Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.  Click here to subscribe to Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup and New Zealand Politics Daily.

Today’s content

Budget 2021
Kate C. Prickett (The Conversation): NZ’s second ‘Well-being Budget’ must deliver for the families that sacrificed most during the pandemic
Craig Renney (Spinoff): The dream budget for NZ progressives already exists across the Pacific
Praveen Menon (Reuters): New Zealand’s recovery budget seen focusing on targeted spending
Jason Walls (Herald): Māori housing and child poverty initiatives likely to be biggest Budget winners
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Budget 2021 to include ‘significant’ Māori housing boost and Newshub-Reid Research poll shows Kiwis support it
Derek Cheng (Herald): Last year was Covid-Budget. How will Covid-19 shape Budget 2021?
Terry Baucher (Spinoff): Our tax system is broken. Will Budget 2021 fix it?
RNZ: Pharmac, dental funding crucial in Budget – National Party
Michael Andrew (Spinoff): Five online trends that tell us about the appetite for Budget 2021
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): More investment in rangatahi employment needed, iwi and business leaders say
Gavin Lennox (Spinoff): Three ways budget 2021 can help small business grow

Immigration reset
Aaron Martin (BusinessDesk): Immigration NZ’s reform is disingenuous at best, damaging at worst
Stuff: Editorial – All political play and no workers make New Zealand a dull country
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern defends immigration reset, refuses to say whether Government will cap numbers
Katie Todd (RNZ): Government faces backlash over immigration plan as it defends ‘reset’
1News: Wealthy foreign investors need to be ‘really closely scrutinised’ over contributions to NZ – commentator
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): There is danger in Government’s immigration reset
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern defends immigration speech amid criticism from Judith Collins, migrant advocates, economists
Jason Walls (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: Govt won’t be turning off migration tap in immigration ‘rebalance’
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Concerns for migrant workers, temporary visa holders as Govt’s immigration overhaul slammed as ‘racist’
Newstalk ZB: Economist: Govt’s immigration policy doesn’t understand value of migrant labour
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Immigration crackdown – Winners & Losers
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): Young people ‘left to rot’ in residency visa queue

Racism, He Puapua, and Māori self-determination
Jagadish Thaker (The Conversation): A year after New Zealand’s first Covid-19 lockdown, discrimination and racism are on the rise
Greg Dawes (Newsroom): Take care with the term ‘racist’
Brooke van Velden (Herald): I want better outcomes for all children regardless of race (paywalled)
Michael Cullen (Herald): Māori, Pākehā and politics – are we ready for a partnership society? (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Judith Collins lashes out against education initiative raising importance of ‘recognising white privilege’
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): National MPs express diverging views on targeted funding for Māori
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern says National’s smoking gun document didn’t come from Government
Derek Cheng (Herald): Judith Collins stands by Ngāi Tahu co-ownership claim, says Govt has backed down
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Judith Collins says she hasn’t talked to Ngāi Tahu since alleging Government were going to give it ownership of water
George Heagney (Stuff): Teachers lead new campaign to combat racism

Parliament
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Electoral Commission urges Parliament to lower 5 per cent party vote threshold and abolish coat-tailing – again
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Property investors dominate Parliament
Jason Walls (Herald): Elton John tickets, investment homes and company owned – MPs’ financial interests revealed
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Gifts to MPs revealed: Second-hand car, skincare packs, golfing paraphernalia
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): It’s time for Green Membership to dump co-leadership and make Chloe Leader for 2023 election

National Party
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Hear me out: National’s in better shape than you think
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Judith Collins has no plans to step down as National leader despite dismal poll results
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Does anyone even care about politics at the moment?

Economy and work
Richard Prebble (Herald): Fair Pay Agreements – compulsory unionism by stealth (paywalled)
Jane Kelsey (The Conversation): New Zealand is overdue for an open and honest debate about 21st-century trade relations
Richard Meade (Herald): We need to prepare our economy for Covid 2.0 (paywalled)
Jacqueline Rowarth (Stuff): Farming sector is vital to repay New Zealand’s growing national debt
Sam Stubbs (Stuff): Could KiwiSavers own their own water pipes?
Mike Treen (Daily Blog): Pathways to residency and amnesty needed today

Local government
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Aucklanders face 5 percent rates hike next year as Goff releases Recovery Budget proposal
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Māori participation in council ‘shunned’, say church leaders
Craig Ashworth (RNZ): Stratford council rejects Māori ward hurry-up despite racism accusation
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Public sentiment supports Māori wards in Hamilton
Jane Matthews (Stuff): Māori ward decision sees Taranaki council slammed by two of its iwi
Nick Jones (Herald): New deal on Wellington’s Shelly Bay includes home ownership plan for iwi
Damian George (Stuff): New deal gives iwi greater stake in Shelly Bay development
Skara Bohny (Stuff): Nelson council contemplating greater rates increase than planned

International relations
Elliott Zaagman (The Interpreter): A rare test of China diplomacy
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern on Gaza conflict: Israel’s ‘encroachment, settlements and evictions’ avert two-state solution
Asia Pacific Report: Ghahraman condemns ‘disappointing’ NZ response over attacks on Gaza

Covid
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Government to introduce new law for vaccine after legal challenge
Herald: Staff member at NZ High Commission in India dies of Covid
Herald: Vaccine rollout needs ‘significant’ work to succeed: Auditor-General
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Refusal to waive MIQ fees for Kiwis in financial hardship could breach Bill of Rights Act – Ombudsman

Housing
David Law (Herald): Unintended consequences of New Zealand’s housing policy (paywalled)
Lana Andelane (Newshub): House prices continue record-breaking streak despite market activity cooling off
Tony Wall (Stuff): The state paid $1300 a week for a room in emergency housing where a boy was murdered, but what did it do to keep him safe?

Health
Dan Satherley, Emma Stanford, and Emma Turton (Newshub): Waikato DHB cyber attack a matter of when, not if – experts
Nikki Preston (Herald): Cyber attack on Waikato DHB’s IT system won’t be fixed until the weekend
Cate Broughton (Stuff): ‘Non-urgent’ brain surgery cancelled due to Christchurch Hospital bed shortage
David Williams (Newsroom): Southern cancer screening still not in the clear

Climate change
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Coal keeping the lights on
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Police hit brakes on decarbonising fleet

Other
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): More than 8000 people on National Gang List, but Government pushes back on its accuracy
Katy Jones (Stuff): Decile 9 schools also face extra student needs but lose out on funding, principals say
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Only 5% of sexual abuse claims make it through ACC system
George Block (Stuff): Defence Force launches new Southern Ocean patrol vessel project, price tag $300m+
No Right Turn: Another government agency which refuses to enforce the law
Jessie Chiang (RNZ): Has the Christchurch Call made any progress?
Phillida Bunkle (Newsroom): The privileges of Sue Kedgley