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.
Local government
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Counting on democracy: Local elections turn-out too early to tell
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland Council election: Bumper mailbag lifts turnout
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Local body election vote on rise with four days left before ballots close
Todd Niall (Stuff): Local body elections: Prime minister wants online voting in 2022
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Local election voter turnout heading for record low
Katy Jones (Stuff): Paper system a deterrent to voting in local body elections
Katarina Williams and Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Local elections 2019: Wellington’s dwindling voter turnout for local body elections
Christina Persico (Taranaki Daily News): Taranaki voting paper returns are low, with just days to go
Matthew Littlewood and Alice Gear (Timaru Herald): Last minute urge to get South Canterbury people to vote in local body elections
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Brian Rudman (Herald): Why voters ignore local body elections (paywalled)
Bernard Hickey (Newsroom): Let’s vote to re-engineer our cities
Christina Persico (Taranaki Daily News): Local government is part of your life every day and voting is the way you acknowledge that
Joyce Wylie (Stuff): It’s a privilege and a responsibility to respect and be part of democracy
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Denise Piper (Stuff): Local body elections: Hatred part of everyday life for transgender candidate
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland household rates to rise on average $320 over Phil Goff’s term
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Auckland Mayoral election: John Tamihere, Phil Goff fight over e-scooters in fiery The AM Show debate
Hayden Donnell (Spinoff): Not great: Auckland’s ‘one stop shops’ have been running out of voting papers
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): Youth politicians accuse Auckland Council of ‘ageism’, push for pay rise
1News: Auckland CBD street where pedestrians outnumber cars by 14-1 to get ‘people friendly’ redesign
Danielle Clent and Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Auckland local body elections: Muppets billboard put up in West Auckland
1News: West Auckland ‘muppet’ billboard garners attention with jab at local elections
Nikki Preston (Herald): Police involved following complaint made by Waikato District councillor over rival candidate (paywalled)
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Mayoral candidate fuming over election ‘typos’
Josie Adams (Spinoff): Race briefing: Palmerston North, the election that’s so thrilling it’s a crime
George Heagney (Manawatū Standard): Manawatū mayoral candidates want Government to pay for new water scheme
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Accusations of vote-tampering plague decision over Carterton clock tower’s paint job
RNZ: Confusion adds more colour to clock tower makeover vote
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Wellington mayoral race struggles to bring out voters
Damian George (Dominion Post): Regional council’s annual report shows 12 out of 14 public transport targets not met
RNZ: Wellington council turns down liquor store application for Khandallah
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): How to vote from an isolated Marlborough Sounds island
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): Mayoral candidate illegally home schools children over climate change, LGBTQ+ beliefs
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Nelson council reveals its more unusual information requests
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Businessmen rally around embattled councillor after leaks to media
Press: Community issues simmer in Christchurch suburbs
Kim Nutbrown and Pattie Pegler (Spinoff): The young candidates trying to take the reins in two of our palest, stalest councils
Hamish McLean (ODT): Heritage designation criteria narrowed
Daisy Hudson (ODT): ‘Fulfilling decade’ comes to end for Cull
Daisy Hudson (ODT): Council apologises to candidate
Govt surplus
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Hefty surplus piles pressure on Robertson for action
Hamish Rutherford (Herald):Grant Robertson’s surplus question: What will he spend it on? (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Grant Robertson has money, a wish list and an election to win – what’s he waiting for?
No Right Turn: “Surplus” again
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): GST cuts ‘certainly not something’ on Government’s agenda – Grant Robertson
1News: ‘If you’ve got a $7.5 billion surplus you are over-taxing’ – Bridges calls out Government after opening of books
Julie Iles (NBR): National comes out swinging at government surplus (paywalled)
Anna Whyte (1News): As Government surplus climbs to $7.5b, PM declines to say if tax cut will be considered
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Massive $7.5 billion surplus shows room for tax cuts and spending
Jason Walls (Herald): Crown accounts: Government’s $7.5b surplus is the biggest since 2008 GFC
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Govt books continue to improve: assets up, debt down
Zane Small (Newshub): Surplus swells to $7.5 billion as Government collects more in tax on wages
RNZ: Govt surplus increases to $7.5 billion
Julie Iles (NBR): Government’s accounts report $7.5b surplus (paywalled)
NZ First
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: The pressure of survival shows for NZ First (paywalled)
Henry Cooke and Thomas Manch (Stuff): Major leak of NZ First membership database exposes personal details, Winston Peters refers to police
Derek Cheng (Herald):Winston Peters refers breach of party members’ information to police, Privacy Commissioner
1News: Winston Peters goes to police over ‘malicious misappropriation’ of party members’ data
Derek Cheng (Herald): New NZ First leaks: Complaint over candidate selection and request for board apology (paywalled)
RNZ: NZ First reports leak of members’ data to police
Climate Change
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): New Climate Change Commissioner Rod Carr could vastly reshape industry
Henry Cooke and Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Emotional Dr Rod Carr says family pushed him to take top climate role
Eloise Gibson (Newsroom): Shaw names captain of his climate ‘fantasy football team’
RNZ: Rod Carr appointed as chair of new Climate Change Commission
Julie Iles (NBR): Rod Carr to chair Climate Change Commission
David Hall (Stuff): Climate Explained: Why some people still think climate change isn’t real
Steven Cowan: James Shaw: A very understanding guy
Tommy Livingston (Stuff): Police happy with behaviour after Extinction Rebellion protests in capital
Todd Niall (Stuff): PM Jacinda Ardern critical of Extinction Rebellion climate change protest disruption
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Judith Collins slams Extinction Rebellion protestors
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Extinction Rebellion Aotearoa vandalises statue outside Parliament to protest colonisation, climate change
Emme McKay (Herald): Business as usual during Wellington Extinction Rebellion protest
RNZ: Pacific bearing brunt of ‘climate crime’, protesters say
Martin Haoricka (Stuff): When will we finally admit that electric vehicles aren’t the solution?
Mining company application to buy Waihi land approved
1News: Labour’s reversal on Eugenie Sage’s Waihi mine decision shows Green Party’s lack of ministerial power – Greenpeace
Richard Harman (Politik): Ministers reject Greens environmental argument and approve gold mine expansion
Derek Cheng (Herald): PM says Eugenie Sage’s ministerial Land Information portfolio is safe
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Mining company OceanaGold approved for land purchase in Waihi
1News: Waihi mine set for expansion as Government approves 180 hectare land sale
Gerard Piddock (Stuff): OceanaGold gets approval to buy land for tailings ponds near Waihi gold mine
Andrew Bevin (NBR): Industry reacts to Waihi gold mine extension (paywalled)
RNZ: OceanaGold gets approval to buy land to expand gold mine
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB) Green Party are fiscal nutters who risk digging a big hole for NZ’s economy
Health
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Exclusive: Crackdown on junk food, drink to ‘turn tide’ on diabetes: Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare (paywalled)
Phil Pennington and Karen Brown (RNZ): DHBs owe health workers up to $650m for Holidays Act errors
1News: Government to pay up to $650m to fix long-running holiday pay deficit for DHB workers
Jason Walls (Herald): Govt points finger at National over ‘eye-watering’ DHB deficit
Zane Small (Newshub):DHB deficits ‘balloon’ as staff promised half a billion dollars in underpayments
Mike Houlahan (ODT): SDHB deficit balloons to $85.8 million
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Health hack: Admin rights may have been compromised
Taroi Black (Māori TV):2025 smokefree goals ‘a long way off’
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Clinicians fear for services
Sam Farrell (Newshub): Call to fund smartphone app that reads diabetics blood-glucose levels
1New: Samoan-Niuean siblings encourage others in their community to become doctors
Tuia 250 – James Cook commemorations
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Civic leaders look to future as Cook flotilla entered inner harbour
Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes (Māori TV): Tuia 250 facilitates critical discussion of NZ history
Lisette Reymer (Newshub): Endeavour’s return to Gisborne met with welcome and fiery protest
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): New Zealand wrestles with 250th anniversary of James Cook’s arrival
1News: Tuia 250 commemorations underway as replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour docks in Gisborne
1News: ‘I don’t see James Cook as relevant to me’ – Tuia 250 protest organiser
Herald:Tuia 250: When replica ship HMB Endeavour comes in
Michael Reddell: A day for celebration
Immigration
Press Editorial: A lower threshold for those already here?
Sandeep Singh (RNZ): Labour adds insult to injury with parent visa scheme
RNZ: The Detail: When fear dictates policy
Primary industries
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Why don’t New Zealand farmers want to look after their golden goose?
Chris Tobin (ODT): Minister backs conditional livestock export prohibition
Sally Rae (ODT): Anger at slow compensation process
RNZ: Freshwater proposals wouldn’t increase veg prices – minister
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Gore boss critical of freshwater reforms
Herald Editorial: Time to get serious about protein technology (paywalled)
Environment and conservation
Guyon Espiner and Kate Newton (RNZ): Green Rush: Will pines really save the planet?
Harry Lock (RNZ): Peatland’s environmental significance disputed in reports
RNZ: Vehicles on Langs Beach to be banned
Kaitlin Ruddock (1News): Concerned bird lovers say freedom campers oblivious to threat they pose to Golden Bay shorebirds
Commerce Commission burglary
1News: Computer equipment containing ‘sensitive’ Commerce Commission info stolen
Herald: Security breach: Computer with confidential Commerce Commission meeting and interview transcripts stolen
RNZ: Commerce Commission info could be on stolen computer
John Anthony (Stuff): Computer equipment with 200 Commerce Commission interview transcripts stolen in burglary
Housing
Gordon Campbell: On a superb new book on the leaky homes scandal
RNZ: Imperial Homes charged buyers $52k more than affordable housing limit
Child welfare
Donna-Lee Biddle (Stuff): Judge encourages survivors of state and faith-based abuse to come forward
Harrison Christian (Stuff): State care sex abuse complainants get $60,000 payout and apology from Oranga Tamariki
Education
Harry Lock (RNZ): New fund may leave school out of pocket – principal
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Defects left Cashmere High School’s fire protection compromised
James Kierstead, Vinayak Dev, Michael Johnsto,n Jamin Halberstadt, Maryanne Garry, Andy Vonasch (Stuff): Refusal to publish NZ academic’s book is a worrying blow for free speech
Magic Talk: There are some men who are lost in the 21st century – Chris Trotter
Joel McManus (Stuff):Scarfies, couch fires and keg parties: Otago student drinking culture in the spotlight after student death
Gangs
Jarrod Gilbert (Herald): Patch on jacket about brand protection
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Government considers new police powers to deal with suited and booted gang kingpins
Anna Whyte (1News): Waikato Mongrel Mob invites Simon Bridges to meet
Jamie Ensor ((Newshub): Simon Bridges, Mongrel Mob boss clash over gangs
Leighton Keith (Taranaki Daily News): Ex-cops urge political parties to work together to combat rising gang membership
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Sixty per cent increase in gang members in Southern district
Tim Newman (Nelson Mail): Gang members and meth on rise in Tasman region
Drugs
Herald: Jacinda Ardern chides Mike Hosking on soft on drugs claim: ‘Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?’
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern defends Government’s drug stance, saying soft on drugs label ‘ridiculous’
1News: South Island, rural isolated towns an expanding market for meth, research finds
John Weekes and Kendall Hutt (Stuff): Party drug, LSD prices remain flat in contrast to meth mayhem
1News: Mongrel Mob member fighting meth epidemic says prevention’s the only way to stop people getting hooked
Retirement
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): No new Retirement Commissioner nearly a year after Diane Maxwell’s marching orders (paywalled)
Karyn Scherer (NBR): Tax wealthy baby boomers, report says (paywalled)
Dutch PM visits NZ
1News: Netherlands PM touts benefits of cannabis legalisation during press conference with Jacinda Ardern
Ryan Anderson (Stuff): Climate change, trade and cannabis reform at top of talks between NZ and Dutch PMs
Victoria Young (BusinessDesk): Let’s join forces on climate change, says visiting Dutch PM
Police
RNZ: Police wrong to ignore instructions to abandon chase, IPCA finds
1News: Watchdog says Auckland cops shouldn’t have chased after teens in stolen car driven wrong-way on motorway
RNZ: Police pay compensation over woman’s unlawful arrest
Abortion
Matthew Rosenberg (Stuff): Abortion bill: Emotions run high at select committee hearing in Auckland
1News: Range of strong views heard by politicians considering abortion law change
Other
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Simon Bridges shows off singing skills in duet with Duncan Garner
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): This coalition cardigan beginning to look threadbare
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Sweeping changes proposed to help curb Wellington’s skyrocketing insurance premiums
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Auckland City Rail Link: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s comments branded ‘misleading’
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Time’s ‘favourites to win 2019 Nobel Peace Prize’
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern supports festival drug testing, New Zealand First support not ruled out
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): Shane Jones’ Provincial Growth Fund quietly made tax-exempt
Cira Olivier (Rotorua Daily Post): Bay of Plenty’s family harm problem worst in the country (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Don’t be afraid of foreign investment, it’s exactly what we need
Jason Walls (Herald): Government no longer to fund the Clinton Foundations’ flagship aid programme
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Paula Bennett snapped with big bud baggie
Jamie Morton (Herald): National would overhaul law governing gene editing
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Chorus blacklists sub-contracting companies after scathing report into migrant exploitation
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Reading online causes New Zealanders to be less engaged
Phil Taylor (Herald): Erebus memorial taken off fast track: Decision delayed until after local body elections
Siobhan Downes (Stuff): Rainbow Tick takes MediaWorks to task over Sean Plunket’s ‘woke’ comments
Jane Matthews (Taranaki Daily News):Ninety-day Airbnb, Bookabach cap not welcomed by New Plymouth users
Emma Dangerfield (Press): Freedom camping bylaw being created at expense of Kiwis and surfers, critics say
