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

Economy
Robert MacCulloch (Herald): A time for trickle-up economics  (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Sir Roger Douglas – Let big firms ‘fend for themselves’
Bruce Munro (ODT): Recovery for all
Simon Wilson (Herald): Is this the death of neoliberalism? (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): How bad will unemployment get in New Zealand? New data to show start of the job crunch (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Budget 2020 will be ‘the end of the beginning’, says ANZ
1News: The Opportunities Party proposes $250 per week universal basic income
Geoff Simmons: UBI and the working class
Brent Edwards (NBR): TOP pushes radical tax policy in election year (paywalled)
Niki Harré (Newsroom): Please Jacinda, put up my taxes
1News: ‘It’s going to be tougher’ – New Zealand must maintain cohesion to flourish after Covid-19, Sir Peter Gluckman says
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Grim economic realities, ‘new normal’ post-COVID will threaten New Zealand’s social cohesion
RNZ: Lockdown social cohesion likely to fall as ‘acute’ phase ends – scientists
1News: Jacinda Ardern not ruling out ‘helicopter payments’ for those struggling during the pandemic
Chris Leitch (Herald): No snake oil here Bryce (paywalled)
Steven Cowan: Will Labour embrace radical new economic policies? Not likely.
Sam Stubbs (Stuff): 10 reasons to feel optimistic about jobs and the economy amid Covid-19
RNZ: Budgeting services request more funding to handle unemployment increase
Steven Cowan: International Workers’s Day: The fight for a new world

Wage subsidy
Chris Keall (Herald): ‘Courier firm owner kept $70,000 wage subsidy from staff’ (paywalled)
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Police Association granted $370k from Covid-19 wage subsidy

Infrastructure
Richard Harman (Politik): Infrastructure boss goes walkabout
Caroline Miller (Newsroom): Back to the future on national development
Jim Rose (Stuff): An infrastructure spend-up barks up the wrong tree
Zac Fleming (Newshub): Greens concerned about fast-track law change
Brent Edwards (NBR): Infrastructure projects may be fast-tracked within 25 days (paywalled)
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): Shovel-ready or iwi getting the shove?
Katie Kenny (Stuff): Fast-tracked projects needed for post-Covid-19 economy, but the devil will be in the detail, groups say
Mike Fallow (Stuff): Lucky are the shovel-ready projects
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Raf Manji on the lessons from Christchurch for a COVID-19 world
Steven Cowan: Shovel ready

Government
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Government suspends financial oversight
No Right Turn: Another expansion of secrecy
New York Times Editorial: In a Crisis, True Leaders Stand Out
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Kiwi journalist in UK says New Zealand’s popularity is ‘overwhelming’ there
Andrew Dickens (Newstalk ZB): Civil servants have stuffed up Covid-19 response

Moving to Level 2
Gordon Campbell: On the dodgy politics of easing Level Three
1News: ‘We’re not there yet’ – Economist warns New Zealand won’t be ready to move into Level 2 next week
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Zero case day: A pat on the back, but no party yet, experts say
1News: Time it takes for Kiwis to get tested for Covid-19 a ‘big limit’, says Dr Ayesha Verrall
George Heagney (Manawatū Standard): Level two may not be far away, disease expert says
Dan Satherley (Newshub): COVID-19’s not going away, so ‘no point’ in staying at alert level 3 – expert
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newshub): Level 3 is unnecessary and it’s obvious to everyone
Noreen Wong (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern says zero cases reflects success at level 4, not level 3
1News: NZ doesn’t have to see zero Covid-19 cases every day before entering Level 2, says Jacinda Ardern
Anna Whyte (1News): Prime Minister to reveal details of Alert Level 2 on Thursday before next week’s decision
Stuff: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says we’ll get 48 hours notice for level 3 end

Checkpoints
Andrew Coster (Stuff): Iwi checkpoints were about safety and discretion
Denise Piper (Stuff): Iwi checkpoints stop, move to random checks under level 3
Newstalk ZB: Fresh bungle on roadblock – and it’s come from the top
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Iwi roadblocks gone by level 2 – police
Newstalk ZB: Police Commissioner: Community-run roadblocks are now close to zero
Mahina Hurkmans (Māori TV): ‘Most important thing is to protect the elderly in this pā’

Border rule exemptions granted
Patrick Gower (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern orders review into quarantined people wanting exemption to visit dying relatives
Anan Zaki (RNZ): High Court allows man to leave quarantine to visit dying father, rejecting ministry decision
Garth Bray (1News): Court overturns quarantine for compassionate release, officials too ‘rigid’
Sam Hurley and Kurt Bayer (Herald): Judge overrules lockdown, allows son to visit dying father
Edward Gay (Stuff): Son takes court action to see dying father under Covid-19 lockdown
Phil Pennington (RNZ): No exemptions from border rules given on compassionate grounds

Trans-Tasman, Pacific bubble
Jo Moir (RNZ): NZ, Aus need same goal before joining bubbles – epidemiologist
Liz McDonald and Henry Cooke (Stuff): Hope of a trans-Tasman bubble lifts business spirits
Katharine Murphy and Charlotte Graham-McLay (Guardian): Jacinda Ardern promotes coronavirus ‘travel bubble’ between Australia and New Zealand
Anna Whyte (1News): Trans-Tasman bubble could see benefit with tourism, business and trade, says PM
1News: Jacinda Ardern expected to discuss ‘trans-Tasman bubble’ with Australia’s national cabinet
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern to join Australia cabinet meeting tomorrow
Stuff: Winston Peters says Warriors show ‘trans-Tasman bubble could work well’
Brent Edwards (NBR): New Zealand and Australia in enviable position to discuss trans-Tasman bubble (paywalled)

Regional bubbles
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): Dr Bloomfield rules out regional bubbles under COVID-19 alert level 3
1News: Tairāwhiti region wants to form own coronavirus bubble and move to Level 2 early
Sean Hogan (1News): Zero cases of Covid-19 in the regions give more reason for them to shift to Alert Level 2 early

Lockdown legality
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Lockdown appeal raises ‘unresolved questions around lawfulness’ of notices under the Health Act, judge says
Matt Burrows (Newshub): ‘Troubling’ arrests during lockdown ‘undermine rule of law in New Zealand’ – former Attorney-General
RNZ: Police Commissioner on enforcing lockdown: ‘I’m confident that we acted lawfully’
1News: Police never raised concerns about legal powers over lockdown, says Director General of Health

Immigration
RNZ: New Zealand government to grant itself visa law powers for 12 months
1News: Covid-19 gives New Zealand opportunity to consider ‘ideal population’ – immigration consultant

Banks
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Billion-dollar-profit banks must show they care about NZ in bad times, Shane Jones says
1News: ANZ CEO ‘a bit gutted’ after Finance Minister’s comments on bank
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Top Kiwibank economist says NZ should come out of level 3 now
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Covid-19 will be tough on banks, Westpac warns as it reports steep profit drop
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): Westpac NZ’s profit halves as bad debt charges jump 15 times (paywalled)

Business, consumer spending
Brent Edwards (NBR): Nash trusts SMES to ‘do the right thing’ on loan scheme (paywalled)
Tamsyn Parker (Stuff): Small business loans expected to run into billions, but how much will be paid back? (paywalled)
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Supermarkets rolling in the cash as lockdown eases paywalled)
Aimee Shaw (Herald): Changing consumer attitudes (paywalled)
RNZ: Retail sales collapse during lockdown
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Coronavirus brings ‘carnage’ for retail sector as sales plummet 80 percent

Health system
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Without Keytruda, 30 deaths a week in NZ from cancer – Lung Foundation
Ian Powell (Democracy Project): Vaccines and antibiotics: commodities or public good?
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Six elderly patients treated on ‘presumption’ of having coronavirus after nurses work in both virus-free and COVID-19 wards
Melanie Reid (Newsroom): Three more Covid infections from Waitakere nurses
Phil Pennington (RNZ): ICU beds increase as ministry tries to triple capacity
1News: Elective surgeries slowly getting back underway after Covid-19 forces cancellation of operations
Kaysha Brownlie (Newshub): Elective surgeries return, but not all patients will be seen
RNZ: Invercargill man denied ambulance despite being incapacitated
Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): Wider medical powers granted to Waipareira nurses

Māori and Pacific Covid-19 response
Rawiri Taonui (Waatea News): ZERO credit to the Government and Ministry of Health
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui, (RNZ): Māori health professionals left out of Epidemic Response Committee meetings
Jessica Tyson, Tapatahi (Māori TV): Govt takes on challenge to improve COVID-19 Māori response
Rawiri Taonui (Waatea News): Update 04 May 2020 | The Importance of the ZERO | The Latest on Re-infection, Immunity, and a Vaccine

Flu vaccine
Dubby Henry (Herald): DHBs ‘need to take responsibility’ for flu jab distribution, PM says
1News: Flu vaccine uptake among older Māori passes last year’s total in just five weeks
RNZ: Ensure there’s enough supply before getting flu vaccine if not high-risk – GP
Herald: School cancels staff flu jab clinic due to short supply of vaccines

Education
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Foreign student numbers fall sharply, immigration stats show
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Students call for full rent reduction from university
Kristin Hall (1News): Students paying double rent as universities continue to charge for empty rooms
Māori TV: TWoA moves its 50 courses online
Chris Gallavin & Tim Hatherley-Greene (Herald): What universities could look like post Covid 19 coronavirus
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Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Schools desperate for information on how they’ll operate under Alert Level 2
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Government sources 2450 laptops from China so Kiwi kids can learn online

Local government
Dominic Harris (Press): ‘Bloated salaries’ at Christchurch council where 1 in 4 earn over $100k
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Today’s lesson on Education TV: How Wellington doesn’t work
Tim Newman (Stuff): Motueka by-election voting deadline extended
Lois Williams: Government stimulus funding would create 200 jobs – Buller mayor

Housing
Eva Corlett (RNZ): Homeless being housed quicker in lockdown
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Former homeless woman says motel has given her hope
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Survey reveals 12 percent of landlords would not consider cutting rent amid COVID-19 pandemic

Behrouz Boochani
Charlotte Graham-McLay (Guardian) Behrouz Boochani: Jacinda Ardern lashes ‘offensive’ claim refugee won political favours
Jane Patterson (RNZ): National wants answers about Kurdish refugee Behrouz Boochani
AAP: National suspect political interference in Boochani asylum bid in NZ

Environment
Eloise Gibson (Stuff): Six New Zealands of climate change: Which one are you?
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Budget 2020 spending on climate could improve public health resilience, experts say
Peter Griffin (Stuff): Michael Moore has a point and we need green innovation
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Rain welcome, but no relief to dry conditions
RNZ: Auckland drought: Water levels hit lowest in 25 years
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Water shortage: Auckland’s depleting dams are bordering on a crisis for the city – Watercare

Tourism
David Wiliams (Newsroom): Can tourism really avoid past pitfalls?
Brook Sabin (Stuff): Where is our tourism minister when we need him the most?
1News: Winston Peters would ‘most certainly’ support domestic tourism at Level 2
Robin Martin (RNZ): Taranaki tourism operators welcome slight upturn after lockdown

Transport, roading
Todd Niall and Joel MacManus (Stuff): Public transport ‘will not be able to deliver’ to capacity at level 2
Michael Neilson (Herald): Health, climate change benefits from Auckland’s ‘pandemic surge’ in cycling, walking during lockdown (paywalled)
Charlotte Cook (RNZ): Transmission Gully hits new delays with completion date uncertain
Imogen Wells (1News): Frustration grows as Transmission Gully project delayed again
Belinda McCammon (RNZ): Queenstown flights: Petition, mayor’s letter urges return of air services

Primary industries
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Horticultural labour shortage could mean food shortage, industry warns
Robin Martin (RNZ): Dairy sector wants New Zealanders to consider farm work as labour shortage looms
Mike Watson (Taranaki Daily News): Forestry sector making up for lost time

Pacific
Teuila Fuatai (Herald): Pacific health in a global crisis (paywalled)
RNZ: NZ Law Society raises concerns about court changes in Samoa
RNZ: The masses return to church in Samoa
RNZ: Emergency restrictions eased in Tonga
RNZ: Commonwealth reaches out for resilient Pacific
RNZ: Fiji reels from dengue as it recovers from Covid-19 and cyclone
RNZ: Tonga’s King to open Parliament via livestream
Jim Kayes (Newsroom): Pacific rugby’s message to Sanzaar

Firearms
RNZ: Gun owners in court over government compensation for ammunition
James Fyfe and Lydia Lewis (Newshub): Firearm owners head to court seeking judicial review

Southland floods
Damian Rowe (Stuff): $19.7 million worth of insurance claims paid out for Southland floods
RNZ: Nearly $20m paid out after Southland flooding

Other
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Ultra-left seeks Green takeover (paywalled)
James Fyfe (Newshub): No comment from Jacinda Ardern on reports of leaked COVID-19 Five Eyes dossier
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Political commentator calls for election date change amid pandemic
Gavin Ellis: Coronaviral home truths
Donna-Lee Biddle (Stuff): Asian parents remove child from school as Covid-19 racism spikes
D’Angelo Martin (Māori TV): Silent increase in child abuse could be lurking due to lockdown
Anjum Rahman (Spinoff): For the sake of all minority communities, don’t bring armed response policing back
Lorna Thornber (Stuff): What are health ‘passports’ and how viable are they?
RNZ: Arts sector survey ‘paints stark picture’ of vulnerable industry
1News: Clothing and paracetamol among goods delayed in reaching NZ due to Covid-19
Herald: Ōwairaka/Mt Albert tree impasse: Time to move forward, agree protesters and Ngati Whatua
Lane Nicholas (Herald): Chinese investors forced to sell sensitive Twizel land were planning roller coaster theme park
Chris Fowlie (Daily Blog): Cannabis referendum Bill’s recipe for success

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