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
Newshub-Reid Research poll
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research Poll: Voters trust Jacinda Ardern far more than Judith Collins
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research Poll: Kiwis trust Labour more than National to run the economy
Thomas Lumley (Spinoff): Brownlee says National is the victim of a ‘rogue’ poll. Can that really be true?
Andy Fyers (BusinessDesk): How rogue is the Reid Research poll? (paywalled)
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): National faces total list MP wipe-out on latest polling (paywalled)
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Was it a rogue poll?
RNZ: Judith Collins to reveal internal polling to National Party
RNZ: Gerry Brownlee questions methodology used in latest Newshub Reid Research poll
Newstalk ZB: Gerry Brownlee: Latest Newshub poll ‘hugely skewed’
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Newshub poll: Jacinda Ardern ‘getting the benefit’ of so much airtime during COVID-19 – Gerry Brownlee
1News: Despite glowing poll result, Jacinda Ardern ‘won’t be complacent’ amid coalition partner tensions
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern refuses to answer questions about potential coalition partners
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern reveals the unlikely coalition voters are suggesting to her
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Why Labour’s polling is at a record high, according to Jacinda Ardern
Newstalk ZB: PM Jacinda Ardern: ‘Need to keep moving despite latest Newshub poll’
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Labour won’t poll this high on election night – or high enough to govern alone
Guardian: Jacinda Ardern’s Labour party gets strongest results yet in poll
No Right Turn: This is dangerous for our democracy
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): NewsHub Bombshell Poll – Winners & Losers
Election
Colin James (Democracy Project): Does history tell us anything about the 2020 election?
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Killing The Nats With, Of All Things, Kindness
Audrey Young (Herald): Still time for Judith Collins to save National from decimation (paywalled)
Jason Walls (Herald): Election officials are expecting the highest early voting turnout in history this election
RNZ: What voting will look like with Covid-19
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): Te reo, Covid precautions at heart of voting rejig
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Electoral Commission preparing for voting under lockdown
Newstalk ZB: Shane Jones: ‘Now is the time for tactical voting’
Michael Fallow (Stuff): Winston’s still mad as hell, and still wondering why we aren’t
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Leaders Unplugged – Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson on being ‘like a reformed racist’ (paywalled)
Laura Wiltshire (Stuff): Candidate ‘disappointed’ after election hoardings tagged for use of te reo Māori
Stuff-Massey survey
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Why do Kiwis want the economic system reformed?
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Stuff-Massey Survey shows pay packets down, straining budgets
Electorate contests
Liam Hehir (Newsroom): No need for a deal in Auckland Central
1News: Marama Davidson defends ‘celebrity’ Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick as ‘hardworking, impactful’
Bronson Perich (Māori TV): Judith Collins confident National will keep Auckland Central and Rangitata
Stephen Forbes (RNZ): Papakura electorate: Labour backbencher faces off against Collins
Iain Lees-Galloway sacking, Palmerston North
Zane Small (Newshub): Judith Collins would not have sacked Iain Lees-Galloway, believes Jacinda Ardern knew about affair
Herald: National leader Judith Collins says PM ‘probably’ knew about Lees-Galloway affair
John Roughan (Herald): Judith Collins reveals her nasty streak (paywalled)
George Heagney (Manawatū Standard): Utikere new Palmerston North Labour candidate
Manawatū Guardian: Green Party candidate says he’s ready to represent Palmerston North
David Farrar: Selected after just four days
National Party
ODT: Walker hits the road to say thanks
Jo McKenzie-McLean (Stuff): Three in the race to take Hamish Walker’s seat Clutha-Southland seat
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): National leader Judith Collins would build Palmerston North’s ring road faster
RNZ: Palmerston North rural ring road added to National’s $31b transport package
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Judith Collins hits out at Shane Jones, avoids talking about political polls
Newstalk ZB: Judith Collins: ‘Vital’ voters know Ihumātao decision, latest poll “ridiculous”
Newstalk ZB: Judith Collins’ response to ‘unrealistic Newshub poll’, Govt’s education injection
Greens
RNZ: Green Party’s James Shaw on polls, tax and hydro schemes
No Right Turn: Filling the policy void
Phil Smith (RNZ): Gareth Hughes ‘trading a suit for gumboots’
Emma Perry (ODT): Retiring MP looking forward to Quarantine
Advance NZ, Public Party merger
RNZ: Jami-Lee Ross faces Covid-19, China questions after new Advance NZ party alliance
Daily Blog: Te Ao with MOANA – The Jami Lee Ross & Billy TK interview
1News: PM rejects Covid-19 conspiracy theories linked to newly formed minority party
Matt Burrows (Newshub): PM Jacinda Ardern shuts down ‘conspiracies’ peddled by NZ Public Party’s Billy Te Kahika
Dan Satherley (Newshub): NZ Public Party leader Billy Te Kahika denies encouraging ‘Hamilton 5’ to escape isolation
Parliament
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Union rep slams MP’s ‘absolutely tone-deaf’ pay cut whinge
Madeleine Chapman (Spinoff): Memebers of parliament: the week in politics, told in memes
Legality of lockdown, NZ’s pandemic response
Stuff: Nation did not know what was legal command and what was advice
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Legality of lockdown case: ‘government, like every person, is ruled by the law’
Danielle van Dalen (Stuff): Why we need a royal commission into the pandemic response
Jehan Casinader (BusinessDesk): We should be more grateful for being covid-free (paywalled)
Jane Bowron (Stuff): NZ has become ‘too blasé’ about its hard-won freedom from Covid
Steve Walton (Stuff): Rosewood rest home staff open up on ‘dreadful’ Covid-19 experience
Managed isolation, border restrictions
Stuff Editorial: Quarantine fees face twin challenges – courts and conscience
Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): Time running out for law change on charging returnees
Henry Cooke (Stuff): PM says Government would need to pass law to charge returnees – and could do so before election
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Expats launch campaign against quarantine fees, Government decision likely today
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Group of New Zealanders start global campaign pushing for free quarantine
Matthew Smith (Stuff): What happened to the ‘team of 5 million’? New Zealanders overseas are still Kiwis
Shaun Wallis (Kiwiblog): Affordable borders and a secure quarantine
Newshub: Taxpayers should pay for returning New Zealanders’ managed isolation – Lloyd Burr
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): Opinion: Sharing the kindness to grieving children
1News: Air New Zealand extends freeze on new international bookings into the country
Kim Moodie (Herald): Air New Zealand extends freeze on bookings for incoming flights
Bronson Perich (Māori TV): Australian overseas travel ban prevents Kiwis from returning home
Kate MacNamara (Herald): Cut off: Kiwi businesses want a better border plan (paywalled)
Education, trades training
Richard Harman (Politik): Labour’s rethink; now it wants international students
Jason Walls (Herald): $50m education sector lifeline after NZ shuts borders to foreign students
Henry Cooke and Laura Wiltshire (Stuff): Government spending $51m on international education sector, but says students will not return this year
1News: International students will have to wait until 2021 to return to NZ, Govt says
1News: Government announces $51 million support package to stabilise international education sector
RNZ: Ardern announces $51.6m for international education sector
Zane Small (Newshub): Government plans to spend $51 million on saving New Zealand’s international education sector
Grant Miller (ODT): Rescue package welcomed
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Martin Van Beynen (Stuff): University of Canterbury collaborating with Institute linked to Chinese military
Elisha Foon (RNZ): University ‘naive’ to partner with Chinese institute, security expert says
Damian George and Mandy Te (Stuff): Victoria University plans to demolish heritage-listed Gordon Wilson Flats to create ‘new front door’
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Otago teachers frequently attacked by students, survey reveals
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Lee Kenny (Stuff): Trainee tradies lured into study by free Covid-19 recovery courses
1News: Māori and Pasifika jobseekers the big driver behind a surge in people retraining in the trades
Slavery, migrant exploitation
1News: Government announces $50 million to protect migrant worker rights
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1News: Napier man convicted of slavery still doesn’t understand what he did wrong, lawyer says
Kim Baker Wilson (1News): Eleven-year prison sentence ordered for man convicted in NZ’s first slavery case
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Joseph Auga Matamata sentenced to 11 years for human trafficking and slavery
Herald: Hawke’s Bay contractor Joseph Matamata jailed for slavery, people trafficking
Behrouz Boochani granted refugee status
1News: Refugee journalist Behrouz Boochani decries ‘queue-jumper’ criticisms from National
Zane Small (Newshub): Judith Collins plans to grill Jacinda Ardern on Behrouz Boochani’s refugee status
Environment
Rob Mitchell (Stuff): Shoots of green Covid-19 recovery crushed by wheels of industry
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Fight to stop water bottling expansion reaches High Court
1News: Bay of Plenty iwi taking fight against Chinese-owned water bottling operation’s expansion to court
1News: Activists climb trees in standoff with Auckland developers, vow to stay for 19 days
Primary industries
Thomas Mead (1News): ‘It’s causing massive problems’ – Beekeeper says nothing can be done to stop NZ bees picking up traces of weed-killer glyphosate
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Manuka honey blog amended after claims of efficacy against Covid-19
1News: Greenpeace protestors block Taranaki factory accused of making ‘climate killing’ fertiliser
RNZ: Activists blockade Taranaki Ballance Agri Nutrients factory over climate change concerns
Brent Edwards (NBR): Increasing farm production while reducing emissions impossible, National says (paywalled)
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): Study on eco-friendly alternatives to forestry blocks gets backing
Sally Rae (ODT): Pork surplus crisis averted by measures
ODT: Concerns weigh on sentiment
Health
Jamie Morton (Herald): ‘Woeful’ neglect of kids’ teeth: Researchers call for Govt action
Newstalk ZB: Political parties’ efforts ‘lacking in reducing’ smoking, alcohol use
RNZ: Ardern signals maternity mental health support if Labour wins
ODT Editorial: Time to see maternity progress
Local government
Hamish Maclean (ODT): STV lifts female representation: research
Marcus Anselm (RNZ): Greater Wellington Regional Council to consider Māori seat at table
Shona Glentworth (Taranaki Daily News): What are you afraid of? Arguments against Māori ward don’t stack up
Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Outgoing Waikato council boss warns against Auckland’s influence on the region
Eric Crampton (Stuff): There’s no such thing as a free carpark
Lawrence Gullery (Stuff): Code of conduct investigation prompts councillors to review social media use
ODT: DCC proposes wide-ranging reduction of speed limits
Justice
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Māori families feel ignored by Family Court judges – report
RNZ: The Detail: Our crushing court backlogs
1News: Ministry of Justice potentially caught up in research company hack
Energy
ODT Editorial: Power plan will explore advantages
RNZ: Industry figures say Lake Onslow hydro project not worth it
RNZ: Genesis cautious of government’s renewable energy plan
Jared Morgan (ODT): Worker housing big issue, community leaders say
Media
Chris Trotter (Interest): If all news is political, then all news is also, in the eyes of its intended victims, at least, ‘fake’
Gavin Ellis: Trolls and fellow travellers in the general election
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): NZME’s ‘Kiwi Share’ plan to take over Stuff could have led to disputes, officials warned
Housing
Anne Gibson (Herald): Tenancy law overhaul could be imminent: On Parliament’s agenda for tomorrow (paywalled)
Eva Corlett (RNZ): First home buyers take up biggest share of new mortgages in June
Tony Alexander (Herald): The Covid conundrum: Four reasons why house prices haven’t collapsed
Tourism
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Tourism awaits funding news after criticism of “Hackett cash”
ODT: Cash for regional tourism
Racism
Bronson Perich (Māori TV): Meng Foon wants Kiwis to become ‘anti-racists’
Satra Browne (Newsroom): Racism is endogenous in NZ
Jacinda Ardern turns 40
1News: Jacinda Ardern gifted creative briefcase cake to celebrate 40th birthday
Herald: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reveals how she spent her 40th birthday
Matthew Tso (Stuff): Cindy-block street art celebrates Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s birthday
Mainzeal
RNZ: Mainzeal former directors paid attention and cared, lawyer argues in court appeal
Julie Iles (NBR): Shipley argues Mainzeal judgment ‘deeply flawed’ (paywalled)
Victoria Young (BusinessDesk): Mainzeal ruling ‘the stuff of nightmares for directors’ – court told (paywalled)
Employment
Gordon Campbell: On using the Army to soak up the Covid unemployed
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): 1800 banking sector staff get pay rise as industry commits to living wage
1News: Banking sector becomes first-Living Wage accredited industry, improving incomes of almost 1800 people
Other
Virginia Fallon (Stuff): The Serious Fraud Office: ‘trigger happy’ or a straight shooter?
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Cheaper fuel but the cost of living still climbs for those earning the least
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Demand for water in Wellington could outstrip supply by 2026
David Williams (Newsroom): Cabinet has every right to settle Ihumātao
Robert Patman (The Coversation): When great powers fail, New Zealand and other small states must organise to protect their interests
1News: Security expert predicts recruitment by NZ gangs to rise amid economic instability of Covid-19
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): In a relationship? Almost half of NZers think you should get benefit anyway
RNZ: RSA to get one-off grant of $2.53m
Danielle Clent (Stuff): One in seven Kiwis drinking more than nomal post-lockdown
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Fiordland faces 40 percent unemployment after storms, Covid-19
Phil Pennington (RNZ): WorkSafe criticised over investigation into crash that killed two children
RNZ: Dairy and log exports drive up June trade surplus
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): University lecturer wants assisted dying legalised after losing mother and sister to cancer
Māori TV: Kaipara region to receive $3m community infrastructure investment
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Tarras airport proposal ‘vote of confidence’
Mana Wikaire-Lewis (Māori TV): Te Arawa sets vision to be major employer of iwi descendants
Stuff: ‘So last year’: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Jacinda Ardern-inspired video
Sam Stubbs (Stuff): Here’s why Government buying Tiwai Point is not a crazy idea
Felix Walton (Spinoff): Both the UK and the US have cancelled Huawei. Should NZ be next?
Emma Dangerfield (Stuff): Male survivors of sexual abuse trekking to Parliament on horseback
Susan Strongman (RNZ): Police, Medsafe ‘raid’ New Zealand bleach ‘cure’ seller
Crystal Wu (Newshub): Bookies rank Jacinda Ardern in top 3 candidates for Nobel Peace Prize
