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
Wellington anti-mandate protest
Steve Braunias (Herald): From Parliament protests to a foreign war, how the world is scattered and broken (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (The Platform): Jacinda’s Cossacks: 1913 – 1951 – 2022
Sarb Johal (Guardian): Now the parliament protest is over, New Zealand must ask itself what lay behind it
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Beware the Backlash: The State Will Not Be Surprised A Second Time
Nik Dirga (RNZ): Yesterday was New Zealand’s January 6. What happens now?
Rachel Smalley (NBR): PM’s address strategy of deflection not opportunism (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): The Parliament Lawn Dumb Lives Matter Protest: Winners, Losers & Predictions
George Block (Stuff): Battle for Parliament: the inside story, from among the protesters
Michael Neilson (Herald): The moment occupation turned into a riot (paywalled)
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): ‘We did things differently in ’81’: Springbok tour protesters on Parliament riot
Anna Rawhiti-Connell (Spinoff): Aotearoa is different now
Sharon Brettkellyl (RNZ): The Detail: How the Parliament protest was brought to an end
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Politicians call for ‘accountability’ in wake of riot, but from where and from who?
Stuff Editorial: Parliamentary protest: Now is the time for accountability
Herald Editorial: Parliament protest broken up having proved nothing (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: Freedom and responsibility
Michelle Duff (Stuff): Parliament protest: The siege might be over, but the propaganda war is just beginning
Rosemary McLeod (Stuff): Protesters wanted their freedom. They should ask Ukrainians what that means
Martyn Bradbury (Waatea): A Dark Day for NZ Democracy
RNZ: Overall security arrangements for Parliament to be reviewed following anti-mandate protest – Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Political parties condemn Parliament protesters, praise police actions
Herald: Watch Parliament protests, PM Jacinda Ardern speaks to media, MPs’ speeches in Parliament
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern points finger ‘squarely’ at protesters for uprising after Winston Peters blames her ‘refusal to engage’
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says protest rioters were ‘fringe elements’
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern surveys damage to Parliament grounds as police confirm pepper spray, foam bullets used during clash
1News: Protest at Parliament won’t be legacy of Covid-19 – Robertson
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Special sitting of Parliament sees politicians reflect on division after riot
RNZ: In photos: Removing the debris of a protest that ended in chaos
1News: Photos: The morning after Parliament’s day of chaos
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Wellington protest: Aftershocks linger, Wellington life returns
Eva Corlett and Tess McClure (Guardian): ‘This is a moment’: New Zealand reckons with aftermath as smoke clears on violent protests
RNZ: Parliament protest aftermath: Police enter ‘significant investigation phase’
André Chumko, Matthew Tso and George Block (Stuff): Criminal investigation, hazard check under way after Parliament occupation
Herald: ‘Tensions high’ as protesters attempt to occupy marae, community responds
André Chumko (Stuff): Wainuiomata residents rally to protect marae after protester fears
Stuff: Arrested conservative politician might be stranded in Capital for now
1News: Leighton Baker charged with trespassing, obstruction at protest
Herald: New gathering forms on Miramar Peninsula as mass clean-up begins
Stefan Dimitrof (Māori TV): Māori wardens: ‘We received abuse from dawn till dusk’
RNZ: ‘We feel mamae’: Wellington iwi look to heal desecrated parliament
Sophie Cornish and Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Police officers with head, chest injuries, and bone fractures after clearing Parliament occupation
Erin Gourley (Stuff): Force used to shut down Parliament rioters justified, police commissioner says
Herald: Police, MPs defend tactics as clean-up and crime scene activated
Caitlan Johnston (Herald): Videos confirm protesters started fire on Parliament lawn as police moved in
1News: Video shows protesters lighting Parliament fire
Herald: Covid 19 protest: Over $23,000 raised via Givealittle to clean up Wellington
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington City Council assessing protest fallout, damage will amount to significant cost
Stuff: Capital cleanup continues apace as Wellingtonians reclaim local streets
Tom Hunt and Matthew Tso (Stuff): Debris from Parliament occupation swept away as clean-up under way
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Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Protesters at Christchurch square claim it’s ‘safest park’ in the city – but residents say it’s ‘suffocating’
Helen Harvey (Stuff): New Plymouth’s mayor and hapū ask protesters to pack up and go home
James Haplin (Stuff): Anti-mandate protesters agree to leave Pukekawa/Auckland Domain
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (1News): Anti-mandate campsite at Auckland Domain dismantled
Stuff: Anti-Government protest group led by Destiny Church pastor billed $24k by council
Morgane Solignac and Andy Brew (Stuff): Protesters ‘pack up and move on’ as police patrol Picton square
Jessica Roden (1News): Picton anti-mandate protesters pack up while arguing with police
Anna Leask (Herald): Police on way to Picton to bolster local front line as protest continues in town square
Vaccine mandates
Isaac Davison and Gregg Wycherly (Herald): At least 220 Ministry of Social Development staff refuse vaccination, set to lose jobs
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Vaccine mandates: Government to fight fire with science in High Court
Stuff: Jab or job labelled ‘Hobson’s choice’ by medical professionals challenging mandate
Ethan Griffiths (Herald): Education and health sector staff launch fresh High Court challenge to vaccination mandates
John Minto (Daily Blog): Why did the government miss the advice from the World Health Organisation regarding vaccine mandates?
Russia invasion of Ukraine
Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): Putin’s invasion of Ukraine gives New Zealand a lot to think about
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Ukraine invasion shows why NZ should push to abolish the UN veto
Nicholas Khoo (Herald): Russian invasion of Ukraine shatters conventional wisdom (paywalled)
Simran Kaur (Stuff): How economic sanctions are changing the way we do war
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): NZ Govt-backed investment funds to exclude some Russian investments
RNZ: NZ state-owned investors to sell Russian assets
Mike Dinsdale (Herald): Government can’t take action against Russian oligarch with Northland luxury lodge – yet (paywalled)
Emma Hatton (RNZ): NZ economy feeling flow-on effects of sanctions against Russia
Josie Pagani (Stuff): People power shames governments into action
Omicron outbreak, Cases, health system
Matthew Hooton (Herald): After Omicron, new normal beckons (paywalled)
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Emergency doctor says staff shortages ‘incredibly significant’ amid spiralling outbreak
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Omicron in dozens of rest homes, sector coalition warns staff shortages ‘potentially catastrophic’
Joanne Naish and Cate Broughton (Stuff): ‘A big nightmare’: Cancer patient’s surgery cancelled for second time, despite court stopping staff strike
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Nurses issue plea over abuse
Jordan Bond (RNZ): One in 10 New Zealanders could be active Covid-19 cases – modelling
Emma Clark-Dow (Stuff): Under 30s have highest rates of virus, lowest rates of boosters
Herald: Peak in Covid numbers nears – hospitalisation peak to follow shortly afterwards
RNZ: More than half of new cases in under-30s – Dr Ashley Bloomfield
Rotorua Daily Post: Person with Covid 19 dies in Bay of Plenty rest home
RNZ: West Coast DHB under fire from Reefton residents
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff):Most people likely unaware of ‘over-the-top’ draft water rules, says mayor
Stuff: Media Council upholds Dermatological Society complaint against Stuff
Public health measures, Testing, Masks, Vaccine, Isolation
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Bloomfield on testing problems: ‘Things took off quickly’
Jane Nixon (1News): Confusion over collection as free RATs now available
Jake Kenny (Stuff): ‘Gobsmacking’ queues at Christchurch’s RAT collection site
Janine Starks (Stuff): Free RATs make economic sense
Marjorie Cook (ODT): Rats $23.99 now, drops in price likely
Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Pacific food banks struggle to meet demand as more families isolate
Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Call for booster vaccine doses to be prioritised in south Auckland
David Clarkson (Herald): Lawyers seeking more Covid safety measures at Court
RNZ: First New Zealanders to arrive without isolation requirements in two years to land in Auckland
Tess McClure (Guardian): ‘Lots of happy tears’: joy as New Zealand opens border after two years of isolation
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Grandparents still waiting as borders open
Josh Martin (Stuff): An international holiday with no Covid testing? It’s not that far away, New Zealand
Nathan Morton (Stuff): Emotional airport scenes as first isolation-free flight from Australia lands
Kāinga Ora, public service
Anneke Smith (RNZ): State landlord’s board chair ‘greatly let down’ over breach of political neutrality
Zane Small (Newshub): Public Services Commissioner Peter Hughes reprimands Kāinga Ora over cover-up revealed by Newshub
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Kāinga Ora failed to act politically neutral by publishing article about Labour candidate Arena Williams, public service commissioner say
RNZ: Kāinga Ora breached political neutrality standards – Commissioner
Jem Traylen (BusinessDesk): Kāinga Ora falls short on political neutrality says report
David Farrar: Kāinga Ora found not to have acted politically neutral
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Politicians call for better public service bullying data
Media, social media
Chris Keall (Herald): Dear Jacinda – Here’s how you stop misinformation (paywalled)
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Police Minister Poto Williams points finger at social media after Parliament protest, says many involved feel ‘marginalised’
Stuff: New ‘no information’ awards a light-hearted take on a serious subject
Herald: The NOIAs: New media awards highlight the battle for information
No Right Turn: The NOIAs
Richard Harman (Politik): Has our media been bought off?
Sean Phelan (The Conversation): Why legitimate criticism of the ‘mainstream’ media is in danger of being hijacked by anti-vax and ‘freedom’ movements
Herald: Live Q&A: Media, ‘bias’ and the $55m Govt fund – NZ Herald editors Shayne Currie, Murray Kirkness and Miriyana Alexander answer your questions (paywalled)
Economy, Business
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Here’s what you need to be in New Zealand’s 10 per cent wealthiest
Toby Allen (Interest): Household net worth up but wealth distribution unchanged
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): Ten things we’re told are wrong with New Zealand supermarkets
Brian Fallow (Herald): Inflation monster tougher to tame (paywalled)
RNZ: People increasingly concerned about economy, but job security, financial confidence rise
RNZ: Productivity should be concern for environmentalists and economists – NZIER
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Sorry PM, returning expats aren’t a huge tourism milestone (paywalled)
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Cruise ship industry wants more certainty, sooner, about maritime border reopening
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Lifeline for CBD as red traffic light keeps punters at home
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Omicron affects meat processors
Grant Bradley (Herald): The impact of losing airlines from NZ: What the OIA documents show (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Airline recovery: Why Asia-Pacific may be slow to take off, impact of Russia’s war (paywalled)
Nicholas Pointon (RNZ): Failure of Otago building company signals tough times for construction sector
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Goods delivery under threat
RNZ: Local chapter of a global climate governance initiative launched
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Kiwifruit bonanza for councils is ‘rates grab’ to growers
Employment
RNZ: Strike involving 10,000 health workers called off
Herald: Health strike postponed after Employment Court grants injunction
Jo Lines-MacKenzie (Stuff): Health strike stopped before more than 700 Waikato DHB staff walk off the job
Jane Phare (Herald): The worker shortage that will be everyone’s problem (paywalled)
RNZ: Hybrid workers the happiest and most innovative employees – study
John Farrow (ODT): Light at end of tunnel for Covid-affected workplaces
Jeremy Wilkinson (Herald): Waitress fired for getting pregnant awarded $25k
Parliament, MPs, Parties
Sinead Gill (Stuff): National MP’s office vandalised with graffiti
Rebecca Ryan (ODT): MP’s office vandalised, charge laid
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Political figure named in trial of prominent businessman loses name suppression, but still can’t be named
Environment, Climate Change
Jamie Morton (Herald): Glaring gaps in NZ’s chemical use oversight – watchdog
RNZ: Environmental Protection Authority to demand ‘100 times’ more data on use of chemicals
RNZ: Lack of mechanisms to govern chemical use in NZ – Commissioner
Kevin Trenberth (Newsroom): Our rapidly closing climate window
Jamie Gray (Herald): Farmers welcome proposed changes to NZ carbon farming regime
Eloise Gibson (Stuff): Government proposes banning pine carbon farms from the ETS
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Climate Change Commission rejects criticism in court: We knew our 1.5C maths was ‘blunt’
Phil Goff (Newsroom): Time to pay more to fix climate
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): ‘It’s our collective responsibility’ — Pacific researchers urge world leaders to help the islands fight climate changeOlivia Shivas (Stuff): Scant mention of disabled community, despite higher risk of climate change impact
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Delay on great white shark study ‘simply not acceptable’
Keiller MacDuff (Stuff): Fears wilding pine issue has been underestimated, expert says
RNZ: Buyers snap up utes ahead of higher fees for polluting vehicles
Damien O’Carroll (Stuff): Utes dominate February sales before feebates kick in
Local government
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Auckland mayoralty: Viv Beck to run in race for city’s top job
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Ōwairaka/Mt Albert tree removal: Court of Appeal rules in favour of protesters
Janine Rankin (Stuff): Double-digit rates rise tipped for average Palmerston North homeowners
Glenn McLean (Stuff): CEO’s $30k leadership course takes up lion’s share of New Plymouth District Council top tier training budget
RNZ: Hamilton City Council reduces services as Omicron bites
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Rotorua gets geyser-inspired city symbol after two years and $55,000
Emily Ireland (Local Democracy Reporting): Civic centre: Masterton council ditches land purchase efforts
Education
Lee Kenny (Stuff): School attendance falls by more than 100,000 in two weeks as Omicron takes hold
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Teaching in the Covid Omicron wave ‘highly stressful and unsustainable’
Irra Lee (1News): Disruption, disadvantage, and determination – studying through Covid
Hina Cheema (Stuff): Respond to Otago racial attack in a way that gets us closer to a more inclusive Aotearoa
RNZ: Mental health should be priority as cases surge among students – psychologist
Housing
Zane Small (Newshub):Government not collecting data on Healthy Homes Standards compliance
Anne Gibson (Herald): Fletcher Building, Carter Holt Harvey challenge Commerce Commission probe (paywalled)
Miriam Bell (Stuff): Auckland house sales and prices fall as heat comes out of market
Geraden Cann (Stuff): Mega landlord drops property price $100k and may sell at a loss as prices fall
Other
Aaron Smale (Stuff): PM won’t commit to recommendation to legally protect children from abuse in care
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Victim Support yet to draw on $3m fund intended for crime victims
Anna Whyte (1News): 2 years in prison or $50K fine for ‘revenge porn’ offenders
Stuff: IPCA report says Wellington police unjustified in arresting man for obstruction last year, failed to provide medical assistance
RNZ: Checkpoint: Final shipment of crude oil on its way to Marsden Pt refinery
RNZ: Whangārei facing $25m water income loss as Marsden Point oil refining ends
RNZ: Changes needed so the cash system can serve the needs of NZers – Reserve Bank
RNZ: Supreme Court upholds human trafficking, slavery convictions
