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.
Environment
Russel Norman (Stuff): Pact between farming lobby groups and Government is the opposite of climate action
Steve Abel (Newshub):Opinion: Will this Green Party save us from climate cataclysm?
Audrey Young (Herald):A significantly good day for the Government (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Stuff): How will National respond to Government’s rightward swing on climate?
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National stumped by climate announcement
Richard Harman (Politik): Shaw stakes political future on historic farm agreement
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): NZ’s dairy industry passes ‘peak cow
Simon Wilson (Herald): Not good enough, but still good: the new rules for methane emissions (paywalled)
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Govt made right decision on ETS
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Chickening out on agriculture
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Ending ETS fraud
John Gibb (ODT): Doubts raised about greenhouse gas agreement
Jason Walls (Herald): Emissions trading scheme (ETS) Q&A: What just happened?
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Cheat sheet: Agriculture continues to sidestep the Emissions Trading Scheme
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Government progress, but no guarantee farmers will end up paying for emissions
RNZ: Checkpoint: Emissions plan ‘absolutely not’ selling out to farmers – Ardern
Jason Walls (Herald):PM Jacinda Ardern dismisses claims Government has backed down on its ETS promises
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Farming won’t pay for emissions until 2025
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Farmers twist Govt’s arm to avoid inclusion in the Emissions Trading Scheme
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Decision to keep agriculture out of ETS ‘a weight off farmers’ shoulders’
Jason Walls (Herald): Farmers welcome the Government’s decision not to saddle them with new ETS taxes
Julie Iles (NBR): Farmers view alternative ETS mechanism as a mixed blessing (paywalled)
Taroi Black (Māori TV): Govt’s primary sector led plan to reduce emissions is “all back to front,” says Māori farmer
Brent Edwards (NBR): Farmers win reprieve, alternative ETS mechanism search is on (paywalled)
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): Ardern tells New Zealand farmers to cut carbon emissions or face penalties
Eric Crampton (Stuff): Goverment’s Zero Carbon Bill will shut the door on New Zealand opportunities
Gordon Campbell: On the Greens learning to love a global destroyer of native forests, and women at work
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Govt gives Japanese-owned forestry company Pan Pac Forest Products free pass to buy NZ land
Hawkes Bay Today: Government gives Pan Pac free pass to buy Hawke’s Bay land
Grant Galbreath (University of Auckland): Can New Zealand transition to a plant-based future?
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Almost 150 bag ban breaches, zero consequences for retailers
Terrorism bill
No Right Turn: The Greens should not support tyranny
Brian Rudman (Herald): Lawmakers take a blunderbuss to terrorism (paywalled)
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Justice Minister Andrew Little accuses National of ‘tearing down the citadel’ as Greens back Government terror law with changes
Derek Cheng (Herald): Justice Minister launches angry tirade on ‘reckless’ National Party
Derek Cheng (Herald): Greens to back anti-terrorism bill, say National’s ‘blackmail’ has failed
Jo Moir (Stuff): Greens to back Terrorism Suppression Bill
Zane Small (Newshub): Greens agree to support anti-terror law after negotiating changes
Anna Whyte (1News): Little bows to Green Party changes on terrorism bill, bypassing need for National
RNZ: Terrorism Suppression Bill passes first reading
Euthanasia
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): The ‘New Zealand First Government’ delivers with euthanasia bill
Press Editorial: MPs pass the buck to the public
Herald Editorial: Parliament drops ball on euthanasia (paywalled)
Boris Jancic (Herald): Call for independent facts ahead of euthanasia referendum
1News: Paula Bennett and Chris Hipkins say they were reluctant to put euthanasia bill to referendum
RNZ: Public informed ahead of voluntary euthanasia referendum – Seymour
Bob McCoskrie: Voters Will Reject Euthanasia When Proposed Law Understood
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): What Kiwis think about euthanasia going to public vote
Tiwai Point
Peter Lyons (ODT: Rio Tinto needs to be told to deal with market conditions rather than threatening the country
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Rio Tinto’s power play and the consequences for New Zealand
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Tiwai Point smelter says it needs ‘tens of millions’ in annual relief from electricity and transmission costs (paywalled)
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): S&P warns of potential risk to electricity generators in the event of a closure at Tiwai smelter
Luisa Girao (ODT): Negative effects of smelter closure viewed as huge
Media
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Special Report: To Save Democracy, We Must Make The Media Our Own
David Slack (Stuff): Goodnight Kiwi TV, soon we could all be out in the cold without a blanket or a dish
Brent Edwards (NBR): Journalism’s woes mean those in power face less scrutiny (paywalled)
Hal Crawford (Spinoff): The New Zealand news media is broken
Damian Venuto (Herald): MediaWorks TV sell-off: News boss Hal Crawford quits
1News: NewsHub’s news director quits amid MediaWorks’ TV sell-off
Newshub: Newshub chief Hal Crawford resigns
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): MediaWorks news director Hal Crawford announces resignation
RNZ: MediaWorks news boss Hal Crawford calls it quits
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Shuffling the C-suite chairs at NZME
Damien Venuto (Herald): Netflix vs TVNZ OnDemand, Spark vs Sky: Streaming numbers revealed (paywalled)
Transport
Matthew Hooton (Herald): How Phil Twyford went off track (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern briefed: light rail could be ‘construction ready’ by 2020
Emma Hatton (RNZ): Union furious NZTA won’t prosecute over trucking firms’ logbook breach
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Thousands spent by NZTA on launch event for app
Erica Hinckson (Herald): Slower speeds are more than a safety issue (paywalled)
David Fisher (Herald): Busted – again: Records show Minister of Police Stuart Nash was driving illegally for two months (paywalled)
1News: Air New Zealand announces more regional flights to fill gaps left by Jetstar over holiday period
Health
1News: Government to create nationwide agency to regulate drinking water
RNZ: New Crown agency will enforce water safety standards
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Mother fears daughter’s death linked to Pharmac’s epilepsy drug switch
Stuff: ACC allowed to appeal ‘hug of death’ asbestos decision
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Nicotine vaping ‘addicting young people’ – Auckland Secondary Principals’ Association head
Sam Sherwood and Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Christchurch Hospital workers sacrifice sleep for car park ‘scramble’
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Urology leader: patient reports concerning
Mandy Te (Stuff): Staff shortages and rising number of patients leading to activation of ‘code red’ in hospitals
John Gibb (ODT):‘Frightening’ diabetes costs highlighted
Jessica Long (Stuff): Measles epidemic in New Zealand not surprising say academics
Jamie Morton (Herald): How can NZ prevent another measles epidemic?
Jenny Meyer (RNZ): Pacific measles outbreak: NZ Govt under pressure to step up
Jenny Meyer (RNZ): ‘Export’ of measles to Pacific ‘very disappointing’ – NZ Opposition MP
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Poor access to language help from health providers labelled institutional racism
Jamie Morton (Herald): Boozed patients proving a headache at city ED
Libby Wilson (Waikato Times): Waikato DHB beefs up security after guard bashing
Sophie Trigger (Stuff): Census stuff-up supports case for greater GP access in the Sounds, trust says
RNZ: Nine to Noon: We need to talk about loneliness: researcher
Police
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Armed Response Team cops criticism: ‘Nothing good can come out of this’
Kyle MacDonald (Herald): More guns won’t make people safer (paywalled)
Jared Savage (Herald): Why the IPCA bullying investigation could cast a shadow over the next Police Commissioner (paywalled)
Ben Strang (RNZ): Independent Police Conduct Authority to do its own probe into bullying claims
RNZ: Police chases: Avoid pursuing fleeing youths, says Judge Becroft
Herald: Fleeing driver review: Youths are risk takers who want to get away from police
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Police come up with new ways to stop pursuits ending in death
RNZ: Teen charged after death of man during police pursuit
1News: Police look at drones, GPS trackers and refreshed training while working on pursuit review
John Weekes (Stuff): Sentry Taitoko inquest: Still no padded cell in custody unit five years after death
1News: Cop who fired 21 shots at car trying to run him over was justified, police watchdog finds
Parliament
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Parliament TV attack ads: Speaker reprimands academic over comments
Derek Cheng (Herald): Tempers flare over Parliament’s video rules: Trevor Mallard clashes with university professor
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Fiery debate but forward motion on Parliament TV rules
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Bowen House seismic status: Where are the numbers?
Zane Small (Newshub): Wellington building housing MPs’ offices to be vacated for earthquake strengthening
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Labour MP Tāmati Coffey holds baby son Tūtānekai while asking questions in Parliament
1News: Tāmati Coffey holds baby Tūtānekai while asking question in te reo
Parihaka
1News: Crown formalises apology for Parihaka invasion – ‘Land was taken, people were taken captive’
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Apology for Crown invasion of Parihaka passes into law
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Parihaka reach milestone to reconcile relationship with Crown
SkyCity fire
Michael Morrah (Newshub): SkyCity fire: More SkyCity workers, customers criticise the company’s response to the emergency
Joe Carolan (Daily Blog): Fire in the Sky – Smoke in the City
Matthew Tso (Stuff): Full heavy aerial appliance fleet unavailable to fight SkyCity fire
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Only one high ladder at SkyCity fire for two hours contributed to out of control blaze – union (paywalled)
Matthew Theunissen (RNZ): Millions of litres of water in flooded SkyCity centre carpark to head into wastewater
RNZ: Checkpoint: SkyCity fire: Where will 8 million litres of water go?
1News: Warning issued as eight million litres of dirty water from SkyCity fire may be pumped into harbour
Stuff: Hazard alert issued as eight million litres of filthy water from Auckland SkyCity fire pumped into harbour
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): SkyCity convention centre fire: The hidden dangers in the smoke
RNZ: The Detail: Salvaging the SkyCity convention centre
SkyCity fire: ‘Months’ before Fletcher can look at restarting construction work
Simon Collins (Herald): SkyCity fire: Insurance cover may be refused if ‘recklessness’ proved
Charles Clifton (Newsroom): SkyCity fire: What’s the damage?
Danaë Anderson (Noted): What economic impact will the NZICC Skycity fire have?
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Auckland SkyCity convention centre fire: Timelapse video shows 44 hours of fire in 40 seconds
Local government
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland mayoral race: How the war was won for Phil Goff
Gerald Piddock (Waikato Times): Southgate tenure begins with optimism and a promise
Samantha Motion (Bay of Plenty Times): Fallout over councillor Andrew Hollis’ Treaty of Waitangi comments hits council meeting
Samantha Motion (Bay of Plenty Times): Treaty of Waitangi wall hangings put back up in Tauranga City Council chamber after protester rips them down
Matt Shand (Stuff): Treaty of Waitangi pulled from wall amid protest over controversial councillor
1News: Treaty of Waitangi ripped from wall during fiery Tauranga swearing-in ceremony
Taranaki Daily News New Plymouth District Council in court over 1.5 million litre toxic spill
Karl du Fresne: Never mind democracy – off with his head!
Christina Persico (Taranaki Daily News): New Plymouth mayor reveals committee structure for new term
Peter Dunne: The impact of the electoral system on Wellington and Canada
1News: Justin Lester to apply for recount by ‘close of play’ tomorrow after losing Wellington mayoralty race
Damian George and Felix Desmarais (Dominion Post): Sarah Free beats Diane Calvert to win Wellington’s deputy mayoralty
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Sarah Free set to take on role as Wellington’s deputy mayor
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): Councillor on transparency crusade to boycott closed meetings
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Tasman elects Stuart Bryant as deputy mayor, scraps casting vote
Louis Day (Star News): Warning council could become polarised
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Lianne Dalziel reiterates commitment to rebuilding Christchurch
Paul Gorman (Stuff): No quibble over ECan’s new chairwoman but drama over deputy vote
Debbie Jamieson (Stuff): Queenstown Lakes Council sworn in as recount confirmed
Paul Taylor and Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): Manual recount in court on Wednesday
Paul Taylor (ODT): Queenstown recount to go ahead
Chris Morris (ODT): More change hangs on better public transport
Chris Morris (ODT): Public art back on DCC agenda
Evan Harding (Southland Times): City council under pump as big projects seek green light to proceed
Luisa Girao (ODT): Shadbolt appoints critical councillor to waste group
Primary industries
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Petition to ban live animal exports delivered to Parliament
Samesh Mohanlall (Timaru Herald): Many new welfare standards for dairy cattle ‘already in place’
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Fonterra raises alarm over factory closures if rules don’t change
Andrea Fox (Herald): Fonterra says no NZ plant closures – unless competition increases (paywalled)
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Fonterra farmers urge MPs to unshackle cooperative
Astrid Austin (Hawkes Bay Today): Twyford’s seasonal fury: From sleepy lifestyle blocks, to large-scale orchard worker accommodation (paywalled)
Immigration
Zane Small (Newshub): Shane Jones ‘worked up’ over ‘sense of entitlement of immigration leaders’
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): ‘I have no hope’: Penniless migrant relying on foodbanks after boss fails to pay up
RNZ: Five new locations for refugee settlement support revealed
Industrial relations, employment
Thomas Manch (Stuff): The case of the missing strikers: Unions, employers want data after year of industrial action
1News: Penalties against Christchurch restaurant owners who underpaid workers rise after they sell business
Jonathan Guildford (Stuff): No reprieve for Christchurch restaurant owners who moved on without paying ERA fines
Education
RNZ: More bad school reviews issued by ERO
Chris Morris (ODT): Kavanagh College removes name from blazer for next year
Leah Tebbutt (Rotorua Daily Post): Te Puna Manawa o Whakaue early childhood centre shut by Ministry of Education (paywalled)
Julie Iles (NBR: Vocational education reform gets caning at select committee (paywalled)
Elena McPhee (ODT): University hires UK firm to improve culture
Corrections
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Māori tīkanga at the helm under new prison strategy
John Lewis (ODT): Corrections to create new centralised community hub
No Right Turn: Still paying for the BMR
Banking sector
Lynn Grieveson (Newshub): Who’s going to be owning your debt?
Michael Reddell: The Governor’s “independent experts”
Other
David Fisher (Herald): ‘Aggressive’ and ‘violent’ – the Green Party member who wanted co-leader James Shaw to resign (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): It’s getting harder to be poor, and easier to be rich
Kate MacNamara (Stuff): Why governments promise to fix the housing market with first-home buyer help
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): SOEs need to be good corporate citizens
ODT Editorial: Privacy attitude below par
Press Editorial: The freedom to ‘cure’ or persecution?
Phil Pennington (RNZ): More buildings in Palmerston North added to earthquake-prone register
Phil Smith (RNZ): Notes from the gun debate: Tips for submitters to Parliament
Alex Perrottet (RNZ): Checkpoint: Countdown’s quiet hour: ‘Nice and calming’ for people with autism
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): 2019 Women of Influence Supreme winner medical pioneer Jane Harding
Herald: Land of the Long White Cloud: Pākehā New Zealanders reflect on their colonial past and future. Episode 5 – Confronting Colonisation
Joe Pihema (Herald): Haere mai ki Tamaki Makaurau, e Tuia 25 (paywalled)
Blair Jackson (Southland Times): Treaty of Waitangi grievance against Stewart Island shark cage venture
Vinnie Wylie (RNZ): Pacific Rugby Players CEO calls for change
Skara Bohny (Stuff): Some people will feel a ‘moderate’ jolt, others won’t be able to stand with the shaking
