Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here.
Today’s content
Electoral law review
RNZ: Electoral law review sparks demands for faster changes, referendums
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Electoral changes in the hands of the elected?
Audrey Young (Herald): If at first you don’t succeed, order another electoral law review (paywalled)
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Why is Kris Faafoi reviewing the electoral laws in the middle of a pandemic?
Claire Trevett (Herald): MPs split on need to reform political donations rules, support for 4-year term
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Voting age and taxpayer-funded campaigns shaping up to be contentious areas of electoral review
No RIght Turn: The electoral law review
Brent Edwards (NBR): Political parties already disagree over possible changes to electoral law (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Government launches major review of electoral law, to include voting age and party funding
Claire Trevett (Herald): Political donation laws: Justice Minister Kris Faafoi unveils electoral law reform
Zane Small (Newshub): Electoral review to consider donations, MMP, length of Parliament term and voting age
Anna Whyte (1 News): Review to look at voting age, overseas voting and parliamentary term
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Govt announces wide-ranging electoral review, targeted changes for 2023
RNZ: Electoral law review to follow transparency, Māori Roll changes
Govt ends elimination strategy
Morgan Godfery (Guardian): By ending Covid elimination, Jacinda Ardern once again fails to turn compassion into policy
Tess McClure (Guardian): ‘Perfect storm’: how Covid is compounding
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Will Ardern resign before Xmas? (paywalled)
Keith Lynch (Stuff): Why New Zealand’s Covid-19 elimination strategy is over
1 News: Immunologist warns of ‘dire consequences of missteps’ in easing restrictions
Siouxsie Wiles (Spinoff): Why the change in our approach leaves me grieving – and what comes next
Tess McClure (Guardian): Anger and grief: New Zealanders fearful as Covid elimination strategy ends
Steven Cowan (Against the current): The consequences of the pandemic do not affect us all equally
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Concern for vulnerable communities as Govt announces lockdown exit strategy
Rawiri Taonui (Waatea News): Māori on the precipice of largest pandemic risk in 103 years
Whatitiri Te Wake (Māori TV): Easing Auckland’s Covid-19 restrictions recipe for disaster for Māori and Pasifika
Martyn Bradbury (Waatea News): Open borders = more vulnerable whānau at risk
Thomas Manch (Stuff): More questions than answers as Government leaves Covid-19 ‘elimination’ strategy behind
Gordon Campbell: On lifting the lockdowns, and the Covid pill
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern gives up on Covid-zero
Herald: Editorial: Level 3 step-change offers little relief (paywalled)
Tara Greer (Stuff): An obituary for elimination
RNZ: New Zealand gives in: How international media sees the Covid-19 strategy
Herald: World reacts to end of NZ’s elimination strategy
Anna Whyte (1 New): Govt still taking an aggressive approach to Covid outbreak – PM
ODT Editorial: Eliminating the elimination method
Rebecca Moore (1 News): NZ experts looking at ‘promising’ experimental Covid-19 drug
Zane Small (Newshub): ACT’s Brooke van Velden accuses Government of ‘dropping the ball’ on antiviral COVID-19 medication
Vaccine certificate, mandatory vaccination
Science Media Centre: Covid vaccine pass for large events – Expert Reaction
Michael Plank (The Conversation): The COVID-zero strategy may be past its use-by date, but New Zealand still has a vaccination advantage
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): I’ve got no sympathy for those who don’t want to be forced to be jabbed
Eric Crampton (Herald): Vaccine certificates only a start as we eye new normal (paywalled)
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): A ticket to freedom: The arguments for mandating COVID-19 vaccination certificates
RNZ: Vaccine certificates: Uncertainty over enforcement, extent of essential services
Charlie Gates and Nadine Porter (Stuff): Large events before vaccine certificates will be ‘extremely irresponsible’, says expert
RNZ: PM announces Covid-19 vaccine certificate
Liz McDonald and Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): ‘Either yes or no’: Hospitality operators urge certainty on Covid vaccination certificates
Siobhan Downes (Stuff): How to prove you are vaccinated for international travel under the new vaccine certificate system
Anna Whyte (1 News): Vaccine certificates to be in use this summer – Ardern
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government will mandate new vaccine certificates for summer festival attendees
RNZ: Checkpoint: Covid-19 vaccine certificate a positive step – Rhythm & Vines boss
Michael Neilson (Herald): Vaccine certificates welcomed by festival organisers
Newstalk ZB: Herald Wellington Business Editor: Businesses will welcome the vaccine certificates
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘No jab, no job’ mandate will increase unemployment – Judith Collins
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Josephine Franks (Stuff): No guarantee teachers are jabbed, no way to find out if they are
RNZ: Checkpoint: Teachers encouraged to get vaccinated, but no mandate – NZEI
Ben Leahy (Herald): Mandatory vaccinations for teachers being looked at
Susan Hornsby-Geluk (Stuff): When is mandatory vaccination justifiable?
Cate Broughton (Stuff): ‘No jab, no visit’ policy for visitors to Ryman Health rest homes
Vaccine rollout
Kate MacNamara (Herald): Pfizer waited over 6 weeks for first vaccine meeting with NZ officials last year (paywalled)
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): There would be no better use of public money right now than paying people to get vaccinated against Covid-19
John Tamihere (Herald):Why Māori are lagging behind in vaccinations
Sahiban Hyde (Hawkes Bay Today): Fear, distrust, and misinformation – why Hawke’s Bay’s Māori vaccination rollout is struggling (paywalled)
Jesse Mulligan (Spinoff): What I’ve learned from the anti-vaxxers in my DMs
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Māori health services ramp up vaccination drive after govt announcement
Bridie Witton (Stuff): GPs need more resources to help increase Māori and Pasifika vaccinations
Newstalk ZB: Henare: We need to get people vaccinated sooner rather than later
Luke Malpass (Stuff): The year of the vacccine is fast drawing to a close
Megan Wilson (Herald): 6.1% of port workers not vaccinated in the Bay after deadline (paywalled)
RNZ: Thousands of youth get jab at Pasifika event
Belinda Feek (Herald): Positive Covid cases in one small Waikato town ‘turning’ the anti-vaxxers
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Free burgers lure hundreds of university students for jabs
Esther Ashby-Coventry (Stuff): SCDHB takes vaccine to the people in effort to vaccinate last 20 per cent
Herald: Fiji communities in Auckland rally to vaccinate their families
Madison Reidy (Newshub): Free kebabs, burgers and prizes: Vaccination reward schemes spreading across New Zealand
Alert level rules, compliance, enforcement
David Farrier (Stuff): Destiny Church isn’t the only problem; what about the white megachurches?
Teuila Fuatai (Herald): Attitudes towards pandemic vary (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern addresses roadmap confusion, why each step isn’t tied to vaccination rates
Jason Walls (Newstalk ZB): Gang boss given essential worker exemption to come to Auckland
Bernadette Basagre (Stuff): Mongrel Mob boss given exemption to cross Auckland border
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Fullers wants clarity on ferrying visitors to Waiheke Island
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Surf Lifesaving urges Aucklanders not to flock to west coast beaches
Newshub: Kiwis react with memes to new Auckland lockdown ‘roadmap
Ella Stewart (RNZ): Rules still apply, Aucklanders reminded, as region’s roadmap kicks in
Dan Satherley and Emma Stanford (Newshub): How to have a Govt-approved ‘park piss-up’ without breaking the law
Joseph Pearson (Stuff): NZ Rugby launches third exemption request to get three Auckland teams back in NPC
Zoe Holland (Herald): Aucklanders wake up to new freedoms – so what can you do?
RNZ: What you can and can’t do during step 1 of new restrictions
Brian Tamaki faces charges over anti-lockdown protest
1 News: Brian Tamaki speaks out after protest charges – ‘I will defend my involvement’
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki reveals he’s facing two charges following anti-lockdown protest
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Destiny Church’s Brian Tamaki named as man charged in anti-lockdown protest
Herald: Brian Tamaki vows to defend police charges for Auckland anti-lockdown protest
Tom McRae (Newshub): Protest organiser summonsed to court over Auckland demonstration
RNZ: Auckland mass gathering event organiser summonsed to court
James Halpin (Stuff): Dozen complaints to IPCA over police not making lockdown protest arrests
Will Trafford (Māori TV): Pavement Penis: Aucklander’s lockdown revenge over Tamaki protest
Education
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Apprehension in early childhood sector over possible influx of children
Dubby Henry (Herald): Early childcare reopening – no limit to bubble numbers as long as they fit safely
Corazon Miller (1 News): 10 child per bubble limit sees some Auckland early childhood centres hit capacity
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): PM dangles empty childcare promise for working parents
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Paediatricians say Covid risk to pre-school kids is ‘low’ as daycares reopen
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): Parents likely to be turned away from ECEs as restrictions ease
Hemopereki Simon (Herald): Treaty-based universities flogging a dead horse (paywalled)
Business, economy, employment, wage subsidy
RNZ: The Detail: Government subsidies more targeted in 2021
RNZ: Small businesses coping with minimum wage increase, study finds
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Under water: Rise in businesses struggling to make debt payments (paywalled)
Adam Pearse (Herald): Third of retailers unsure they’ll survive the next year – report
1 News: Roadmap offers no instant relief for ‘struggling’ businesses – economist
Jean Bell (RNZ): Business leaders want clarity on timing of level 3 easing
Miriam Burrell (Herald): Auckland’s Midnight Gardener restaurant to offer outdoor space for private picnics
Jane Phare (Herald): ‘It’s dire:’ Events sector says some will not survive if lockdowns continue (paywalled)
Non Pelletier (RNZ): Company credit defaults rise as lockdown hits Auckland businesses hard
RNZ: Lack of skilled staff holding back businesses
Jack Crossland and Sophie Trigger (Herald): The Wellington event that’s been hit four times
Dan Satherley (Newshub): No Xmas bounce or V-shaped recovery for the economy this time around – economist
Liam Dann (Herald): Building sector leading slump in business confidence – NZIER (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): 2degrees founder Tex Edwards says why we need another supermarket chain
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Official cash rate expected to rise by 25 basis points on Wednesday
Waikato outbreak
Sharnae Hope (Stuff): Hamilton testing demand was double what Waikato DHB expected
Stuff: Three new community cases of Covid-19 in Waikato
Border, MIQ
Sarah Robson (RNZ): Covid-19 vaccination deadline missed by 138 border workers
Grant Bradley (Herald): IATA exposes haphazard border management (paywalled)
Robin Martin (RNZ): OIA reveals Taranaki DHB feared for Covid-19 infected mariners’ lives
Katie Townshend (Stuff): How do 31,000 people fit into 4000 rooms?
Sophie Cornish and Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Kiwis unable to reunite with family overseas ‘frustrated’ as MIQ rooms snapped up
Samantha Gee (RNZ): 25,000 overseas New Zealanders vye for 3700 MIQ rooms in latest release
Katie Townshend (Stuff): How do 31,000 people fit into 4000 rooms?
Herald: Thousands of Kiwis set to battle for latest MIQ spots
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Pregnant Auckland woman lodges MIQ legal challenge to get stranded husband home
Helen Harvey (Stuff): New Plymouth man coming from almost covid-free Perth says it is ‘ludicrious’ he will take up MIQ space
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): Man says he was denied proper medical treatment in MIQ after fainting
Local government
Bernard Orsman (Herald): National MP Mark Mitchell not standing for Auckland Mayoralty
Benn Bathgate (Stuff):‘First of its kind’ council policy gives mana whenua first right of refusal on land sales
Tim Newman (Stuff): No clear steer from Nelson public on representation review
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Hamilton ratepayers to provide rent relief to council tenants
Felix Desmarais (Local Democracy Reporting): Some Rotorua major projects delayed by Auckland lockdown – council
Grant Miller (ODT): Most of council vaccinated
Grant Craig (ODT): Letting rail line’s many benefits be lost would be short-sighted
Water reforms
Mike Yardley (Newstalk ZB): Three Waters has devolved into a debacle
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Status quo or give regions the reins to Three Waters, urges Manawatū council
Environment, climate change, conservation
Eloise Gibson (Stuff): Govt bypassed its climate assessment rules to give $390m to airlines
Matthew Ronseberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Ohai coal battle: Meet the young person fighting the industry her small town was built on
Lois Williams (Local Democracy Reporting): Company behind proposed West Coast sand mine asked for more detail
Leah Tebbutt (RNZ): Astrolabe: 10 years on from the Rena disaster
Brianne West (Stuff):Business has to take responsibility to regenerate our planet
Moana Case
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Embattled judge says he has received support from 60 colleagues
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Top lawyer complains over Judge Callinicos saga
Karl du Fresne: More on the gang-up against Judge Peter Callinicos
David Farrar (Kiwblog): The Moana case
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): I hate to admit David Farrar is right, but he’s right
Justice
RNZ: Not a single Māori Crown prosecutor in Christchurch, Gisborne, Whanganui
Naomi Arnold (RNZ): Crime victims’ details given to offenders via Ministry of Justice form
Cushla Norman (1 News): Peter Ellis appeal: Ability of children to recall traumatic events highlighted in court
Ximena Smith (Stuff): Justice minister refuses compensation to mum despite quashed conviction for killing her newborn
Māori TV: Te Ao with Moana: Justice Minister refuses compensation to mum despite quashed conviction for killing her newborn
Pandora Papers
Herald: New Zealand trusts held $300m for religious order linked to child sex abuse scandal (paywalled)
George Driver (Spinoff): Is NZ a tax haven for the rich and dodgy? The Pandora Papers reignite the debate
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Aggressive foreign trusts pushed out in 2017 reforms (paywalled)
Employment, migrant workers
Damien Venuto (Herald): The big reason 39% of Kiwis are looking to change jobs
Jared Morgan (ODT): RSE workers arrive in Central
Health
Charlotte Cook (RNZ): ICU-treated woman fears for health system if Covid-19 spreads
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): Long stays at stretched Wellington Hospital leading to ‘unsafe’ overcrowding
Emma Russell (Herald): Immigrant doctors denied work at ‘understaffed’ hospitals
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Hospital must plan for cases, SDHB told
Ian Powell (BusinessDesk): Health system’s ships passing in the night (paywalled)
Simon Connell (Newsroom): No good reason to limit ACC birth injury cover
Chelsea Daniels (Herald): Growing concern over genetic discrimination in New Zealand (paywalled)
Derek Cheng (Herald): 3 years from law change to market: Industry’s first NZ-made cannabis medicines available from Thursday
Chlöe Swarbrick (Herald): Don’t hate the player, hate the game
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Medication alone not enough to treat mental health issues in Kiwi kids, Unicef warns
Janine Rankin (Stuff): New Zealand’s sad statistics show the challenge for suicide prevention
Louisa Steyl (Stuff): Southern DHB acknowledges te Tiriti o Waitangi breach
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Te Kaika to build community wellness hub
Housing, property investment, tenancy rules
Miriam Bell (Stuff): Where it is still cheaper to buy than rent
Miriam Bell (Stuff): Auckland house prices fall during lockdown
Anne Gibson (Herald): Auckland house sales ‘severely curbed’ by lockdown: new Barfoot & Thompson data
Ashley Church (OneRoof): How to solve the housing crisis without screwing house prices
Rob Stock (Stuff): Government launches shared home ownership scheme for families that can’t save a deposit
Zane Small (Newshub):Government announces second funding round for progressive home ownership, next phase of scheme revealed
Jade Kake (Stuff): New Māori housing strategy is a game changer
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Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Commercial rent relief changes based on anecdotal discussions with lawyers (paywalled)
Media
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): 110 additional taxpayer funded journalists
RNZ: Facebook ‘harms children and weakens democracy’: Ex-employee
Melissa Lee (Spinoff): When Facebook goes down
Josie Adams (Spinoff): The day that Facebook and Instagram disappeared
Primary industries
RNZ: Aquaculture agreement sees area off Rakiura/Stewart Island transferred to Ngāi Tahu
Laura Smith (ODT): Southland Acquaculture Agreement signed in Bluff
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Ngāi Tahu to run marine farms after Treaty settlement
Stuff: Ngāi Tahu now has scope for aquaculture farming in Murihiku
RNZ: Man charged for trading $1.2m of unreported seafood named
Maja Burry (RNZ): Regenerative agriculture: NZ farmers well placed to benefit – report
Other
George Driver (Listener/Herald): Pump and be dammed: Could Lake Onslow solve our electricity woes? (paywalled)
Rebecca Ryan (ODT): Almost all in favour of electricity trust
Georgina Campbell (Herald): New EQC cap a ‘measure of comfort’ for Wellingtonians facing big insurance bills
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Transmission Gully: Emergency services test run finds several kilometres of black spots
RNZ: China slashes its aid to the Pacific
Graeme Austin (Newsroom): The minority group we’re not including
Sukayna Al-Aaraji (Stuff): The inevitability of abuse as a woman
Chris Keall (Herald): Rising cryptocurrency theft: Good news from IRD, bad news from insurers (paywalled)
