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.
Labour Party conference, infrastructure spending announcements
Chris Trotter: “Not The Labour Party We Once Knew.”
Chris Trotter (Interest): The year of delivery: A sympathetic stock-take of Jacinda Ardern’s 2019
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Labour gears up for the 2020 election
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Bung is about to be popped from pork barrel on eve of election year
Gordon Campbell: On the likely role of PPPs in Labour’s infrastructural spending
David Cormack (Herald): Labour pulls off a move of tactical genius (paywalled)
Kevin Davies (Newsroom): The speech that delighted Labour
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Credit cards out: Where all that infrastructure money should be spent
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Labour’s successful conference reset (paywalled)
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Labour’s timely bribe
David Hargreaves (Interest): Be wary of governments bearing gifts…
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Grant Robertson needs to do better on infrastructure
Andrew Dickens (Newstalk ZB): Infrastructure spend-up will be Robertson’s big test
No Right Turn: Loosening the purse strings
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Labour Party yawn-fest of a conference
RNZ: Labour defends infrastructure spend: ‘It is the right time to do it’
1News: Economist says schools will benefit from Govt’s latest infrastructure announcement but roading should be a ‘priority’
Liam Dann (Herald): Will the big Government spend-up boost the economy? (paywalled)
Dan Satherley (Newshub: ‘Damn good idea’ to borrow, but money should go on roads – economist
Brent Edwards (NBR): Treasury less optimistic about economy (paywalled)
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RNZ: Schools welcome maintenance funding boost, criticise allocation
1News: Some New Zealand schools plagued by black mold and asbestos, PPTA says
Heath Moore (Herald): Show me the money, Jacinda: Brian Tamaki hits out at Government over $400m school bonus
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): ‘Pay up!’: Brian Tamaki furious because Destiny School ‘never got anything’ from Government
John Lewis (ODT): A $27m boost for business
Samantha Olley (Bay of Plenty Times): Bay of Plenty Schools to reap benefits of infrastructure spending (paywalled)
1News Colmar Brunton poll
1News: Latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll explained, as Labour plummets to lowest levels since it took office
1News: Labour result lowest in two years, National-ACT could form Govt – 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): New poll has National-led Government
Herald: Who is up and who is down in latest 1News Colmar Brunton poll
David Farrar: Latest poll
Gun buyback data breach
Zane Small and Jenny Lynch (Newshub): Software giant SAP apologises to New Zealand as details of gun buyback data breach unfold
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Gun buy-back data breach prompts calls for agencies to step up vigilance
RNZ: Police gun buyback scheme continues as company fixes data breach
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Police blame gun buyback privacy breach on ‘human error’
Charlotte Graham-McLay (Guardian): New Zealand’s gun buyback website ‘a shopping list for criminals’
Herald: Police confirm privacy breach on gun buy-back site
Thomas Manch (Stuff): ‘Disappointing’ data breach has police shut down gun buyback website
Eleisha Foon (RNZ): Police gun buyback website shut down over privacy breach fears
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Police aware of potential breach to gun buyback database
1News: Police investigating potential privacy breach of firearms buyback database
Scott Palmer (Newshub): National, ACT blast Government after gun buyback privacy breach
1News: Gun buyback scheme privacy breach a ‘serious safety issue’ – Simon Bridges
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Gun buyback goes from bad to worse
Education
Richard Harman (Politik): Treaty to be at centre of education
Josephine Franks (Stuff): More than 550 early childhood teachers sign open letter demanding pay parity
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): The sad end of a rural school: Tuturumuri School closes after 97 years
Kiwiblog: Campus Cancel Culture:
Primary industries
John Weekes (Stuff): Nearly 200,000 chickens die due to power failure at poultry farm, MPI investigates
Hearld: Nearly 200,000 chickens found dead after ‘suffocating’ during power cut
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Environmentalist won’t campaign against winter grazing if changes made to practices
Adam Currie (Spinoff): Abuse of farmers only strengthens corporate agriculture’s hand
Evan Harding (Stuff): Shane Jones calls on Ngai Tahu for support in fight with Australia
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Low methane New Zealand sheep coming to a farm near you
Ben Smee (Guardian): New Zealand begins genetic program to produce low methane-emitting sheep
Climate change, environment, conservation
Jim Flynn (ODT): Polar ice cover critical climate factor
No Right Turn: Climate Change: How to get there
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): COP25: Pacific countries pushing for climate action in Madrid
Zane Small (Newshub): Simon Bridges urges ‘glorified social worker’ police to crack down on Extinction Rebellion
RNZ: Environmentalist protesters blockade oil company OMV’s NZ offices
1News: Climate protestors block entrances to oil company headquarters in New Plymouth
Christina Persico (Stuff): Greenpeace brings oil protest to New Plymouth
Ryan Bridge (Newshub): Hypocrite climate protesters should be put in handcuffs
Jane Matthews (Stuff): Meet the Dunedin-based oil and gas protester who drove to New Plymouth
George Heagney (Stuff): Activist vows Lake Horowhenua will stay closed
1News: Water quality at Auckland beaches can become ‘public health’ issue after rain
Matt Rilkoff (Taranaki Daily News): Dropping Egmont helps restores the mana of Taranaki Maunga
Deena Coster (Stuff): Egmont out, Taranaki Maunga in: agreement reached on mountain name change
Dominion Post Editorial: Keeping NZ beautiful is fine – keeping the world turning is better
Dave Hansford (Spinoff): The dead rats of Westport and the mystery lab: a new twist in the tail
OIO South Island farmland decision
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Canadian bid for South Island farmland rejected by OIO
Anne Gibson (Herald): ‘Not in national interest’: Ministers block foreigners from buying 4500ha of farmland
ODT: Govt blocks South Island farmland sale
Jacob McSweeny (ODT): Rejection of overseas sale welcomed
Samoa measles epidemic
Florence Kerr (Stuff): Prime Minister of Samoa shuts down his Government to assist in mass vaccination campaign
Vita Molyneux and Michael Morrah (Newshub): Samoan government to shut down due to measles outbreak
RNZ: Samoa govt to shut down this week for vaccination campaign
RNZ: Checkpoint: Samoa measles epidemic: Three children in one family killed
RNZ: Five more children die from measles in Samoa, death toll rises to 53
RNZ: Samoa measles outbreak: Police urge public to keep to curfew
Health
Denise Piper (Stuff): Northland school achieves 97% MMR vaccination, stopping measles spread
RNZ: Northland school achieves almost total measles vaccination rate
Mike Yardley (Stuff): Tobacco tax hikes are too good to give up
Jamie Morton (Herald): $5m project to begin building NZ’s first ‘gene bank’
1News: Sniffer dogs to be trialled in New Zealand to detect bowel cancer
Mahina Hurkmans (Māori TV): Māori team up with Pasifika to protect our pēpē
‘Angelo Martin (Māori TV): Ōpōtiki residents protest birthing centre closure
RNZ: Disabled boy’s family takes former carer to Human Rights Review Tribunal
Freedom camping
Cushla Norman (1News): Government announces high-tech changes to monitor freedom campers
RNZ: Artificial intelligence, solar powered cameras for new responsible camping scheme
RNZ: Apps, solar cameras to assist councils handle freedom campers
Local government
Susan Botting (RNZ): Mangawhai public to give input into $15m council plan
Todd Niall (Stuff): Clock ticks on climate action and transport change
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Council still seeking information on flawed concrete walls of Auckland apartment block
Stephen Forbes (Stuff): Mt Albert tree removal: Auckland councillor is target of abuse on Facebook
Aaron van Delden (RNZ): Gisborne Council launches app for service requests
Dave Armstrong (Dominion Post): If we want a movie museum, be prepared to pay to run it
Mandy Te (Stuff): Wellington Central Library: Mayor says there are opportunities to modernise
Nicholas Pointon (RNZ): ‘It’s vindication for me’: Deon Swiggs’ accusations dropped
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Key allegation in Deon Swiggs court case dropped as lawyers say claims are ‘hearsay’
Ports of Auckland move
Simon Wilson (Herald): Port in a Storm, part 2: Why move the Auckland port? (paywalled)
Ngarimu Blair (Herald) Te Tōangaroa – An exclusive look at Ngāti Whātua’s brand-new proposal for the port (paywalled)
Viv Beck (Herald): Port debate is a chance to tackle Auckland’s ‘disease’ (paywalled)
Rodney Yeoman (Herald): Where is the economic case for moving the Ports of Auckland? (paywalled)
Wellington Lifelines Regional Resilience Project report
Damian George (Stuff): Months, years to fix infrastructure following major Wellington quake
Damian George and Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Challenges loom for proposed 20-year programme to quake-proof New Zealand’s economy
Damian George (Stuff): Wellington Lifelines Group calls for 20-year investment programme to guard against major earthquake
Lime scooters
Scott Palmer and Alice Wilkins (Newshub): What will happen to Lime’s deactivated Auckland scooters
1News: Lime have midnight deadline to deactivate fleet of Auckland e-scooters
1News: ‘Deeply disappointed’ Lime scooter boss vows to work relentlessly to regain Auckland Council’s trust
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Lime president thanks Auckland, hopes to be back in action ‘very soon’
Chris Keall (Herald): Three things that bug me about Auckland Council’s decision to boot out Lime
Transport
Tracy Neal (RNZ): NZTA spends millions on repairing storm-damaged state highways
ODT Editorial: Signs of the times
1News: Calls for central government action as NZ Bus, Go Bus pay disputes continue
RNZ: Auckland commuters get free bus rides due to drivers’ strikes
RNZ: Paw patrol: AT opens door to train travel for dogs
1News: Dogs of all sizes able to travel on Auckland trains from this Sunday
Herald: Dogs of all sizes welcome on Auckland Transport trains
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Kaikōura mana whenua threaten to occupy land to stop cycleway built on burial sites
Cannabis
Selah Hart (Spinoff): Stay in our lane? Cannabis law reform *is* our lane
Damien Venuto (Herald): Marijuana watch: Latest poll shows legalisation vote on a knife edge (paywalled)
Pretend pōwhiri for cruise ship guests
Michael Neilson (Herald): Princess Cruises apologises, says ‘no offence’ intended over ‘pantomime pōwhiri’ for guests at Port of Tauranga
RNZ: Cruise ship company apologises after crew dress in Māori clothing, perform pōwhiri
Michael Neilson and Leah Tebbutt (Rotorua Daily Post): Leaders lash out over cruise ship ‘pantomime’ Māori pōwhiri’ at Port of Tauranga (paywalled)
Michael Neilson (Herald): ‘Blatant racism’: Cruise ship guests given ‘pantomime’ Māori pōwhiri at Port of Tauranga
1News:‘Pantomine pōwhiri’ for Tauranga cruise ship guests ‘beggars belief’ – Ngāi Te Rangi
Mark Quinlivan and Emma Cropper (Newshub): Pictures show non-Māori men welcoming cruise ship passengers with ‘distasteful, disrespectful’ pōwhiri
Housing, real estate
Pam Graham (Stuff): Wairarapa housing trust labels rental inequity as unfair
Catherine Harris (Stuff): Ngāti Whātua prepares to sell first stage of Auckland housing development
Newstalk ZB: House hunters warned: Big change coming this Friday
Brent Melville (ODT): Home buyer beware: contracts change
Erebus
Richard Waugh (Stuff): It’s time the families got what they have requested
RNZ: Work on Erebus memorial in Auckland postponed
Te reo Māori
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): Te reo or not, don’t be a clown (paywalled)
Bronson Perich (Māori TV): App AI’s yet to learn tīkanga Māori
Tiwai Point
Hayden Green (Herald): Power play over Rio Tinto’s Tiwai aluminium smelter (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Tiwai smelter closure back in Government’s court as Rio Tinto pleads for power price drop
Employment
Peter Malcolm (Stuff): It’s time to shake off the culture that accepts bosses being paid millions
Southland Times Editorial: Nice (time off) work if you can get it
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): ‘Pay us fairly for overtime hours’: Bread factory workers demand
Tracy Neal (RNZ): ‘Extremely difficult’ to find hospitality workers in upper South Island
GST
Nik Dirga (Stuff): $7.50 more on a $50 purchase? Ouch – online shopping just got painful
RNZ: Cyber Monday: New laws means less bang for your buck
Other
1News: Jacinda Ardern rejects criticism from Children’s Commissioner over Govt’s response to Welfare Expert Advisory Group
1News: Exclusive: Violent threats against politicians becoming more common
Megan Whelan (Guardian): Sex, violence, racism: how the Millane and Christchurch trials challenge court reporting
Lane Nicholas (Herald): Auckland gun violence: 148 Auckland firearms victims hospitalised during spate of shootings (paywalled)
RNZ: Memorial museum planned to enhance Paparoa Track experience
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘She’s not a minister’: Simon Bridges defends National MP Jo Hayes’ Twitter rage
Natalie Akoorie and Isaac Davison (Herald): Former Agresearch CEO Tom Richardson investigated by QC for bullying, report kept secret (paywalled)
Mitch McCann (Newshub): 220 investigations underway into New Zealanders sharing abuse images
James Fyfe (Newshub): Parents urged to warn children about risks of online exploitation
Deena Coster (Stuff): Ngāti Maru treaty settlement progress delayed until early next year
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Stuff reports net profit at $5.5m as doubts linger over NZME merger revival
RNZ: Stuff returns to profitability
Leighton Keith (Stuff): Mongrel Mob’s presence in Taranaki no cause for concern president says
Brian Easton (Pundit): We Simply Declined Your Application; We Didn’t Cut Off Your Grant.
RNZ: The Detail: The different fates of Christchurch’s Catholic and Anglican cathedrals
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Bad Things Happen: Fees, fees, fees
Jason Brown (Newsroom): Why we should care about the Bougainville referendum
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Port Nelson embarks on $20m wharf upgrade
