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
Audrey Young (Herald): Will one night in Bangkok make the world Ardern’s free-trade oyster? (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Stuff): What is the East Asia Summit and why is Jacinda Ardern there?
Jane Patterson (RNZ): One night in Bangkok
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern gets down to business at East Asia Summit in Thailand (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): Ardern and ASEAN on side
Richard Harman (Politik): Finally, after seven years, the RCEP trade agreement including India is close
AAP: Jacinda Ardern, in Thailand for East Asia Summit, downplays prospect of trade breakthrough
Perry Wilton and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Trade deal ‘bigger than the TPP’ focus of East Asia Summit
Brent Edwards (NBR): Can New Zealand overcome India’s worries about dairy exports? (paywalled)
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern surprised by remarks in welcome to Thailand
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern flying into major tension at annual East Asia Summit
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern to talk Rugby World Cup with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe at East Asia Summit
RNZ: NZ and Japan sign deal for closer co-operation in Pacific
Tracy Watkins (Sunday Star Times): Editorial: Apec cancellation is a big blow for Jacinda Ardern
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Trade Minister hints news of China FTA upgrade coming ‘soon’
Ryan Bridge (Newshub): China is smarter than any Western democracy in existence
Jason Walls (Herald): Government expresses concern over ‘human rights situation’ regarding Chinese Uighur Muslims
Nevil Gibson (NBR): Defence takes lead in Pacific role (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): British High Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Clarke says Māori are high priority in future trade deal
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): More than a third of New Zealanders think Jacinda Ardern is too overseas-focused
Newshub: The Pitch: Todd McClay on National’s plan for trade (video)
National Party
John Armstrong (1News): Simon Bridges’ skilful release of benefit ideas a ‘very big warning’ to Labour
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Nats take nation’s temp but vaccination still needed
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Politicians abuse the weakest in society because it absolves them of responsibility
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): Can Simon Bridges do a ScoMo? (paywalled)
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): National’s outdated approach to welfare would be too disruptive for a conservative party to pull off
Press Editorial: Tough talk with less thought
Newshub Nation: Not all solo mothers should be forced to name fathers – Bridges
Newshub Nation: Simon Bridges ‘okay’ with anti-vaxxers as long as they’re not ‘on the taxpayers’ dime’
David Slack (Stuff): Here’s a starter for 10: Would you pass a School C exam on life in New Zealand in 2019?
Steve Braunias (Herald): The secret diary of … Simon Bridges (paywalled)
Andrew Gunn (Stuff): Whose turf really is beneficiary-bashing?
Paul Little (Herald): From the heart of Simon Bridges (paywalled)
Winston Peters’ lawsuit, NZ First
Newstalk ZB: Why some good could come out of Winston Peters’ court case
Boris Jancic (Herald): Winston Peters to take stand as lawsuit against National MPs reaches court
1News: Winston Peters’ privacy lawsuit against National MPs starts
RNZ: Winston Peters’ privacy lawsuit against National MPs starts
Jason Walls (Herald): Kelvin Davis in charge of Cabinet on Monday while Winston Peters pursues lawsuit
Claire Trevett (Herald): Shane Jones on PM Jacinda Ardern, the succession question and his post-2020 coalition wish list (paywalled)
Greens
Audrey Young (Herald): Mixed success in Green Party caucus rating (paywalled)
Doug Laing (Herald): Green Party plots its election moves at forum in Napier with MP Julie-Anne Genter
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Old Greens vs Neo Greens on Terrorism
Peter Griffin (Stuff): Greens have a tenuous relationship with science
Labour Party
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Factional race to replace Labour’s president heats up
Newshub: Backstory: Willow-Jean Prime (video)
Week in politics, parliament
Claire Trevett (Herald): Beehive Diaries: ScoMo’s revenge on PM Jacinda Ardern, the lights go out on Simon Bridges (paywalled)
Peter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: National looks for votes the old fashioned way
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Andrew Little declares little confidence in Advertising Standards Authority
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Parliamentary Service to move staff out of Bowen House
Phil Smith (RNZ): The House: Whipping MPs for a job: What does a party whip actually do?
Abuse in state and church care inquiry
Carmen Parahi (Stuff): Evidence building against the state and faith-based institutions alleging a cover up
1News: State care rife with ‘systemic discrimination and racism’, former cop and prison boss says
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Royal Commission hearing: Sir Kim Workman takes aim at National Party
State care rife with ‘systemic discrimination and racism’, former cop and prison boss says
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Disabled people’s basic needs not met, abuse in care inquiry told
Tiwai Point
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Rio Tinto was told never to come back, but keeps trying anyway (paywalled)
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): The smelter company is bluffing about, Tiwai isn’t it?
Steven Joyce (Stuff): Why the rest of us are paying to keeping Auckland’s lights on
Damien Grant (Stuff): The Govt must swallow a rather large smelter rat and declare Tiwai an economic free zone
Tim Hunter (NBR): Rio Tinto must take us for mugs (paywalled)
RNZ: ‘No shortage of support’ to save smelter and 1000 jobs
Luisa Girao (ODT): Campaign begins to keep Tiwai smelter open
Ben Butler (Guardian): Australian aluminium smelters ‘not sustainable’ due to high power costs, Rio Tinto says
Sexual violence
Laura Walters (Newsroom): New sexual violence data tells same, bleak story
Kirsty Johnston (Herald): Unresolved: Kiwi victims of sexual violence deserve better (paywalled)
Boris Jancic (Herald): Only 6 per cent of sexual violence cases reported to Police end in jail: Major Government study
Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): 11 percent of reported sexual violence cases end in conviction – report
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘This isn’t good enough’: Research shows six jailed for every 100 sexual violence cases
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Experienced lawyer says sex abuse conviction rates point to broken system
1News: New report outlines low number of convictions for sexual violence cases
Guardian: New Zealand: just 11% of sexual violence reports lead to conviction
Justice, corrections
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Access denied: Thousands brave NZ courts without a lawyer due to cost (paywalled)
Georgia Forrester (Stuff): As countries look to raise the age of criminal responsibility, should NZ too?
RNZ: Managing violent inmates ‘one of the risks of the job’ – Corrections president
Police
Ben Strang (RNZ): Police bullying ‘widespread throughout the organisation’ – senior officer
Jordan Bond (RNZ): ‘This is a step towards the militarisation of the police’
Kiri Gillespie (Bay of Plenty Times): ‘Putting them in prison … isn’t going to work’: Police issue more warnings in Bay of Plenty (paywalled)
Local government
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says CCOs could be abolished or downsized
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Roger MacDonald, boss of Auckland Council’s property arm resigns
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Mayor Phil Goff gives National Party figure plum finance role
Todd Niall (Stuff): Fourth Auckland Council sworn in with climate change focus
RNZ: Mayor Phil Goff sworn back into office vowing climate action
Heta Gardiner (Māori TV): Minister for Local Government – “I need to look at the legislation to correct this issue”
Katee Shanks (Rotorua Daily Post): Whakatāne’s one-week councillor Hinerangi Goodman wants transparency (paywalled)
RNZ: Council result decided by drawing name from hat is overturned
James Baker (Stuff): Port Waikato home owners want answers as erosion claims their land
Nicola Patrick (Herald): Looking ahead to the next Horizons council term (paywalled)
Damian George (Dominion Post): Uncertainty about Wellington’s mayoralty continues as judge weighs up recount
Georgina Campbell (Herald): New mayor cagey over Wellington tunnel-building mission
Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Wellington Mayor ‘disappointed’ in comments suggesting Hobson’s Pledge support
Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Don Brash says Wellington Mayor Andy Foster supports Hobson’s Pledge ethos
Stuff: Shelly Bay land claim continues despite $500m plan getting resource tick
Cherie Sivignon (Nelson Mail): Tasman District Council gives nod to childcare allowance
Cherie Sivignon (Nelson Mail): Tasman District Council appoints fulltime kaihautū and chief information officer
Skara Bohny and Tim O’Connell (Nelson Mail): More to do to ensure Nelson council is truly diverse, mayor says
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): Marlborough deputy mayor chosen, mayor puts focus on environment
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): Government may yet intervene at Westland District Council
Andrew Bevin (NBR): SFO files corruption charges over alleged Westland Council corruption (paywalled)
Christchurch
Tina Law (Press): Christchurch mayor the subject complaint over handling of the Deon Swiggs issue
Tina Law (Press): Christchurch rebuild agency defends its plan to green the red zone
Dominic Harris (Press): Christchurch loses if the city centre fails, councillor Jamie Gough says
Conan Young (RNZ): Plan to restore Christchurch’s red zone blasted as ‘unachievable, unviable and undesirable’
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Christchurch transport plan has ‘divided the city’
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Christchurch earthquake: Homeowners’ 10-year fight for property to be red-zoned
Liz McDondald (Press): Catholic church spends $15 million on central Christchurch properties
Dunedin
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Presents from Santa Shane’s bulging sack
Brent Melville (ODT): PGF getting Dunedin ‘back on track’
David Loughrey (ODT): Search for Hillside workers
Mike Houlahan (ODT): MPs visit high-tech businesses
Education
Steve Elers (Stuff): Poster squabble puts Massey University in tough position balancing ethics and international market
1News: Sunday: Mason Pendrous’ step-father pays tribute to a ‘good boy’ with a ‘great heart’
Herald: Stepdad of University of Canterbury student Mason Pendrous unhappy over death investigation
Simon Collins (Herald): Measles threat to NCEA exams for Auckland high schools
Brianna McIlraith (Taranaki Daily News): A decade in the job and a teacher aide still earns less than living wage
RNZ: Decision on school name change to follow after decision from Vatican
Health
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Fat chance of health help: Middlemore Hospital patients too obese for MRI machines, needles
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Death flowchart: If you were going to die, would you want to know? (paywalled)
Newshub: Revealed: Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter’s bid for period poverty funding failed
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): Period poverty: National hui on menstrual health issues being held in Auckland
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): ‘I’ve got relatives with ME/CFS’ – Dr Richard Medlicott’s reason behind fundraising ride
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Marcel Robert’s view is a darkened room in a rest home: Life with chronic illness ME (paywalled)
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Will terminally ill life insurance policyholders be covered if they ask for help to die?
Emma Russell (Herald): Hundreds of Kiwis battling leukaemia given hope with funding of new drug
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Calls for more mental health resources in NZ’s Korean communities
Māori TV: Māori & Pasifika patients get quicker access to MRI reports under pilot project
RNZ: The Detail: Understanding autism
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Health initiative leading to better future
Hawkes Bay Today: Hawke’s Bay GPs call for parents to get students vaccinated against meningococcal
Measles
Jenny Meyer (RNZ): Samoa measles epidemic: Immunologist furious at NZ
RNZ: Samoa to close all schools after exams because of measles
RNZ: Concern for New Caledonia after Tonga futsal player gets measles
Retirement, wellbeing for older NZers
Derek Cheng (Herald): Housing, work, public transport: Govt launches strategy for ageing population
1News: Government launches plan to tackle elderly loneliness, employment issues
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): Fiscal pros and cons of baby boomers (paywalled)
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): NZ on Air chief Jane Wrightson named as new Retirement Commissioner
Housing
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Public housing waitlist nears 14,000 with record-high
1News: Housing shortage hampering Northland as region grows
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Permanent resident since 2010: Why can’t I buy a house?
Immigration, refugees
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Government takes another look at partnership visas
Newshub: ‘Something big’ coming if Shane Jones doesn’t resign – migrant group
Dan Satherley and Perry Wilton (Newshub): Immigrants and anti-racist activists call for Shane Jones’ head
Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Migrant and racism action group call for Shane Jones’ resignation for ‘blatant racism’ comments
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): Avoiding Cabinet over ‘racist’ partnership visa issue
RNZ: Visa delays ‘a real human problem’
RNZ: Now we are five (million)
Duncan Garner (Stuff): NZ has changed for the better – now we need to talk about the future
Cushla Norman (1News): Polish WWII refugees make emotional return to North Island town that welcomed them 75 years ago – ‘It was real home’
Charlotte Cook (RNZ): Pahiatua’s refugee children: ‘We are blessed because we came to NZ’
Paul Mitchell (Stuff): Pahīatua reenacts arrival of the ‘Polish Children,’ to celebrate the event’s 75th anniversary
Environment and conservation
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): ‘The clock is ticking’: Less talk, more action needed in the race against climate change
Alex Johnston (Stuff): Zero Carbon Act must set tough targets if NZ is to help the world
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): James Renwick, climate detective
David Williams (Newsroom): Irrigation talks raise DoC staff ire
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): ‘Arrogant and secretive’ withholding of Māui review
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): Court to council: sort out dam, fast
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern challenged to go vegan for ‘sake of humanity’
RNZ: Indigenous climate activists hope for new UN conference venue
Newshub: UK fracking ban puts NZ to shame – Greenpeace
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): ‘Ongoing silence’ over Te Waikoropupū Springs conservation bid alarms
Alastair Lynn (Newshub): Aerial 1080 drops play vital role in flourishing private native bush block
Listener Editorial: During Bird of the Year, we must heed the cry of alarm
Anna Whyte (1News): Wellington company providing work for people with disabilities as soft plastic recycling scheme relaunches
Primary industries
Jo Moir (RNZ): Farmers given breathing room on ETS, but stress remains
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Water reform plans: Potato industry warns of ‘unintended consequences’
Brent Edwards (NBR): Freshwater submissions propose changes to government plan (paywalled)
Brent Melville (ODT): Foreigners snapping up forest land
Stuff: Forestry Minister seeks wood work ideas
Economy
Zane Small (Newshub): Economist explains ‘confusion’ over economy ‘doing well’ despite low business confidence
Liam Dann (Herald): What that upbeat housing forecast really means for the economy (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): Good news for Govt as business and consumer confidence turns (paywalled)
Media
Colin Peacock (RNZ): Should our leaders be more ‘out there’ in the media?
Tim Murphy and Mark Jennings (Newsroom): Kicking the tyres at Three
Asia Pacific Report: Pacific reporting among first casualties of NZ media crisis, says academic
Jeremy Rose (RNZ): Mediawatch Midweek: Facebook news; social media ads, and; warship “spotted” in Wellington
Jonathan MacKenzie (Waikato Times): Making history and the news
RNZ: Journalist and author Ian Cross dies aged 93
Kim Dungey (ODT): Stephen Jaquiery: A life behind the lens
SkyCity fire
George Block (Stuff): SkyCity Convention Centre fire smoke could raise risk of stroke, lung cancer
RNZ: Forty cases of SkyCity employees feeling unwell – union
Dan Satherley (Newshub): SkyCity fire: Union offers support for apprentice reported to have caused blaze
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): SkyCity fire: Kiwis share work blunders in solidarity with convention centre tradie
Kim Moodie (Herald): SkyCity blaze: FENZ finishes investigation into the devastating fire
RNZ: SkyCity fire contaminants ‘unlikely to have major effect on harbour’
James Fyfe (Newshub): Water used to fight SkyCity fire ‘sufficiently diluted’ before reaching ocean – Auckland Council
1News: No long-term impact on marine life, water quality following SkyCity convention centre fire, testing reveals
Transport
Todd Niall (Stuff): Will Auckland Transport’s rideshare be its Apollo 11 or Icarus?
Herald: Transport Minister Phil Twyford: Hardship fund ‘not compensation’
Dianna Vezich (Newshub): Karangahape Road business owners concerned over impact of ‘chaotic’ City Rail Link construction
Lucy Warhurst (Newshub): The reasons why Kiwis aren’t opting for electric vehicles
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): ‘I’m angry. No-one leaves to go to work and just doesn’t come back’
Tuia 250
Philip Matthews (Stuff): Tuia 250: new lines across the Pacific
Denise Piper (Stuff): Tuia 250 flotilla haka in Northland chance to re-write history, kaumatua says
Building and construction
Phil Pennington (RNZ): CodeMark lifts suspension on building products certifier with poor record
Phil Pennington (RNZ): New rules aims to seal flaws in CodeMark scheme
Christchurch mosque shootings
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Christchurch mosque shooting video game: Vodafone NZ blocks site
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Mosque shooting video: White supremacist Philip Arps launches second appeal
Fireworks
Heather McCarron (Newshub): The cost of Guy Fawkes revealed
Newshub: SPCA calls for private fireworks ban
RNZ: Fireworks retailer criticised for early discount
Other
Jason Walls (Herald): National blames Government for electricity hardship payment jump – Govt say it’s on National
Māori TV: Herritage NZ proposes stonefields at Ihumātao receive highest category of protection
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): British heritage organisations up in arms over $750,000 rort using Heritage NZ
Cate Broughton (Press): Oranga Tamariki sends family group conference report to wrong person
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): ANZ NZ has ‘a really privileged position in the market and we have made mistakes’
Rob Stock (Stuff): First his home burnt, then businessman Evan Christian had to fight his insurer
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Big Vision 2020: We need public owned Forests, free public transport, Worker’s Levy, legalised cannabis, State House rent to own, solar panels & tax-free first $20 000
Kevin Jenkins (Herald): Millions being spent on space tech in NZ. Here’s what’s at stake. (paywalled)
Alice Webb-Liddall (Spinoff): How the hospitality industry incentivises smoking
Deena Coster (Taranaki Daily News): All New Zealanders can play a role in growing knowledge of nation’s own history
RNZ: Iwi at Forum urges repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery
Eleisha Foon (RNZ): Santa to reply to Christmas letters in te reo
Mandy Te (Dominion Post): New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to perform Beethoven in te reo Māori
1News: Mum of teen who died at music festival appeals for legalised testing as NZ First mulls u-turn
Hamish Bidwell (RNZ): All Blacks need a revamp from stale, pale and male
Jeremy Wilkinson (RNZ): Ban on gun ads infuriates organisers of a Taranaki antique firearms event
1News: Community gathers in Auckland to raise awareness of Kurdish plight in Northern Syria
Rod Oram (Newsroom): Reinventing the financial system
Liam Dann (Herald): Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon tips wage growth to hit 10-year high (paywalled)
