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.

Foreign affairs and trade
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern to take climate change stage in New York, but is her record strong enough? (paywalled)
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): PM Jacinda Ardern arrives in New York for UN General Assembly
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Sideline meeting at UN a whole new ball game
1News: Jacinda Ardern’s meeting with Trump to be a ‘main attraction’ of UN General Assembly
1News: NZ-Japan partnerships signed on biofuels, renewable energy, AI, robotics
1News: Jacinda Ardern to push NZ tourism in Tokyo before cheering on All Blacks at RWC
Emma Cropper (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern cashes in on Rugby World Cup to strengthen trade ties with Japan
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern and Japanese PM Shinzō Abe want to simplify exchange of classified info
Herald: Jacinda Ardern greets All Blacks ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019 opening ceremony
1News: Jacinda Ardern tells reporters SBW asked her if she’s planning on ‘expanding her family
Zane Small (Newshub): China’s Xinjiang Muslim ‘detention camps’: Documents show what PM Jacinda Ardern knows
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Once a stronghold, Taiwan’s presence in the Pacific wanes

Week in politics
John Armstrong (1News): Labour is now very much on notice, while Bridges’ Christchurch Call politicking may persuade voters he’s not fit for highest office
Peter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: Sex scandal, Ihumātao linger as PM sets off for Japan, US
Brent Edwards: The week in politics: Dunne picks Coalition will buy Ihumatao land (paywalled)
Claire Trevett (Herald): Beehive Diaries: A triumph over Australia, Winston Peters’ prophesy bears fruit (paywalled)

Parliament, election, voting age
Daily Blog: Pub Politics 8pm TONIGHT: Lucy Lawless, Bishop Brian Tamaki, Matt McCarten, Mike Treen
Brent Edwards (NBR): Voters should be more critical of campaign promises (paywalled)
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Children’s Commissioner backs campaign to lower voting age
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Of course we should lower the voting age to 16 (and 5 other ways to make NZ Democracy better)
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): If 16-year-olds want to vote, who are we to say no?
Mair Gibbs and Ruby Vidgen (Stuff): ‘Politics is everything’: Two teenagers make the case for lowering the voting age
Harry Lock (RNZ): Teens campaign to lower voting age to 16
Lauren Paddy and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Voting by post too hard for youth – study
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Parliament orders 400 personal duress alarms for staff and MPs

Labour Party
Chris Trotter: Protect The King!
Steve Elers (Stuff): Politicians treating Labour Party sexual assault allegations as a game when it deserves gravitis
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern not ‘shielded’ from sex allegations scandal – Grant Robertson
Newshub: The Nation: Simon Shepherd Interviews Grant Robertson (transcript)
Andrea Vance (Stuff): The Labour Party is ‘allergic to women’
Damien Grant (Stuff): The pendulum has swung too far against the presumption of innocence

NZ First
Audrey Young (Herald): Winston Peters returns with a sharper focus on survival (paywalled)
ODT: NZ First appoints Jude Patterson acting president

Local government and climate change
Charlie Mitchell, Felippe Rodrigues and Andy Fyers (Stuff): The Voting Climate: Results from Stuff’s survey of council candidates
Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): The things councillors can do to address the climate crisis
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Wellington and Wairarapa council candidates put economic growth before climate change
Emma Hatton (RNZ): Council defends leasing wetlands to farming company
Dominic Harris and Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): South Island political hopefuls ‘doubt’ impact of humans on climate change
Mike Watson (Stuff): Climate change questionnaire brings surprising results from Taranaki candidates
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Nelson-Tasman council candidates have say on climate change
Katy Jones (Stuff): Rising seas flow into hard conversations on climate change response

Local government – Christchurch
RNZ: Christchurch mayor bans councillor from events involving young people after complaints
Sam Sherwood (Press): Mayor knew for months about councillor allegations
RNZ: Christchurch mayor breaks silence over complaints about councillor
Conan Young (RNZ): Christchurch City Council under fire over time taken to probe complaints about a councillor
Stuff: Christchurch City Councillor allegedly sent teen sexually explicit meme
Ben Uffindell (Press): Lianne Dalziel:  I’m the only candidate with the experience of currently being mayor

Local government
Tim Miller (ODT): STV voting: what it is and how to use it
Brenda Harwood (ODT): STV system ‘really fair’
Elspeth McLean (ODT): Posting your vote
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Diversity problems and solutions in local government (paywalled)
RNZ: What younger voters think of local body elections
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1News: Meet the community board candidate using kumara to educate voters
Todd Niall (Stuff): Can Auckland’s voting turn out really fall further?
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Local elections 2019: Labour politician switches side in a tense battle for the Whau ward (paywalled)
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland mayoral debate: Tamihere’s Nazi slogan moment made as voting begins
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Council senior staffer accused of aggressive behaviour
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Auckland local election papers sent out with incorrect candidate photos
Herald: Electoral Board blunder puts wrong candidate photos on Auckland booklets
RNZ: Youngest local body election candidate in Auckland says youth ‘neglected’
Rikihana Smallman (Waikato Times): Hamilton City Council report card, 2016-2019
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Hamilton’s mayoral candidates try to win over youth
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Hamilton mayoral contenders Mike West, Angela O’Leary step onto the Hamilton Soapbox
Robin Martin (RNZ): Causing a stink: Will New Plymouth’s emoji ads encourage people to vote?
Stratford Press: Give a S**T and vote – says New Plymouth District Council
Christina Persico (Taranaki Daily News): New Plymouth District Council aims for younger voters with ‘poo’ emoji campaign
Georgia May (Dominion Post): Local elections 2019: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council candidates
Sean Hogan (1News): Napier community speed dates council candidates ahead of elections
RNZ: Court of Appeal rules on Napier Council RiskPool claim
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Havelock North walkers’ and bikers’ stoush to be discussed by the council
Dileepa Fonseka and Damian George (Dominion Post): Greater Wellington Regional councillors reportedly briefed on 15 pc rates hike within next financial year
Dileepa Fonseka (Dominion Post): Local elections 2019: Nine candidates bid to lead the capital
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Local elections 2019: The more unusual and lower-profile candidates chasing council spots 
Dileepa Fonseka (Dominion Post): Local elections 2019: Wellington City Council Onslow-Western ward candidate profiles
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Naenae Pool a $52 million headache for Lower Hutt ratepayers
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Electors urged to vote in Tasman District Council electoral system poll
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): All-male West Coast Regional Council faces major shakeup
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Survey finds Waitaki DC rated as acceptable
Brenda Harwood (ODT): Mayoral candidates mull place of arts in city life
Luisa Girao (ODT): Voice lost on health concerns

Water
Jamie Morton (Herald): Why NZ’s rivers are still in a worrying state
RNZ: New Zealand rivers degrading in quality – study
Dave Goosselink (Newshub): Increasing levels of pollutants found in New Zealand’s freshwater rivers despite improvement – report
Will Harvie (Stuff): Fencing rural NZ streams not enough to improve water quality
1News: High nitrate levels in Canterbury rivers causing concern for some locals
Brent Edwards (NBR): Shane Jones warns Feds to stop the fireworks (paywalled)
Katie Doyle (RNZ): Farmer lobbying for river protection after collecting 400kg of rubbish
Piripi Taylor (Māori TV): Urgent Action Needed to Stop Further Deaths from Contaminated Water

Climate change, environment, conservation
Newshub: The Nation: Simon Shepherd Interviews James Shaw (transcript)
Rod Oram *Newsroom): “We know what is happening and what we need to do”
Simon Wilson (Herald): The climate crisis: What about we fix this thing? (paywalled)
Jim Salinger, Blair Fitzharris, Trevor Chinn (Herald): ‘Land of the short white cloud’: NZ’s vanishing glaciers
Jamie Morton (Herald): Climate change: How hard will extreme weather hit NZ?
Jamie Morton (Herald): Covering climate now series: Facing a ‘medical emergency’
Paul Duignan (RNZ): Climate change: Are we getting into emergency mode?
Andrew Tait (Stuff): Why there is cause for hope on climate change
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Climate change Bill keeps MPs on their toes
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Dave Lowe found measurable proof of climate change 50 years ago – he’s watched in horror ever since
Peter Griffin (Stuff): Geothermal energy critical if NZ is to reach carbon-zero by 2050
Ruby Porter (Spinoff): Predicting the future of New Zealand with the rising sea
Josephine Ripley (Stuff): Why our school students are striking for the climate
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Let’s be brutally honest – those Vegan protestors are right and why confrontational protests are the future
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): Extinction Rebellion promising ‘counter-conference’
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): Indonesia to send contaminated recyling back to NZ
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Taranaki eels could be affected by firefighting foam contaminants for years
Maureen Howard (ODT): Hoiho: All at sea

Defence
David Fisher (Herald): The full story of the New Zealand Defence Force’s extraordinary incompetence on display at the NZSAS raid inquiry (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Former SAS commander quiet on handling critical report after inquiry revelation
Dominion Post Editorial: We can handle the truth; can the NZ Defence Force?
David Fisher (Herald): RSA under fire as modern veterans lose key support (paywalled)

Ihumātao
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): All roads out of Ihumātao are blocked for Government (paywalled)
Boris Jancic (Herald): Finance Minister Grant Robertson meets with Fletchers about Ihumātao
Harrison Christian (Stuff): Ihumātao’s fate still uncertain as mana whenua return to a stalemate with the Crown
Simone Kaho (E-Tangata): Ihumātao feels like how I wish Auckland felt

RWC streaming
Jason Walls (Herald): Acting PM Winston Peters takes Spark to task over the streaming issue in AB’s game
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Spark Sport is crap, they’ve failed abysmally
Luke Kirkness (Herald): Spark Sport stream shocker: Buffering screens, lag and glitches hamper Rugby World Cup viewership
Colin Peacock (RNZ): Sparks fly over streaming the RWC
Chris Keall (Herald): A huge, possibly mortal blow for Spark’s streaming ambitions (paywalled)
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): All the winners and losers of Spark’s ‘abject disaster’ of a weekend
Damien Venuto (Herald): ‘Pretty disastrous’: Marketing expert on the damage to the Spark brand
RNZ: Spark to simulcast today’s RWC matches live on TVNZ’s Duke channel
Dubby Henry (Herald): Rugby World Cup free-to-air today after Spark streaming fail during All Blacks-Springboks game
1News: Spark Sport CEO says company ‘learning’ and ‘adapting’ to new technology after Rugby World Cup streaming issues

Media
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Chinese NZ Herald under Chinese state ‘control’ – experts
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Pay-for-play accusation as Māori TV offers mayoral candidates $500 interview
Colin Peacock (RNZ): “Disinformation in the DNA of PR” warns expert urging ethics upgrade
Jeremy Rose (RNZ): Petrol price ‘horror’ trumps horror of war

Immigration, migrant workers
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Surge in fraudulent eVisas sparks Immigration New Zealand investigation
Jason Walls (Herald): A surge in visa fraud cases behind spike in the number of Chinese denied entry to NZ
Southland Times Editorial: A more workable work visa system
June Ranson (RNZ): Work visa changes: the devil is in the detail
Maia Hart (Stuff): Labour shortage has growers seeking quick boost to overseas worker cap
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Growers warn of jobs losses unless immigration decision comes soon

Transport
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘Very annoying’ light rail money will probably be spent on roads – James Shaw
RNZ: Govt should ‘look seriously’ at congestion charges – NZIER
BusinessDesk: Researcher: It’s time for congestion pricing
RNZ: Ōtaki to Levin highway should get freed up funds, supporters say
Sarah Robson and Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Bus company Ritchies fined for fatal Christmas Eve crash in 2016
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Life-saving motorcycle technology to become mandatory in New Zealand from April

Housing
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government’s rental law changes missing in action
Tim Brown (RNZ): Housing affordability crisis deepens in Queenstown Lakes
RNZ: Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago housing affordability ‘biggest issue’
RNZ: Crown Entity Kāinga Ora-Homes and Communities legislation passes final reading
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): Trade Me censors racist flatmates listings in Rotorua and Christchurch
Greg Ninness (Interest): Falling interest rates push house prices further out of reach for first home buyers
RNZ: Anti-money laundering laws costing real estate industry ‘multi-millions’

Economy
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Finance Minister Grant Robertson says it’ll take decades to improve NZ’s productivity
Dan Satherley and Juliet Speedy (Newshub): IMF praises New Zealand economy
RNZ: Tick of approval from IMF for NZ’s economy
Dan Satherley (Newshub): GDP growth constrained by low unemployment – economist

Health
RNZ: Call for govt action on unhealthy food ads aimed at children
ODT Editorial: Acting locally on health
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Neonatal units under pressure for years, but crucial report still not released
James Fyfe (Newshub): Wellington High School warns unimmunised students to stay home following measles scare

Women’s safety, domestic violence
Josephine Franks (Stuff): ‘I pull out my hair in taxis to leave DNA’: Women feel unsafe at night
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Why I feel safe as a woman after dark
Virginia Fallon (Stuff): ‘If we get it wrong someone dies’: A day on the frontline of the Women’s Refuge

Cannabis
1News: NZ psychiatrists stress potential harm of cannabis ahead of 2020 referendum
Alison Mau (Stuff): Ahead of the 2020 cannabis referendum, beware the disinformation campaign
David Slack (Stuff): Inhale, exhale, take a deep breath and hold a referendum

Christchurch mosque attacks
Derek Cheng (Herald): The Christchurch Call: From horrific beginnings to ‘misty-eyed’ meetings to new collaboration (paywalled)
Jason Walls (Herald): Christchurch mosque shootings: NZ Ambassador asks Ukraine to crack down on sale of terror manifesto (paywalled)
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Teen who shared mosque attack videos discharged without conviction

Firearms
Laura Wiltshire (Hawkes Bay Today): ‘Almost in tears’: Behind the scenes at a gun buyback event in Hawke’s Bay
Martin van Beynen (Press): Gun lobbyist’s frailty of character prevents him being lawyer

Cook commemorations
Tom O’Connor (Stuff): None have a sole claim on our story
ODT Editorial: A Momentous NZ milestone

Education
Jessica Long (Stuff): Education minister Chris Hipkins shakes up New Zealand’s school curriculum
Astrid Austin (Hawkes Bay Today): Police investigation into Te Aute College assault claims ends with no charges
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Rudolf Steiner school’s name change dilemma
RNZ: Climate change woes could hit international student numbers
Erin Gourley (Critic): University Reveals How the New CCTV Policy is Being Used

Tuia 250 privacy breach
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Tuia 250 data breach review to probe relationship between Ministry and IT provider
Zane Small (Newshub): National MP has ‘questions’ for Jacinda Ardern as scope of Tuia 250 digital privacy breach widens
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): PM faces more questions following privacy breach

Other
Paul Buchanan: The rot at the top.
Ben Strang (RNZ): Bullying in the police: Victim asked if she had ‘period troubles’
AAP: Simon Bridges says he’s learnt ‘lessons’ from triumph of Aussie PM Scott Morrison
Dave Goosselink (Newshub): Invercargill Licensing Trust returns $180 million to community
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): Pokies, or Peking Duck? The restaurant where the gaming machines span so fast inspectors called it a ‘mini casino’
Liam Dann (Herald): If tax breaks work for film, why not other industries? (paywalled)
David Chaston (Interest): Foreign ownership fears should be receding
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Here are common ways you might miss out on holiday pay 
RNZ: District Court addressing backlog of prisoners awaiting sentencing
Mike O’Donnell (Stuff): Government digital inclusion plans cursed by hui rather than doey
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Farmers banned from owning livestock for mistreating animals on the rise
Lauren Paddy and James Fyfe (Newshub): More resources needed to promote and maintain New Zealand Sign Language
Newshub Nation: Backstory: Jan Logie
1News: Most fish oil supplements sold in NZ not true to label, study finds – ‘We all need to be concerned’
Lee Kenny (Stuff): It’s time for Māori Language Month says Christchurch te reo advocate Anton Matthews
RNZ: Water safety education in te reo Māori aims to reduce drowning deaths
Phil Taylor (Herald): Angry locals threaten to protest Erebus memorial ceremony at Parnell Rose Gardens (paywalled)
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): Destiny Church PR man Jevan Goulter’s company in financial trouble over unpaid $4500 debt
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Government, councils gearing up for a busy summer of freedom camping
Jo Moir (RNZ): Shock jock Alan Jones ‘did not intend violence’ towards PM Jacinda Ardern
RNZ: Nelson people to be asked views on earthquake prone buildings
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Life insurers accused of not keeping a close enough eye on deaths (paywalled)
RNZ: The Detail: Changing names without changing places

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