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
Border failure
ODT Editorial: Defence must be tightened
RNZ: Checkpoint: Covid-19: Isolation audit not enough to ensure safety – expert
Shaun Hendy et al (The Conversation): 2 new COVID-19 cases in New Zealand, but elimination of community transmission still stands
Heather Du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Ministry of Health can’t follow their own rules
Audrey Young (Herald): More stories suggest a pattern of mismanagement (paywalled)
Brook Sabin (Stuff): The border bungle is why we can’t fly international yet
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Fail-safe border critical to NZ’s economic survival (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: Covid 19 border blunder – Health Minister David Clark should go
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Ardern under strain from Covid-19 slip-up
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Covid 19 is back due to ineptitude – plain and simple
Duncan Garner (Newstalk ZB): New Zealand has walked onto a COVID-19 landmine and it’s blown up in our face
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Why Jacinda has called in the military
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Michael Morrah (Newshub): Another Ministry of Health botch-up as group of 10 let out of quarantine early to attend burial
Liz McDonald (Stuff): Isolated travellers let out to attend large funeral in Christchurch
RNZ: Checkpoint: 10 quarantine exemptions attended burial, but testing not confirmed
Isaac Davison (Herald): Claims US traveller attended wake before being tested
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Travellers not tested for Covid-19 in isolation facilities
Kristin Hall (1News): Health officials involved in birthday party for girl in managed isolation where travellers mingled against rules
Kim Moodie and Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): New arrivals to New Zealand told swab testing is not compulsory
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): No quarantine rule for Air NZ international crew after new Covid cases
Herald: Six people – not two – abscond after funeral
RNZ: Six granted compassionate exemption failed to return to isolation on time
Emma Turton (Newshub): Six funeral goers break quarantine exemption, one still on loose
Belinda Feek (Herald): Hamilton runaways fled authorities after attending funeral of Mongrel Mob member
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Six wrong calls from health officials after couple cleared to leave Covid-19 isolation
Lydia Lewis and Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Conference-goers were not told Novotel being used as coronavirus quarantine facility, CEO claims
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Amelia Wade and Emma Russell (Herald): Hosking v Bloomfield – defiant health boss says he won’t quit, admits he doesn’t know how many not tested
Emma Russell (Herald): Woman who MP claims ‘kissed and cuddled’ Covid travellers attended Auckland gym class days later
RNZ: Auckland woman who had contact with new Covid-19 cases went to gym
1News: Ministry of Health confirms two new Covid-19 cases had contact with friends during drive
RNZ: Ministry confirms women with Covid-19 did stop on trip
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Ministry of Health confirms women with Covid got lost and stopped on drive from Auckland to Wellington
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): NZ’s new COVID-19 cases had physical contact with two friends, Ministry of Health confirms
Herald: Ministry of Health responds to National’s claims Covid-19 positive pair gave helps a ‘kiss and cuddle’
Amelia Wade and Emma Russell (Herald): Women’s kiss and hug to thank gym member
1News: More details revealed around claim two new Covid-19 cases had close contacts during drive
Derek Cheng (Herald): National MP Michael Woodhouse on the Covid women’s ‘kiss and cuddle’ claim
Alan Kenyon (1News): National MP alleges two women who tested positive for Covid-19 had close contacts on Auckland to Wellington drive
Collette Devlin (Stuff): National MP claims women with Covid got lost and stopped on drive from Auckland to Wellington
Craig McCullough (RNZ): Woodhouse alleges women with Covid-19 asked for directions
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Infected pair ‘haven’t done anything wrong’, ‘shouldn’t be blamed’ – Jacinda Ardern
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Henry Cooke (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern sends military in after border bungle
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Who is New Zealand’s new border master Darryn ‘Digby’ Webb
Herald: Who is Darren (Digby) Webb?
Alan Kenyon (1News): Defence Force official to take charge of Covid-19 quarantine procedure after system failure allows cases through
RNZ: Covid-19 isolation and quarantine facilities to be inspected
1News: Chief Ombudsman to begin inspecting NZ’s Covid-19 quarantine facilities
1News: Chief Ombudsman ‘livid’ his staff mingled with new arrivals quarantining at Auckland hotel
Lana Andelane (Stuff): All COVID-19 isolation, quarantine facilities to be inspected by Chief Ombudsman
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Health Minister David Clark frustrated over quarantine mess
1News: Circumstances behind NZ’s latest Covid-19 cases ‘cannot be repeated’ – Jacinda Ardern
Herald: Minister Stuart Nash slams ‘inept’ quarantine response as Covid-19 pair roam free
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Police Minister Stuart Nash says someone needs to be held accountable over coronavirus cases slip-up
RNZ: Checkpoint: Mike Bush answers questions over botched Covid-19 isolation
Heath Moore (Herald): Former top cop calls on authorities to review footage of Covid women’s movements
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Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Covid-19 testing times and contact tracing in Auckland fails ministry’s ‘gold standard’
Jamie Morton (Herald): Contact tracers cast net wider after border blunder
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Ministry to hunt down anyone from the flight or hotel of new cases as ‘close contacts’
1News: How did two new Covid-19 cases slip through the cracks? Dr Siouxsie Wiles reveals more details
Dubby Henry (Herald): Long queues at testing centre after two new cases announced
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Cars queue more than 100m for Covid-19 testing in Auckland
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Amelia Wade and Derek Cheng (Herald): No new virus cases, Jacinda Ardern says ministers not to blame for border failure
Derek Cheng (Herald): National leader Todd Muller wants Health Minister fired now Covid 19 is back in NZ
RNZ: Todd Muller calls for Health Minister David Clark to be sacked
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Todd Muller calls for David Clark to be sacked over new COVID-19 cases at ‘clumsy, slack’ border
1News: ‘It’s appalling’ – National leader slams ‘shambolic’ border controls after two Covid-19 cases let into NZ
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Todd Muller calls for Clark’s scalp, as Ombudsman investigates quarantine
RNZ: Government slammed after new Covid-19 cases revealed
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Emma Stanford and Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Woman in the same hotel as new coronavirus cases ‘shocked’ at finding out via Ministry of Health press conference
Sarah Robson (RNZ): Kiwi in quarantine calls for all entries to NZ to be tested on arrival
RNZ: Checkpoint: Novotel guest describes strict conditions since yesterday
George Block (Stuff): Woman quarantined at Novotel in disbelief after cases were let out
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Government’s suspension of compassionate quarantine exemption leaves families heartbroken
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Marc Daalder (Newsroom): NZ is vulnerable to a second wave
Andrew Macfarlane (1News): Government’s Covid-19 tracing app moves towards Bluetooth
Scott Palmer (Newshub): How international media are reporting on COVID-19’s return to New Zealand
Henry Cook (Stuff): PM’s chief public servant hits back at National MP’s suggestion New Zealand got ‘lucky’ fighting Covid-19
Māori TV: Hone Harawira mulls reopening checkpoints to Northland
Trans-Tasman bubble, international students
RNZ: Reopening of Australian borders for tourist travel ‘quite some distance off’
Samantha Madien (news au): Australian borders likely to stay closed until 2021
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Winston Peters says new cases don’t change trans-Tasman bubble plans
Liz McDonald (Stuff): Safe trans-Tasman bubble possible without quarantine, but care vital, scientists say
1News: John Campbell questions Todd Muller over idea to bring back 10k international students
1News: Queenstown touted as quarantine hub for returning international students
Dave Goosselink (Newshub):Queenstown could become COVID-19 quarantine town for international students
PPE review
Amelia Wade (Herald): Damning PPE report: Auditor-General slams Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield’s ‘mixed messages’
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Ministry of Health made series of PPE errors in COVID-19 response, Auditor-General report finds
Jason Walls (Herald): Auditor-General’s report on PPEs finds ‘gaps in planning’ during Covid-19 pandemic
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Auditor-general discovers ‘lack of clarity’ in Ministry of Health’s handling of PPE
RNZ: PPE stock at DHBs unknown in early stages of Covid-19 response – review
David Williams (Newsroom): PPE reserves not checked for four years
Health
RNZ: The Detail: Re-building our health system
Libby Wilson (Stuff): Health travel and wait times hit rural people hardest: review
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Disputes over powers of proposed Māori Health Authority
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Māori health authority doesn’t go far enough – experts
1News: Independent Māori health commissioning body left out of Govt’s main report, despite gaining majority support
Māori TV: Peeni Henare open to Whanau Ora model for Māori Health Authority
RNZ: National plan for training of specialists vital – Council of Medical Colleges
Alice Geary (Timaru Herald): ): Threat to health board ‘extremely disappointing’, Falloon says
Claire Breen (Herald): How about including a ‘right to health’ in the reforms? (paywalled)
Lois Williams (RNZ): Clinic ‘no-show’ costs West Coast DHB $400k a year
RNZ: Mental health and addiction services ‘moving backwards when it comes to Māori’ – commissioner
1News: Mental Health Commissioner says Government needs to engage more with Māori communities
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Glimpse of new hospital offered in documents
Statues, names, Black Lives Matter
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Te Rauparaha monument ‘should remain in place’ despite calls to tear it down, Māori historian says
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Public statues should be kept to remind us about our history – professor
Ben Leahy (Herald): The Kiwi colonial-era statues that pose some problems
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Statues of historical and political figures more likely to be vandalised – study
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Black Lives Matter protests are about more than statues for New Zealand
Steve Stannard (Stuff): Erasing history doesn’t help our understanding of the past
Felicity Barnes (Newsroom): To dethrone statues erases presence, not past
Kendall Hutt (Stuff): Five warned for wilful damage over vandalism of Sir George Grey statue
Whanganui Chronicle: Marton’s James Cook statue covered up by Rangitīkei District Council
1News: Captain Cook statue covered up in Rangitīkei town of Marton
Chris Marriner (Herald): Rangitoto College cancels perfomance of The Wiz over racism fears
Brad Flahive and Hannah Martin (Stuff): Auckland high school cancels performance of all-Black show The Wiz
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Should New Zealand be officially renamed Aotearoa?
Laura Mills (Greymouth Star): Call to rename Greymouth
Police
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Police commissioner on Black Lives Matter: ‘It’s a difficult time to be in policing’
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Police commissioner speaks at vigil for George Floyd, says New Zealand should be ‘the safest country’
Spinoff: ‘We need to examine our attitudes’: Andrew Coster on policing and racial justice
John Weekes (Stuff): Police recruitment freeze: Cops staying in jobs longer as sharp recession looms
Election, referenda
Breanna Barraclough (1News): NZ First’s second ‘woke brigade’ tweet deleted after replacement image contains racial slur
Herald: Peters’ blunder: NZ First’s second ‘woke brigade’ tweet deleted after racial slur
RNZ: Facebook political ads disclosure good for democracy – social media consultant
1News: Hannah Tamaki to stand in Waiariki electorate
RNZ: Vision NZ leader Hannah Tamaki to run for seat in general election
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Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): We’re being played for fools over the weed vote
Sam Hurley (Herald): High Court judge says hospices won’t have to provide assisted dying if Kiwis vote for euthanasia
Stuff: Assisted dying conscientious objection questions too early – court
Housing
Jason Walls (Herald): Government spends $22 million on housing homeless in motels during lockdown
Newstalk ZB: Good news for tenants as rents fall across the country
Trade
Richard Harman (Politik): NZ ready to get heavy with the UK
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): New Zealand kicks off free trade talks with ‘old friend’ United Kingdom
Anna Whyte (1News): New Zealand launches formal negotiations for free trade agreement with UK
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): NZ begins free trade talks for ‘comprehensive’ deal with UK
Brent Edwards (NBR):New Zealand wants comprehensive UK trade agreement (paywalled)
Keith Woodford (Interest): The ongoing search for new markets – India and beyond
Economy
David Hargreaves (Interest) Relying on the old standbys of running a tight fiscal ship while pumping migrants into the country is no way forward
Kate MacNamara (Stuff): Isolating NZ from the rest of the world will create economic carnage
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): First quarter GDP figure release expected to show first contraction since 2010
Media
Mihingarangi Forbes (Stuff): Singular Māori news service proposal ‘beggars belief’
Stuff: TVNZ’s Q+A with Jack Tame moves to Sunday mornings
Damien Venuto (Herald): Not out the woods: Bauer’s NZ mags still up for sale (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (NBR): All-staff meeting confirms Bauer sale to private equity (paywalled)
RNZ: Bauer Media NZ bought by Australian investment company
Environment
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Fonterra called out in global dairy emissions report
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): ‘Planting a tree doesn’t make carbon emissions go away’ – Beef and Lamb
Emma Turton (Newshub): The Project: Composting toilets and free public transport: Ecologist’s clean, green vision for New Zealand
ODT: Tenure review submitters highlight access
Dan Lake (Newshub): DOC reports 36 percent rise in Great Walk accommodation bookings
Local government
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Dunedin chief executive speaks of online vitriol
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Dunedin chief executive’s shock resignation
RNZ: Dunedin City Council chief executive Sue Bidrose resigns to lead AgResearch
Hamish McLean (ODT): Hawkins apologises for sharing information
RNZ: Christchurch organisation limited by too much council control – former councillor
Laura Smith (ODT): Councillors defend chambers upgrade
RNZ: Queenstown’s Chamber of Commerce ‘unhappy to be embroiled’ in complaints
Grant Miller (ODT): Noone frontrunner for ORC top role
Kereama Wright (Māori TV): Tauranga councillor says racism suffered by Māori untrue
Apprenticeship subsidy
RNZ: Government unveils $380m subsidy for employers training apprentices
1News: Govt to focus on boosting ‘domestic workforce’ with $380m apprenticeship package
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Government commits $40 million to regional apprenticeship support
Power companies
RNZ: Checkpoint: Smaller power companies win on customer satisfaction – report
1News: Consumer NZ reveals electricity companies with lowest customer satisfaction
Other
RNZ: Checkpoint: Warehouse Group store lease on market since 2019, but job loss consultation has only just begun
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Star tourism attractions queue up for rescue money
1News: Small thank you for CEO who fights hard for low income families in South Auckland
Bob Jones: Political leadership
Newsroom: Books of the Week: Braunias on Ghahraman, Cormack on Penk
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Kiwis’ public transport use way above projections, and we’re leading the world
RNZ: Changes to rules around overseas investment in NZ
1News: NZ’s job market flooded with applicants as Kiwis search for new work in wake of Covid-19
Barbara Dreaver (1News): Cook Islands Prime Minister to stand down
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Royal Commission into abuse appoints fifth Commissioner
Aroha Mane (Māori TV): Julia Steenson appointed to royal commission
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern as Wonder Woman sketch sells for $6350, breaking Trade Me records
Stuff: Labour candidate Ayesha Verrall’s bizarre Mariah Carey tweet
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Post-Covid demand could stretch Whānau Ora
RNZ: NZ’s high number of remand prisoners ‘unacceptable’ – Chief Justice
Jared Savage (Herald): Mongols gang president Jim David Thacker arrested on possession of pistol after fears of gang war in Tauranga (paywalled)
Grant Miller (ODT): Uni capital spending behind by $25.4m
