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.
Labour Party sexual assault allegations
Andrea Vance (Stuff): How to make the Labour abuse scandal worse
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern could be forced to resign
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Nothing behind Jacinda Ardern’s words (paywalled)
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Claims of a #MeTooLabour ‘cover-up’ in the Beehive (paywalled)
Danyl Mclauchlan (Spinoff): A chance for this Labour-led government to begin to redeem itself
Gordon Campbell: On Labour’s mishandling of the alleged sexual assault
Claire Trevett (Herald): Labour sex assault claims: What did PM Jacinda Ardern’s staff know? (paywalled)
Alison Mau (Stuff): Labour was warned it had a major problem before summer camp scandal
Ben Uffindell (The Civilian): The moment I found out that you found out, I acted swiftly
Herald Editorial: Labour flunks issue at heart of manifesto (paywalled)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Jacinda Ardern’s explanations not good enough
Morgan Godfery (Metro): Incompetence or cover-up? Labour’s spectacular botch-up
Anna Whyte (1News): Labour’s new president was also on panel that investigated allegations against staffer
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Acting Labour Party president was on panel which dismissed initial complaints
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Complainant ‘shocked’ at new Labour representative after Nigel Haworth’s resignation
Stuff: A party member sent a submission on sexual assault to the Labour Party. This is what it said.
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): Ardern under pressure as staffer accused of sexual assault quits
Derek Cheng (Herald): Labour staffer at centre of sexual assault allegations resigns
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Staffer at centre of Labour abuse claims has resigned
RNZ: Staffer at centre of the Labour Party abuse allegations resigns
Zane Small (Newshub): Labour staffer at centre of sexual assault claims resigns from Parliament
Herald: Deputy Labour leader Kelvin Davis accused of calling Labour sexual assault allegations ‘rumours’
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern defends her role in Labour’s botched complaints process
Jo Moir (RNZ): Labour assault complaints: Jacinda Ardern sets out when she knew details of allegations
Collette Devlin (Stuff): PM Jacinda Ardern ‘absolutely refutes’ National’s claims
Zane Small (Newshub): PM Jacinda Ardern gives ‘timeline’ of events around Labour sexual assault claims
1News: Ardern maintains she was assured complaint against Labour staffer wasn’t sexual assault allegation
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern’s credibility called into question over handling of assault allegations
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘She absolutely knew’: Paula Bennett tells Jacinda Ardern to ‘step up’
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): ‘Embarrassment’: International media reacts to Labour sexual assault scandal
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern not knowing about sexual assault allegations is massive stretch
1News: Paula Bennett calls on Govt to bring in victim specialists following alleged sexual assault by Labour Party staffer
David Farrar: Only took 513 days
David Farrar: The full Labour scandals timeline
No Right Turn: Implausible ignorance
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Compare Mike Sabin to Labour Staffer and the double standard hypocrisy of right wing media pundits
Southern Response
1News: Full interview: Southern Response CEO explains why they’re appealing court decision that found they acted in misleading and deceptive way
1News: Christchurch City councillor responds to earthquake insurer Southern Response’s decision to appeal rulings it’s been misleading
RNZ: Checkpoint: Quake-hit homeowners to fight Southern Response ‘to the very end’
Liz McDonald (Press): Southern Response to appeal High Court ruling on precedent-setting case
1News: Earthquake insurer Southern Response off to Court of Appeal over rulings it’s been deceptive, misleading
National Party
Bruce Munro (ODT): Global Insight: Populist view may bite Bridges
Robert Ayson (Incline): Did Simon Bridges Jump the Shark on China?
Michael Reddell: Hush, don’t be so explicit
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): National told to pull online attack ad, but will appeal ruling
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Advertising watchdog rules National Party ad misleading
Dan Satherley (Newshub): National to appeal after ‘car tax’ advert ruled misleading
Barry Clarke (Star News): Bridges has a lot to learn
Education
Press Editorial: History in schools is a welcome move
Boris Jancic (Herald): Teaching our history: Call for public debate
Don Rowe (Spinoff): Cheat Sheet: New Zealand history to be compulsory in schools
Anna Whyte (1News): New Zealand history will be taught in every school by 2022, Government announces
RNZ: New Zealand history will be compulsory in all schools by 2022
Aaron Leaman (Waikato Times): PM praises Stuff campaign to make NZ history compulsory in schools
Elena McPhee (ODT): Qualified uni support for Strike 4 Climate
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Canta editor launches petition calling for student news independence
Environment
Reuters: Climate change and inequality ‘threaten the very existence of humanity’ – UN
Boris Jancic (Herald): Environment Commissioner calls for Government to aim lower on methane
Richard Harman (Politik): Under fire but not backing down
Luisa Girao (ODT): Unexpected interest at water quality events
Jane Clifton and Sally Blundell (Listener): Should we still eat meat and dairy?
Piers Fuller (Stuff): Farmers feel New Zealand has turned its back on them
Dominic Harris (Press): Christchurch to push ahead of national carbon emissions target by five years
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): No prosecution for Gore District Council for algal bloom discharge into Mataura River
RNZ: $50,000 in fines dished out for illegal fire
Emme McKay & Melissa Nightingale (Herald): Taranaki man’s prison sentence for blackmailing DOC over 1080 halved
Matthew Hansen (Driven): Greenpeace and more call for the ban of ‘gas guzzler’ SUVs
Fisheries
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): US seafood ban plan causes stir in NZ
Māori TV: Govt Inaction Compels Northern Iwi to Impose Rāhui
Cancer care in NZ
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): New Zealand’s cancer treatment needs to change across the country – cancer agency director
Karen Brown (RNZ): NZ falling behind in cancer survival rates: Pancreatic cancer lowest one-year survival rate in NZ
1News: Generous offers from locals for cancer sufferer Blair Vining’s plan for charity hospital in Invercargill
RNZ: Encouraging response to Southland charity hospital – Melissa Vining
Laura Smith (ODT): Buoyed by support for charity hospital
Health
Carmen Parahi (Stuff): Will Māori health equity put more pressure on system?
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Vaping a serious problem in some Auckland schools – principals
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Measles outbreak: Lockdown at south Auckland men’s prison as cases confirmed
Herald: ‘Serious outbreak’ as Auckland hits 1000 cases of measles
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Measles cases in Auckland this year reach 1000
Newshub: Measles outbreak: Auckland cases rise above 1000
Dick Brunton (ODT): Public health needs well-defined boundaries
John Gibb (ODT): Funding pressure forces closure of Carers’ Society Otago
Stuff: Free, online mental health tool Just a Thought launched
Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
Ruby Macandrew (Stuff): Government announces first stages of plan to restart Mental Health Commission, with five-person team appointed
Zane Small (Newshub): Forest & Bird boss Kevin Hague among five appointed to new mental health commission
1News: Government announces initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
RNZ: Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission details revealed
Cannabis
Ross Bell (Herald): Legalising cannabis means less harm (paywalled)
Mark Quinlivan and Emily O’Connell (Newshub): ‘I may well’: Helen Clark says she would consider seeking illegal cannabis for pain relief
Scott Palmer (Newshub): The ‘green fairies’ illegally supplying weed to Kiwis with health problems
Herald: Major cannabis summit planned for SkyCity Convention Centre in 2020
Gun buyback scheme
Derek Cheng (Herald): Halfway through gun buyback and only 10 per cent of banned firearms collected
1News: Nearly 20,000 guns returned as part of buyback scheme
RNZ: National wants better estimate for prohibited firearms
Foreign affairs and trade
Brian Fallow (Herald): For trade, those were our best of times (paywalled)
Thitinan Pongsudhirak (Newsroom): Why NZ must adjust to the rise of the ‘Indo-Pacific
Euan Graham (Incline): Frigates for Venus
Immigration
Hawkes Bay Today: There are 600 jobseekers in Wairoa. Its major employer Affco meatworks wants to hire immigrants
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Restaurant owner frustrated at Immigration New Zealand: ‘Have some emotion’
Local government
ODT Editorial: Councillors and codes of conduct
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Could Tamihere win Auckland?
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Another fiesty debate for Auckland mayoral candidates
Josie Adams (Spinoff): Race briefing: Great Barrier Island, home to the highest voter turnout in Auckland
Tom Rowland (Herald): Huntly mum’s council dream crushed as nomination form ruled invalid
Leah Tebbutt (Rotorua Daily Post): ‘Let’s stick ’em in a barn’: Rotorua Lakes Council candidate John Rakei-Clark slammed over homeless comments (paywalled)
Christina Persico (Taranaki Daily News): New Plymouth candidates share their views at election meeting
Robin Martin (RNZ): Aspiring councillors say they’ve been left in the dark about pipe upgrades
Laura Dooney (RNZ): Young candidates in local elections: ‘There’s real urgency
Louis Day (ODT): Minto has east in his sights
Dominic Harris and Tom Kitchin (Press): Christchurch mayoral contenders Darryll Park, Lianne Dalziel, moving to CBD
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Christchurch residents celebrate after $35m leisure centre gets go-ahead
Christchurch mosque shootings
Sam Hurley (Herald): Judge changes date of Christchurch terror trial to avoid Ramadan clash
Conan Young (RNZ):Closed until further notice – a life on hold after the mosque attacks
Te reo Māori
Meng Foon (Stuff): Learning te reo Māori comes with responsibility
Whaimutu Dewes (Newsroom): Fifty years of success for te reo Maori
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Gift of ‘Paekākā’ to Wellington Botanic Garden triggers councillor stoush over ‘unreasonable’ te reo use
Rua Kēnana pardon
RNZ: Legislation to pardon Tūhoe prophet Rua Kēnana in Parliament for first reading
1News: Parliament considers bill to pardon Tūhoe prophet Rua Kēnana for wrongful arrest in 1916 raid
Herald: Tears and song in Parliament over pardon for Tūhoe leader
Newshub: Minister Nanaia Mahuta tears up in speech over historic ‘wrongful arrest’ of Rua Kēnana
James Perry (Māori TV): Rua Kenana Pardon Bill passes first reading in parliament
Transport
Pattrick Smellie (Herald): Reviving rail: The main working to get NZ back on track (paywalled)
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Everyone says they’ll fix Wellington’s buses. Easy-peasy. Right?
Air NZ
Tini Molyneux (Māori TV): Air New Zealand faces backlash after seeking “Kia ora” trademark
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): Māori anger as Air New Zealand seeks to trademark ‘Kia Ora’ logo
RNZ: Air NZ trying to trademark Kia Ora logo ‘overreaching’
Jihee Junn (Spinoff): From kia ora to kimono: the trademarks accused of ‘cultural appropriation’
Police
1News: Police’s second Tasering of man already on the ground unjustified, IPCA says
RNZ: Second tasering unjustified, IPCA says
Port Otago
Brent Melville (ODT): Port unions lift wage claim to match CEO
Jono Edwards (ODT): Port Otago staff dismissed over positive meth tests
Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva has died
Keith Locke (Spinoff): A democratic giant of Tonga – a tribute
Asia Pacific Report: Media associates pay tribute to ‘Akilisi Pohiva
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Late Tongan PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva remembered as ‘beacon of democracy’
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Tongan PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva dies, aged 78
Bronson Perich (Māori TV): Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva passes away in Auckland
Other
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Underestimate a referendum at your peril
Emma Espiner (Newsroom): Courts no place for fetal alcohol victims
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Ministers grilled at construction forum
Mike Houlahan (ODT): NZ lagging on disability rights
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Z Energy accused of raising prices before offering a discount
1News: National response to youth homelessness problem needed, frontline worker says
RNZ: Ngāti Hine needs to go through official channels for mandate funding – Little
RNZ: The Pacific, Australia and New Zealand’s meth highway
No Right Turn: Yes, the SIS is subject to the Public Records Act
Grant Bradley (Herald): All Blacks, Jacinda Ardern front Rugby World Cup campaign to thank Japan – and sell NZ (paywalled)
Emma Espiner (Newsroom): Māori boy
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Eyewitness: The Polynesian Panthers: Melani Anae:’We said we weren’t going to take it anymore’
Michael Neilson (Herald): Comedian Jim Gaffigan promotes Moriori, Māori myth in Amazon Prime special
