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.
Winston Peters’ privacy lawsuit
No Right Turn: Winston is right
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Who leaked? Journalists’ views differ
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Winston Peters says MSD staff ‘mistaken’ in privacy lawsuit
Harrison Christian (Stuff): Winston Peters: Witnesses ‘covering their butts’ in legal battle with the Crown
Zac Fleming (Newshub): Winston Peters says defence ‘covering their butts’ over pension overpayments
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): Winston Peters sues two National MPs over superannuation leak
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Trotman forced out of Winston’s shadow
National Party
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Christopher Luxon has won the chance to fight parliament’s most dangerous man
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Botany a rich contest to watch (paywalled)
Press Editorial: Nothing is a done deal yet for Christopher Luxon
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Newest member of the National Party Christopher Luxon is swimming with sharks now
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Jami-Lee Ross hones in on Christopher Luxon’s conservatism and Botany cred as race heats up
Jame Fyfe (Newshub): Christopher Luxon not ruling out going for National leadership
1News: National’s Botany candidate Christopher Luxon outlines his vision for the electorate
Zane Small (Newshub): Judith Collins praises Christopher Luxon as Simon Bridges brushes off leadership speculation
Anna Whyte (1News): ‘Fantastic’ – MPs react to Christopher Luxon’s rise to National Party candidate for Botany
Derek Cheng (Herald): Simon Bridges quick to defend Christopher Luxon on his first day as a National candidate
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Christopher Luxon backs no-jab-no-pay further the National Party
RNZ: Christopher Luxon suggests extension of ‘no jab, no pay’ policy
Derek Cheng (Herald): Awkward conversation: Simon Bridges’ charity dinner with Luxon backer
David Farrar: Luxon wins on first ballot
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): Christopher Luxon to stand for National party in Auckland seat of Botany
David Cormack (Herald): The fall and fall of ‘practically useless’ Simon Bridges (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National MP Maggie Barry announces retirement at 2020 election
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): National’s Maggie Barry to retire at 2020 election
Jason Walls and Derek Cheng (Herald): National MP Maggie Barry on why she’s quitting Parliament
RNZ: Maggie Barry to retire from politics in 2020
Zane Small (Newshub): National MP Maggie Barry to step down from Parliament in 2020
Anna Whyte (1News): ”An absolute blast’ – National MP Maggie Barry to leave Parliament in 2020
Immigration
Mike Treen (Unite Union): Racist and elitist immigration policy changes from a “Labour” government
Morgan Godfery (Guardian): New Zealand’s migrant boom is good news for Māori. It empowers us
Jody O’Callaghan (Stuff): Indian immigrant lodges Human Rights Commission complaint against Shane Jones
Jo Moir (RNZ): Indian community ‘shouldn’t be surprised’ by immigration comments – Jones
Boris Jancic (Herald): ‘Bollywood overreaction’: Shane Jones pushes back on criticism from Indian community
Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): Mokopuna of the treaty refuses to back down
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): ‘Bollywood overreaction’ remark prompts further calls for Shane Jones’ resignation
Zane Small and Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): ‘Bollywood overreaction’: Shane Jones digs in after angering Indian community
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Shane Jones making no apology to Indian community for ‘racist’ comments – says anxious Kiwis want national population policy
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Shane Jones’ comments not racist, but ‘poll-driven desperation’ – Simon Bridges
Mackenzie Smith (RNZ): NZ immigration rules a ‘concern’ – Tuvalu human rights head
Government
Jason Walls (Herald): Two years in Government: Fact checking Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s viral achievements video (paywalled)
ABC: Jacinda Ardern speed-lists her achievements in Facebook video which has gone global
RNZ: The Detail: Is the Provincial Growth Fund making a difference?
Environment, conservation
RNZ: Climate scientists warn of ‘untold suffering’ without major changes
Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Untold suffering’: Global scientists warn of climate emergency
Washington Post: More than 11,000 scientists from around the world declare a ‘climate emergency’
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National to support two climate change bills – for now
Jason Walls (Herald): National will vote in favour of two sizable pieces of climate change fighting legislation
Oliver Lewis and Jonathan Guildford (Stuff): Extinction Rebellion activist first to be charged in NZ
Charlie Gates (Press): Urban bird colony in ruins of former office block in Christchurch
Abuse in state and church care inquiry
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Abuse in care inquiry: ‘I learnt that I was nobody’
Michael Neilson (Herald): ‘Nobody ever asked me how I was’: Woman adopted at birth details abuse and state-care failures to Royal Commission
Police
Tim Watkin (Pundit): Mike Bush As Dirty Harry: Well, Do Ya Trust Him, Punk?
Gordon Campbell: On giving the Police unnecessary new powers, and Spain’s elections
Welfare
Aaron Hendry (Noted): Voters deserve more than National’s see-through social welfare strategy
Hugh Evans (Stuff): My experience of the benefit is what I wish everyone had
Health
Carl Shuker (Spinoff): The power, peril and promise of targets
Katie Doyle (RNZ): Rising rates of youth hospitalised after self-harming
Herald: Paramedics face new professional rules with bigger workforce and double crewing
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Paramedics to be a regulated profession to ‘protect the public’ – Health Minister David Clark
1New: Paramedics to be formally regulated in same way doctors, nurses are
Farah Hancock (Newsroom):Pharmacies flout homeopathy rule
Jenny Meyer (RNZ): Samoa measles epidemic: Suspected cases could be tip of iceberg
Jenny Meyer (RNZ): Measles outbreak: Visiting restrictions at Samoa’s hospitals
Evan Harding (Southland Times): Southland GPs fight for better care for spinal patients
Scott Yeoman (Bay of Plenty Times): Talking with Tama, a sick toddler who can’t access the drug he needs
Eleisha Foon (RNZ): Movember charity calls for after work ‘happy hour’ for mental health
Herald: Just Listen podcast: What is high-functioning depression?
Cate Broughton (Press): Mystery surrounds possible new car parks for Christchurch Hospital
Local government
Mark Broatch and Eleanor Roy (Guardian): ‘Bulging at the seams’: Auckland, a super city struggling with its own success
Charlotte Jones (RNZ): Debate rages after Whakatane councillor ousted
1News: Hamilton City Council fined $54k for overflow of wastewater, including human sewage, into Waikato River
Todd Niall (Stuff): Climate change action sought by Auckland’s newest councillors
RNZ: Council fined after 2 million litres of wastewater discharged into Waikato River
Herald: Hamilton City Council in the poo over Waikato River wastewater spills
Kiri Gillespie (Bay of Plenty Times): Tauranga City Council elected members decide on major pay rises for some, pay cuts for others
Mare Haimona-Riki (Māori TV): Wairoa District council leads the way in Māori representation
Mare Haimona-Riki (Māori TV): Wairoa Mayor provides safety after multiple shootings
Georgie Ormond (Herald): Local Focus: Diversity brings new faces to Rangitikei and Palmerston North Councils
DCC looks to buy Foulden Maar
Chris Morris (ODT):Fossil record prerogative
Chris Morris (ODT): Foulden Maar supporters welcome DCC’s decision
Stats NZ General Social Survey, demographics
Kate Newton (RNZ): Now we are five million: Who is the average Kiwi?
RNZ: NZers less positive about health and wellbeing – Stats NZ
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Households on $100,000-plus increasingly feel they have ‘only just enough’ money
1News: More Kiwis believe they’re financially better off than 10 years ago – Stats NZ
Primary and extractive industries
Melanie Reid and Mark Jennings (Newsroom): Starving chickens rescued from failed free-range farm
Torika Tokalau (Stuff): 1000 hens accidentally bought online likely plagued with diseases
Thomas Manch (Stuff):Our regions are in a banking crisis, at just the point they need debt most
BusinessDesk: ‘Farmers barely covering interest payments’ – Westpac boss David McLean
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Seized fruit tree cutting imports stoush: Nursery owners meet with MPI
Gerald Piddock (Waikato Times): Waikato Regional Council says Government’s water reforms not affordable
Mike Watson (Taranaki Daily News): Farmers and rural based businesses face insolvency from freshwater proposals, Taranaki Regional Council report says
Toni Williams (ODT): More money for affected families
Toni Williams (ODT): People major factor in accidents
Joyce Wyllie (Stuff): Finding time to make submissions can be a challenge
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): Mining company granted leave to appeal West Coast mine decision
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): The China-NZ FTA upgrade – why now?
RNZ: China FTA and RCEP: ideal in the circumstances – Jacobi
RNZ: NZ and 14 other Asia-Pacific countries agree on terms for huge trade pact
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): RCEP deal well received; India’s absence disappoints (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): McClay downplays trade deals but business forum pleased (paywalled)
Alan Bollard (Newsroom): APEC Santiago – all is not lost
Zane Small (Newshub): As Jacinda Ardern goes viral, Simon Bridges belittles trade efforts as lacking ‘ambition’
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern’s awkward end to East Asia summit despite trade success
Scott Palmer (Newshub): How a law to deport gang members saw a climb in Kiwis sent back to NZ
1News: Britain hopeful of ‘close relationship’ with iwi following expression of regret over killing of Māori during Cook’s landing
Education
1News: Education Minister says closing pay gap for early childhood teachers ‘may take some time’
Christina Persico (Taranaki Daily News): Taranaki early childhood educators ask Government to hear their voice
Elena McPhee (ODT): Falsifying reports defended
RNZ: Social media posts helped tip-off students’ abuse of overseas placement
Lee Kenny and Cate Broughton (Stuff): University of Otago investigation finds med students faked work placement records
Death of Mason Pendrous
Sam Sherwood (Press): Mason Pendrous was dead up to a month before he was found, coroner rules
Newshub: Mason Pendrous lay undiscovered for between two and four weeks – coroner
Eleisha Foon (RNZ): Coroner unable to say when Canterbury student died
Ihumātao
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Occupied Ihumātao land could be granted highest heritage status
Taroi Black (Māori TV): ‘People need to be made accountable’ over Ihumātao – AKL Councilor
Media
Peter A Thompson (University of Auckland): Turning off the lights: Is the government to blame if Mediaworks’ TV3 shuts down?
Finlay Macdonald (Newsroom) Ian Cross (1925-2019)
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Why do we fall for fake news?
1News: Former TVNZ political editors pick top moments to mark 50th anniversary of TV news
1News: Fifty years of TV network news: The excess and division of the 1980s
RNZ: About Local Democracy Reporting
Insurance
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Concerns about insurers’ premiums and their capital make for a double headache
ODT: Reserve Bank warns insurance sector to improve conduct and culture
Victoria Young (BusinessDesk): RBNZ’s warning to general insurers (paywalled)
Mandy Te (Stuff): Wellington insurance taskforce suggest move away from earthquake risk going to insurers
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Robertson & Orr call for insurance premium transparency as risk-based pricing hits property values
Transport
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Phil Tywford corrects wrong answer he gave to Parliament
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Multi-million dollar probe scrutinising truck chassis records
Heather du Plessis Allan (Newstalk ZB): Better public transport needed before congestion charge
James Fyfe (Newshub): Road-user charge needed to fix New Zealand’s congested roads – New Zealand Initiative
Brent Edwards (NBR): Solve traffic gridlock, reduce emissions with congestion charges (paywalled)
Hawkes Bay Today: Greg Murphy welcomes Julie-Anne Genter’s review of graduated driver licensing system
Robin Martin (RNZ): On road to employment: Project helps students to get driving licences
Insolvency law changes
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Government parks plan to reform Ponzi scheme law, leaving victim seething (paywalled)
Julie Iles (NBR): Minister backs away from ponzi law change (paywalled)
Fireworks
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): No mood for tightening fireworks rules – Chris Hipkins
RNZ: Checkpoint: Guy Fawkes’ backyard fireworks: Will they stay or will they go?
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Guy Fawkes 2019: Two large blazes part of 55 fire callouts for Auckland and Northland
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Multiple fires break out across Auckland, with fireworks believed to be at blame
1News: Fireworks cause two large blazes on Auckland’s Mt Eden and Mt Wellington
Other
David Fisher (Herald): SkyCity convention centre fire: Roof cladding details hit speculation over ‘apprentice and the blowtorch’ (paywalled)
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Shake-up for incorporated societies includes political parties
Brian Rudman (Herald): Time for our elected class to do what we pay them for (paywalled)
Jarrod Gilbert (Herald):Cheap slogans and poor policy allow meth trade to flourish (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Stuff): What is true hardship in New Zealand? Trying to fill up the shopping trolley
Simon Collins (Herald): NZ online porn bill going ahead despite British backdown (paywalled)
Brian Easton (Pundit): Will They Take Wellingtin?
Donna-Lee Biddle (Stuff): The land of the lawless: Māngere, the suburb without a criminal law firm
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): 1000 deaths and widespread destruction following tsunami warns report
Mackenzie Smith (RNZ): Dozens of boats ordered by Tokelau stuck in storage in NZ
Rob Stock (Stuff): Should KiwiSavers go into business with Saudi Arabia’s repressive regime?
1News: Mongrel Mob ‘don’t rate a mention’ in Australia, says gang expert
Bill Ralston (Listener): Why can’t MPs make up their minds about euthanasia?
David Farrar: Disagreeing with Damien
Herald: Watch: Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick drops casual ‘OK boomer’ during speech
Liu Chen (RNZ): Melbourne Cup protesters: ‘We want people to think about what’s happening’