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
Luke Malpass (Stuff): The Government and the epidemiologists start to part ways 
Gordon Campbell: On the perils of declaring premature victory
Kristin Hall (1 News): Government pushing ahead with traffic light system despite strong opposition
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): Alliance of iwi and Māori representatives rejects Govt’s proposed traffic light system
RNZ: Māori leaders opposed to rumoured Covid-19 traffic light system
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Mounting opposition to Government’s proposed new ‘traffic light’ system for Covid-19 restrictions 
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): ‘A game of two halves’: Māori vaccination rates must reach 90 per cent, experts say
Zoe Holland (Herald): Government’s alert-level decisions get mixed marks from experts
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Ministers look at ‘traffic light’ system for when vaccination rates higher
Anna Whyte (1 News): Vaccination target to be revealed for new Covid framework – Ardern
RNZ: Government to announce new Covid-19 approach on Friday
Verity Johnson (Stuff): Mourning the death of a delusion
Tess McClure (Guardian): New Zealand Covid update: Auckland to remain in lockdown even as fully vaccinated hit 70%
Stuff Editorial: Big questions still await clear answers
Ian Powell (Second Opinion): Where Britain goes Aotearoa should not go
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): It’s time for more carrot and less stick, at least for vaccinated rule followers
Keith Woodford (Interest): The current COVID strategy needs an urgent reset. It is now evident that staying in Level 3 over coming weeks will lead to a dismal Christmas
Luke Kirkness (Herald): New Zealanders deserve to know where they’re headed with Covid-19 (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Stuff): When decisions will be made on alert levels, vaccine targets and school reopenings
Zac de Silva (Stuff): How a successful business might have managed the Covid crisis
Liz McDonald (Stuff): Ongoing uncertainty over Covid-19 rules leads to frustration in the south

Auckland, Waikato, Northland alert level decision
1 News: Auckland will be out of Level 3 by Christmas – Ardern
1 News: Growing Covid numbers will ‘push outbreak into Christmas’, Hendy fears
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Ardern’s circuit-breaker balancing act
Mihingarangi Forbes (Newshub): Māori health providers disappointed there’s no level 4 circuit-breaker lockdown for Auckland
Adam Jacobson and Hannah Martin (Stuff): No level 4 ‘circuit breaker’ for Auckland, despite ‘desperate need’
1 News: Ardern says Level 4 Auckland circuit breaker unnecessary – if rules followed
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Auckland needs 90-95pc double-dose rates before rules ease – experts
1 News: Level 4 ‘circuit breaker’ being ‘actively considered’ for Auckland – Bloomfield
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): PM should visit Auckland before Friday (paywalled)
1 News: Judith Collins says latest update provides ‘no hope for Aucklanders’
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Ashley Bloomfield hints Aucklanders could see more freedoms in early December
RNZ:Ashley Bloomfield on vaccination rates: ‘Auckland’s pretty much there, let’s just stay the course’
Sapeer Mayron (Stuff): Auckland set to join ranks of longest lockdowns globally
RNZ: Northland to move to level 2; Auckland to stay in level 3 step 1 for two weeks – PM
Denise Piper (Stuff): ‘Many happy people’ after decision to drop Northland to alert level 2
Mike Mather and Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Anti-Covid border between Raglan and Hamilton ‘should be investigated’ – mayor

Vaccine rollout, Super Saturday Vaxathon
RNZ: Checkpoint: Top epidemiologist concerned at ‘outbreak of the unvaccinated’
1 News: Vaccination target should be over 95 per cent – expert
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern’s vaccination targets for new Covid normal will leave no group behind
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): 14 more Super Saturdays to go? Or none? (paywalled)
Jason Walls (Newstalk ZB): The vaxathon was a triumph – but it was missing one important thing
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Auckland crew fly to Wellington to film Vaxathon
Hannah Kronast and Perry Wilton (Newshub): Māori health experts praise Super Saturday but warn there’s much more to do
Māori TV: Friday court date for Tamihere
ODT Editorial: Super Saturday’s clear message
Herald Editorial: Saturday’s good vibes just the start if we want an enjoyable summer (paywalled)
Karl du Fresne: On Vaxathon, gangs and double standards
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Frustration as EDs unable to administer Covid-19 vaccine
Kim Moodie (RNZ): Call to tap into ‘trusted relationships’ to motivate unvaccinated
Te Karere: Hawke’s Bay Mongrel Mob chapter opens gang pad to vaccinate members
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Tairāwhiti community leader defends need for fundraising vaccination van
1 News: Tairāwhiti locals struggling to get vaccines raise over $117K for mobile clinic
Karen Rutherford (Newshub): More mobile vaccination vans funded by Māori for Māori hit road as Ngarewa-Packer tells Govt to ‘stop dressing this up’
Herewini Waikato (Māori TV): Murupara doesn’t want Pfizer vaccine
1 News: ACT proposes $250 tax relief for vaccinated Kiwis
Claire Trevett (Herald): Act Party leader David Seymour proposes ‘Vax Bucks’ tax credit
Zane Small (Newshub): Would ACT’s proposed $250 tax incentive for double-vaccinated worsen inflation?
Tumamao Harawira (Māori TV): BBM offering $10,000 as motivation to get vaccinated
Stuff: 68.5% in Southland and Otago fully vaccinated

Mandatory vaccination, anti-vaxxers
RNZ: Everyday activities won’t be available to the unvaccinated – Jacinda Ardern
Richard Harman (Politik): Vaccine mandates by another name (paywalled)
Henry Burrell (BusinessDesk): Ministry of Health: two vaccine certificates for data reasons (paywalled)
RNZ: Checkpoint: Builders call for mandatory vaccination in construction sector
Daniel Smith (Stuff): Make it mandatory for builders to be vaccinated: Master Builders
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Construction sector calls to be included in Government vaccine mandate
Chris Keall (Herald): NZ tech firm says ‘no jab, no meeting’, introduces $1200 vaxx incentive for customers
Mike Yardley (Stuff): It’s time to wield the vaccine pass stick
Virginia Fallon and Kelly Dennett (Stuff): Understanding the unvaccinated: Why are around 800,000 eligible Kiwis reluctant to get jabbed?
Helen Harvey (Stuff): Ten Taranaki midwives are faced with losing their jobs after they refuse to get vaccinated
Dubby Henry (Herald): Home-based educators protest against vaccine mandate rules
Luke Kirkeby (Stuff): Rhythm and Vines co-founder in two minds about ‘discriminatory’ Covid-19 vaccine passports
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Mandatory vaccination for all Auckland Pride events
Brannavan Gnanalingam (Stuff):  It’s easy to think there’s nothing you can do to stop the pandemic
Liz McDonald (Stuff): Rodeo says cowboys must have Covid-19 vaccinations to ride
Kate Hesson (ODT): Handling vexing vax discussions

Auckland party, anti-lockdown protest, alert level compliance, rules
Herald: North Shore influencer party a portrait of privilege in times of pandemic
Herald: North Shore partygoers attended central city rooftop gathering before party
Elizabeth Binning (Herald): North Shore partygoer admits actions were ‘selfish’ so he’s dobbed himself in to police
Zoe Holland (Herald): Police arrest man over North Shore influencer party
Nathan Morton (Stuff): Police arrest man over party on Auckland’s North Shore
Katie Doyle (RNZ): Long hangover looms for North Shore party attendees
Herald: Woman who attended illegal North Shore lockdown party hits out at haters, defends actions
Belinda Feek (Herald): North Shore party – second model dumped by agency
Herald: ‘The public shaming isn’t on’; neighbours of North Shore party speak out
1 News: Ardern reminds Aucklanders to stick to gathering rules after North Shore party
1 News: Bloomfield says Auckland house party in lockdown ‘disappointing’
Herald: Prime Minister calls North Shore party a ‘ blatant breach of the rules’
1 News: Police investigating Auckland lockdown house party
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Police launch investigation after lockdown-breaching North Shore party

NZ border, MIQ, immigration
Liu Chen (RNZ): PhD students excluded from ‘unfair and short-sighted’ residence visa policy
Mike Houlahan and Hamish MacLean (ODT): Travel to Australia reopens in Alert Level 2

Environment, climate change, conservation
Chris Trotter (Bowalley Road): Too Much Say, Not Enough Do
Henry Cooke (Stuff): $1.3b aid commitment slammed by National, lauded by Oxfam
Johnny Blades (RNZ): Pacific Forum welcomes NZ climate aid boost, urges collective action
No Right Turn: Climate Change: A good move, but not enough
Simon Wilson (Herald): Climate change conference 2021- It’s a bad time but it’s the only time we have (paywalled)
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Climate Change Minister James Shaw announces major cash injection ahead of COP26, revealed he never asked to attend virtually
1 News: NZ commits $1.3 billion to combating climate change
Debbie Jamieson (Stuff): Billionaire Peter Thiel’s Wānaka luxury lodge proposal ‘inappropriate’ in natural landscape
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Fuel efficiency of NZ imported cars jumps 15 per cent
Andrea Vance (Stuff): This Is How It Ends: As old as the Southern Alps, kea are on the edge of extinction
Livia Esterhazy (Stuff): This Is How It Ends: When you are a part of something, you care for it
Wyatt Ryder (ODT): Bird of Year candidates revealed
Snita Ahir-Knight (Stuff): Parents are not failing their children by bringing them into the world

Primary industries, migrant workers
RNZ: SAFE calls on government to ban colony farming
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): ‘Heated’ meeting held over Mataura River water over-allocation
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): Urgent action needed to limit the spread of carbon forestry and save sheep and beef land, farmers say
ODT: Effluent discharge penalty part cancelled

Economy, business, Wage subsidy
Riley Kennedy (ODT): $26m for South in wage subsidy
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Lockdown ‘heartbreaking’: ‘Some retailers won’t make it’
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Hospitality and retail businesses plead Government to set a reopening date
Keith McLaughlin (Stuff): Will we see a repeat of the economic rebound as the economy slowly begins to reopen?
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Auckland businesses on the brink need help now, industry groups say (paywalled)
Rob Stock (Stuff): Some borrowers did not realise the true cost of a Covid-19 loan repayment ‘holiday’
Brent Edwards (NBR): Economic recovery, a climate plan, an excited Act (paywalled)
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): Labour and materials shortages will see Kiwi businesses ‘lost to Australia’, economist says
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Making the case for compulsory supermarket divestments (paywalled)
Omid Aliasghar and Urs Daellenbach (NBR): Our economy is not promoting innovation (paywalled)

Inflation
Greg Smith (Stuff): Turning the inflationary tide: What gives and could the tide turn around?
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Many workers effectively earning less as inflation outstrips wage increases
Liam Dann (Herald): Covid inflation shock hits hard – but will it last (paywalled)
Luke Malpass and Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government faces cost-of-living crunch as Auckland stuck in lockdown
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Heat on Reserve Bank to defend inflation target as living costs jump almost 5%
Liam Dann (Herald): Cost of living soars – new inflation data shows huge leap in prices
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Half a million Kiwis living pay day to pay day
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): Household living costs surge 4.9 percent

MMP at 25
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): We face problems but the electoral system isn’t one of them 
Philip Temple (Scoop): Hang On A Minute, Mate

Parliament, parties, polling
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Moving To The Right
Gwynn Compton (Patreon): National needs a clean slate (paywalled)
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Most partially vaccinated MPs staying home as Parliament resumes
Luisa Girao (ODT): Bike ride to Bluff brings its reward
Deena Coster (Stuff): Taranaki MPs reflect on 12 months in the job 

Health system
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Long Covid clinics desperately needed in New Zealand, experts say
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Lack of action on Māori health underfunding as health gaps grow 
Nicki Jackson (Newsroom): Liquor advertising a blight on society
Emma Russell (Herald): 1000 surgeries cancelled every week
ODT: Southland health workers updated on sector reforms
Anna Loren (Stuff): Spina bifida patient wins ACC compo after mother missed opportunity to abort
RNZ: Patients ‘in limbo’ after surgeries cancelled due to Covid-19

Local government, Three Waters
David Bublitz (Stuff): Perplexed by the Three Waters Reform? You’re not alone 
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Shelly Bay occupiers about to mark first anniversary surprised by claims of resolution 
Matthew Tso (Stuff): Pokie machine ‘sinking lid’ on the table as Lower Hutt reviews gambling 
Grant Miler (ODT): ‘Party line’ sniping by councillors
Todd Niall (Stuff): Can Auckland’s Covid-19-hit election overcome low-turnout past
Desley Simpson (Herald):  Auckland Council balancing books in an unpredictable pandemic (paywalled)
Bernard Orsman (Herald): uckland lawyer plans to build a boatshed on Herne Bay beach, saying the land belongs to him
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington City Council’s tricky call on whether to replace a colleague

Housing, building industry
Ethan Te Ora (Stuff): Labour MP says council housing tenants should be able to access rental subsidy
Catherine Masters (OneRoof): New homes: Can NZ build its way out of a housing crisis?
Jade Kake (Stuff): Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga: Government programme to help iwi build new homes
Devon Bolger (Herald): Christchurch house prices continue to rise as most others slow
Logan Savory (Stuff): Invercargill councillor calls for housing flexibility to avoid city sprawl
Andrew Marshall (ODT): Housing developments may be required to plant trees
Ashley Church (OneRoof): Will China’s ‘Lehman moment’ bring down NZ’s housing market?

Education
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Lockdown double-edged sword for students heading into exam season
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Te Pūkenga says close ties with Māori priority for new operating model
John Lewis (ODT): Te Pukenga model pleases Otago Polytech

Other
Katie Harris (Herald): More than two thirds of the children who died in state care since 2017 were Māori
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Abuse in care: Chair claims church lawyers pushed back on inquiry scope
Pete McKenzie (Guardian): ‘Explosion of ideas’: how Māori concepts are being incorporated into New Zealand law
Anuhsa Bradley (RNZ): Judges being surveyed to boost understanding of ‘life and work experience’
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Bushmere Arms owner not worried about negative reviews after wedding catering stoush with Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford
Ben Leonard (Newsroom): Tauranga iwi’s big foreshore and seabed win
Gavin Ellis (Knightly Views): Stop the rot in media workplace culture
Steve Braunias (Newsroom): Book industry ‘shocked’ by $500,000 grant
Andrew Szusterman (Spinoff): If streaming services won’t make NZ TV on their own, NZ should force them to
Tara Shaskey (Stuff): Opponents of a $280m roading project file police complaint against Waka Kotahi, claiming perjury
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Law change needed to stop criminals laundering money through KiwiSaver (paywalled)
Brianna MciLraith (Stuff): Joyya tops the list but Farmers gets an F in ethical fashion report