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
TVNZ leaders debate
Tim Watkin (Pundit): A Rabbit-Hole Election Debate: So Do You Want More Avocado Orchards?
Steve Braunias (Guardian): First TV debate between Ardern and Collins avoids being a horror show
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Leaders’ election debate verdict: Jacinda Ardern lost, but Judith Collins didn’t win it
Herald: The Verdict – Who won the debate? Our political experts have their say (paywalled)
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Collins edges Ardern, but Labour’s formidable lead remains
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Leaders debate ‘a boost for National but the race by no means over’
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): The first leaders’ debate changes nothing (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): Subdued Ardern fails to fire in first debate
Jason Walls (Herald): Jacinda Ardern v Judith Collins – a fighter versus an optimist
1News: Debate analysis: Jacinda Ardern seemed to ‘lack passion’, but it didn’t all go Judith Collins’ way
The Conversation: Contrasting styles, some substance: 5 experts on the first TV leaders’ debate of NZ’s election
Spinoff: Leaders’ debate #1, election 2020: the verdicts
Mark Jennings (Newsroom): The leaders’ debate: An unmemorable watch
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Leaders’ debate lukewarm
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): New Zealand election debate: Collins edges it against ‘passionless’ Ardern
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): TVNZ 1st Leaders Debate Winners & Losers – Judith won the battle but lost the war
Liam Hehir: Binders full of farmers
Steven Cowan: A centrist bore
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1News: Judith Collins says she ‘could have gone for another hour’ in first leaders’ debate
Zane Small (Newshub): Judith Collins claims victory in first TV debate as Jacinda Ardern tries to avoid ‘bloodsport’
Anna Whyte (1News): TVNZ leaders’ debate: Judith Collins and Jacinda Ardern battle on wages, tax and poverty
1News: Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins outline visions for future at first TVNZ leaders’ debate
Jason Walls (Herald): Election leaders’ debate: Jacinda Ardern v Judith Collins
Henry Cooke and Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): ‘This is nonsense’ – Judith Collins on the attack in first leaders’ debate as her campaign comes under pressure
RNZ: Leaders’ debate: Collins and Ardern, blow by blow
Laura Walters (Newsroom): First leaders’ debate covers well-trodden ground
1News: No capital gains tax coming from either Labour or National, Ardern and Collins promise voters
Crystal Wu (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins clash over tax cuts
1News: Collins and Ardern divided on merits of minimum wage increases in first leaders’ debate
1News: Collins says National would give skilled workers same treatment ‘Ardern’s given to the Australian rugby team’
Ben Uffindell (The Civilian): LIVE: Jacinda Ardern vs. Judith Collins, First Debate
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Henry Cooke (Stuff): Judith Collins heads into the first leaders’ debate with a lot to prove
Audrey Young (Herald): A crucial moment in Judith Collins’ campaign (paywalled)
Ted Zorn (The Conversation): Ardern versus Collins: ahead of their first TV debate, how much will charisma and eloquence matter?
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Judith Collins reveals plan for first live debate against Jacinda Ardern
Jason Walls (Herald): Jacinda Ardern expects Judith Collins to play ‘a bit of bingo’ at tonight’s debate
David Cohen (RNZ): Ahead of tonight’s leaders’ debate – here’s a look at some of the best from the past
1News Colmar Brunton Poll
1News: 1NEWS Colmar Brunton poll: Labour drops, National flounders as minor parties lift
Jessica Mutch McKay (1News): ACT ‘big winner’ in latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll
1News: ‘I’m a fighter’ – Judith Collins defends poor Colmar Brunton results
Andy Fyers and Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Labour undented by second covid lockdown: poll (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Labour dips but could still govern alone in latest poll, ACT and Greens gain
Herald:Labour would be able to govern alone, in latest Colmar Brunton poll
David Farrar: Latest poll
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Why are the Greens dying and what happens if they do?
Election
RNZ: NZers more concerned about housing than unemployment
BusinessDesk: Govt seen as safe pair of hands – Ipsos poll (paywalled)
Jennifer Lees-Marshmant (Newsroom): A political dance with no room for missteps
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): Labour dips its toes into negative online ads
Herald: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern dominates social media as Kiwis take political engagement online
Jamie Morton (Herald): Kiwis want a ‘green reset’ – so what’s on offer? (paywalled)
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Minor parties push for tangata whenua freshwater ownership
Conor Whitten (Newshub Nation): Debbie Ngarewa-Packer’s plan to return the Māori Party to parliament
The Hui: Waiariki contenders Tamati Coffey, Hannah Tamaki and Rawiri Waititi face off in The Hui debate
The Hui: Who will take the Waiariki electorate seat?
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington Central and the party high flyers
Jane Matthews (Stuff): Candidates’ climate change debate taking place online
Jonathan Barrett (The Conversation): The major parties’ tax promises are more about ideology and psychology than equity or fairness for New Zealanders
Laura Walters (Newsroom): NZ ‘underprepared’ for election interference
Sam Brooks (Spinoff): To fund or not to fund: What our political parties think about arts policy
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘Web gremlin’ infects Labour site, raises fears of another election delay
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): The Sure Things: Brooke van Velden
Gavin Ogden (Herald): Local Focus: East Coast election candidates on taxing the rich to help poor people escape poverty
Georgie Ormond (Herald): Local Focus: Coal versus sustainable energy in Palmerston North
Madeleine Chapman (Spinoff): The week in memes: The fiscal hole is back and this time it’s definitely real
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Georgia Forrester (Stuff): The dates, times and details for all the leaders’ debates
Press: Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins face off in The Press Leaders Debate
Spinoff: Leader debate bingo (or drinking game if you like
National
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): Stuff the focus groups: The Spinoff meets Judith Collins
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): National’s fiscal hole appears to double to $8 billion as Paul Goldsmith denies double count mistake
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): The real budget hole no one is talking about
Debbie Jamieson (Stuff): Goldsmith defends ‘credible’ financial plan; Robertson says ‘it doesn’t add up’
Newstalk ZB: Paul Goldsmith believes his job is safe despite fiscal fumble
Labour
1News: ‘It does take time’ – Ardern says Labour needs another term to tackle people going hungry in Aotearoa
Sarah Templeton (Newshub): Which fast food option does Jacinda Ardern love more: McDonald’s or KFC?
Economy
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): The RBNZ’s $64 billion property owners’ support package
Eugene Bingham and Adam Dudding (Stuff): Tick. Tick podcast: The economic phoney war and what will happen to house prices
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Why this economist thinks ‘Wall Street’s gonna be okay, and Main Street’s not’
Ananish Chaudhuri (Stuff): Spending v tax cuts – the questions that really need answering
Bryce Wilkinson (Herald): Voters’ choices for post-election economic and fiscal strategies (paywalled)
ASB Finance Debate
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Paul Goldsmith, Grant Robertson face off over National’s fiscal hole in ASB Great Debate
Jo Moir (RNZ): ACT’s David Seymour ‘standout performer’ at finance debate
Matthew Mckew (ODT): MPs provoked with feisty barbs
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): ASB Great Debate live updates – Grant Robertson, Paul Goldsmith, David Seymour, James Shaw, Fletcher Tabuteau
Wage subsidy, business
Rebecca Stevenson (BusinessDesk): Entitled or unethical? Big business and the wage subsidy (paywalled)
Andrea Fox (Herald): Court action proposed against Alliance meat company over wage subsidy (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Magazines and community newspapers to receive $4m in ‘Covid’ grants
RNZ: Checkpoint: STA Travel using customers’ money to cover wages, rent
Rebecca Stevenson (BusinessDesk): House of Travel: from record year to closing stores (paywalled)
Cannabis and euthanasia referendums
Russell Brown: ASA: Let’s not talk about this
Herald: School principals split over legalising cannabis
Waatea News: Vote of no confidence in drug law reform
Tamisha Jowsey (Newsroom): The search for a ‘good death’
Colin Gavaghan (Spinoff): The End of Life Choice bill is safer than many of our current critical care laws
Housing
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Green Party calls for Government charge on emergency housing to be delayed indefinitely
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Labour to charge emergency housing residents quarter of income
No Right Turn: This is not kind
Piers Fuller (Stuff): Faafoi open to return of state housing to Wairarapa
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): Rental price lull unlikely to last
Colleen Hawkes (Stuff): Is 6 Homestar social housing really delivering? Researchers suggest Fair Trading Act could be breached
Mandy Te and Joel Maxwell (Stuff): Million-dollar baby: Porirua races towards $1m median house price mark
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Thousands oppose planned subdivision in Nelson as housing shortage looms
Border management, exemptions
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National steps back onto minefield of border politics, proposes semi-privatisation of facilities
Derek Cheng (Herald): National’s plan for more foreign workers, students, tourists and Pacific visitors
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): National’s plan to let workers and tourists in
RNZ: National Party unveils border security plan that aims to get more arrivals into NZ
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Risk of new COVID-19 outbreak if private isolation facilities allowed under National – former Labour Party president Mike Williams
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): A summary of political parties’ border policies – who gets
ODT Editorial: Border policies should fuel debate
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Tour companies have quarantine plans ready for rich travellers
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RNZ: Visa changes, border exemptions for specialised workers
Derek Cheng (Herald): Govt reprieve for 11,000 foreigners with expiring working holiday visas
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Some relief for farmers as more border exceptions granted
1News: Immigration policy changes announced to fill key labour shortages amid Covid-19 pandemic
NZ’s coronavirus response
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): National leader Judith Collins’ claim NSW ‘dealt with’ COVID-19 better than NZ fact-checked as ‘mostly false’
Newstalk ZB: PM and Hosking go head to head on NZ’s Covid response
RNZ: Bloomfield asked Cabinet to consider smaller limit to indoor events – Jacinda Ardern
1News: Covid-19 expert Shaun Hendy implores Kiwis to wear masks regardless of alert level requirement
1News: NZ remains in ‘very, very good place’ amid Covid-19 pandemic, Ardern assures as restrictions ease
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern says selfie mistake shows need for ‘lots of layers of protection’ against COVID-19
John Anthony (Stuff): Anzac Covid-19 contact tracing system needed to form Trans-Tasman bubble, experts say
Brent Edwards (NBR): New Zealand risks turning into a ‘hermit kingdom’, Shane Jones says (paywalled)
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): Covid vaccine: Why NZ bought options for 5 million doses (paywalled)
RNZ: Covid-19 leave scheme to be expanded
Emma Cropper (Newshub): Hamilton man in isolation denied chance to see dying father
Health
Ian Powell (Democracy Project): Does private healthcare threaten public healthcare in New Zealand?
Bridie Witton (Stuff): New type 2 diabetes drugs could stop kidney failure and save lives but not yet within reach for many
Commission for Financial Capability survey
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): People earning more than $150k stressed about money, CFFC data shows
RNZ: New Zealand couples stressing about money – survey
Southern Response
RNZ: Southern Response quake case: Couple want apology from Gerry Brownlee
RNZ: Southern Response not appealing court decision on Dodds’ earthquake insurance case
Michael Hayward (Stuff): Crown insurer Southern Response won’t appeal Dodds earthquake insurance decision
1News: Crown will not fight court decision against state-owned quake insurer Southern Response
Transport
1News: Public transport is the solution to ‘pain in the ass’ congestion, Mayor Phil Goff says
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland’s biggest transport fail isn’t the damaged harbour bridge
1News: Fears nation’s economy at risk due to Auckland Harbour Bridge transport disruption
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Auckland needs a new harbour crossing – which party will make it happen?
Josie Adams (Spinoff): What the hell’s going on with the Auckland Harbour Bridge?
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Deadly mineral erionite could complicate Waitematā tunnel
Education
Maria Hook, Jane Calderwood Norton and Andrew Geddis (Spinoff): An affirmative case for Otago medical school’s affirmative action policy
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): The death of Mason Pendrous one year on
RNZ: NCEA exams could go ahead even under level 3, ministry confirms
Katy Jones (Stuff): Schools poised to cut jobs as international student fees dry up
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Dilworth School: Ex-student ‘threatened with expulsion’ if he spoke about alleged sexual abuse
Environment
Thomas Manch (Stuff): The avocados will be fine
Harry Lock (RNZ): Plan to flip carbon footprint requires govt funding, council says
Siobhan Downes (Stuff): The climate conundrum: How to get people to eat to save the planet
Philip Todhunter (Herald): Eugenie Sage’s proposed Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill is both tragedy and farce (paywalled)
Banks
RNZ: New Zealand banks named in FinCEN leak defend process
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): ASB and BNZ named in international investigation into money laundering document leak
John Anthony (Stuff): BNZ and ASB banks named in international investigation involving ‘dirty money’ transactions
Abuse in state care inquiry
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Abuse in state care inquiry: Survivor calls for independent claims process
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Abuse in state care inquiry: Misdiagnosed woman given ECT about 200 times
Vandhna Bhan (1News): Woman who suffered 12 years of electroshock therapy for being gay speaks of ‘horrendous’ journey to redress
Other
RNZ: The Detail: Why do we still ship livestock overseas?
Denise Piper (Stuff): Winston Peters announces $30m for Northland to create 480 jobs
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Thirty-two child-sex offenders granted permission to change their names
Jonathan Mitchell (RNZ): Defence Force personnel involved in assaults – OIA
Stuff: Mystery of secret passport case exposed as claimed terrorist threat
Blair Ensor (Stuff): Rūnanga chair quits, days after housing project dispute revealed
