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
Coronavirus
Michael Baker and Nick Wilson (The Conversation): COVID-19 has now reached New Zealand. How prepared is it to deal with a pandemic?
Zane Small (Newshub): Health Minister defends coronavirus response as Opposition digs in on testing, border control
Newstalk ZB: David Clark: 200 people have been tested for coronavirus in New Zealand
RNZ: 155 tests carried out, 31 tests now underway
Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): The symptoms were there but he didn’t meet the test grade
Alan Kenyon (1News): People on same flight as first NZ coronavirus case refused testing despite feeling unwell, National MP claims
Zane Small (Newshub): Simon Bridges blasts coronavirus response amid reports people being denied tests
Derek Cheng (Herald): What about the others on that fateful flight to NZ?
Asia Pacific Report: NZ must ‘properly screen’ passengers in Pacific, says former health chief
Collette Devlin (Stuff): PM did not rule out trans-Tasman travel restrictions as first person-to-person transmission in Australia
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Rest home worries over Coronavirus: ‘They are ignoring us’
Dubby Henry (Herald): Rest homes, retirement villages plead for national aged care response plan
Sophie Trigger (Stuff): Airbnb owner asked to ‘isolate’ two people in Picton
Jason Walls (Herald): Mysterious poll is probing New Zealanders on Government’s response to coronavirus
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Most travel insurers not offering Kiwis cover for virus-related claims
Laine Moger (Stuff): Human Rights Commission issues coronavirus advice: Don’t be racist
1News: Trade Me says coronavirus price gouging not ‘everyone’s cup of tea’ – but it won’t stop it
Coronavirus – economic impact
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Do you feel lucky, Adrian? Why a coronavirus rate cut might do more harm than good
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Rate cuts the wrong tool to fight pandemic, but so what?
1News: ‘A matter of if, not when’ Reserve Bank slashes official cash rate amid coronavirus
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Jacinda Ardern needs to bring top brass into war room (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): Robertson warning that coronavirus impact is getting worse
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Robertson sees coronavirus impacts lingering for longer, but still favours targeted govt support
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Employers push for direct support for businesses worst affected by coronavirus (paywalled)
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Finance minister warns NZ economy now bracing for a year of hits
Anna Whyte (1News): Economy moving towards ‘ longer-lasting shock’ due to coronavirus – Finance Minister
1News: NZ businesses might get ‘tax holiday’ as Government looks at ways to battle coronavirus downturn
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): The Government’s plan to support businesses as coronavirus impact worsens
James Fyfe (Newshub): Government ‘concerned’ about economic impact – Finance Minister Grant Robertson
RNZ: Government ‘must use fiscal war chest’ to shore-up virus-hit businesses
Michael Reddell: Why economic policymakers need to respond aggressively
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Finance Minister and Prime Minister tell banks to keep the cash flowing
Stephen Forbes (Stuff): University of Auckland says Government travel bans a ‘political decision’
Laura Wiltshire (Stuff): TEU calls unis ‘irresponsible and unhelpful’ over coronavirus hiring freeze
Lana Andelane (Newshub): University of Auckland students told to self-isolate in student accommodation
George Heagney (Stuff): Government pledges to help hurting Tairāwhiti as region struggles with logging downturn
Taroi Black (Māori TV): Tairāwhiti forestry manager can’t wait to get his team back to work
RNZ: Gisborne mayor appeals for support in logging slowdown
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Rotorua tourism businesses feeling the pinch
Shane Jones’ comments about Indian students
Gordon Campbell: On Shane Jones as the liability no-one needs to bear anymore
Southland Times Editorial: Indians, Jones and our tertiary Temples of Doom
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Major ruction in Government over Shane Jones’ ‘racist’ Indian remarks
Anna Whyte (1News): Peters defends Jones’ comments about Indian students that were labelled ‘racist’ by Race Relations Commissioner
Waatea News: Jones defends need for population debate
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Shane Jones’ Indian comments ‘racist, ignorant, harmful’ – Race Relations Commissioner
1News: MP Shane Jones’ ‘racist and ignorant statements must stop’, Race Relations Commissioner says
RNZ: Shane Jones comments ‘racist, irresponsible’, Race Relations Commssioner says
Jason Walls and Derek Cheng (Herald): Herald: National Leader Simon Bridges: NZ First MP’s comments around Indian students were racist
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Shane Jones ‘racist’ and must be reprimanded, Simon Bridges says
Curwen Ares Rolinson (Daily Blog): So When Shane Jones Claims Wealthy Donors Are Influencing Immigration Decisions …
Foreign affairs
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘You’ve lost the plot’: Winston Peters blasts Aussie MP over deportation policy
Katharine Murphy (Guardian): Winston Peters invokes Christchurch massacre as NZ’s deportations row with Australia escalates
Herald: Peter Dutton slams Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over her deportation comment to Scott Morrison
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern slammed by Australia MP Peter Dutton over deportation swipe
Newstalk ZB: Aussie Minister slams Jacinda Ardern over deportation comments
Waatea News: Corrections struggling to integrate deportees
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): Australian journalist barred from entering NZ
Abortion
Derek Cheng (Herald): Abortion law reform passes next parliamentary hurdle comfortably
Anna Whyte (1News): Abortion law reform passes second reading
Jo Moir (RNZ): Abortion Legislation Bill passes second reading
Thomas Couglan (Stuff): Abortion law reform passes second reading in Parliament, 81-39
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Pro-life protesters’ signs labelled ‘sick’ by Justice Minister Andrew Little
Jo Moir (RNZ): Abortion Legislation Bill: Andrew Little quietly confident for second reading
Anna Whyte (1News): Abortion law reform set for second reading tonight, as protestors descend on Parliament
Mandy Te (Stuff): Organisations sign letter supporting abortion law reform as second reading to begin
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern opposed to ‘graphic’ abortion law rally at Parliament
Media
Dita De Boni (NBR): RNZ launches anti-paywall offensive with public purse (paywalled)
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): ‘The first salvo in a war’: Senior Herald and Stuff editors hit back at RNZ attack ad campaign
RNZ: Australian newswire AAP to close after 85 years
Police
Ben Strang (RNZ): Police bullying hotline ‘should be discontinued and replaced’ – review
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Independent review into police bullying finds ‘mismatch’ in behaviour
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Armed Response Teams deployed more often than Armed Offenders Squads
Environment and conservation
Newstalk ZB: Greens urged to act over revelations about mining applications
Debbie Jamieson (Stuff): Environmentalists fear hundreds of kea have died, DOC says 1080 is saving them
Mike White (North&South): Kea face every threat imaginable – can they make a comeback?
Rachel Thomas (RNZ): Proposed conservation law will penalise those most progressive, say farmers
RNZ: The Detail: Where the big dry really hurts
1News: North Island drought unlikely to be unique as climate change grips the globe – MetService
Todd Niall (Stuff): Aucklanders want bold action on climate change, middle-aged men less convinced
Jamie Morton (Herald): Climate change: EQC weather damage claims could rise by 25 per cent
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Christchurch climate campaigners scale 100m oil rig off NZ coast
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Extinction Rebellion protesters tie themselves to gigantic oil rig in Marlborough Sounds
Guy Armstrong (Herald): It’s time to clean up poo at Auckland beaches (paywalled)
Felix Desmarais: Rotorua lakes fail water quality target, but still safe to swim
Logan Savory (Southland Times): Conservation minister won’t rule out stepping in over ‘chick scientist’ councillor
Tiwai Point
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Talks intensify for deal to ‘save’ aluminium smelter as minister says she’s not intervening
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Beware the Ides of March at Tiwai Point
Health
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Murders, suicides and escapes: tragedies continue in Waikato DHB mental health
Samantha Olley (Herald): World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference: Rotorua bereaved chosen to speak
Waatea News: Structural discrimination driving Maori nurse pay gap
Elspeth McLean (ODT): SDHB chief presses need for change
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Herald): New Zealand man caught with prescription drugs in Bali may be released
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Appetite lacking for no-booze, low-fat diet regime
Spy agencies
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Spy agency whistleblower regime faces criticism
Sally Rae (ODT): GCSB director speaks on cyber security
Election
Waatea News: DHB time forges IronMaori head into political contender
Laura Smith (ODT): Labour selects MP Craig to stand again this year
Jarrod Gilbert (Herald): It’s election year so expect dog whistles (paywalled)
Gwynaeth McIntyre (Newsroom): Why ancient elections are relevant
Local government
Waatea News: Hui upset at rating hard line
ODT Editorial: Putting the ratepayers first
Luisa Girao (ODT): ICC supports transfer of museum governance
Wellington water
Joel MacManus (Dominion Post): Councillors considering water metering to solve Wellington pipe woes
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Severe corrosion discovered in critical Wellington wastewater pipe
Rodeo
Jane Matthews (Stuff): National rodeo body admits change needed following Taranaki breach of welfare code
Jane Matthews (Stuff): MPI investigating Urenui Rodeo video that shows alleged breach of welfare code
Ihumātao
Waatea News: Housing likely element in Ihumatao fix
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): When will Government tell the truth about Ihumātao deal?
Christchurch mosque attacks, Al Noor threats
RNZ: Police will not tolerate extremism, Minister Stuart Nash warns
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Police patrols increase around Al Noor, Linwood mosques following threat
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Christchurch attacks anniversary: Police patrols being beefed up
RNZ: This Is Us: This Is Us: Episode 1 – Kareem
Thomas Mead (1News): Survivor who lost wife in Christchurch terrorist attack writes book he hopes will inspire others to choose peace and love
Transport
Rob Stock (Stuff): Z Energy’s Sharetank lets Auckland motorists avoid regional petrol tax
RNZ: Timaru trials new on-demand public transport service
RNZ: Auckland bus strikes postponsed for negotiations
Housing
RNZ: House values continue to rise in 16 cities across New Zealand
Yagmur Hounsome (Stuff): Heat spreads around New Zealand’s property market, QV data shows
Primary industries
Rural Life: New action group on winter grazing
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): South Canterbury hailstorm cost passes $83m
Other
Liam Hehir (Spinoff): A step by step guide for compulsory anonymity in political donations
Tim Hunter (NBR): The elephant in the Chorus room (paywalled)
1News: ‘Do the right thing’ – Gun registry advocates, opponents look to convince NZ First, likely to have deciding vote
Damien Venuto and Chris Keall (Herald): Revealed: How Facebook, Google really track you – and what you can do (paywalled)
Trevor McGlinchey (Stuff): It’s time for benefit increases to save those who are drowning, not help them tread water
Mike Treen (Daily Blog): Government-induced migrant worker crisis intensifies exploitation
Jason Walls (Herald): Young Act stall displays drug paraphernalia at an O-week uni stall in Wellington despite warnings from David Seymour
Jamie Morton (Herald): Massey scientists critical to coronavirus test device fear for their jobs
Matheson Russell (Herald): KiwiSaver ditching fossil fuel shares is a small step to better future (paywalled)
1News: Christchurch’s new stadium one step closer after Government funding approval
ODT: Dunedin South MP Clare Curran admits cannabis arrest
Hugh Collins (ODT): Two NZ Post mailboxes left uncleared for month
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): NZ Post apologises over non-delivery of 1700 letters in Dunedin
RNZ: Ross Asset Management investors lay out claim against ANZ
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Mongrel Mob member Harry Tam leaves role in Royal Commission into abuse in care
Logan Church (RNZ): Checkpoint: 1,600 Canterbury homeowners with EQC quake claims open
Georgia-May Gilbertson (Stuff): Sensible Sentencing Trust wants to abolish right to silence in child abuse cases
Brent Edwards (NBR): Māori values mean Reserve Bank takes long-term view (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (NBR): Norman Kirk’s wishlist for NZers not aspirational enough: Bridges (paywalled)
Golriz Ghahraman (Guardian): I was elected then diagnosed with MS. My disease has taught me about representation
Mei Heron (1News): Organisations helping NZ’s most vulnerable on the brink of closure as they struggle to recruit social workers
Virginia Nicholls (ODT): Contracting not a mess that needs fixing
Harete Hipango (Whanganui Chronicle): Cannabis decriminalisation safer option to legalisation
