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
Newshub-Reid Research poll, Parliament, parties
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research poll: Simon Bridges isn’t ruling out another tilt at National leadership – and he’s got public’s support
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Simon Bridges reminds National MPs of their doubts about him (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Country, National supporters back Simon Bridges over Judith Collins – poll
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research poll: Growing number of voters believe Jacinda Ardern performing badly
Barry Soper (Herald): For Jacinda Ardern, press conferences seem to be all about media control
ODT Editorial: The continued rise of Act
Newstalk ZB: David Seymour: Public sector to blame for Labour’s poll lead
Jo Moir (Newsroom): The minister happy to call out the PM on Covid
Three Waters, local government
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research poll: Half of New Zealand doesn’t support Three Waters reforms
Ben Kepes (Stuff): The Three Waters reform isn’t a government conspiracy
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Two cheers for Three Waters
Soumya Bhamidipati (RNZ): 200ha of council land could go with Three Waters assets transfer
Todd Niall (Stuff): Money talks – what will Auckland’s proposed Budget say next month?
RNZ: Protesters at Shelly Bay in Wellington say they will remain at site
RNZ: Whangārei: Submissions overwhelmingly against Oruku Landing events centre
Logan Savory (Stuff): Council’s consultation on city block funding structure delayed until early 2022
Housing
Simon Wilson (Herald): What’s up with Labour and National’s ‘slum enabling act’? (paywalled)
Todd Niall (Stuff): Government warned about speed of housing intensification
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Submitters critical of new Government planning rules, as committee mulls changes
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Dawn Chorus: ACT bids for National’s NIMBYs
Anneke Smith (RNZ): ‘A public disgrace’: State landlord accused of breaking law over abusive tenants
Lane Nichols (Herald): Kāinga Ora under fire after Black Power gang party in Whangārei state house
Stephanie Ockhuysen (Stuff): Taranaki house prices continue to rise with demand forcing new development sections on the market early
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Rise in reverse mortgages: More retirees eating into their home equity to live (paywalled)
Govt management of Delta outbreak, move to traffic light system and Vaccine pass
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Government’s own research showed people found level 3 steps ‘confusing’
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Clock ticking for the unvaccinated with ‘traffic light’ date set
RNZ: Explained: What the traffic light system is and how it works
1 News: ‘Unanswered questions’ about traffic light system – Bishop
RNZ: Traffic light system: Businesses and opposition parties say more clarity needed
Alice Neville (Spinoff): Traffic light system kicks in next week: here’s what you need to know
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Another major law being reammed through under urgency
Michael Neilson (Herald): Freedom Day set for Aotearoa, Auckland to become ‘red-light district’
Guardian: New Zealand set to ease Covid restrictions and end lockdowns from December
Anna Whyte (1 News): New Zealand to move to traffic light system next Thursday night
Herald: NZ to move to traffic light system on Friday next week, Auckland hairdressers open from this Thursday – PM Jacinda Ardern
Herald: Just over a week until everything is open again – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
John Anthony (Stuff): Auckland hospitality businesses can reopen their doors from December 3
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): ‘Cruel, disappointing and difficult to fathom’ – Hospitality group on latest reopening date
Lucy Xia (Stuff): Auckland unlikely to see ‘significant shifts’ before traffic light move – PM
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Traffic light system: Hamilton’s big push ahead of December 3
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Concerns raised over ‘deadnaming’ on vaccine passes
Ben Strang (Stuff): My Vaccine Pass verifier unable to scan overseas certificates when border reopens
Chris Keall (Herald): Foreign nationals in NZ baffled by My Vaccine Pass site – Ministry offers workaround (paywalled)
1 News: International students unable to access vaccine pass feel ‘excluded’
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Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Auckland hairdressers to trial vaccine passport from Thursday
Tom McRae (Newshub): Auckland hairdressers ‘stoked’ to reopen this week to fully vaccinated customers
Jean Bell (RNZ): Businesses test vaccine pass to see if it makes the cut
Zoe Holland (Herald): Auckland hairdressers face ‘logistical nightmare’ after being closed for three months
Zane Small (Newshub): COVID-19 vaccine pass trial announced for hairdressers ahead of New Zealand’s shift to ‘traffic light’ on December 3
Herald: Auckland hairdressers given the green light to open from Thursday
1 News: PM explains why hospitality restrictions remain as hairdressers open
1 News: Auckland hairdressers to open this week
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Phones run hot as Aucklanders scramble to book first haircuts in three months
Auckland border
Mark Longley (Newshub): Expert warns against opening Auckland’s border too early, says 95 percent should be vaccination target rate
Leonie Hayden (Spinoff): You can leave the city on December 15. But should you?
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): ‘The worry is being completely overwhelmed’: NZ regions brace for a Covid summer
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Waitemata DHB seeks 133 new staff to deal with Covid-19 in community
D Angelo Martin (Newshub): Rangatahi shares battle getting mental health help while living alone in lockdown
Mandatory vaccination
Michael Andrew (BusinessDesk): The unvaccinated v Chris Hipkins (paywalled)
Michael Daly and Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Here is everything you need to know about the vaccine pass
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Proposal for Auckland councillors and Local Board members to work remotely if unvaccinated
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Auckland Council proposes vaccine mandate for elected members
Stuff: Te Papa to require vaccination for visitors, proposes vaccination for staff
Esther Taunton (Stuff): City Fitness, Les Mills gyms to require proof of Covid-19 vaccination
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Surf life savers face summer vaccine deadline
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Remote daycare’s fears as vaccine mandate puts squeeze on teacher supply
Tamati Tiananga (Māori TV): Caregiver opens up on mandate vaccination that ends job
Ethan Griffiths (Herald): Ruapehu birthing unit closed after midwife stands down (paywalled)
RNZ: More disability carers expected to reject mandate than expected
Mike Yardley (Stuff): Framework uncertainty cutting down community events
Cases, demographics, Delta spreads
Derek Cheng (Herald): Why we shouldn’t get too excited about the Auckland outbreak hitting a peak (paywalled)
Hannah Martin (Stuff): ‘Encouraging’ signs Auckland’s cases could be on a ‘plateau’
1 News: Man in 40s with Covid-19 dies in Auckland
1 News: Bloomfield says low covid hospitalisation rates a ‘good sign’
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Napier Covid-19 confusion caused by ‘system failure’ – Bloomfield
Nicole Bremner (1 News): Covid-positive visitor leaves Mt Maunganui retirement village in lockdown
Stuff: Fourth case found in wider Manawatū
Katie Townshend (Stuff): Weak positive case in Nelson ‘likely historical’
Vaccine rollout
Tony Walls (Newsroom): Safety the priority in vaccinating children
1 News: Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay 1000 jabs from 90% first dose vaccine rate
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): ‘It takes everything to overcome this fight’ – Polio survivors urge whānau to get vaccinated
Home isolation
Kim Moodie (RNZ): Self-isolating cases need help to understand oximeters – experts
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Confusion from government over taking the pulse for Covid-19
James Halpin (Stuff): Oximeters will still be used for home isolation despite ‘racial bias’
Duncan Garner (NBR): We’ve spent billions to die at home – whose plan is this?
Rewa Harriman (Newshub): Te Whānau o Waipareira helping 75 families through self-isolation
MIQ, NZ Border
RNZ: Checkpoint: Details of ‘progressive’ MIQ phase out in two weeks – Covid-19 Response Minister
RNZ: Checkpoint: NZers returning forced to take long routes to meet MIQ dates
RIchard Harman (Politik): PM still cautious about opening international border (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Air New Zealand cancels 1000 flights due to continued border uncertainty
1 News: Air NZ cancels over 1000 Aussie flights due to border uncertainty
Ian Taylor (Herald): MIQ logbook – We have been ignored long enough
Vaccine misinformation, protests, rule breaches
Taroi Black (Māori TV): Ngāti Toa will take anti-vax protestors to court if they misuse Ka Mate
Nicholas Agar (Newsroom): Why you can’t reason with the mob
Herald Editorial: An ongoing battle for influence in the pandemic (paywalled)
Herald: Destiny’s Brian and Hannah Tamaki summoned to appear at Auckland police station
James Halpin (Stuff): Brian Tamaki to attend Auckland police station after protest speech
Economy, business, wage subsidy
Greg Smith (Stuff): Reserve Bank will lift rates – the only question is how much
Liam Dann (Herald): Reserve Bank expected to hike interest rate, offer fresh clues on inflation (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): With inflation running hot, Reserve Bank should raise interest rates (paywalled)
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): To hike or not to hike? That is the question (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Reserve Bank needs to paddle its waka to the conditions
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): OCR hike baked in. But how big should it be & is there actually a case to hold?
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): Bank mortgage rates on the rise ahead of Official Cash Rate announcement
David Hargreaves (Interest): BNZ economists now forecasting ‘modest’ falls in house prices – but a large correction ‘cannot be ruled out’
Adam Pearse (Herald): Government reviewing ‘heartless’ gap in resurgence support payment scheme
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): ‘Monopoly buster’ Tex Edwards to lobby for reform of building materials industry
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Big GIB maker up against the wall in Commerce Commission inquiry
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): No last minute reprieve for Marsden Point oil refinery
Primary industries, Groundswell protests
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Dissing The Farmers
Chris Trotter (Interest): The real interests of the country
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘Farmers should be angry’: Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick treads into Groundswell dissension
Jamie Mackay (Herald): All Blacks and Groundswell half a world apart but closer than you’d think (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Groundswell astroturf has swollen and popped – Winners & Losers
Jacqueline Rowarth (Stuff): It’s time to imagine New Zealand without production animals
Andrea Fox (Herald): Cheesed off: What’s going on with the price of a 1kg block of NZ cheese? (paywalled)
RNZ: Online job expo hopes to entice seasonal workers for picking season
Environment, climate change, conservation
Matthew Littlewood (Stuff): Demand for farmland ‘puts pressure’ on Canterbury’s braided rivers
Steve Urlich (Stuff): It’s the Sounds Jim but not as we knew them
RNZ: Bay of Plenty shark research delayed by DOC permit process
Herald: Eight seals shot dead in Kaikōura
Foreign affairs and trade
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta visits Afghan refugees in Qatar, travels to United States
Stuff Editorial: Aotearoa must stand apart as others amass nuclear weapons
ACC, Health
Thomas Mead (1 News): Exclusive: ACC found ‘critical issues’ in care of injured workers at Talley’s Group in 2019
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Cannabis use without prescription is still a crime despite softening stance, experts warn
Qiuyi Tan (Herald): Kidney dialysis demand to grow 30 per cent in 10 years: Report
Nile Bijoux (Stuff): Thousands of drivers will need support as new smoking laws come into effect
Piers Fuller (Stuff): Parents of teen with Down Syndrome angry after access to medical tests denied
Media
Gavin Ellis (Knightly Views): Multiple media reviews and the lefthand-righthand rule
Karl du Fresne: Robin Bromby looks in the rear-vision mirror
Education
Matheson Russell (The Conversation): Are New Zealand’s universities doing enough to define the limits of academic freedom?
Linda Mitchell (Herald): Early childhood education should be a public concern (paywalled)
Louisa Steyl (Stuff): Ministry of Education will review ECE funding in 2022
Karen Rutherford (Newshub): Principals believe most students affected by lockdown will sit NCEA exams despite National suggesting otherwise
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Exhaustion, strategic choices behind NCEA exam decisions
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Education ministry apologises after parents told to stop paying for son’s teacher aide
Immigration
RNZ: Afghan group given second chance at immigration after High Court review
Stuff: Afghan nationals win case to have visa applications considered
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Migrant dads split from families by border restrictions desperate to be reunited
Justice, crime
Stuff: NZ must change law to compensate those wrongly detained, UN says
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Solving crime and anti-social behaviour in Auckland CBD will take Government help, says City Missioner and Heart of the City (paywalled)
Nile Bijoux (Stuff): The strictest countries for drink-driving
Police
RNZ: The pressures of small-town policing and on sole-charge officers
RNZ: Police reduce capabilitiy to investigate work-related fatal road crashes
Other
Max Rashbrooke (Guardian): The Bank of Mum and Dad is allowing New Zealand’s wealthy to become ‘opportunity hoarders’
Jimmy Ellingham (RNZ): Treasury put aside 10 times amount of money it paid abused Lake Alice patients
David Fisher (Herald): Missing weapon parts – NZDF rejects plan to help police by numbering and tracking rifle magazines (paywalled)
Terry Baucher (Interest): Does the IRD’s power creep amount to overreach?
Daphna Whitmore (Redline): Free speech is a people’s frank confession to itself
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): John Edwards is off on a ‘late-life OE’ as UK privacy watchdog, and he’s not done with Facebook yet
RNZ: IHC bath ban breaches human rights, says advocate
Jody O’Callaghan (Stuff): Christchurch Airbnb suspended over list of racist demands to guests
Bernard Orsman (Herald): ‘No Māori language to be spoken’: Guest’s shock at notice in Christchurch Airbnb
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Inland Revenue still waiting for $22m in Working for Families overpayments from the last two years
Andrea Fox (Herald): First AI white paper calls for major measures and investment in artificial intelligence research
Chris Tobin (Stuff): MyWay trial in Timaru gets tick of approval but taxis question costs
