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
Govt Covid strategy, expert warnings
John Donne Potter, Graham Le Gros, Rod Jackson (The Conversation): Why we must not allow COVID to become endemic in New Zealand
Tess McClure (Guardian): Māori party warns reopening New Zealand amid Covid outbreak would be ‘modern genocide’
Marena Mane (Māori TV): Māori are left vulnerable, ‘shocking ‘outbreak statistics say
Laura Walters (Stuff): Government’s Covid-19 response is a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori health experts say
Vandhna Bhan and Arvind Kumar (Stuff): Acceptance of Covid deaths key to living with the virus, says medical professor
Herald: NZ needs 95% vax rate before even thinking of Xmas freedom – top expert
Simon Wilson (Herald): Angry, cocky confidence is Covid’s other infectious disease (paywalled)
Chris Trotter (Interest): Delta’s week of doom
Tess McClure (Guardian): New Zealand braces for rising Covid cases as expert warns of potential explosion
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Plague is getting worse – bet on long level 3 in Auckland at least (paywalled)
Stuff Editorial: More vaccine mandates welcome – now what about the borders?
RNZ: Alert levels remain unchanged, NZ at one of ‘most challenging moments’ in pandemic
Graeme Edgeler (Legal Beagle): A submission on the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill (No 2)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Covid response has descended into a farce
Bill Ralston (Listener/Herald): Government’s fight against Delta seems weak and slow (paywalled)
Curwen Ares Rolinson (Daily Blog): On Jacinda Being “Missing In Action” Apparently
Verity Johnson (Stuff): When straight talk was needed, Jacinda wasn’t there
Leonie Hayden (Spinoff): Anti-maskers have ruined exemptions for the people who actually need them
Ellie Jay (RNZ): Game puts players in charge of Covid-19 response
Auckland, Auckland border
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Race to vaccinate before Level 3 falls apart
RNZ: Checkpoint: Level 2 Christmas possible for Auckland if vaccinations rise – top epidemiologist
Derek Cheng (Herald): Level 2 in Auckland looks increasingly distant as case numbers rise (paywalled)
Hannah Kronast and Kethaki Masilamani (Newshub): Experts call for implementation of 10 urgent measures before re-opening Auckland schools
Tamati Tinanga (Māori TV): Dr Rawiri Taonui wants Auckland ordered back to Alert level 4
1 News: Auckland schools will not reopen for Term 4 next week
Geraden Cann (Stuff): Auckland schools will not reopen next Monday
Anna Whyte (1 News): Auckland to stay at current alert level settings
Lucy Xia and Geraden Cann (Stuff): Auckland to stay at alert level 3, stage 1, for another week
Herald: Editorial: Having to wait and see how this turns out is taking a toll (paywalled)
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): The Government needs to be upfront with how long lockdown will take
Duncan Garner (NBR): Ardern sends Auckland into deep coma with no wake-up plan (paywalled)
Bridie Witton (Stuff): ACT calling for suburbs with 90 per cent vaccination rate to be let out of lockdown
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Stressed, locked down Auckland workforce ignored in Govt’s Level 3 decision
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Aucklanders are fed up and angry and rightfully so
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Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Epidemiologist Michael Baker warns Government not to loosen restrictions in Auckland
RNZ: Infection rate on the rise since move to level 3 – Covid-19 modeller
RNZ: Aucklanders call for clarity ahead of alert level decision
Vaccine certificate, mandatory vaccination, incentives
RNZ: Checkpoint: Primary teachers’ union responds to mandatory vaccination
Josephine Franks, Ellen O’Dwyer and Lee Kenny (Stuff): Teachers back Covid-19 vaccine mandate: ‘It’s our role to model safe behaviour’
Tom Hunt (Stuff): To teach or not to teach: NZ educators’ vaccine balancing act
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Principals confident most staff will comply with mandatory vaccine order
Derek Cheng (Herald): Chris Hipkins reveals ‘no jab, no job’ rule for education and health workers
Dubby Henry (Herald): Teachers must get vaccinated, Auckland schools to stay closed
Science Media Centre: Covid shots mandated for health & education staff – Expert Reaction
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Mandatory vaccination for health staff ‘will save lives’, health body says
Herald: Medical groups say ‘no jab, no job’ for healthcare workers will save lives
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Vaccine mandate could stretch already thin midwive care
John Lewis (ODT): Issues over mandatory vaccines
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Sweeping vaccine mandate for teachers and most healthcare workers
Bridie Witton and Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government wields biggest stick yet with ‘no jab, no job’ policy in health and education
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Mandatory vaccinations announced for health, education sector workers
Amelia Wade (Mewshub): COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirms vaccine mandate includes parents volunteering in schools
Anna Whyte (1 News): School and ECE staff who have contact with kids must be vaccinated by Jan 1
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Vaccination mandates for health and education (paywalled)
Herald: Aviation Security Officers lose their jobs after refusing to get a vaccine
Luke Malpass (Stuff): The world of the unvaccinated is only going to shrink from now
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Business under ‘huge pressure’, seek vaccine mandate
Zoe Holland (Herald): Employment lawyer says employers should start a conversation with vaccine-hesitant staff
Andre Chumko (Stuff): Job termination and no compensation likely for unvaccinated workers
Maja Burry (RNZ): Pāmu ponders restrictions for unvaccinated staff
Jamie Larnach (Public Address): Yes, of course festival organisers will follow the law on vaccination
White Man Behind a Desk (Stuff): Vaccines, patents & waivers
Vaccine rollout, anti-vaxxers
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Nearly all Pfizer vaccines in central storage must be used before January expiry date
Harkanwal Singh (Spinoff): Travel times to every suburb’s closest vaccination centre, on one interactive map
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Regional NZ’s search for the unvaccinated
Anna Whyte (1 News): ‘Get vaxxed, don’t be a dickhead’ – Seymour’s blunt message to supporters
Samson Samasoni (Spinoff): The vaccine push isn’t just a health challenge, it’s a marketing one too
Asher Wilson-Goldman (Newsroom): Vaccinating the last 17 percent
Ruwani Perera (Newshub): How a past pandemic is helping East Coast locals protect its community from COVID-19
Courtney White (ODT): Whanau must be target, Maori health leaders say
RNZ: Appeal to young Māori to help protect whānau and get vaccinated
1 News: Is your region at the top or bottom of the Covid-19 vaccination ladder?
Neil Holdom (Stuff): What is the Ministry of Health doing to protect the people of Taranaki?
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Vaccine holdout Maureen Pugh has first dose
RNZ: Appeal to PHOs to share details of any anti-vax doctors
Nikki Preston (Herald): Rogue parent group behind ‘freedom of choice’ sign outside school north of Riverhead
Northland, Waikato
1 News: Northland needs more clarity over border breach – Reti
1 News: Woman who travelled to Northland with Covid case is symptomatic – Bloomfield
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Dr Ashley Bloomfield doesn’t know if Northland contact found at home, with anyone else despite having symptoms
1 News: Woman who travelled with Northland Covid case taken into custody
Jason Walls (Newstalk ZB): Northlanders deserve more information about the pair who sent their region into lockdown
Jane Patterson (RNZ): PM wants officials to consider naming contact of positive case
Peter de Graaf (Northern Advocate): Iwi border group on trail of Covid case’s mystery travel companion
Herald: Where two women – one infectious – went across Northland
RNZ: Couple incredulous they haven’t been contacted over Northland case
Denise Piper (Stuff): Lack of cooperation by case disappoints Northlanders seeking info
Zane Small (Newshub): National leader Judith Collins wants uncooperative Northland COVID-19 case’s identity made public
Herald: PM says health and police are ‘pulling out all stops’ to locate missing Northland traveller
1 News: Person who travelled with Northland Covid case ‘beyond irresponsible’ – Ardern
Newstalk ZB: ‘The system is a mess’: Winston Peters on Northland lockdown
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): ‘No evidence’ Northland case a sex worker – Jacinda Ardern
1 News: Cautious approach to Northland, Waikato alert levels
Jo Lines-MacKenzie (Stuff): Waiting game continues for Waikato in alert level lockdown
South Island border
Liz McDonald (Stuff): Experts call for hard internal border to protect rest of NZ
Nadine Porter (Stuff): South Island fortress ‘not possible’ and escaping Covid-19 inconceivable, experts say
Conan Young (RNZ): South Islanders’ frustrations growing as it remains Covid-free
Conan Young (RNZ): South Islanders consider Covid risk as virus spreads beyond Auckland
Nadine Porter (Stuff): South Island fortress ‘not possible’ and escaping Covid-19 inconceivable, experts say
ODT Editorial: Shutting off the South
Grant Miller (ODT): Some southern support for stronger border
Mike Yardley (Stuff): A protective blanket for the South Island wouldn’t go amiss
Outbreaks in gangs
1 News: Gang leader getting Covid jab a ‘massive’ deal
Tumamao Harawira (Māori TV): Don Brash – Covid is the enemy, not gangs
Alert level compliance
Rachel Moore (Stuff): Sex workers should claim wage subsidy, not cross Covid-19 borders – Lisa Lewis
Herald: Police monitor large Porirua tangi for 18-year-old killed in motorcycle crash
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Man with autism who took off mask ordered to leave shop despite having exemption
Newshub: Police making enquiries after dangerous driving at Porirua gang tangi
Border, MIQ, immigration
Matthew Scott (Newshub): Where the growing crowd of community cases will isolate
David Hargreaves (Interest): ‘Increasing pressure’ on Govt to open borders earlier than it plans
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Government extends working holiday and seasonal employment visas for another six months
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Working holiday and seasonal work visas extended for another six months
1 News: Working holiday, seasonal work visas to be extended
Paul Spoonley (Spinoff): What Covid-19 has revealed about the New Zealand diaspora
Geraden Cann (Stuff): Insurance won’t cover travellers who fall foul of vaccine mandates
Stuff Editorial: Give us back our expert
Jane Phare (Herald): Ian Taylor wins approval for business travel trial using private MIQ
Todd Niall (Stuff): The man, the mission, and what to do about MIQ
Cases, demographics
1 News: Three Mt Eden prison inmates test positive for Covid-19
Brittney Deguara and Geraden Cann (Stuff): Exposure event at Middlemore Hospital after patient tests positive, 74 contacts identified
Qiuyi Tan (Herald): New exposure event at Middlemore Hospital after patient tests positive
Stuff: Katikati traveller, family, test negative in second round of Covid-19 testing
Business, economy, wage subsidy
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Govt will have to let businesses fail without elimination, economist says
Liam Dann (Herald): Auckland business abandoned and ignored (paywalled)
David Williams (Newsroom): First charges laid over wage subsidy
Richard Harman (Politik): Business getting frustrated (paywalled)
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Timing of Delta outbreak couldn’t be worse for the economy – Cameron Bagrie
Greg Smith (Stuff): Uncertainty around timing of Government’s reopening plans leaves stock market’s patience waning
Tim McCready (Herald): Mood of the Boardroom: How effective is the Covid-19 Recovery Fund? (paywalled)
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Inflation – Rising prices for petrol, clothing, housing will dent Kiwis’ wallets
Amber Liberte (Stuff): Creative NZ isn’t supporting independent artists during Covid
Nathan Morton (Stuff): Hairdressers today, gone tomorrow … salon mass closures expected in Auckland
Shourabh Vittalmurthy, Esther Ashby-Coventry & Chris Tobin (Stuff): South Canterbury business leaders gobsmacked South Island ignored
Uma Ahmed (Stuff): Southland events fund exhausted, but more for Fiordland available
Chris Marshall (Stuff): State cash continues to prop up tourism businesses
25 years since NZ’s first MMP election, Electoral law review
RNZ: The Detail: 25 years of MMP – is it working?
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Former MPs recall the introduction of MMP in New Zealand
Henry Cooke (Stuff): MMP at 25: How an academic dream from West Germany changed New Zealand forever
Waatea News: Māori Party keen on electoral reform
Simon Keller (Newsroom): Let the children vote
Jack Macpherson and Will Irvine (Stuff): Why lowering the voting age must be top of electoral reform
Prime Minister’ summer wedding
Monika Barton (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern still planning wedding this summer as NZ’s COVID-19 cases rise
Herald: Jacinda Ardern reveals how lockdown has affected her wedding plans
Parliament and Parties
Luke Malpass (Stuff): ACT Party turns 25 as David Seymour emphasises focus on ‘core business’
Justine Tucker (RNZ): My view as a fly on Parliament’s wall
Health
Ben Kepes (Stuff): The role of a public health system in treating causes, not symptoms
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Man horrified 92 ACC staff accessed his sensitive claim file
Cira Olivier (Herald): More deaths than meth: Urgent calls to change alcohol laws (paywalled)
Hawkes Bay Today: Hawke’s Bay’s free bowel screening test kits detect 73 cancers in three years
Russell Brown (Public Address): More tales from the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme
Cecilia Robinson (Herald): Reflections from a maternity ward on fixing our healthcare service (paywalled)
Jane Matthews (Stuff): Disabled Taranaki elderly depending on carers who sometimes do not show
Water reforms, Local government
ODT: Review of local government finds many problems requiring overhaul
Logan Savory (Stuff): Invercargill representation review recommends status quo for next election
Gianina Schwanecke (Herald): Māori wards: More than half of Napier submissions not in favour, council to vote next week (paywalled)
Catherine Groenestein (Stuff): South Taranaki District Council decides on 13 councillors
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Waste-to-energy plant among options for Wellington landfill replacement
Grant Miller (ODT): Radich launches Team Dunedin local body election bid
Hawkes Bay Today (Herald): Programme to help Tararua’s job seekers is an ‘outstanding success’ (paywalled)
Housing
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Would it be possible and/or desirable to engineer a housing market correction? (podcast)
Greg Ninness (Interest): The average value of NZ homes is up by more than $25,000 during lockdown
Kaysha Brownlie (Newshub): Christchurch losing reputation as affordable housing city as prices soar
Anne Gibson (Herald): $300m Bayswater Marina scheme out for public notification – documents on council site (paywalled)
Environment, climate change, conservation
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Not doing our bit
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Real action requires government
Brent Edwards (NBR): Farmers should have options by Xmas on measuring and pricing emissions (paywalled)
Eloise Gibson (Stuff): Carbon farming land will be ‘losing money in 100 years’ — East Coast report
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Rio Tinto commits to removing toxic substance being stored at Tiwai Point
Tess McClure (Guardian): Consternation in New Zealand as native bat included in bird of the year poll
RNZ: Bird of the Year: Bats join the competition
Anna Yeoman (ODT): A land of lizards
Education
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Tertiary institutions given 10 years to end minority pass rate disparity
Alwyn Poole (Kiwiblog): Please can this be Peak Failure and Stupidity in Education?
Edwina Pio (Stuff): Universities must be proactive in tackling radicalisation
Katie Harris (Herald): Victoria University staff accused of sexual assault or harassment by students 10 times in five years
Transport
Chloe Ranford (Local Democracy Reporting): Inter-island ferries ‘most likely’ cause of harmful gas emissions, new study finds
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Second harbour crossing in Auckland takes priority, say CEOs (paywalled)
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Motorhomes and horse trucks with modified cabs given reprieve
Todd Niall (Stuff): Anxiety and driver shortage to hit Auckland public transport services
Other
George Heagney (Stuff): Historic land loss leads to social and economic distress for Māori
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Progress for Maori
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Meetings between Family Court judge and Oranga Tamariki raise questions
Lana Andelane (Newshub): ‘Humanitarian crisis’ developing in Afghanistan as Afghan nationals who assisted New Zealand ‘left in harm’s way’ – experts
Jamie Wall (Spinoff): ‘Honestly bro, it was hard’: SBW on the whiteness of the NZ rugby establishment
Reweti Kohere (Spinoff): We’ve fallen in love with work from home – and some of us would rather quit than lose it
Rachel Purcell and Ben Te Aika (Newsroom): Genetic discrimination in NZ insurance undermining research
Mirjam Guesgen (Spinoff): The unsteady, underpaid reality of life as a New Zealand scientist
Ralph Sims (The Big Q): How can New Zealand reach 100% renewable energy?
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Gas sector’s $5 billion warning to govt (paywalled)
