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.
Foreign affairs and trade
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Global uncertainty and domestic troubles as Ardern heads to UN
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Ardern acknowledges risk to NZ’s reputation from sex assault scandal
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern awkwardly mixes up China and Japan
Maiki Sherman (1News): Jacinda Ardern’s Japan trip off to bumpy start as she names wrong nation
Derek Cheng (Herald): Trade, tourism on Jacinda Ardern’s agenda for Japan trip
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern hints at feelings towards Donald Trump with buried announcement – Tova O’Brien
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern needs to live up to ‘woke progressive left’ reputation – Simon Bridges
1News: Ardern needs to push climate change issue with Trump, Bridges says
Peter Mitchell (Stuff): Canada’s Justin Trudeau working with New Zealand, Australia on spy fears
RNZ: Nation halts to mark funeral of Tongan PM
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): Transport Minister Meets with Cambodian Official to Grow Māori Tourism
Ihumātao
Richard Harman (Politik): Ardern caught in the middle
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Ihumātao – the lingering migraine for the Beehive
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern won’t rule out Government purchasing Ihumātao after mana whenua breakthrough
Jason Walls (Herald): Ihumātao: Government unmoved by Māori King’s urging of Fletcher deal with Crown
1News: Simon Bridges says Government needs to ‘immediately rule out’ negotiating with iwi over disputed Ihumātao land
Alice Webb-Liddall (Spinoff): Mana whenua have agreed to keeping the land at Ihumātao. So what comes next?
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Mana whenua reach decision on Ihumātao land
Nicole Bremner (1News): Kīngitanga kicks Ihumātao to Government
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Mana whenua agree Ihumātao land should be returned – Māori King
Kendall Hutt and Melanie Earley (Stuff): Ihumātao: Māori King says mana whenua want land back
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): New Zealand: Māori king says disputed Ihumātao land should be returned
David Farrar: Ihumātao back in Government’s court
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): If renegotiating #Ihumatao means unjust settlements are re-investigated – GREAT
Tamihere Sieg Heil debate comment
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Jo Jo Tamihere Salutes Herr Goff
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere’s Nazi slogan ‘utterly unacceptable’
Mark Quinlivan and Sophie Bateman (Newshub): NZ Holocaust Centre condemns John Tamihere for saying ‘Sieg Heil’ in mayoral debate
1News: Group of Auckland councillors condemn ‘sieg heil’ comment by mayoral candidate, John Tamihere
Belinda Feek (Herald): ‘Sieg heil to that’: Auckland mayoral hopeful John Tamihere’s response to racism
RNZ: Mayoral candidate John Tamihere defends ‘sieg heil’ comment
1News: ‘Sieg heil’ – Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere responds to debate question with Nazi phrase
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): John Tamihere says ‘Sieg Heil’ in mayoral debate
Hayden Donnell (Spinoff): Cheat sheet: How to not say Nazi stuff at an Auckland mayoral debate
Local government
David Fisher (Herald): Meet the council candidate unseen on the campaign trail who comes with a fantasist past and a high-profile sacking (paywalled)
RNZ: Morning Report: Watch live: John Tamihere and Phil Goff face off
Hayden Donnell (Spinoff): The two loud, angry campaigns that could swing the Auckland local elections
Newshub: Auckland mayoralty: Four lesser-known candidates’ present their ideas
Damien Venuto (Herald): Accusations fly as booze becomes central issue in west Auckland election (paywalled)
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Hamilton City Councillor Dave Macpherson rejects bullying claim
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Political newcomers face up to challenges of winning over Hamilton voters
Belinda Feek (Herald): Memes erupt on social media after Hamilton councillor’s parking faux pas
Samantha Motion (Herald): 19,500 invalid health board votes in three years, but expert says STV not the problem
Alice Webb-Liddall (Spinoff): Race briefing: The highly successful Māori wards in the Bay of Plenty
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Water on the brain: Napier’s water woes a top concern for mayoral candidates
Astrid Austin (Hawkes Bay Today): Controversial Hawke’s Bay District Health Board member, Jacoby Poulain hits out against board
Robin Martin (RNZ): New Plymouth council facing legal action over sewage spill
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Palmerston North mayoral hopefuls square off in election debate
Dominion Post: Local elections 2019: Four bid to become Masterton mayor
Joel Maxwell (Dominion Post): Local body elections 2019: Porirua mayoral debate shows off who wants the chains
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Lower Hutt councillors vote to ban smoking in shopping areas
Piers Fuller (Stuff): Wellington region’s residents paying some of the highest rates in the country
Alex Braae (Spinoff): We moderated a rebel debate for the Wellington mayoral candidates RNZ excluded
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Statistics House collapse haunts Wellington building owners
Charlotte Cook (RNZ): Christchurch mayoral candidate campaigning on environmental ticket has businesses without recycling
Nicholas Pointon (RNZ): Council housing top priority for Christchurch mayoral candidate Darryll Park
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Christchurch mayoral hopefuls to be challenged over green credentials at youth debate
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): Airport dominates discussion yet again
John McKenzie (1News): Invercargill’s Sir Tim Shadbolt, NZ’s longest serving mayor, says decision to run again was no-brainer
Evan Harding (Southland Times): Put your tick in my box, pleads council candidate
Logan Savory (Southland Times): Ludlow: Poll indicates Invercargill people want change
Karl du Fresne (Stuff): The egos and eccentrics of local body elections
Election
Brent Edwards (NBR): Labour promises facts-based election campaign (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Opportunities Party seeks electorate deal (paywalled)
Labour sexual assault allegations
Claire Trevett (Herald): All is well, Prime Minister, Winston is here (paywalled)
1News: ‘Let’s keep this internal’ – Labour told sexual assault complainants not to go to police, Paula Bennett claims
1News: ‘Straight yes’ – Simon Bridges calls for PM to step down if she lied about Labour staffer allegations
Rodney Hide (NBR): The grating hypocrisy of Labour PMs (paywalled)
Operation Burnham inquiry
Thomas Manch (Stuff): The SAS is telling a Government inquiry a story, and it’s not going well
Thomas Manch (Stuff): SAS commanders somehow blind to information clearly showing possibility of civilian deaths
Boris Jancic (Herald): Former Defence Force chiefs face questions at Operation Burnham probe
Boris Jancic (Herald): Former Defence Force chief questioned over missing Afghanistan report
National Party
Peter Dunne: Ample opportunity for Bridges and National to step into the increasing leadership vacuum
Dita De Boni (NBR): Burning our Bridges with dumpling diplomacy
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘Subservient grovelling’: Winston Peters latest to attack Simon Bridges’ Chinese TV interview
Zane Small and Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): National MP Maggie Barry accused of ‘bullying’, ‘physically challenging’ behaviour in Parliament
Audrey Young (Herald): MP Maggie Barry apologises for aggressive behaviour during euthanasia debate
Climate change
Peter Lyons (ODT): Time again for all hands on deck
Harrison Christian (Stuff): New Zealand in 2050: The scenario if emissions are curbed
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Powers want Pacific rewards without responsibility
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Climate Change Minister confident Zero Carbon Bill will pass by Christmas
Benedict Collins (1News): New Government guidelines in place to help businesses offset carbon emissions
Scott Larned (Stuff): Climate Lessons: Dry rivers offer a preview of climate change
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): What to do about the constant threat – and reality – of flooded homes in coastal communities
Sam Farrell (Newshub): Eroding major Kapiti park will be shifted to accommodate effects of climate change
Mark New (Stuff): Climate Explained: How much of climate change is natural and how much is man-made?
Catherine Leining (Spinoff): For emissions targets to work, they need to be a catalyst for action
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Farming industry bosses pen open letter to Jacinda Arden over climate change
Bruce Munro (ODT): Transitioning together
ODT: Fiordland forest to play key role in carbon profile project
Greg Roughan (RNZ): Seven surprising facts about climate change
Carys Goodwin (Spinoff): A burnt-out climate activist on reclaiming the passion – and the fury
Harry Lock (RNZ): How school children are coping with ‘eco-anxiety’ as they worry about climate change
Jamie Morton (Herald): Covering climate now series: Forecasting in a warming world (paywalled)
John Gibb (ODT): NZ leader in ocean research
Water
Jamie Mackay (Herald): Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters wades into freshwater debate (paywalled)
Rino Tirikatene (Southland Times): Govt fighting back for our aquatic heritage
George Heagne (Manawatū Standard): Renewed calls for Ōhakea water scheme following contamination confirmation
Housing
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Prefab KiwiBuild homes unlikely to save struggling programme
Laura Macdonald (Newshub): Manufacturers complain too much red tape around prefab KiwiBuild homes
Scott Palmer (Newshub): KiwiBuild production ramping up through offsite manufacturing
Gerald Piddock (Stuff): New report warns of looming house price shock in Hamilton
Carmen Hall (Bay of Plenty Times): Housing homeless in motels in Tauranga and Rotorua is a stuff-up that needs fixing (paywalled)
Health
1News: Cancer Society demands vaping restrictions as survey shows a widespread problem in NZ schools
James Fyfe (Newshub): Cancer Society calls for tougher rules as survey shows student vaping on the up
RNZ: Broadcaster Mark Sainsbury wants a ‘champion for the elderly’
Indira Stewart (RNZ): Southern DHB’s only neurosurgeon says lives at risk
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Canterbury District Health Board reviewing services to claw back large deficit
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Surgeon says DHB’s payroll system is costing staff due to inaccurate payslips
RNZ: Measles outbreak: Extra 100,000 doses of vaccine acquired
Dubby Henry (Herald): Measles: ‘Check your immunity’, woman begs after husband, 45, gets encephalitis
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Measles ‘watching brief’ after contagious case
1News: Survey error led to thousands of Kiwi kids being identified as obese, who aren’t
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Midwife-cover system issues remain: GP
Luisa Girao (ODT): MPs explain Bill on maternity care
Perry Wilton and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Understaffing threatens cancer diagnosis rates – union
Karen Brown (RNZ): Improvements to NZ’s hip fracture care for the elderly needed – report
Kiri Gillespie (Bay of Plenty Times): Potential Tauranga medicinal cannabis facility offers hope for those with chronic pain
Libby Wilson (Stuff): Māori psychology school pitched to counter shortage
Herald; World not prepared for pandemic that could wipe out millions, experts warn
Gun laws
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Police refuse to set gun buyback targets, extend deadline
Ben Strang (RNZ): Hundreds apply for permits to keep banned firearms since Christchurch terror attack
Herald: Police Minister: National ignoring gun violence victims by refusing to support new gun bill
Collette Devlin (Stuff): National opposes new gun law, Auditor-General probe into buyback scheme
Christchurch call
Press Editorial: Combating everyday hate online
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg snubs another Christchurch Call meeting with Jacinda Ardern
Herald Editorial: About face on Facebook hate-mongering
Karel Sroubek
Anna Loren (Stuff): Czech drug smuggler Karel Sroubek poses ‘undue risk’ to community – Parole Board
1News: Czech drug smuggler Karel Sroubek denied parole
Chelsea Boyle (Herald): Drug-smuggling kickboxer Karel Sroubek denied parole
Lord of the Rings
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Lord of the Rings screen grant could be precious for Amazon
Scott Palmer (Newshub): David Seymour slams any Government Lord of the Rings subsidy for Jeff Bezos
Jason Walls (Herald): Amazon in line for hundreds of millions in tax subsidies for filming Lord of the Rings series in NZ
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Fellowship of the actors: Robyn Malcolm says ‘Hobbit Law’ should protect actors on Amazon series
RNZ: Auckland confirmed as base for Lord of the Rings
David Skipwith (Herald): Lord of the Rings TV series: Amazon confirms production will be filmed in Auckland
Fuel price hikes
RNZ: BP, Z defend 6 cent fuel price hike after concerns about supply eased
Edward O’Driscoll (Newshub): NZ fuel companies defend pumped up prices after attacks on Saudi Arabia
Gender pay gap
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Companies should be forced to report on gender pay gap – union
RNZ: Westpac pledges to increase number of women in top jobs
Sally Rae (ODT): Otago Chamber of Commerce’s equality marked
Transport
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): NZTA backs down from light rail, looks at spending millions elsewhere
Stephen Moore (Dominion Post): Let’s get Wellington moving sooner, faster and cheaper with a suspended railway
RNZ: Air New Zealand drops Kia Ora trademark bid
1News: Air New Zealand drops bid to trademark ‘Kia Ora’ logo
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Wellington ferry arrivals terminal closed, found to be ‘below acceptable earthquake risk levels’
RNZ: Part of Wellington’s ferry terminal closes due to earthquake risk
Stuff: Interislander to close arrivals terminal following ‘new information’
Education
Karl du Fresne (Stuff): It’s way past time to reclaim and honour our own history
ODT Editorial: Teaching New Zealand history timely
Tommy Livingston (Stuff): Ministry considering intervention at prestigious Maori boarding school Te Aute College
Tim Cooper (ODT): Arts skills widely adaptable
Immigration
David Hargreaves (Interest): Temporary work visa proposals – the latest broken election promise from the Labour-led ‘taking a breather on immigration’ Government
Michael Reddell: Making short-term foreign labour more readily available
Greg Ninness (Interest): Almost one in 10 people in New Zealand are on a migrant visa
Animal welfare
Katie Fitgerald (Newshub): Petstop’s Auckland pet stores prosecuted for improper care of animals for sale
RNZ: SPCA prosecutes pet store after kitten left in pain for days
Meghan Lawrence (Herald): Vegan protesters plan more action against animal exploitation after supermarket stunt
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): New Zealand First MP Mark Patterson slams vegan protest at Countdown St Lukes
Primary industries, Fonterra
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Nash outlines ‘ambitious’ plan to earn $3b from aquaculture
Mark Revington (NBR): Open ocean aquaculture – a sea change is coming
Reuters: Angry farmers to face off with Fonterra
Andrea Fox (Herald): Transparency missing in Fonterra director elections again (paywalled)
Government purchases Kate Sheppard’s home
RNZ: Government steps in to buy Kate Sheppard’s house for $4.5m
1News: Government buys Kate Sheppard’s former home for $4.5 million as public space, educational centre
Herald: Government purchases Kate Sheppard’s home
Economy
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Economist suggests ‘literally’ giving money to the poor to save the economy
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Winston Peters says New Zealand GDP growth will be down
RNZ: Balance of payments deficit narrows
Other
Peter de Graaf (Northern Advocate): Mangonui scrubbed from replica Endeavour route after iwi objects
Pattrick Smellie (Herald): Govt needs ACC headache like a hole in the head (paywalled)
Renee Manella (CPAG): Let’s give kids what they want – their rights
Harrison Christian (Stuff): Prison staff ‘seriously assaulted’ prisoner and tried to cover it up, court hears
Russell Brown: A fun but flawed weed documentary
Alison Ballance (RNZ): Kākāpō population hits new high of 213 birds
