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.
National’s law and order proposals
John Weekes (Stuff): National’s crime gurus must heed lessons from abroad to break cycle of repeat offending
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Checkpoint: Australian ex-cop blasts National’s ‘Strike Force Raptor’ plan
Nessa Lynch (Spinoff): National’s youth justice policy is a solution in search of a problem
1News: Simon Bridges gets defensive when quizzed by John Campbell about hard-on-gangs approach
1News: Auckland University retaliates after Simon Bridges calls academic ‘sweary bear’
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern shoots down National’s Strike Force Raptor unit
Newstalk ZB: Chester Burrows criticises National’s plan to tackle gangs
Herald: Simon Bridges should target poverty if he wants to tackle gang problems – Mongrel Mob Kingdom
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): National Party gang crackdown proposal: Mongrel Mob member calls for meeting
Samantha Olley (Herald): National’s anti-gang plans rubbished by Mongrel Mob Ōpōtiki president Barney Hunuhunu (paywalled)
John Weekes (Stuff): Eight years jail for ‘zombie drug’ suppliers proposed after toxic death spree
Sarah Dowie (Southland Times): National would empower police against increasingly brazen gangs
Zane Small (Newshub): National’s ‘Strike Force Raptor’ idea sparks Twitter meme extravaganza
Election 2020, candidate selections
Audrey Young (Herald): Chloe Swarbrick fizzing about new prospects in the Green Party (paywalled)
Derek Cheng (Herald); The race for Auckland Central: Head-girl vs high-school dropout
Alister Browne (Stuff): National’s youth gamble in Labour provincial stronghold
Sam Kilmister (Manawatū Standard): Age no barrier for National Party candidate William Wood
Charlotte Graham-McLay (New York Times): New Zealand is tackling hot-button liberal issues in one swoop (paywalled)
Vaping
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern says vaping laws must protect young people
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Young people becoming addicted to nicotine every day vaping market remains ‘unregulated’, Auckland principal warns
1News: Concerned by delay, over 60 NZ health organisations call for immediate vaping regulations
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Hone Harawira calls for ‘something radical’ to happen in quest for smoke-free, vape-free New Zealand
Kelly Burrowes (Newsroom): The big smoke: e-cigarette debate a red herring
Suicide Prevention Office, mental health
Jason Walls (Herald): Government opens Suicide Prevention Office and commits $12m to Māori and Pacific suicide prevention
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Government opens New Zealand’s first Suicide Prevention Office
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): Suicide Prevention Office opens its doors
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern reflects on ‘tragic’ part of PM role during Suicide Prevention Office opening
Jason Walls (Herald): Former All Blacks’ wing Nehe Milner-Skudder’s message of hope for those struggling with mental health
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): Nehe Milner-Skudder is ready to tackle suicide
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Wellington youth mental health facility lost track of 35 people in its care
Health
RNZ: Hepatitis Foundation former chief executive: ‘Its reputation is damaged’
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Maternity diaries: DHB chairman called out for telling ‘absolute lie’ over censure
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): SDHB will not reopen the Lumsden Maternity Centre, despite MP saying funding available
Louisa Steyl (Southland Times): Southern patients to travel for scans as targets not met
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Hawke’s Bay DHB chair ‘disappointed’ in Health Minister
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Hawke’s Bay DHB in triage over board appointments
Stephanie Ockhuysen (Taranaki Daily News): South Taranaki community leader gives cautious welcome to plan for improving district’s healthcare services
RNZ: Samoa’s measles death toll rises to 33
Madeleine Chapman (Spinoff): Sāmoa is deep in a measles crisis. The last thing it needs is misinformation
Teresa Ramsey (Stuff): Experts question new Cadbury initiative to get children involved in sport
Reserve Bank Financial Stability Report
Liam Dann (Herald): Reserve Bank call on LVRs is good news for first-home buyers (paywalled)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Why is Adrian Orr punishing first-home buyers?
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): RBNZ warning: House lending risk may be on the rise
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Reserve Bank says house price growth makes looser lending rules too risky
Katie Bradford (1News): Restrictions on low-deposit home loans to stay in place, Reserve Bank announces
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): Reserve Bank maintains LVR mortgage restrictions
Brent Edwards (NBR): RBNZ worries low interest rates undermine financial resilience (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Reserve Bank urges banks to show and tell (paywalled)
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): LVRs untouched; RBNZ sees elevated financial system vulnerability
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): LVR restrictions unchanged on concerns low interest rates could spark more high-risk lending
David Hargreaves (Interest): RBNZ sees ‘limited options’ for dairy sector to address its ‘debt overhang’
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): Dairy loans being closely monitored by banks: RBNZ
Jamie Gray (Herald): Reserve Bank warns indebted NZ dairy sector still vulnerable (paywalled)
Landfill levies
Michael Hayward (Stuff): Landfill levies could rise in Govt bid to urge people to recycle
Anna Whyte (1News): In bid to increase NZ’s dismal recycling rate, Govt proposes substantial hike for landfill fees
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Government proposes raising landfill levy rate by $50 in three years
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Checkpoint: Dump levy to be raised in effort to reduce landfill waste
RNZ: Govt wants to clean up landfill levy scheme
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Public feedback needed to tackle New Zealand’s waste challenges
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): New Govt proposal to increase levy rate could trigger more illegal dumping
Environment and conservation
No Right Turn: Climate Change: The task before us
AAP: New Zealand well ahead of Australia on climate change action, new survey finds
Rodney Hide (NBR): Virtue-signalling policy madness ratchets up (paywalled)
Pattrick Smellie (Herald): Resource Management Act reform – call it a space programme (paywalled)
RNZ: Chch business fined over ammonia spill that killed hundreds of fish
RNZ: Lake Horowhenua activist padlocks the gates
Michael Hayward (Press): Lyttelton Harbour’s Ripapa Island reopens to the public
Alison Pugh (1News): Island with ‘rich and often fraught history’ re-opens following closure after earthquake
Primary and extractive industries
Robin Martin (RNZ): Crown may foot $155m bill to decommission Taranaki oil field
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Cash-strapped Tamarind ordered to stop oil production following spill off Taranaki
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Tamarind ordered to halt production after oil spill spotted near Tui fields (paywalled)
No Right Turn: Leaving us with the bill
Laurel Stowell (Whanganui Chronicle): Polluting farmers could get free pass under controversial rule changes
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Government waterways proposal to move fences could cost millions – farmers
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Parker says Essential Freshwater package covers bird poo in waterways
Jono Edwards (ODT): Permits will affect irrigation options
Northern Advocate: Northland: Avocado growers say appeal vexatious and frivolous
RNZ: Farmer who abused livestock jailed for two years, wife fined $30k
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Study shows chemicals could cause beehive losses
1News: British supermarket chain announces plan to phase out New Zealand lamb
Media
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government very lukewarm on proposal to intervene in NZME/Stuff buyout
Dita De Boni (NBR): Reluctant government rides to rescue NZ media (paywalled)
David Farrar: Govt considering changing law to help media companies merge
Chris Keall (Herald): Sky and TVNZ in surprise Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics deal
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): TVNZ 1 will have daily coverage of Tokyo Olympics following surprise deal with Sky
Immigration
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Immigration New Zealand accused of slowing down applications
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): Who should pay for migrant healthcare?
Greg Ninness (Interest): Work, residence and student visa approvals all well up in October
Transport
Damian George (Stuff): Timing of capital’s transport projects up for negotiation once business cases are assessed – transport minister
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Government urged to rethink Wellington congestion charge
Newstalk ZB: Wellington Mayor won’t give up on congestion charge
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Pig-headed Govt slowing the country down
Stephen Forbes (Stuff): ‘No clarity’ for businesses over the potential disruption of Auckland light rail
Caroline Williams (Stuff): Fifty Auckland bus services cancelled during Thursday’s morning rush
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Where you’ll get free bus rides in Auckland for a month
Local government
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Heritage Auckland building where ‘lovely concerts were held’ demolished
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): How a local government information response got spun out of existence
Aaron van Delden (RNZ): Council turning to greener wheels to cut emissions
Jane Matthews (Taranaki Daily News): Stratford councillors approve sale of reserve land to town business
Ports of Auckland move
Herald: Auckland MP Nikki Kaye breaks ranks over port (paywalled)
David Farrar: My stance on Ports of Auckland
Ōwairaka/Mt Albert
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Ōwairaka protesters refuse to attend Tūpuna Maunga Authority hui
Amanda Saxton (Stuff): Saving Ōwairaka/Mt Albert’s trees: becoming an activist at almost 100 years old
Education
RNZ: Auckland schools deny higher fees, donations an advantage
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Christchurch school unable to get signoff for pā expansion
Taroi Black (Māori TV):Kaumātua lead the charge to protect matauranga Tai Tokerau
Elena McPhee (ODT): Submitters save three marine science jobs
Thomas Mead (1News): Cancelled Antarctic killer whale study reinstated following 1 NEWS story
Housing
ODT Editorial: Rented for 2020 — but then what?
Taroi Black (Māori TV): Housing agencies miss the bigger picture – Māori advocate
Herald: Young family living in Papakura ‘swamp house’ awarded over $6000 in compensation
1News: Revealed: The most affordable place in New Zealand for first-home buyers
Banks
Kate Macnamara (Stuff):Westpac’s spiralling child sex payment crisis management
Madison Reidy (RNZ): Banks told to do more to track child exploitation payments
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Bad Things Happen: the first homebuyer tax
Provincial Growth Fund
Brent Edwards (NBR): Coalition cash gives business confidence to invest in regions (paywalled)
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Palmerston North freight hub gets ‘master plan’
Brent Melville (ODT): PGF boost for engineering, manufacturing powerhouse
Gender pay gap
Anna Whyte (1News): Public service gender pay gap hits lowest level since records began
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Gender pay gap in public service drops to 10 per cent
Mandy Te (Stuff): Gender pay gap: Female medical specialists paid less per hour than male co-workers
RNZ: Gender pay gap: Study highlights disparity for medical specialists
Employment
Newstalk ZB: Government seeks changes to improve rights of contractors
Brent Edwards (NBR): Nats ‘disappointed’ by Future of Work report (paywalled)
Erebus
Michael Wright (Stuff): Erebus: NZ’s gigantic, unresolved mess
Herald Editorial: Forty years since Air New Zealand flight TE901 crashed on Erebus (paywalled)
Herald: Erebus Flight 901: Litany of Lies. Episode 10: Fresh mysteries for victim’s brother
John Keir and Andrew Laxton (Herald): Air NZ’s missing flight path evidence confirms ‘orchestrated litany of lies’ over Erebus – Judge Gary Harrison
Poverty, inequality
Donna-Lee Biddle (Stuff): Pātaka Kai movement expands as food pantries inundated by hungry whānau
Esther Ashby-Coventry (Timaru Herald): 16 tonnes of food diverted from Timaru landfill to kitchen tables
Fire Service
Matthew Tso (Stuff): One million more people, just 68 more firefighters
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Firefighters prepare across NZ as fire risk spikes early
Other
Efeso Collins (Spinoff): Arming police is heavy-handed and ill-advised – and Māori and Pasifika will pay the price
Jason Walls (Herald): Cost of new Defence Force HQ re-fit jumps in cost by $80 million due to ‘security requirements’
Cira Olivier (Bay of Plenty Times): Oranga Tamariki dealing with broken skulls and busted arms in Bay of Plenty (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Electricity bills set to fall by $4 a month in Auckland and up to $34 a month elsewhere
Keith Rankin (Evening Report): Chart Analysis: Division of New Zealand’s $300 billion GDP
Zane Small (Newshub): Parents living overseas will soon find it harder to avoid child support payments
RNZ: Pacific Parliamentary Forum: 11 leaders visit NZ’s Parliament
RNZ: New system needed to help Christchurch mosque shooting victims – fund manager
RNZ: NZ launches Pacific Language Fund
RNZ: NZ police close investigation into death threats against Tonga’s PM
Donna Miles-Mojab (Stuff): We are lucky Behrouz Boochani is here to tell his story
RNZ: Whangarei rodeo cancellation a blip, not trend – association
John Anthony (Stuff): Narcos at heart of $1.35 billion NZ money laundering industry
George Heagney (Manawatū Standard): Police urge firearm owners to hand weapons over as amnesty draws to a close
Jo Lines-MacKenzie (Stuff): Fonterra opposes Te Awa Lakes application to rezone Hamilton land
Gerald Hensley (Listener): What it was like to have Robert Muldoon and David Lange as boss
RNZ: The Detail: What does the new sexual violence law hope to achieve?
Scott Yeoman (Herald): Cricket: Jofra Archer abuser during Black Caps test was an English supporter, say spectators
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Police warn lives on line as people block emergency vehicles
Stuff: Did Simon Bridges get a mullet makeover?
