignation, Royal Commission into Abuse in Care
Michael Cropp (RNZ): Survivors say they’re losing faith after Sir Anand Satyanand resigns from abuse inquiry
David Fisher (Herald): Crown legal strategies to be scrutinised in Royal Commission into abuse (paywalled)
1News:‘Clearly been a stress element’, Sir Anand Satyanand explains after stepping down from Abuse in Care Inquiry
David Fisher (Herald): Sir Anand Satyanand on why he’s leaving the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Sir Anand Satyanand steps down as head of inquiry into historical abuse
1News: Sir Anand Satyanand steps down as chair of Abuse in Care Inquiry
Zane Small and Laura Tupou (Newshub): Sir Anand Satyanand stepping down from Royal Commission into historical abuse in state care
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Sir Anand Satyanand to step down as state abuse inquiry chair
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Waikato University announces Sir Anand Satyanand as new chancellor
Housing
Tony Wall and Florence Kerr (Stuff): The faded hotel in Kaitaia that’s become a ‘dumping ground’ for the homeless
Tony Wall and Florence Kerr (Stuff): A kuia lives in a garage and uses a long drop while above her, people enjoy modern luxury
Stephen Forbes (Interest): Creation of Government’s new urban development authority behind schedule and causing concerns for Auckland Council
Nikki Preston (Herald): First landlords busted for breaching new insulation laws
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Landlord to pay tenants $1500 for not hitting insulation deadline
Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Stuart Smith (Stuff): The bitter legacy of houses designed for England, not New Zealand
Caroline Williams (Stuff): Drury and Pukekohe development: 35 thousand homes given green light for Auckland suburbs
Simon Collins (Herald): Plans for 34,500 new homes get go-ahead at Drury and Pukekohe
Local government
Michael Fallow (Stuff): Who are these people we keep electing?
Katie Todd (RNZ): Veteran activist John Minto launches second attempt at Christchurch mayoralty
The Press: John Minto puts hand up for new tilt at Christchurch mayoralty
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): Anti-Tour campaigner, Fat Eddie’s owner join battle for Christchurch mayoralty
Tom Hunt and Jessica Long (Dominion Post): Smile you’re in Porirua – home of a $98,000 smiley face brand makeover
Herald: $98,00 Porirua City Council brand makeover slammed
Dominion Post: Five ideas that could have changed the Wellington region – and the idea that still might
Luke Kirkeby (Waikato Times): South Waikato councillor misses more than year’s worth of meetings
1News: Auckland mayor vows to plant 1.5m trees over three years in bid to be NZ’s ‘greenest’ city
Matthew Rosenberg (Stuff): Phil Goff promises 1.5 million trees for Auckland ahead of local body election
Sam Hurley and Anna Leask (Herald): Ex-Auckland Council worker denies Chinese tech deal bribery charges
Justice
Jamie Ensor (Newshub):Criminal justice system failing victims, majority feel unsafe – Chief Victims Advisor
1News: Victims of crime find NZ’s criminal justice system to be ‘unsafe’, report finds
Caroline Williams (Stuff): Unsafe, unsupported, and not listened to: Victims feel failed by criminal justice system
RNZ: Criminal justice system failing victims – survey
Media
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Media bosses, minister and NZ On Air meet to discuss journalism woes
Steve Braunias (Herald): An analysis of 11 times Jacinda Ardern said Mike to Mike Hosking (paywalled)
Karl du Fresne (Stuff): News deserves to be treated seriously, not propped up by gimmickry
Health
1News: Family vows to carry on battle with ACC over compo for woman whose cancer came from hugging father
RNZ: Call for action over needless Pacific cancer deaths
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): Northland could face long wait for radiation therapy machine, while Auckland gets another
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Full operation of machine likely to be delayed: DHB
Isaac Davison (Herald): ‘It’s an area we don’t want to see on the increase’: More NZ children diagnosed with severe breathing condition every year (paywalled)
Isaac Davison (Herald): Kids health: How one family copes with severe breathing problems – ‘You’ve got to be disciplined’ (paywalled)
Amy Williams (RNZ): Mental health service on hold during clinical psychologists’ strike
1News: DHB agrees to fresh review of events leading to psychotic patient’s rape of Nelson woman
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Gestro backs SDHB maternal and child hubs, but would change how they were set up
Hannah Martin (Stuff): One in four Pacific women experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy – study
Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Behind the scenes of medicinal cannabis company Cannasouth
Education
Imran Ali (Northern Advocate): Northland schools seething at lack of latest government funding (paywalled)
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Principals’ six-week boycott delays support for some students
Hawkes Bay Today Editorial: Hawke’s Bay has all but lost its EIT to the Government, with barely a whimper
Stuff: Meat industry concerned by education shake-up
Police
Andrea Vance (Stuff): NZ First’s volunteer cops proposal rejected as risky ‘policing on the cheap’
1News: Police warn against rural volunteer cops, but Government not ruling it out
RNZ:Shooting of man in Rangitikei justified – IPCA ruling
Environment and conservation
1News: DOC opts for more intense 1080 programme after rat population shows resilience to initial ‘mega mast’ drops
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Government’s biodiversity document lauded by farmers’ union
Brady Dennis and Andrew Freedman (Washington Post): Here’s how the hottest month in recorded history unfolded around the globe
Alexandra Macmillan (Stuff): Climate change explained: Will we be less healthy because of climate change?
Samantha Motion (Bay of Plenty Times): Erosion maps worry Tauranga inner harbour property owners (paywalled)
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Canterbury fisherman fined $1000 after fishing in zone protecting endangered Hector’s dolphin
RNZ: Court fines fisher over set net in Hector’s dolphins feeding ground
1News: National claims Minister of Conservation wants to ban whitebaiting in New Zealand
RNZ: Tarakihi numbers can be turned around – marine biologist
Primary industries
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): Non-compliance continues to plague Waikato dairy industry
Alex Loo (Manawatū Standard): Agricultural emissions discussion turns to frustrations from farmers
Rebecca Black (Stuff): Rural life under threat as forestry’s canopy grows
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Open ocean farming: push for shellfish, finfish aquaculture out at sea
Kaitlin Ruddock (1News): Locals fear mussel farming expansion plan could spoil Golden Bay’s ‘outstanding natural character’
Other
Jarrod Gilbert (Herald): We can’t ignore pressure-cooker issues (paywalled)
Sarah Robson (RNZ): Few respond to MSD fraud investigation report
RNZ: The Detail: Discomfort over Commission secrecy
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Cards on the table as councillors consider one last twist over Govt quake deal
Alex Braae (Spinoff): The crisis in capitalism: NZ CEOs reckon with their roles in climate change
Susan Watson (Herald): Corporate citizens and recognising the value of workers (paywalled)
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Government spends $10 million on Ngāpuhi over 10 years
Toby Morris (Spinoff): Watch: Metiria Turei opens up on a life in politics, art and activism in Two Sketches
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): IRD doesn’t know what it’s paid/received in interest for tax over & under-payments
RNZ: $1.5 million house fraudulently obtained by Sir Ngātata Love forfeited
Susan Hornsby-Geluk (Stuff): Keep your private photos off your work devices unless you want your boss to see
Phil Pennington (RNZ): No scheme to manage hundreds of dams, but regulations concern farmers
Tim Miller (ODT): Freedom campers spend $3.4m
Tim Miller (ODT): Camping grounds losing out, operator says
Madison Reidy (RNZ): Foreign criminals laundering funds through NZ casinos – DIA
1News: Australia’s first Aboriginal minister for indigenous affairs praises Jacinda Ardern
Helen Harvey (Taranaki Daily News): Food banks busy with people who’ve never visited before, manager says
Matt Hayes (Spinoff): Meet the Kiwi who rubbed shoulders with Lange and Boris at the Oxford Union
Anna Leask (Herald): Australia deports ‘deeply religious’ Kiwi for sexually abusing daughter
Matt Nippert (Herald): Education consultancy Crimson snags millions in Korea play (paywalled)
RNZ: Good Bitches Baking stopped from promoting social media posts
