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
US politics and NZ
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): It could happen here
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Capitol Riot confirms Donald Trump leaves office as worst President in history (paywalled)
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Kiwi Chris Liddell weighs up resigning as Trump’s deputy chief of staff
Damian George (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern on US Capitol riot: Democracy ‘should never be undone by a mob’
Herald: ‘Democracy will prevail’: Jacinda Ardern condemns US Capitol violence by Trump supporters
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Trump and his enablers must face consequences (paywalled)
Jason Walls (Herald): ‘Violence has no place in thwarting democracy’ – Foreign Affairs Minister on US Capitol riots
Dick Brass (Herald): Plea from the States – how do we end this madness (paywalled)
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): US Election: Jacinda Ardern condemns United States Capitol violence
Stuff: ‘It breaks my heart’: Americans in New Zealand stunned by Capitol building riots
Covid, vaccine, and border
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Government backtrack on pre-border testing misguided: Greens
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Covid-19: How the vaccine rollout will work
John Anthony (Stuff): Air NZ hiring 115 more crew as it braces for tougher border requirements
Jamie Morton (Herald): Covid 19: New model shows Māori, Pasifika at higher risk of hospitalisation (paywalled)
Parliament and Government
Ged Cann (Stuff): Billy Te Kahika Jr’s New Zealand Public Party labelled a ‘cult’ by ex-party director
Brent Edwards (NBR): ACT’s ambition to copy the Greens (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): The Māori Party’s disruptive approach to politics (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): The looming climate crisis debate – will the Greens regret swallowing dead rats?
Local government
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Residents signal fall in satisfaction over Wellington City Council decision-making
Michael Neilson (Herald): Auckland household Watercare water bills could double in less than a decade
Georgina Campbell (Herald): How Wellington became the poster child for NZ’s water infrastructure crisis (paywalled)
Economy and work
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): Govt sends ‘mixed messages’ over minimum wage hike, after ignoring MBIE advice
Paul Callister and Robert McLachlan (Newsroom): Build homes, not airports and expressways
Susan St John (NBR): Any economic fix starts with fixing inequality (paywalled)
Matt Roskruge (NBR): Could 2021 bring step-change to the Māori economy? (paywalled)
Liu Chen (RNZ): Unions call for residency for migrant workers
Housing
Elle Hunt (Guardian): New Zealand’s housing market soars, with record prices for second month in a row
Catherine Smith (One Roof): ‘Buyers won’t pay stupid prices’: agency head warns
Tim Newman (Stuff): Nelson’s housing stock halved in 2020 continuing ‘long-term trend’
Education
Derek Cheng (Herald): Who benefits from fees-free? The swing from polytechnic to university (paywalled)
Stu Crosson (ODT): Falling achievement begs question about school education
Other
Rosie Gordon (Newshub): Last year described as ‘horror’ year for domestic violence in New Zealand
Kristin Hall (1News): Nearly 50 greyhound deaths not recorded in industry’s annual report, prompting calls for transparency
Rosemary McLeod (Stuff): Jail would be endless boredom
Robin Martin (RNZ): New drilling a mockery of climate emergency declaration – energy watchdog
Herald: Editorial – Auckland beaches a national disgrace (paywalled)
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): An unseen, magical downtown stadium for Auckland
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Transmission Gully – building the unbuildable road (paywalled)
Karl du Fresne: If it’s a hate crime, where does the hate start?
