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 management of Delta outbreak, move to traffic light system
Michael Neilson (Herald): Major concerns over vaccinations Bill being passed under urgency – ‘Constitutional disgrace’
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Critics condemn urgent passing of ‘traffic light’ law without usual scrutiny
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Opposition condemns ‘mad scramble’ in traffic light system legislation
Claire Trevett (Herald): Government rams through ‘no jab, no job’ law at its peril (paywalled)
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Ruling by decree (paywalled)
No Right Turn: The “most open and transparent government ever” again
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Bill gives new powers to bar the unvaccinated (paywalled)
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Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Contact tracing struggles to keep up
Lloyd Burr (Magic): It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like the government’s covid plan is starting to flower
Stuff Editorial: Covid traffic lights: consequences not yet illuminated
1 News: Traffic light system ‘unsustainable’, means fewer freedoms – Collins
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): PM’s ‘fear’ leading to Dr Seuss rules and Covid rabbit holes – Collins
Richard Prebble (Herald): Lockdown is New Zealand’s biggest public policy failure (paywalled)
Julie Spray (Spinoff): Are we being inclusive enough of children in our pandemic response?
Russell Bell (Herald): The trouble with the traffic lights system (paywalled)
RNZ: Te Urewera to remain closed as Tūhoe prioritises safety of its people
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Will Aucklanders seed a Christmas explosion of Delta across the country? Experts make predictions
Tess McClure (Guardian): As New Zealand lifts Covid lockdowns, some small towns ask tourists to stay away
Talia Parker (Bay of Plenty Times/Herald): Aucklanders eyeing summer holidays in the Bay of Plenty (paywalled)
RNZ: Race to vaccinate South Auckland ahead of traffic light system, businesses hoped for earlier opening
Ethan Griffiths and Logan Tutty (Whanganui Chronicle/Herald): Whanganui businesses need to be ready for traffic light framework (paywalled)
Herewini Waikato (Māori TV): Mataatua two-day planning hui to protect whānau, tikanga
Edward O’Driscoll (Newshub): Rest homes still waiting for guidance on how traffic light system will affect them
RNZ: Covid summary: Govt announces new tool for businesses, case numbers continue to rise
Vaccine pass
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern says vaccine passes don’t need to be scanned, Ministry of Health says they do
Irra Lee (1 News): Not using vaccine pass verification app risks fraud — expert
Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): New vaccine verification app now available – but businesses told to expect glitches
Ben Leahy (Herald): Vaccine pass teething problems hampering early roll out
RNZ: Businesses failing to enforce pass requirements to face big fines – Michael Wood
Michael Neilson (Herald): Fines up to $15K for businesses over vaccine passes
RNZ: Covid Pass verifier app now available for businesses
RNZ: Vaccine passes raise more questions than answers for businesses
Chris Tobin (Stuff): Passes will be ‘soul-destroying’ for unvaccinated, barber says
Paul Mitchell (Stuff): Covid-19 traffic light system expected to reawaken Palmerston North’s nightlife
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Concern over managing vaccination passes
Anna Whyte (1 News): Parents can carry children’s vaccine pass on phone – Ardern
Wyatt Ryder (ODT): Face-to-face My Vaccine Pass option soon
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promises ‘extra support around compliance’ for hairdressers ahead of COVID-19 vaccine pass trial
Louise Termouth (RNZ): Auckland hairdressers doing ‘all they can’ to prepare for vaccine passes
Mandatory vaccination
John Anthony (Stuff): Covid-19 vaccination mandates could apply to up to 70 per cent of the workforce, lawyer says
Shannon Johnstone (Herald): Vaccine mandates vary between tertiary educator providers
John Anthony (Stuff): Unvaccinated workers in businesses using vaccine passes must be fully vaccinated by January 17
Amy Williams (RNZ): Not everyone singing from same hymn sheet over vaccinations mandate
Bernard Orsman (Herald): More than 1400 DHB doctors, nurses and other staff have not had first Covid jab
Hanna McCallum (Stuff): Over 1000 health workers stood down over vaccine mandate
RNZ: Over 100 nurses sacked after refusing vaccine
Scott Palmer (Newshub): 1.8 pct of all DHB workers off the job after refusing COVID-19 vaccine
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Jab ‘angst’ for Whanganui region health workers
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Countdown requires all 21,000 staff to be vaccinated by January 10
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): How workplaces will operate under the new traffic light system
Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): No exemptions handed to schools for education vaccine mandates
Vaccine rollout
Samantha Worthington (1 News): Willie Jackson defends Māori vaccination rollout in heated exchange
Kate MacNamara (Herald): Did scandal-mired former Health Minister David Clark ignore Pfizer’s vaccine meeting request? (paywalled)
Yvonne Tahana (1 News): Whānau Ora receives Govt data on Māori vaccine rollout
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Remote communities will be ‘left behind’ by PM, says Reti
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): Iwi says resources stretched as it races to meet vaccination target
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Iwi collective mobilises Covid-19 teams to reach vulnerable communities
1 News: South Canterbury to hit 90% first dose rate imminently
RNZ: Trust in communities gives Bay of Plenty vaccination rates shot in the arm
Home isolation
Herald Editorial: Self-isolation mustn’t be trial and error (paywalled)
Darren Bevan (Stuff): ‘Heartbroken’ Duncan Garner says Covid-19 home isolation system a ‘failure’
Herald: Duncan Garner on home isolation: ‘It’s a bumbling mess’
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Pacific health providers take part in trial to lead care for self-isolating families
MIQ, NZ Border
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): SailGP comments show how far ministers will go to avoid being blamed for hard decisions (paywalled)
Irra Lee (1 News): National wants trans-Tasman bubble for vaccinated, Covid-negative
Zane Small (Newshub): National leader Judith Collins demands reopening of trans-Tasman bubble ‘now’
1 News: National wants trans-Tasman bubble for vaccinated, Covid-negative
Thomas Manch (Stuff): National’s Judith Collins says trans-Tasman bubble must reopen for Christmas
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Our international border closure risks NZ being left behind
RNZ: Checkpoint: No trans-Tasman bubble behind Air NZ flight cancellations – Foran
Grant Bradley (Herald): Cancelled flights: Frustration grows at lack of clarity on international border (paywalled)
Herald: Flight Centre boss responds to cancelled Air NZ flights
Brooke van Velden (Herald): Time to axe NZ MIQ border rules keeping New Zealanders trapped overseas
Tom Hunt and Laura Walters (Stuff): Viking Bay fishing vessel stumps up $62,000 for crew’s Wellington MIQ stay
Katie Todd (RNZ): Police report large increase in MIQ violence and disorder
Cases, demographics, Delta spreads
1 News: Person in their 50s with Covid-19 dies in Auckland hospital
Rawiri Taonui (Māori TV): Māori now make up the highest number of cases since Covid-19 arrived in Aotearoa
Vaccine misinformation, protests, rule breaches
Claire Trevett (Herald): PM’s advice to hairdressers targeted by anti-vaxxers – call the police
Jennifer Eder (Stuff): Pharmacy staff shaken after abuse from ‘anti-vaxers’
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Destiny Church’s Brian Tamaki appears in court, remanded on bail
Jordyn Rudd (1 News): Brian Tamaki bailed on condition he stays away from Auckland Domain protests
Herald: Destiny’s Brian, Hannah Tamaki charged over latest Auckland lockdown protest
Craig Kapitan (Herald): Brian Tamaki faces judge again over latest lockdown protest
Jamie Ensor and Alice Wilkins (Newshub): Brian, Hannah Tamaki arrested: Destiny Church leader granted bail again
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): ‘Basically innocent’: Tamaki’s sermon on the police station steps
RNZ: Destiny Church’s Brian and Hannah Tamaki address crowd outside police station
Wilson Longhurst (1 News): Crowd gathers outside Mt Eden Prison in support of Tamakis
1 News: Brian and Hannah Tamaki arrested after anti-mandate protest
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): Door still open to school deputy who spoke at anti-vaccine mandate rally
Newshub-Reid Research poll, Parliament, parties
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research poll suggests Christopher Luxon has long road to convince public he’s National Party leadership material
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): John Key and Christopher Luxon trade advice on helicopters
Morgan Godfery (Guardian): In a crisis, you want Jacinda Ardern. That’s why her poll numbers will remain robust
Zane Small (Newshub): ACT MP Mark Cameron regrets ‘flippant remarks’ about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Environment, climate change, conservation
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Official plan to price and cut agricultural emissions would lead to less than 1 per cent reduction
RNZ: He Waka Eke Noa releases discussion document on farm emissions levies
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Taking us for a ride
RNZ: Proposals to price agricultural emissions a failure, say environmental groups
Richard Harman (Politik): Forget Groundswell; now farmers are in a real fight (paywalled)
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Submissions over government emissions document closing
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): COP26: Lack of action on coal emissions ‘disappointing’ – Climate Ambassador
Nathan Cooper (The Conversation): New Zealand’s climate change regulation is messy and complex – here’s how to improve it
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Conservation minister backs Tūhoe over Lake Waikaremoana closure, at odds over reopening date
Robin Martin (RNZ): Mt Messenger bypass deal ‘risks setting precedent’ for more native trees to be destroyed
Deena Coster (Stuff): Region’s top swim spots under weekly water quality spotlight this summer
Primary industries, Groundswell protests
Gordon Campbell: On farmers playing the victim, plus Chile’s right turn
John Weekes (Herald): Stuart Nash won’t apologise to Groundswell protesters, says disgusting elements ‘hijacked’ website
ODT Editorial: Groundswell here to stay
Newshub: Green MP Teanau Tuiono: Agriculture is at a turning point, and we need to seize the opportunities
Chris Keall (Herald): NZ-founded vegan cheese startup New Culture raises US$25m from Kraft Heinz, others
Kāinga Ora
Jason Walls: Toothless Kāinga Ora must be given the power to evict violent tenants
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Kāinga Ora policy costs thousands in compensation to tenants abused by neighbours
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Kāinga Ora reconsidering evictions policy, minister says
1 News: Developer blames Government for stagnating housing stock
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): ‘Bafflingly contradictory’: Kāinga Ora turns down 5000-home Auckland development
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Developer upset after Kāinga Ora knocks back plans for solar-powered town with few cars in South Auckland
Lane Nichols (Herald): Government’s ‘no evictions’ policy giving gang members free licence to cause intimidation and fear: Judith Collins
Housing
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Fears housing bill will bring proliferation of poor dwellings and ‘unintended consequences’
Carmen Hall (Herald): ‘Abusive behaviour’: Rejected rental tenants lash-out (paywalled)
Ben Leahy (Herald): Canterbury renter wins at Tenancy Tribunal: Landlord jacks up the rent
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Lending clampdown – The options left for first-home buyers (paywalled)
RNZ: ANZ suspends low-deposit home loans to comply with RBNZ rules
Rob Stock (Stuff): ANZ follows BNZ and Kiwibank to ‘pause’ low deposit home loans
Diane McCarthy (Local Democracy Reporting): Derelict landbanked properties ‘a travesty’ in midst of housing crisis, Kawerau mayor says
Miriam Bell (Stuff): Tenants face application fees to be ‘pre-verified’ for rental properties
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Wellington house values could jump 50 per cent after ‘dizzying’ three years in the housing market
Greg Ninness (Interest): Auckland lower quartile house prices up $85k in October putting home ownership beyond the reach of people on average wages
David Hargreaves (Interest): The Mother of All Mortgage Hangovers may be coming
Steven Walton (Stuff): Proposed plan expands Rangiora and Kaiapoi, allows more medium density housing
Katie Todd (RNZ): Off-plan property buyers should insist sunset clause removed from contracts – advisor
Three Waters, local government
Todd Niall (Stuff): Three Waters: Auckland Council forecasts bills could be lower under reforms
Tim Newman (Stuff): Three Waters working group chance to ‘look afresh’
Grant Miller (ODT): Accusations flow in Three Waters response
Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Auckland Transport braces for $64m hit amid ‘huge losses’ in patronage
Logan Savory (Stuff): Invercargill City Council ‘jumped the gun’ introducing media protocols
Logan Savory (Stuff): Invercargill councillors to give Sir Tim Shadbolt ‘wellbeing’ support for remainder of term
RNZ: Invercargill City Council votes to phase out independent oversight
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Simon Woolf stepping down from council with plea: Wellington politics ‘needs to change’
Grant Miller (ODT): Gorge line stays: Councillors keep faith with Dunedin Railways
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Why Wellington’s mayoral race has started early (paywalled)
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Let’s Get Wellington Moving has spent more on its new website than on construction
Economy, business, wage subsidy
RNZ: Lockdown sees significant retail sales volumes drop
Liam Dann (Herald): Lockdown retail slump was not as bad as feared
1 News: Iwi-owned petrol station near Gisborne offering NZ’s cheapest 91
Holly Henry (Newshub): Hanmer Springs businesses desperately searching for staff ahead of busy summer season
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Queenstown businesses grappling with staff shortages ahead of summer
Anne Gibson (Herald): Fletcher Building’s 94% wallboard share cited in Commerce Commission probe analysis (paywalled)
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): What can central banks actually do about inflation?
Greg Smith (Stuff): Reserve Bank will lift rates – the only question is how much
Stuff: ‘100 per cent vaxxed’ campaign aims to offer business, and Rotorua, a shot in the arm
Lawrence Gullery (Stuff): Outdoor dining, markets could help town centres recover
Murat Ungor (Newsroom): Beyond Covid, economy needs tech, science
Geroge Driver (Spinoff): What’s causing the shipping crisis – and when will it end?
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): Artists fear copyright laws lagging in increasingly digital world
André Chumko (Stuff): Artists renew calls for changes to Aotearoa’s arts funding models
Matthew Bennett (Stuff): Shipping, not supermarkets, is to blame for price rises
Foreign affairs and trade
Jane Kelsey (Herald): World Trade Organisation on a TRIP to a potential fall (paywalled)
Stephen Hoadley (Newsroom): Will China be number one?
RNZ: NZ must help Pacific fight vaccine misinformation – researcher
Grant Bradley (Herald): Billion-dollar payoff: New Zealand’s place in Southern Link between Asia and South America (paywalled)
Health
Qiuyi Tan (Herald): Doctors have duty of care to unvaccinated, says MOH
Chris Hyde (Herald): ‘System’ is creaking, and Hawke’s Bay might pay (paywalled)
Liu Chen (RNZ): Disposable masks washed 10 times still more protective than triple-layer fabric masks – study
Kushlan Sugathapala (Herald): Our other epidemic we don’t seem to talk about (paywalled)
Mark Quinlivan and Lucy Warhurst (Newshub): Government losing millions of dollars by leaving hundreds of kidney patients on dialysis – research
Derek Cheng (Herald): Drug-checking beyond festivals: Andrew Little wants support for the homeless; potential for medicinal cannabis
James Pocock (Hawkes Bay Today): The lure of devices: One in three Hawke’s Bay high school students don’t eat breakfast (paywalled)
Hawkes Bay Today: Hawke’s Bay DHB apologises for locations of interest date confusion
Teuila Fuatai (Herald): IHC bath ban the wrong response to tragic deaths (paywalled)
Wyatt Ryder (ODT): ACC privacy breach of sensitive records
Media
Herald: Martin Devlin resigns from Newstalk ZB and station owner NZME
Madeleine Chapman (Spinoff): When can Barry Soper dine al fresco again?
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Lush creates ‘anti-social’ policy and removes itself from social media platforms
Education
Dubby Henry (Herald): Digital divide sees thousands of kids still without laptops, internet
RNZ: Cambridge’s St Peter’s School reveals details of child sexual abuse, apologises to former students
RNZ: St Peter’s sexual abuse apology likely to trigger further claims
Employment, Immigration, migrant workers
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Hundreds of Countdown workers to strike in Auckland as pay negotiations stall
John Shewry (Stuff): The 40-hour work week is extinct, and the dinosaurs are about to be wiped out
Conan Young (RNZ): High Court ruling paves way to New Zealand for at-risk Afghans
RNZ: Plea for way home for hundreds of Tongan seasonal workers
Justice, corrections
Andrew Geddis (Pundit): Parliament, The Courts And The End Of Three Strikes (For Now)
Mitchell Alexander (Newshub): Assaults on Corrections officers continue to rise
(Stuff): Woman appeals against cancellation of passport on terror-related grounds
Other
Graham Adams (Kiwiblog): Guest article: Māori professor under investigation for views on mātauranga Māori
RNZ: Former prime minister Helen Clark chides international community’s pandemic response
Hanna McCallum (Stuff): Hearing for mosque terror attack inquiry rescheduled to next year
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Transmission Gully: Dozens of resource consents still incomplete
Steven Walton, Liz McDonald and Hanna McCallum (Stuff): Safety still a worry despite $90m Brougham St highway upgrade
Matai O’Connor (RNZ): Moriori praised for dedication, patience as settlement with Crown becomes law
Gareth Jones (ODT): If expertise is discounted, we are on a perilous path
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): National MP demands government does more to stop gang violence
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Amount of meth seized at NZ border jumps 74 percent this year
David Chaplin (BusinessDesk): Job done: KiwiSaver at work (paywalled)
RNZ: Season 2 | Episode 3: 23rd November 2021 – Party People
