New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.
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Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.

New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.

Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.

Waitangi Tribunal report on freshwater 
David Williams (Newsroom): Tribunal sets pre-election test over water
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Waitangi Tribunal slams Crown over freshwater failures
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Government told to act on Waitangi Tribunal’s findings on freshwater degradation
Audrey Young (Herald): Waitangi Tribunal report on freshwater calls for courts to test ownership rights of Maori
1News: Māori and Crown should co-govern Aotearoa’s freshwater resources, Waitangi Tribunal recommends
Richard Harman (Politik): Waitangi Tribunal calls for Maori co-management of all freshwater
James Fyfe and Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): ‘Locked Maori out’: Waitangi Tribunal finds Maori freshwater rights must be better recognised
Duncan Garner (Newshub): One race in New Zealand must never own the water over another race
No Right Turn: It turns out that someone does own the water

Political donations
Andrew Geddis (RNZ): Safeguarding democracy: Gap in foreign donations’ regulations
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: The costs of politicians being friends with generous foreigners (paywalled)

MP pay
Claire Trevett (Herald): PM Jacinda Ardern’s crusade for smaller pay cheques (paywalled)
Boris Jancic and Chris Knox (Herald): Fact check: Are politicians’ pay rises actually too big? (paywalled)
RNZ: Iain Lees-Galloway thinks new MP pay setting will be more acceptable to public
Henry Cooke (Stuff): MP pay freeze ends with responsibility handed back to Remuneration Authority

Gun laws
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Police Association slam National for wavering on gun laws and encouraging US-style debate
Anna Whyte (1News): Police Association appeals to National to not let politics ‘skew the gun debate’ as in US
Jo Moir (RNZ): Police Association says National playing politics with gun laws
Zane Small (Newshub): Simon Bridges’ description of gun buyback as ‘fiasco’ angers Police Association
Jason Walls (Herald): PM Jacinda Ardern ‘really disappointed’ National won’t support new gun laws
Newshub: Watch: Simon Bridges says gun laws soft on ‘crims, gangs and extremists’
Jason Walls (Herald): Simon Bridges reveals National is unlikely to support second tranche of gun law reforms
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): National claims it’s been leaked documents on second round of firearms legislation

Local government 
Luke Appleby (1News): Local government expert says Ministry should step in after CEO ordered ‘Big Brother’ trawl of dissenting councillors’ Facebook posts
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Auckland demands more money from rest of NZ
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Auckland mayoral election: Goff says challenger’s policies are a ‘fantasy’, Tamihere accuses Goff of selling out
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Auckland mayoral election: John Tamihere’s policy man says his double-decker bridge plan is ‘no Trump Tower’
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Auckland mayoral race: Ted ‘Rocky’ Johnston throws hat in the ring with shoestring budget
Denise Piper (Stuff): Northland local body elections: Balancing growth with the environment key issue
Katee Shanks (Rotorua Daily Post): Accidental Whakatāne candidate: ‘It is absolutely imperative people don’t vote for me’
Matt Shand (Stuff): From barber to councillor in five hours as half of Bay of Plenty Regional Councillors elected without contest
Robin Martin (RNZ): New Plymouth District Council seats: ‘We need a good mix to make good decisions’
Stephanie Ockhuysen (Taranaki Daily News): Vote for me! The strategy of selling yourself in a local election
Laurel Stowell (Whanganui Chronicle): Forester standing for Horizons seat
Katie Todd (RNZ): High hopes ahead of Canterbury Regional Council election
Pam Jones (ODT): Focus on bid to discharge sewage
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): Four by-elections required
Jamie Searle (Southland Times):Can you date a politician in two minutes?
Evan Harding (Stuff): Invercargill councillor calls out chief executive

Shelly Bay
Felix Desmarais and Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Sir Peter Jackson slams Cassels’ claim mayoral candidate Andy Foster unfit to vote on Shelly Bay
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Shelly Bay row in full swing – councillors vote down latest move
RNZ: Council votes against Shelly Bay development processes probe
Felix Desmarais and Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Ian Cassels claims Andy Foster ‘misrepresenting reality’ over Shelly Bay in letter to Wellington City Council

Waitaha hydro-electricity scheme
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): ‘Mt Cook of rivers’ will not be tamed as Govt rejects Waitaha hydropower scheme
Herald: Govt rejects hydro bid for pristine West Coast river
Gavin Evans (BusinessDesk): David Parker blocks West Coast hydro proposal
Laura Mills (Greymouth Star): Waitaha refusal stuns Westpower
Katie Fitzgerald and Mel Logan (Newshub): West Coast Mayor ‘disappointed’ at Government’s move to block new hydro scheme

Environment and conservation
RNZ: Pine plantations extend lifetime of methane in North Island atmosphere – Jim Salinger
Dan Satherley and Perry Wilton (Newshub): Fighting climate change vital to protect Kiwis’ health – doctor
Dita De Boni (NBR): Greta Thunberg a surprise no-show for Air NZ (paywalled)
Tina Law (Press): Residents plead with city leaders to set ambitious targets for tackling climate change
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Holding polluters accountable
Waatea News: Biggest firms sued for climate change actions
Billie Haddleton (Newsroom):A threat to statehood
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Mike Watson (Stuff): Govt 10 year draft oil and gas strategy has support of industry
Michael Neilson (Herald): State of the Gulf: Government, NGO provide $400k boost to Hauraki Gulf shellfish stocks
RNZ: Port Taranaki, Dunedin Airport reveal toxic firefighting foam amounts
Stuff: Dunedin Airport tests find banned firefighting foam
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Porirua Harbour sediment doubles in five years, council declares it unfit for habitats
Laura James (1News): Plastic pollution in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf a growing concern
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): The Pacific ocean ‘Garbage Patch’ is the worst it’s ever been
Denise Piper (Stuff): Ngātiwai introduces cultural management at Whangārei’s Mimiwhangata Marine Park

Ihumātao
1News: Ardern says Government ‘mindful of obligations’ as Bridges asks if public money will be used to buy Ihumātao land
David Farrar: Will Labour destroy 30 years of Treaty settlement progress?
Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes (Māori TV): “Once upon a time, Māori owned and managed 100% of New Zealand” – Foon visits Ihumātao
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon visits Ihumātao
Point of Order: The Ihumatao saga could have a far-reaching impact on NZ politics
Don Rowe (Spinoff): 1000 words: Pania Newton at Ihumātao

National Party
Audrey Young (Herald): The best and worst of National Party’s first fifteen MPs (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Nats’ economic policy offers a real alternative to Coalition agenda but is it Labour-lite? (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Personal tax cuts on National’s agenda (paywalled)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Simon Bridges has finally found his rhythm
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Clownish National MPs are letting the Opposition down
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): ‘Withdraw the rubbish or front up’: Councillor Mike Finlayson challenges MP Matt King to climate change debate

Smoking
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘I’m confused’: MPs question tobacco firm Imperial Brands’ anti-smoking motivation
1News: Massive concern’ as tobacco giant Philip Morris accused of using Smokefree 2025 ‘as a marketing campaign’

Mental health
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Cross-party mental health group a reason for hope
Boris Jancic (Herald): All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan calls for end of ‘political football’ on mental health
Herald: Live: Sir John Kirwan talks mental health in Parliament
RNZ: Waikato DHB to carry out review of mental health patient’s death

Suicide
Press Editorial: Complex causes behind suicide rise
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Gang member’s anguish at spate of suspected suicides

Measles
RNZ: Measles cases up by 76 since Friday – government
Katie Fitzgerald and Grace Cocker (Newshub): Extra nurses deployed to south Auckland to fight measles outbreak
Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): Vaccinations at Auckland churches and shopping malls being considered in fight against measles
1News: Access to measles vaccinations set to increase in South Auckland
RNZ: More Manurewa High School measles cases inevitable, says expert
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Manurewa measles outbreak cancels Auckland mayoral candidate meeting
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Measles outbreak at Manurewa High School cancels Auckland mayoral candidate meeting
Dubby Henry (Herald): Auckland high school cancels mayoral event due to measles outbreak

Health
Emma Russell (Herald): Overcrowded ED’s ‘dangerous’ practice revealed: Paramedics told to keep patients in ambulances because hospitals too busy (paywalled)
Andrew Young (Herald): Why the Cancer Society believes ‘change is better’ (paywalled)
Elspeth McLean (ODT): Relief report authors can meet minister
1News: Confirmed meningitis cases in New Zealand up 40 per cent so far this year
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Northern district health boards pay out more than $16m on weight loss surgery in five years
James Baker (Stuff): No plans to close Franklin Memorial Hospital says CEO
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): A ‘pure water’ plan takes time. Ask Seddon

Education
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Lack of NZ history teaching behind ‘negative’ views on Māori issues – teacher
Jessica Long (Stuff): Teachers’ final stoush to have New Zealand history mandatory in schools’ teachings
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Historians critical of education ‘double standard’
RNZ: MPs urged to make teaching New Zealand history in schools compulsory
1News: Manurewa High School students asked to provide proof of immunisation as 300 sent home due to measles outbreak
Melanie Earley and Danielle Clent (Stuff): Auckland measles outbreak: Unvaccinated Manurewa High School students told to stay home
Mary-Jo Tohill (Southland Times): Invercargill school cans ski trip because of Health and Safety reasons
Simon Collins (Herald): School census: Do our kids get enough sleep? (paywalled)
John Lewis (ODT): Call for action over ‘tidal wave’ of pupils
1News: Māori and Pasifika lecturers vastly underrepresented in New Zealand universities – research

Employment
Liu Chen (RNZ): Burger King manager suggests staff work after clocking out
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Auckland Burger King manager asks staff to work overtime for free
Michael Neilson (Herald): Māori hospitality workers stand with Auckland waitress Mia Griffiths, share work stories

Parliament
Daniela Maoate-Cox (RNZ): Budget is the ‘centerpiece’ of the Parliamentary year – Hipkins
Newshub Nation Backstory: Chlöe Swarbrick on her childhood in Papua New Guinea, having three parents and managing clinical depression
Newshub Nation Backstory: Denise Lee on living life to the fullest after losing her two-year-old son Riley

Economy, monetary policy
Pattrick Smellie (Herald): Bone-headed debt debate ahead (paywalled)
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): NZ recession 10-15 percent likely within next year – experts

Primary industries
Shanti Ahluwalia (Newsroom): Winter grazing furore not out of the blue
Jamie Mackay (Herald): Listen: Is the Government too tough on the primary sector? (paywalled)
RNZ: Dairy Industry Restructuring Act passes first reading at Parliament
Guy Trafford (Interest): Mike Joy’s foray into the US will largely fall upon deaf ears, but the risks from synthetic milks are a greater long-term threat to New Zealand dairying
Kamal Fadel (Newsroom): NZ must stop imports from illegal occupier

Police
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Caller waited over an hour to speak to police on 105 non-emergency number
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): What power do police officers have on private property?
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): Calls for better police training on trespass laws after drink-drive conviction is overturned

Christchurch
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Christchurch: Sad and soulless or progressive and beautiful?
Johnny Moore (Stuff): Christchurch: ‘We are a broken people’
Brook Sabin (Stuff): Is Christchurch our biggest tourism failure

RWC and alcohol
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): Greens labelled ‘wowsers’ after opposing venues staying open during RWC
Anna Whyte (1News): Bars can stay open for all RWC games despite Green Party not backing law change
Jason Walls (Herald): Law extending bar hours for World Cup passes despite Greens opposition
Zane Small (Newshub): Greens oppose extended hours for bars during Rugby World Cup 2019

Tahu Potiki has died
RNZ: Ngāi Tahu rangatira Tahu Potiki remembered as a great leader
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Tahu Potiki remembered as ‘quick witted, loving and a beautiful dad’
George Block (ODT): Potiki death a ‘serious loss’
Elena McPhee (ODT): Mayor pays tribute to Tahu Potiki
Māori TV: Iwi leader Tahu Pōtiki has passed away

Other
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): What If Jacinda Was Suddenly Taken From Us – Like “Big Norm”?
Michael Morrah (Newshub): ‘Exploitative’: Beer cheaper than a can of coke targeting poor Auckland communities
Peter Dunne: Compulsory Kiwisaver and Flexi-Super are the real superannuation issues we ought to be discussing and debating
1News: Victims of serious crime lack trust, confidence in justice system – report
Kevin Dew (Stuff):We need to understand how end of life decisions are likely to be made
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Business Roundtable has a Damascus moment
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Hisco paid $3.1m for former PM John Key’s beach house
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Reserve Bank Governor pushing his angst into our pockets
Herald: New map reveals the true size of Auckland
Katarina Williams (Dominion Post): KiwiBuild presses fast-forward to get more Wellington offerings to the market
Mānia Clarke (Māori TV): King Tuheitia to visit Cook Islands
Daily Blog: PUB POLITICS 8pm Monday 2nd live streamed from Chapel Bar – The Cannabis Referendum with Paula Bennett, Chloe Swarbrick, David Seymour & Chris Fowlie
Te Aniwa Hurihanganu (RNZ): Iwi calls out artist over use of haka lyrics in T-shirt range
University of Auckland: Q+A: How do we measure far-right violence?
Scott Palmer (Newshub): The Kiwis’ Trade Me data requested by the government
1News: Do you want the right to pay in cash?
RNZ: New generation of Pacific leadership recognised in NZ
Lani Wendt Young: Speech: Adapt or die
Greg Ninness (Interest): Work visa approvals are growing strongly while residence visa approvals are declining and student visas flat
Frank Greenall (Whanganui Chronicle) Government should recommend Royal Pardon for Peter Ellis
RNZ: Former trustee of a Far North Māori trust Stephen Henare jailed
Herald: Jacinda Ardern reveals her favourite All Blacks player

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