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
Trade
Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): Geopolitics behind NZ-UK free trade deal
Liam Dann: (Herald): UK trade deal – big winners and other winners (there are no losers) (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): Why Boris gave away so much to get the trade deal with NZ (paywalled)
Charles Finny (Newsroom): Groundbreaking NZ-UK free trade deal is just the start
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Dreaming of a post-COVID OE? New Zealand’s new deal with Britain could be the ticket
Stuff Editorial: The land of wine and honey
Zane Small (Newshub): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson drops rugby jokes during free trade deal chat with Jacinda Ardern
Aubrey Allegretti and Tess McClure (Guardian): UK strikes trade deal with New Zealand – but it may add nothing to GDP
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): MPs welcome trade agreement, and talk Brexit
Thomas Manch (Stuff): New Zealand gains head-start in post-Brexit British market with ‘huge’ free trade deal
Luke Malpass (Stuff): NZ-UK free trade deal a win for New Zealand, ruling a line under a 50-year grievance
Thomas Manch (Stuff): NZ-UK free trade deal ‘game changing’ for the Māori economy
1 News: NZ-UK free trade deal ‘groundbreaking’ for Māori – iwi exporter
Tina Morrison and Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): Exporters welcome ‘fantastic’ UK free trade deal
Jane Patterson and Russell Palmer (RNZ): UK free trade deal to eliminate tariffs for all New Zealand exports
Anna Whyte and Benedict Collins (1 News): New Zealand and UK agree on free trade deal
Tess McClure (Guardian): ‘National treasure’: New Zealand Māori haka protected in trade deal with UK
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Rawiri Waititi welcomes haka trade protection, but warns against Brits using it
Māori TV: Taonga protection in free-trade agreement inked with UK
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Cheap gin and chocolate? What the UK-NZ free trade deal could mean for Kiwis
Brent Edwards (NBR): New Zealand-UK free trade deal will boost farm exports (paywalled)
Lee Kenny (Stuff): UK trade agreement ‘good news’ after ongoing logistics ‘nightmare’, wine seller says
Chris Tobin (Stuff): UK free trade deal ‘history in the making’, South Canterbury farmer says
Zane Small and Juliet Speedy (Newshub): Government’s NZ-UK free trade agreement hailed by Opposition, farmers and business community
RNZ: UK-New Zealand free trade agreement ‘substantial and comprehensive’
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): New Zealand strikes free trade agreement with the United Kingdom; Benefits for meat exporters to be phased in over 15 years
Jamie Gray (Herald): ‘Back to the future’ for NZ-UK trade ties? (paywalled)
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): ‘A level playing field’: exporters laud $1 billion trade deal (paywalled)
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): A great FTA with the UK
No Right Turn: Labour’s sneaky copyright deal
Govt Covid strategy, expert warnings
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Jacinda’s Choice: “Freedom Day”, Or Failure
Ian Powell (Second Opinion): Jacinda’s Gladys moment
Luke Malpass (Stuff): The biggest day for the Government since the first day of the first lockdown
Derek Cheng (Herald): Daily cases hit record high as Jacinda Ardern unveils a near-future without lockdowns
Peter Dunne (Newsroom):It’s unlikely the Govt has lost the plot
Gordon Campbell: On juggling Covid, and France’s Trump-like populist
James Whitehead (The Conversation): New Zealand’s mass vaccination event lifts uptake but highlights dangerous inequities as the country prepares to open up
David Seymour (Herald): What Auckland most needs today (paywalled)
Herald: Nurses warn New Zealand is ‘dangerously under-prepared for tsunami of cases’
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Auckland hospitals getting Covid-19 ready at slow pace
Kate Gregan (RNZ): Concerns about health system’s ability to deal with Covid-19 grow
Nadine Porter and Steven Walton (Stuff): No-one will be left behind in race to reach 90 per cent vaccination rate – minister
RNZ: ‘We are finding most of the cases out there’ – Bloomfield
RNZ: Covid-19 wrap: 180 cases a day expected, hospitality sector wants vaccine mandates
Kendall Hutt (1 News): NZ ‘likely’ to reach 170-180 cases per day in 2-3 weeks’ time
Simon Ewing-Jarvie (Unclas): Defence Minister Says COVID19 Not An Emergency
Education
John Gerritsen (RNZ): ‘It is crazy’: Auckland principals prepare to reopen secondary schools
Barbara Dreaver (1 News):Pasifika fear Covid-19 resurgence as schools reopen
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): Return to school decision plays ‘roulette’ with students’ health, Māori education leaders say
Dubby Henry (Herald): Takapuna Grammar senior students won’t return next week
Māori TV: ‘It seems a bit hurried’ – Māori principal on students’ return to classroom
RNZ: Schools reopening too late for many: principals
1 News: Natural ventilation helpful in reducing Covid risk for schools – NIWA
Perry Rush (Herald): Our approach to teaching mathematics doesn’t add up (paywalled)
Vaccine passports, mandatory vaccination
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): Vaccinated staff required? Worksafe issues advice
John Anthony (Stuff): Businesses want Government advice on whether they can ban customers unvaccinated against Covid-19
RNZ: Checkpoint: Victoria University looks to expand vaccination mandate
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): The Warehouse considering mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for all employees
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): The Warehouse considers mandatory vaccinations for all staff by New Year’s Day
Caley Callahan (Newshub): Airport security staff challenge Government’s ‘no jab, no job’ policy in court
Stuff: Ability of vaccine to reduce virus spread could decide challenge to ‘no jab, no job’ order
Adam Burns (Local Democracy Reporting): Unvaccinated Canterbury doctor quits – ‘My conscience means more than my career’
Keiller MacDuff (Stuff): Timaru woman trespassed by supermarkets for refusing to wear mask has High Court case thrown out
Vaccine rollout
Chris Trotter (Bowalley Road): The Power Of “No”
RNZ: Young Māori least protected group with low vaccination rates
Stuff: Ministry of Health negotiations fail with John Tamihere over Māori vaccination data, High Court action
Māori TV: Tamihere attacks Ministry of Health tactics as court hearing on data delayed
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare ‘disappointed’ with DHBs for lagging Māori vaccination rates
Sapeer Mayron (Stuff): Poorly vaccinated south Auckland suburbs pass 50 per cent double-dosed
Adam Pearse (Herald): Vaccination boom revealed in Ministry of Health estimates for September
1 News: Isolated Kiwis get Covid jab thanks to DHB road trip
Jean Bell (RNZ): Reaching at-risk communities for vaccination: Listen to front line workers, authorities told
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Hannah Kronast (Newshub): Hannah Tamaki admits getting rent from COVID-19 testing centre on church grounds
Ben Leahy (Herald): Destiny Church earns money from Covid vaccination and test site
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Anti-vaxxers making fake vaccination bookings
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Kāpiti College students confront anti-vaxxers that swarmed school’s three entrances
Nikki Preston (Herald): Thames Coromandel regional councillor questions whether ‘recent headlines’ caused drop in vaccination ranks
Auckland, Waikato, South Island alert levels, borders
RNZ: Checkpoint: Woman desperate to help dying nephew denied Auckland entry
1 News: Expert’s tips for safe picnicking in Auckland’s lockdown
Bernadette Basagre (Stuff): Auckland’s popular Santa parade cancelled, man in red ‘stuck in MIQ’
Herald: Ho ho uh-oh – Famed Auckland Christmas parade axed as Santa stuck in MIQ
RNZ: Alert level 3 restrictions for parts of Waikato to remain in place
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Parts of Waikato to remain in alert level 3 until at least October 27
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Frustration grows about Covid alert level not dropping for South Island
Cases, demographics
Ben Leahy and Emma Russell (Herald): West Auckland man isolating in backyard tent gets hotel room
1 News: Waikato Covid case travelled to Hawke’s Bay while infectious
Lana Andelane (Newshub): New Waikato case travelled to Hawke’s Bay last week before testing positive
Eva Corlett (Guardian): New Zealand Covid daily cases pass 100 for first time since pandemic began
Alert level compliance, rules
Anna Leask (Herald): ‘I did nothing wrong’ – Auckland woman at centre of Northland border breach allegations speaks out
RNZ: Police Commissioner defends enforcement action at protests
Anne Gibson (Herald): The retirement village that’s defying guidelines and opening to visitors (paywalled)
1 News: Decision to deny tangi exemptions for some of Sean Wainui’s whānau defended
Ben Leahy (Herald): Rugby star Sean Wainui’s car-crash death: Whānau and friends seek Auckland travel exemptions
1 News: 2 more charged over mass gatherings in Auckland Domain
Herald: Two more arrested over Auckland anti-lockdown protest
Herald: Destiny Church’s Brian Tamaki ‘treated like a prisoner’ and stripped down to his undies before court appearance
Fiona Ellis (Herald): Pak’n Save supermarket shopper without mask denied entry, demands apology
NZ border, MIQ, immigration
Robin Martin (RNZ): Community-based MIQ being set up in New Plymouth
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Vax for visas: ‘Overstayers would come out of the woodwork’
RNZ: Health worker MIQ spots a start, but more needs to be done – expert
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Novotel Ellerslie absconder escaped MIQ facility because of incorrectly plugged audio cable
1 News: Covid-positive woman accused of escaping MIQ enters no plea in court
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): South Island-Aust bubble open but Air NZ says operation ‘not viable’
Jane Phare (Herald): ‘We need to travel:’ Desperate businesses send staff overseas without MIQ spot (paywalled)
Jane Matthews (Stuff): Law sees Kiwi ship crew denied MIQ exemption, forced to isolate at sea
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Latest virtual lobby winds up in about 90 minutes
Ben Leahy (Herald): Thousands of Kiwis miss out on latest MIQ spots
Lane Nichols (Herald): 501 deportees to be quarantined at Auckland’s Ramada Suites hotel when charter flights resume next month
Housing
Peter Dunne: Labour has removed a currently ongoing contentious issue from immediate debate and once more snookered National
Bernard Hickey (Spinoff): The National-Labour coalition on housing should expect a big election backlash
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Housing deal with National shows Labour’s failure (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Will political consensus lead to more affordable housing? (paywalled)
Leanne Warr (Hawkes Bay Today/Herald): What if the ‘bank of mum and dad’ isn’t open? (paywalled)
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Government’s sweeping decision to allow for more housing densification prompts renewed calls from councils for more infrastructure funding
Katie Townshend (Stuff): Nelson to put hand up for inclusion in new housing intensification rules
Ashley Church (OneRoof): Why I no longer trust the Reserve Bank
Herewini Waikato (Māori TV): Kāinga Ora falls short on Ngāi Te Rangi iwi housing
Jake McKee (RNZ): ‘Out of control’ Wellington rents pushing students to ditch studies for work
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Judith Collins says high house prices lead to ‘politics of envy’ and support for left-wing policies
Environment, climate change, conservation
Henry Cooke (Sydney Morning Herald): Jacinda Ardern’s climate summit problem is the opposite of Scott Morrison’s
Taxpayers’ Union: New poll reveals opposition to Shaw’s Glasgow trip
Brian Fallow (Herald): Will we COP it in Glasgow? (paywalled)
The Country (Herald): James Shaw defends COP26 climate change trip to Glasgow (paywalled)
Tess McClure (Guardian): New Zealand becomes first country to force finance companies to act on climate risks
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Consultation for corporates on climate-related accounting disclosure standards kicks off
Cushla Norman (1 News): Push for more green jobs ahead of climate summit
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Climate change impact on Māori wellbeing and culture ‘sobering’ yet ‘insightful’
Andrea Vance (Stuff): This Is How It Ends: All creatures great, small and vanishing
Richard Gibson (Stuff): This Is How It Ends: Small, secretive, and increasingly rare — why reptiles need our help
Colin Davis (Stuff): New Zealand is failing the test when it comes to climate change education
Lois Williams (Local Democracy Reporting): Barrytown company submits more info on ilmenite mine proposal
Local government, Three Waters
Taxpayers’ Union: Poll reveals what New Zealanders think of Three Waters
Gerrard Eckhoff (ODT): Three Waters reforms a precursor to co-governance of NZ
John Bishop (Stuff): Audacity of water assets grab boggles the mind
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Māori ward in Napier described as ‘bittersweet’ victory
1 News: Auckland’s water restrictions to be lifted after two years
Liu Chen (RNZ): Auckland’s water restrictions to be lifted on Saturday
Mandy Te (Stuff): Wellington Water launches independent review into wastewater treatment operations
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Wellington City Council votes to keep ownership of international airport
Matthew Tso (Stuff): Mike Tana still absent for Porirua City Council’s mayoral portrait lineup
Abbey Wakefield (1 News): Yellow bucket stolen from Wellington’s Cuba St fountain
ODT Editorial: City Council team tickets
Luisa Girao (ODT): Talks held on recycling deal extension
Chris Barclay (Star News): ‘Waste of staff time’: Christchurch councillor unrepentant after being slammed again over poor attendance
Courtney White (ODT): Apology to family for taking crash site items
Parliament, Parties, MMP
Anna Whyte (1 News): Te Pāti Māori accuses Speaker, Govt of vilifying ‘our Party and our people’
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Rawiri Waititi slams ‘grossly inappropriate’ Trevor Mallard in Parliament stoush
Max Rashbrooke (Stuff): Good week in opposition upset by ‘trivial error’ in economic plan
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): Māori seats may be Winston’s way back to Parliament
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Member’s bills to hinder child sex tourism, extend time for sexual harassment claims selected for debate
Brian Easton: Fridays with Jim
Dame Cindy Kiro sworn in as Governor-General
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): Daughter of the north takes job first held by Tiriti signer William Hobson
Tumamao Harawira (Māori TV): Former colleagues praise new Governor-General
Claire Trevett (Herald): New Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro sworn-in
1 News: First wahine Māori Dame Cindy Kiro sworn in as Governor-General
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Dame Cindy Kiro sworn in as Governor-General
Claire Trevett (Herald): Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro’s message on Covid 19, Treaty relationship in swearing in
RNZ: Dame Cindy Kiro sworn in as Governor-General
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Dame Cindy Kiro sworn in as New Zealand’s first wahine Māori Governor-General
Eva Corlett (Guardian): Dame Cindy Kiro becomes New Zealand’s first female Māori governor-general
Economy, business, Wage subsidy
Liam Dann (Herald): ‘Ugly’ new survey captures Auckland business despair (paywalled)
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Hospitality and retail on edge – financially and mentally (paywalled)
Damien Venuto (Herald): What business leaders want from the Govt’s big announcement (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): What hotels want from the Government (paywalled)
RNZ: Urgent help, grants sought as lockdowns impact struggling SME community
Grant Bradley (Herald): Auckland Airport boss says ‘revenge travel’ will fuel recovery (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Auckland Airport confident of air travel recovery after 2023 (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: Why inflation inspires fear and loathing in New Zealand (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): 6000 workers needed – Survey reveals severity of Auckland labour shortages (paywalled)
Health system
1 News: Report finds Kiwis end up in EDs as dental prices too high
Sam Olley (RNZ): Health practitioners head back to work in alert level 3 areas
RNZ: ACC posts $10b paper surplus – but says levy rises still needed
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): ACC says $10b surplus doesn’t change case for levy rise
Primary industries
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Some concerns about fishing camera policy
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Multi-million dollar mānuka honey industry faces mandatory tests
Keith Woodford (Interest): Carbon and forestry, increasingly linked to overseas investors, continue to outmuscle sheep and beef but nothing about carbon is simple
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): The lucrative threat to rural communities (paywalled)
Employment
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): MindTheGap: Campaign promotes wage gap, especially for Māori and Pasifika
Rachel Smalley (NBR): Right and fair thing to do: Mind the Gap (paywalled)
Christchurch terror attacks
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Christchurch terror attacks: Top coroner opens inquiry into shootings
RNZ: Coronial inquiry into 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings formally opened
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Christchurch terror attack: Coronial inquiry launched into March 15, 2019 shootings
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Chief Coroner opens inquiry into Christchurch terror attack
Other
Stuff Editorial: Our consumer data rights need protection
Suraya Sidhu Singh (Stuff): On the bus: The case for greater subsidies for public transport
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Euthanasia care, work called for
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Kevin Rudd on China: ‘A thousand-pound gorilla in the front living room’
Brent Edwards (NBR): On the NBR List? Watch out for the IRD (paywalled)
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): A stain on New Zealand’s national honour (paywalled)
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): Lockdowns led to ‘exponential demand for support’ from Māori in South Island
Peter de Graaf (Northern Advocate): Christmas in peril: Northland charity sends out SOS
Rob Fisher (Stuff): Increase Māori representation in tech industry or risk growing inequity
Taroi Black (Māori TV): Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei wants to settle Erebus memorial dispute
Esther Ashby-Coventry (Stuff): Another Waitaha Waitangi Tribunal claim overlooked by Crown
Laura Smith (ODT): Support for proposed ban on trade in extinct animal remains
RNZ: Westport flood victims left in limbo
RNZ: The Detail: Fighting over timber – the shortages hitting construction
