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

National Party
Herald: Second sex-text allegation: Judith Collins wants National MP Andrew Falloon out of parliament now
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Andrew Falloon sent sexually explicit photos to another young woman
RNZ: Judith Collins: National MP Andrew Falloon should resign today
1News: Text scandal: Judith Collins calls for National MP Andrew Falloon to leave Parliament today
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): NZ election 2020: Judith Collins wants Andrew Falloon to leave Parliament ‘immediately’
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National’s Andrew Falloon should resign right now, not at the election
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Unacceptable for Judith Collins to blame mental health for Andrew Falloon departure
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Mental health isn’t a political management tool
Jamie Ensor and Miriam Harris (Newshub): Andrew Falloon scandal ‘very bad news’ for National, Judith Collins taking ‘soft approach’ – commentator
1News: Jessica Mutch McKay: National ‘desperately trying to hold themselves together’ as latest ‘disaster’ hits
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Police reveal results from investigation into Andrew Falloon’s ‘unsolicited image’ to teen girl
Herald: Sex text scandal: Andrew Falloon 13th National MP to quit in as many months
Herald: More details revealed in National MP
Kirsty Johnston (Herald): National MP Andrew Falloon quits after sending sexual image to female university student
Thomas Manch and Rachel Comer (Stuff): National MP Andrew Falloon quits politics, alleged to have sent indecent image to young woman
RNZ: National MP Andrew Falloon to retire at election
Anna Whyte (1News): National MP Andrew Falloon believed to have sent pornographic material to teenager
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): National MP Andrew Falloon resigned after sending inappropriate image to teenage girl
Herald: National MP Andrew Falloon quits amid ‘significant mental health issues’
Zane Small (Newshub): National MP Andrew Falloon to step down after election citing ‘unresolved grief’
Anna Whyte (1News): Andrew Falloon resigns after incident on Friday, becomes 13th National MP to announce they won’t stand at election
Anna Whyte (1News): PM’s office passed on letter about National MP Andrew Falloon to Judith Collins
Samesh Mohanlal (Timaru Herald): National MP for Rangitata had a strong presence in community
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Dave Armstrong (Herald): Diary of a mid-list National MP holding on in a political maelstrom
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National exodus: The huge list of National MPs retiring at the election or already gone
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): National MPs who’ve quit since last election
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Which MPs have left the National Party since Judith Collins became leader and why
Herald: Facebook data shows Judith Collins most popular National leader
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Labour laughed at Simon Bridges and Todd Muller, but are taking Judith Collins seriously – expert
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Judith Collins is all business and takes nothing personally
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Judith Collins: What the world makes of National’s new leader

Election
Grant Duncan (The Conversation): Two months from New Zealand’s election, National gambles on Judith Collins crushing Jacinda Ardern’s charisma
Breanna Barraclough (1News): More than 50 political hoardings from across parties trashed, vandalised just hours after going up
Michael Neilson (Herald): Leaders Unplugged – New Conservative Party leader Leighton Baker on family values and K-Rd (paywalled)
Georgie Ormond (Herald): Local Focus: Whanganui electorate explained
Troy Bowker (Herald): Labour need to rule out the possibility of a wealth tax if they want to win (paywalled)

Winston Peters’ superannuation privacy case
Graeme Edgeler (Democracy Project): Winston Peters’ privacy and what it tells us about access to justice
Sam Hurley (Herald): Winston Peters to pay $320,000 over failed superannuation leak privacy court case
RNZ: Winston Peters ordered to pay nearly $320k in costs for court battle

NZ First
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Winston Peters confirms Brexit political operatives working for NZ First campaign
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘Time to start writing off Winston Peters’: Expert explains why NZ First has no hope
RNZ: New Zealand First Foundation not operating, not taking donations, Winston Peters says
1News: Winston Peters vs David Seymour Twitter spat turns nasty: ‘You’d last 10 seconds in the ring with me’
Stuff: Winston Peters says David Seymour wouldn’t ‘last 10 seconds in the ring with me’
Herald: Winston Peters calls out David Seymour in extraordinary Twitter rant
RNZ: Winston Peters challenges David Seymour on might, not policy

Parliament
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern not changing Question Time approach ahead of first face-off with Judith Collins
RNZ: Tributes paid at memorial service for former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): ‘Go back into a room with a predator? No thank you’
1News: Inside Parliament: Dreams both ended and realised for National MPs as Judith Collins takes charge
Linda Burgess (Spinoff): What about me?! Seeking the middle children in New Zealand politics

Foreign affairs
Richard Harman (Politik): China whispers a warning to NZ
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Ardern’s careful line on China fails to mollify Wu
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Chinese ambassador warns NZ: Butt out of Chinese politics and we’ll get along fine
Matt Burrows (Newshub): China Ambassador Wu Xi warns New Zealand to stop prying into its ‘internal affairs’
1News: Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand has ‘direct’ interest in China’s human rights record
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern speaks out against Hong Kong security law, treatment of Uighurs in speech to Chinese community
Matt Burrows (Newshub): China Ambassador denies reports of Uighur concentration camps after damning footage emerges

Quarantine
Alex Braae (Spinoff): National and Labour agree. What a pity that the policy they agree on is shameful
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Tone-deaf returning Kiwis must pay for quarantine
Stuff Editorial: Managed isolation charges devilishly difficult to set fairly
Lloyd Burr (Newshub): Kiwi expats sending Human Rights Commission complaint over proposed user-pays managed isolation
Dan Satherley and Elle Prendergast (Newshub): Charging returning Kiwis for isolation ‘doesn’t seem right’ – human rights lawyer
RNZ: Cabinet working through legal issues of charging returning Kiwis for managed isolation
Zane Small (Newshub): Deportees with ‘plenty of money for gold-plated motorbikes’ should be charged for quarantine – Judith Collins
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): National’s Gerry Brownlee says returning New Zealanders owe ‘team of five million’, must pay for isolation
1News: National’s Gerry Brownlee continues push to charge returning Kiwis for quarantine
Newstalk ZB: Experimental economist says self-isolation charge is overkill
Grant Miller (ODT): City hotels assessed as isolation facilities

Covid-19 fund
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Grant Robertson locks National out of coronavirus fund 
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government setting aside remaining $14b of Covid-19 fund in case of second wave
Zane Small (Newshub): Government sets aside $14 billion in case New Zealand ‘experiences second wave’ of COVID-19
Anna Whyte (1News): Government to set aside $14 billion from Covid-19 fund in case of second wave
BusinessDesk: Govt keeps $14b in virus fund for global slide, lockdown risk (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Government signals end to Covid-19 spending for the time being (paywalled)

Community testing, tracing app
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern worried about low levels of community testing
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Covid-19 testing criteria back in question as community tests drop to 8 over weekend
Richard Easther (Spinoff): Despite its starry backers’ claims, the CovidCard is no magic solution

Business, Warehouse layoffs
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Unemployed retail workers facing a tough job market with fewer jobs available
Debrin Foxcroft and Susan Edmunds (Stuff): 950 jobs to go: Union says The Warehouse using Covid-19 excuse
1News: Union lashes out at The Warehouse over citing Covid-19 as reason for job cuts
1News: The Warehouse outlines restructure plans to employees, warning of up to 750 job losses
RNZ: The Warehouse could cut up to 750 jobs, company says
Herald: 320 roles; up to 750 people may go: The Warehouse reveals its plans
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): Commerce Commission spent almost $1m on Bunnings Warehouse legal fees, costs
Nicholas Pointon (RNZ): Australia slavery act could expose NZ companies’ risks

Local government
Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Wellington Mayor uses lawyers in attempt to hush councillors, then the media
Christina Persico (Stuff): Call for ‘silent majority’ to step up in New Plymouth Māori ward debate
Lane Nicholas (Herald): Auckland Council rates crackdown: Man faces losing Howick home over $14k debt
Joel MacManus (Stuff): $800 million infrastructure boost in council GST refund proposal

Education
RNZ: Checkpoint: Auckland school staff prepare for more hungry kids in Term 3
Laura James (1News): ‘The hardest winter for families’ – Educators prepare for hungry kids as Covid-19 unemployment takes its toll
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Tertiary enrolments rise as job opportunities fall
Grant Miller (ODT): Refunds in doubt as pupils’ trips canned
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Te Aho Ngārahu fund receives $1.5m boost for reo Māori resources

Health
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Shorter stockings, paper cups and cheaper drugs: Canterbury health authorities outline cost cuts
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Grieving families lobby Parliament to reverse epilepsy drug brand switch
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Southern hospitals lack senior doctors, survey shows
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Brain injury victim gets ACC cover back but psychiatrist says no post-concussion syndrome (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Canterbury District Health Board seeks funding to catch up on 292 surgeries

Transport
Simon Wilson (Herald): Auckland election diary: Judith Collins on transport (paywalled)
Kristy Lawrence (Stuff): Government announces $182 million investment in Auckland transport projects
RNZ: Checkpoint: Air NZ launches online credits access for cancelled flights
RNZ: Air New Zealand customer credits now accessible online
1News: Air NZ customers whose flights were cancelled can now use online tool to use credit

Environment and conservation
Tim Brown (RNZ): Mataura urges toxic waste’s immediate removal by government
Michael Neilson (Herald): Auckland tree report highlights inequality – all five southern boards well under minimum cover
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Iwi leader says RMA needs strengthening and Māori must stand as kaitiaki
ODT: Beach closures suggested
No Right Turn: Ending tenure review

Primary industries
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): Dairy company’s extra river discharge blocked
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Tolaga Bay farmers ‘horrified’ by forest slash after heavy rain

Media
Gavin Ellis: There’s life in them yet
Elisabeth Eastehr (Herald): Neil Waka – ‘You wouldn’t believe the racism I’ve experienced through my career … but I’m an optimistic realist.’ (paywalled)

Other
Rachel Thomas (RNZ): Porirua still desperate for 2000 new homes, but what environmental impact?
Eleisha Foon (RNZ): Lyttelton Port workplace ‘bullying’ culture under investigation
RNZ: Roads damaged in Northland storm may take years to repair
Jonathan Mitchell (RNZ): Steven Wallace shooting case: Police used excessive force, family argues
Daisy Hudson (ODT): Abuse survivors interviewed
1News: ‘Continuous jellyfish sting’ of racism still causing pain in NZ, experts say as new campaign launched
Aimee Shaw (Herald): Revealed: New report outlines impact of NZ’s border restrictions
Imran Ali (Northern Advocate): Greater scrutiny on the use of methyl bromide at Northport (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Govt can’t afford to wait to change unfair divorce laws
Zane Small (Newshub): Judith Collins hits out at Jacinda Ardern’s ‘foolish’ involvement in Ihumātao
Liam Dann (Herald): China NZ Business Summit: Air NZ chief warns opening borders will be complex (paywalled)
Teuila Fuatai (Herald): Report highlights challenges NZDF faces in changing culture (paywalled)
Kirsty Johnston (Herald): Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater: ‘I wrote for my political beliefs, not for cash’
Carmen Parahi and Patrick Crewdson (Stuff): A festival of aroha – Let’s make Matariki a public holiday in 2021
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): ‘Time has come’: Greens push for Matariki public holiday to teach next generation
Chelsea Boyle (Herald): Cost of miracle rescue mission: What the Defence Force and police put into finding Jessica O’Connor and Dion Reynolds