New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.
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Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.

New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.

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?

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