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
Election
Richard Shaw (The Conversation): Rogue poll or not, all the signs point to a tectonic shift in New Zealand politics
Toby Morris (Spinoff): Font, tick, face, tick: The great 2020 election hoardings design review
Claire Trevett (Herald): Leaders Unplugged – NZ First leader Winston Peters and the wild horses of worry (paywalled)
Chris Keall (Herald): What NZ political parties are spending on Facebook amid boycott (paywalled)
Gordon Campbell: On the Green’s attempts to look like underdogs
Stuff: National and Labour need to read the room
Herald Editorial: Only one political poll matters, but… (paywalled)
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Jacinda Adern’s strategy to focus on conquering Covid, not election
1News: National blocks move that would allow Māori voters to switch electoral rolls more freely
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Renewed calls for electoral switch option ahead of voting day
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): When, where and how you can cast your vote in the election
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): What do the Greens do if Labour win a majority? What does Labour do if they win a majority and the 3 stats that say they will
Bernard Orsman (Herald): National Party Manurewa candidate wants to jump ship and stand in Auckland Central
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Labour candidate will work as deputy mayor, without pay
Deena Coster (Stuff): Aircraft design engineer takes tilt at politics
Christina Persico (Stuff): New Conservative candidate labelled ‘delusional’ over meme’s comparison between him and civil rights leaders
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern’s election billboards defaced with Nazi imagery
1News: Wellington candidate ‘appalled’ by racist graffiti attack on his sign
ODT: National candidate soon to be known
Belinda Feek (Herald): Billy Te Kahika hits back; denies encouraging family to escape from Hamilton quarantine
Skara Bohny (Nelson Mail): Brook community group changes form, supports lawyer’s election bid
Matthew Shugart (Fruits and Votes): New Zealand 2020 preview
National Party
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Collins struggles to wake National from its rogue state
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): From ‘scary’ to ‘tough’ and ‘aggressive’: Kiwi voters describe National leader Judith Collins in one word
Jason Walls (Herald): National’s President Peter Goodfellow addresses threats from Jami-Lee Ross to release leaked donor info
Herald: National Party leader Judith Collins reveals small business policy
Jason Walls (Herald): Judith Collins: My eyebrows will tell you when I’m joking
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Judith Collins says she was ‘joking’ when falsely saying no one escaped while she was Corrections Minister
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Judith Collins defends incorrect claim ‘nobody escaped’ when she was Corrections Minister, says it was ‘a joke’
1News: Judith Collins snaps at media over questions regarding her escapee ‘joke’
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Judith Collins claims prison escapes false statement a ‘joke’
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Spinoff): Eyebrow comedy: All the times Judith Collins made a joke in her debut leader speech
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Judith Collins not acting as ‘morals police’ over National MPs
Newstalk ZB: National candidate’s Hitler photo an ‘error of judgement’
Jason Walls (Herald): National candidate William Wood apologises for Hitler photo as teenager
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): National MP Ian McKelvie defends teen candidate William Wood’s ‘impersonation’ of Hitler
Foreign affairs
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): China calls for New Zealand to ‘correct its mistake’ after Hong Kong extradition treaty suspension
Thomas Manch (Stuff): New Zealand suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong, China calls it ‘serious violation’ of international law
Audrey Young (Herald): China accuses NZ of ‘gross interference’ in its internal affairs over Hong Kong move
Emma Cropper (Newshub): China labels New Zealand’s extradition treaty suspension as ‘gross interference’
RNZ: China accuses New Zealand of violating international law over extradition treaty
Richard Harman (Politik): Hong Kong decision puts beef exports at risk
Newstalk ZB: Simon Bridges on China law: ‘We need to condemn this’
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Credit to the Government over China move
No Right turn: No extradition to tyrannies
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Hong Kong citizen in New Zealand fears China’s reach
1News: Winston Peters says Cabinet didn’t consider giving Hong Kong people safe haven after security law passed
Newstalk ZB: United States “welcomes” NZ’s suspension of extradition treaty with Hong Kong
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): NZ suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong
1News: NZ suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong, after China passes controversial law
RNZ: New Zealand suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong
Zane Small (Newshub): New Zealand suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong over China’s controversial security law
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): NZ suspends Hong Kong extradition treaty, reviews export settings
Charlotte Graham-Mclay (Guardian): New Zealand suspends Hong Kong extradition treaty over China national security law
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Attempts to prosecute Korean diplomat for sexual assault stalled, as New Zealand can’t seek extradition
Euthanasia and cannabis referendums
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Euthanasia referendum: The arguments for and against legalising assisted dying
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): Cannabis referendum: Could I smoke weed at work? And other FAQs
Newstalk ZB: Legalising cannabis will have ‘little impact’ on the workplace, says lawyer
Managed isolation charges, public health measures, testing
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Managed isolation copayment scheme to be announced on Wednesday – source
Amealia Wade (Herald): Is a co-payment scheme for the border on its way? The Government appears to have reached an agreement
RNZ: Checkpoint: Charging returning NZers for isolation ‘complicated’ – law expert
Justin Giovannetti (Spinoff): A change of tune on quarantine fees as Ardern seeks three-party consensus
Jesscia Roden (1News): Managed isolation and quarantine to cost taxpayers $479 million
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): Decision on charging New Zealanders for managed isolation expected ‘very shortly’
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government parties approach consensus on charging returnees, with narrow scheme likely
Michael Daly (Stuff): Whether returning Kiwis should have to pay for enforced managed isolation
Mike Hosking (Newshub): $3000 quarantine a bargain for offshore Kiwis returning home
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Recent returnee blasts ‘cowboy approach’ to PPE in managed isolation
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): DHBs take over COVID-19 health services in managed isolation and quarantine facilities
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Doctors frustrated by patients refusing Covid-19 tests
Shannon Restall (Newshub): Survey finds half of GPs dealt with patients refusing a test
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Officials say more community testing urgently needed
Oliver Lewis and Dominic Harris (Stuff): Second test key to how serious South Korean Covid-19 case is for NZ
George Block (Stuff): Coronavirus: passenger on NZ flight with Korea patient left in dark
Border, travel bubbles
John Anthony (Stuff): Government and Air NZ working on voucher system for Kiwis wanting to return home
1News: Air NZ pushes back international booking freeze for another two weeks
RNZ: Air New Zealand extends freeze on international bookings
Jonathan Milne (Cook Islands News): The good, the bad and the ugly news for the Cook Islands’ bubble with New Zealand
RNZ: Cook Islands not giving up on NZ ‘air-bridge’
Eric Crampton: Better borders
Economy
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Grant Robertson: Mortgage holidays could be extended, wage subsidy back if needed
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Fanciful debt reduction target is National’s KiwiBuild
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): National wants to build more infrastructure with less money, while growing economy
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Voters aren’t looking to National Party for economic answers because they don’t blame the Government in first place – economist
Arvind Kumar (Stuff): National a better manager of economy, says Goldsmith
Business, employment, wage subsidy
Heather McCarron and Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Hundreds of wage subsidy claimants asked to pay it back after ‘audits, allegations, investigations’
1News: More than 13,000 NZ businesses advised to repay Covid-19 wage subsidy
Grant Bradley (Herald): The roll call of travel heavyweights the Government will struggle to ignore (paywalled)
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): More job losses ahead despite positive news, economists warn
1New: Job numbers lift from lockdown lows, but still below pre-Covid-19 levels – Stats NZ
RNZ: Job numbers improve slightly in June
Paul Mitchell (Manawatū Standard): Government splashes cash at struggling tourism sector
Peter Cullen (Stuff): Can your employer control what you do on your phone?
Migrant exploitation
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): Migrant exploitation moves ‘too little, too late’
Harry Lock (RNZ): Concerns efforts to stop migrant exploitation don’t go far enough
Asia Pacific Report: Unite union chief welcomes ‘fairness’ changes to fight migrant exploitation
1News: Modern slavery expert hopes more victims will come forward following NZ’s first conviction
Education
1News: New Zealand leads survey as most desirable destination for international students, but they can’t get here
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Govt can’t say when in 2021 ‘small cohorts’ of international students will be let into NZ
RNZ: Education sector says fund won’t cover much
RNZ: Teaching maths in lockdown: Some parents ‘felt somewhat abandoned’
ODT Editorial: Protecting teachers
Health
1News: Kiwi kids without fluoridated water more likely to have severe tooth decay – study
Nita Blake-Persen (RNZ): St John Ambulance workers launch legal challenge in pay dispute
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Report asks: Do Kiwi millionaires need free medicine?
Emma Russell (Herald): Pharmac report: Should rich people get subsidised medicine?
1News: Family Planning gets funding boost to address wait times, uptake in long-term contraceptives
Abortion
Amelia Wade and Belinda Feek (Herald): PM’s abortion stance ‘rank’ – National MPs viral post, views differ with Collins
Eleisha Foon (RNZ): National MPs, pro-life groups, say abortion law too ill-defined
Jo Moir (RNZ): National MPs’ full term abortion claims ‘silly’ – Andrew Little
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern asks for ‘views based on fact’ after National MP Harete Hipango accuses her of backing full-term abortions
Housing
Matthew Tso (Stuff): Government spending on emergency housing grants skyrockets
Pat Baskett (Newsroom): Insulating every home in NZ will save us money
Aaron Hendry (Spinoff): Without access to emergency housing, our young homeless are left out in the cold
Greg Ninness (Interest): Overseas owners selling twice as many New Zealand residential properties as they are buying
Herald: Only 100 homes sold to overseas buyers in June quarter
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Homeowners still seeking mortgage holidays, Reserve Bank data shows
Geoff Cooper (Stuff): This could be the housing affordability solution New Zealand has been looking for
Local government
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Wellington city blew $118,000 on shelved pop-up cycleways as part of Covid-19-related spending
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Council votes to keep STV
Felix Desmarais (RNZ): Rotorua wastewater contract process ‘transparent as brick’ – expert
Logan Savory (Southland Times): Invercargill City Councillor Nobby Clark refuses to sign non-disclosure agreement
Environment
Jamie Morton (Herald): Covid-19 leaves more Kiwis worried about climate change – poll
Eloise Gibson (Stuff): Kiwis happier with Government’s response to climate change – poll
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui, (RNZ): Creswell defends bid to take from aquifer: ‘there is no loss of mauri’
1News: Auckland’s trees ‘decimated’ since cost-saving 2012 RMA changes, arborist warns
Primary industries
Andrew Bevin (NBR): Forestry more effective land use than farming, report finds (paywalled)
Hugh Collins (ODT): Farmers criticise Pastoral Lands Bill
Robin Martin (RNZ): Plans to close controversial Taranaki chemical plant
Behrouz Boochani’s refugee status
Jason Walls (Herald): ‘Disgraceful’: Winston Peters hits back at Greens over accusations of ‘race-baiting’
Zane Small and Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Golriz Ghahraman hits out at Judith Collins for ‘race-baiting’ over Behrouz Boochani’s refugee status
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Judith Collins won’t say if she has evidence for Boochani ‘queue jumping’ claim
Newstalk ZB: National explores political interference claims in Behrouz Boochani’s application
Justice
Lana Andelane and Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Māori overrepresented in NZ’s homicide victim data – report
Wilhelmina Shrimpton (Newshub): Calls for law change to make proving harm from image-based sexual abuse easier
Other
James H Liu and Sarah Y Choi (Stuff): Massey University and Stuff survey shows social media and Covid-19 conspiracy theory links
George Block (Stuff): Rocket Lab: Peter Beck defends spy satellite work, ex-director speaks of leaving
RNZ: Digital divide may exacerbate situation for disadvantaged families – thinktank Motu
Alan Kenyon (1News): ‘Love is all around’ – MPs trade song titles as Finance Minister asked about Greens ‘tax is love’ comment
Daniela Maote-Cox (RNZ): The return of the Budget and more MPs say goodbye
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Mosque attack coverage contributed to support for gun control in New Zealand
Sam Kelway (1News): Proposal to return part of Matakana Island to iwi would still allow public on popular Bay of Plenty spot
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Andrew Little urged to help family with WorkSafe prosecution
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): Cost of living falls but still higher than a year ago – survey
