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.
Transport
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland Light Rail: Goff says it’s the Government’s call
Richard Harman (Politik): Light rail chief says think again
Todd Niall (Stuff): Is Auckland’s light rail the Government’s biggest bungle?
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Why Twyford can’t afford National’s ‘KiwiBuild 2.0’ phrase catching on
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern, Phil Twyford say NZTA ‘failed’ to assess light rail options for Auckland
Derek Cheng (Herald): Auckland light rail: PM says NZTA messed up and caused delays
RNZ: Auckland light rail: NZTA admits delaying process
1News: Auckland’s light rail project hit by delays, potential cost blowouts
Derek Cheng (Herald): National takes aim at Twyford again over light rail, calling it KiwiBuild 2.0
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Simon Bridges promises to axe Super Fund light rail project
Derek Cheng (Herald): Simon Bridges banks his undies on light rail construction failing to start
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Simon Bridges’ officials claimed failed tech scheme would be ‘transformative’
Simon Wilson (Herald): Road safety is public health issue (paywalled)
RNZ: AT votes to lower speed limits on many Auckland roads
Kiri Gillespie (Herald): Lowering Bay of Plenty SH2 speed no solution – road safety advocates (paywalled)
Edward O’Driscoll (Newshub): Auckland Transport slashes speeds across central business district
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Wellington Airport expansion plan baffles climate change experts
Harry Lock (RNZ): Wellington Airport $1b upgrade revealed
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Wellington Airport to ‘flip’ terminal to avoid getting behind growth
Lorna Thornber (Stuff): Is it time to scrap frequent flyer programmes like Airpoints to combat the climate crisis?
Grant Bradley (Herald): Air New Zealand Big Apple plan full of ambition – London cuts a victim of competition (paywalled)
1News: Air New Zealand axing London flights via LA, turns sights to New York
Samantha Motion (Bay of Plenty Times): Electric buses roll out in Tauranga, 11 months behind schedule (paywalled)
Terrorism bill
Jason Walls (Herald): PM Jacinda Ardern says National ‘reneging’ on its promise to support anti-terror bill
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Labour-National stoush delays anti-terror law
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Justice Minister feels ‘dicked around’ by National Party not supporting new terror law
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Terrorism bill delayed as National seek conditions: ‘I do feel a little dicked around’ – Little
Jason Walls (Herald): Justice Minister Andrew Little says National had ‘dicked around’ on new anti-terror bill
Anna Whyte (1News): Justice Minister feels ‘a little dicked around’ by National over proposed terrorism laws
Zane Small (Newshub): Andrew Little feels ‘dicked around’ by National Party on proposed anti-terror law
RNZ: New terrorism legislation faces first reading in Parliament
Police
1News: Jacinda Ardern ‘totally opposed’ to all cops carrying guns, but supports new armed units
1News: Former cop and Auckland Councillor critical of new armed police programme, but Deputy Commissioner says it’s necessary
Emilie Rākete (Spinoff): Armed police patrols are a dangerous response to a non-existent problem
Ben Strang (RNZ): Police Commissioner announces independent review of how police address bullying
Sam Farrell (Newshub): ‘Culture change that needs to happen’: Claims bullying rife within NZ police force
Jonathan Guildford (Stuff): Police must chase or ‘surrender the road to drunks and boy racers’
Tom Kitchin, Sam Sherwood and Michael Hayward (Stuff): One dead, five injured after fleeing driver crashes into car in Christchurch
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Innocent Christchurch police pursuit crash victim left home early to beat parking rush
RNZ: Police don’t seem to know when to back off – Papanui Road resident
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Neighbours mourn death of ‘caring, hard-working’ Kaiapoi man
John Weekes (Stuff): Sentry Taitoko inquest: Ex-cop wishes he overruled health professional who said 21-year-old would ‘be all right’
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): ‘Sentry should have been in hospital’ – Senior Sergeant
Euthanasia
Boris Jancic and Chris Knox (Herald): Crucial euthanasia bill referendum vote on a knife-edge
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Euthanasia law hangs on a knife-edge in Stuff poll of MPs
RNZ: Party leaders polls apart on euthanasia bill referendum
Drug reform, methamphetamine
Laura Walters (Newsroom): No political appetite for wholesale drug reform
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in fiery exchange on changes to meth dealer sentencing guidelines
1News: Reduced sentences for meth dealers with addiction issues ‘a great step’ – QC
RNZ: Overhauled meth sentencing guidelines recognise woman’s limited role in offending
Al Williams (Timaru Herald): Meth-related crime on the rise in South Canterbury and Waitaki, according to MPs
SkyCity fire
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Phil Goff: SkyCity Convention Centre fire will impact Apec conference
RNZ: SkyCity fire still burning, PM to visit today
1News: Phil Twyford labels SkyCity convention centre fire a ‘significant setback’
Herald: Convention Centre fire: What blaze means for Fletcher Building, SkyCity
Herald: Devastating SkyCity Convention Centre blaze
Belinda Feek (Herald): Sky City blaze: ‘This is as big as it gets’, firefighter union boss says
Parliament
Maria Armoudian & Timothy C. Kuhner (Herald): Peeling back the shroud over political lobbying (paywalled)
1News: Parliament celebrates 100 years since women could stand as MPs
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): The changing face of Parliament (paywalled)
Housing
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Richer than ever, but house deposit the real inequality for Govt to fight
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Owning a New Zealand house can make you one of the world’s wealthiest
Infometrics: Growing demand for public housing
Infometrics: NZ short by nearly 40,000 houses
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Stewart Island housing shortage: ‘I might have to leave because I don’t have a home’
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Tenants: We were told it doesn’t matter if you’re right or wrong
Mandy Te (Stuff): Accessibility and universal design not part of Building Act reforms
Catherine Smith (Herald): Could 40-year mortgages come to NZ?
National Party
Gordon Campbell: On Simon Bridges trying to paint himself as a warrior against political correctness
Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Winston Peters ‘obsessed’ with National Party – Simon Bridges
Jason Walls (Herald): A short lunch: For years she produced reality TV shows, now she sits in Parliament – meet Erica Stanford (paywalled)
Herald: National MP buys artwork by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Environment
David Frame (Newsroom): A Government with fingers in its ears
No Right Turn: Climate Change: The Zero Carbon Bill
Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): The short bills of little spotted kiwi make them especially vulnerable to climate change
David Williams (Newsroom): 100,000 hectares lopped off 1080 drops
Jennifer Eder (Stuff): Kea in crosshairs of 1080 operations ahead of mega mast rodent buffet
David Williams (Newsroom):Scientist muzzled over oyster parasite
Katie Todd (RNZ): Wilding pine control needs stable long-term funding, government told
Primary and extractive industries
Herald: Record fine for recidivist dirty dairying offending by Open Country Dairy Ltd
RNZ: Dairy firm cops hefty fine for smell that caused sickness
1News: Waikato dairy processing company fined $200k over objectionable odour, contaminating local river
RNZ: Farmers feel ‘dictated to’ amid proposed freshwater reforms, says Federated Farmers’ Otago
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Fonterra rivals fear dairy giant will get leg up from law overhaul
Brent Melville (ODT): Horticulture’s contribution grows
Jono Edwards (ODT): Macraes expansion permitted
Jono Edwards (ODT): Concern at Macraes fossil fuel use
Banking sector
Kate MacNamara (Stuff): Reserve Bank board asked to investigate complaints about governor Adrian Orr’s conduct
Liam Dann (Herald): FMA chief: ANZ’s Hisco house sale ‘daft’ and ‘deeply frustrating’
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Hisco wants privacy, but what could he do next?
Education
Alex Loo (Manawatū Standard): Posters depicting Hong Kong protests removed by Massey University within 12 hours
Vita Molyneux (Newshub):Massey University removes posters supporting Hong Kong protests
Elena Mcphee (ODT): Marine science staff cuts threaten research
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): No figures on multi-million costs of visa delays
Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): Māori ‘underrepresented in the university academy’
Tommy Livingston (Stuff): Ministry sends in commissioner to help troubled Te Aute College
Brad Flahive (Stuff): Albany Primary School: Ministry of Education delays rezoning decision
Corrections
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Legal loophole sees double bunking in prisons remain
Press Editorial: Rights of general public must take precedence over inmates’ letter rights
Health
RNZ: Checkpoint: The painful price of waiting for prostate surgery at Southern DHB
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Urology complaint led to ‘verbal counter-assault’
Mike Houlahan (ODT): ‘We’re sorry’ doesn’t cut it when you need surgery
Mike Houlahan (ODT): ED numbers reconciled as parties meet
RNZ: Tonga’s Health Ministry issues measles alert
Steve Stannard (Manawatū Standard): Solutions needed to combat increasing obesity in our children
RNZ: Year of Auckland e-scooter injuries brings $1m health bill
Jamie Morton (Herald): Don’t ‘drink and ride’: Booze big factor in Auckland e-scooter injuries
Local government – Wellington region
Eleanor Wenman, Katarina Williams, and Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Andy Foster, the Wellington mayor already challenged in office
Katarina Williams and Eleanor Wenman (Stuff): Potential recount an unwanted distraction for Wellington Mayor-Elect Andy Foster
Harry Lock (RNZ): Wellington mayoralty battle: Andy Foster and Justin Lester clash over recount
Joel Maxwell (Stuff):‘I must leave the politics to politicians’ says Porirua council CE over election-time email
Local government
Waikato Times: Hamilton’s mayor chooses Geoff Taylor for deputy
Ellen O’Dwyer (Waikato Times): Waikato District Councillor unrepentant over ‘broomstick’ remarks
RNZ: Councillor who said Treaty should be burned banned from iwi talks
Samantha Motion (Bay of Plenty Times): Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell says councillor Andrew Hollis should resign (paywalled)
Christina Persico (Taranaki Daily News): The cost of biscuits and sausage rolls at council meetings
Jono Galuszka (Manawatū Standard): Horizons divided as it elects Rachel Keedwell as its chairwoman
Jono Galuszka (Manawatū Standard): Environmental fund renamed to remember former councillor Pat Kelly
Cherie Sivignon (Nelson Mail): ‘Hats off’ to campaign for gender balance on Nelson and Tasman councils
Skara Bohny (Nelson Mail): Nelson’s new deputy mayor and revamped committee structure proposed
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): Queenstown Lakes District Council hopeful applies for recount after one-vote loss
Evan Harding (Southland times): Mayoral challengers snubbed by Shadbolt
Abortion
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Concerns amid abortion decriminalisation for rights of anti-abortion protester rights
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Patience atop a tinderbox: All-female committee navigates abortion reform
Pacific
RNZ: Call for Australia and NZ to help fund Pacific rugby
Mackenzie Smith (RNZ): China not behind Pacific’s rising ‘debt risks’ – research
RNZ: NZDF prepares for fishing migration from Pacific
RNZ: Cooks denies former marine reserve head fired over mining issue
RNZ: French nuclear testing archives shut – historian
RNZ: Teachers in Pacific feel strain amid commercialisation of education
Immigration
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Immigration NZ accused of asking employers to breach privacy laws
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): ‘Heinous’ offending: Bottle store owners fined $200,000 for exploiting staff
Herald: Judge issues record fine over ‘inexplicable and heinous’ breach of employment law
David Farrar: A justified refusal of entry
Building safety
Susan Freeman-Greene (Stuff): What we’re doing to improve the safety of our buildings
Sam Kilmister (Manawatū Standard): Heritage buildings in Feilding selected for Government funding trial project
Other
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Far-right hat seller raises money for ACT
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Performance of NZ Post leads to calls to change the voting system
RNZ: The Detail: NZ’s low unemployment rate is hiding huge inequity
Stuff: The dreaded school camp list: What it’s really like to grow up in poverty
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): MediaWorks and light rail show the Government has a problem when it comes to business
Katie Kenny (Stuff): Chief Censor David Shanks says an entirely new media regulator may be needed
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Last-ditch effort to save Sir Peter Jackson’s Great War Exhibition
Michael Hayward (Stuff): EQC to take over Southern Response claims
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern says it is ‘awkward’ to have two books written about her
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Chinese naval vessel heading to New Zealand for under-the-radar visit
Antje Deckert (Spinoff): Mother or villain? How Māori women offenders are portrayed in news reporting
Zane Small (Newshub): Tweet from 2012 shows Jacinda Ardern’s thoughts on shock-jock Alan Jones
Jacinda Ardern (ODT): Positive differences for many in South
RNZ: Family First argues charity status in court
Herald: Land of the Long White Cloud: Pākehā New Zealanders reflect on their colonial past and future. Episode 3 – Inheriting Privilege
TVNZ: Rediscovering Aotearoa: The power of finding your voice
Chris Morris (ODT): Defence of bishop too controversial
ODT Editorial: Remarkable Waring one in 100
