New Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project.
Today’s content
ELECTION, PARLIAMENT
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Labour will regret hatchet job on contraception
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): How low will this election campaign go?
Fran O’Sullivan: (Herald): National must make it clear – women’s work is leading, not cleaning up (paywalled)
Claire Trevett (Herald): No more Mr Nice Guy – backtracks on housing and attack tactics make for a very messy week for National and Labour (paywalled)
Amelia Wade (Newshub): No winner in political battle to claim moral high ground on contraception combat
Jack Tame (Newstalk ZB): Why is National so hot on the prescription fee debate?
Janet Wilson (Stuff): When politics becomes too messy, it’s time to lean into the Stoics
Herald: On the Tiles: Liam Hehir on the current state of the National Party, conservatism in New Zealand
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Where is the Green Party at for the upcoming election campaign?
Glenn McConnell (Post): Power list: The intersection of iwi and national politics (paywalled)
Will Trafford (Whakaata Māori): After law change, 10,000 swap rolls
Claire Trevett (Herald): Beehive Diaries: Will it be Paula Bennett v Wayne Brown for Auckland mayor in 2025 – and did Chris Luxon or Chris Hipkins win the week? (paywalled)
Peter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: Housing, bilingual road signs, prescription fees and a minister in trouble
Brent Edwards (NBR): Political positioning, law and order and MMP machinations
Anna Rawhiti-Connell (Spinoff): You are not serious people: the week in politics
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): 2023 Election will be a vote for the least worst outcome
Herald Editorial: The importance of paying attention and voting (paywalled)
Shane Te Pou (Herald): National’s policies are whatever ups Christopher Luxon’s vote count (paywalled)
Molly Swift (Newshub): National’s Christopher Luxon tours New Zealand, dances with students in TikTok video
Jo Moir (Newsroom): No room at the inn for Luxon’s Taranaki visit
Robin Martin (RNZ): Christopher Luxon proves to be a traffic-stopper in New Plymouth
Mike Tweed (Whanganui Chronicle): National Party leader Chris Luxon laments ‘mismanaged economy’ during Whanganui visit
RNZ: Te Pāti Māori selects Tākuta Ferris for Te Tai Tonga
RNZ: Te Pāti Māori confirms Heather Skipworth for Tukituki electorate
Glenn McLean (Taranaki Daily News): New Plymouth National candidate’s tsunami of billboards must come down after falling foul of new council signage rules
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Labour’s Kiri Allan delivering wrong speech ‘just another wobbly Government move’ – National
ELECTORAL SYSTEM REVIEW
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Electoral system changes proposed: Lower voting age, lower threshold to enter Parliament, four-year term
Alex Braae (1News): Donations, voting age: Panel recommends sweeping election changes
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Electoral system review: Working group recommends lowering voting age, more prisoner voting, cap on donations
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Electoral review recommends 3.5% threshold, voting age of 16
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Electoral system review: Major recommendations to lower voting age to 16, cap donations, and create 4-year terms
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Make it 16, and make it 3.5% – the big calls from the electoral review
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Electoral system review recommends voting age lowered to 16, party threshold to 3.5%
Brent Edwards (NBR): ‘A contest of ideas, not of cash’ (paywalled)
Deborah Hart (Post): Making our electoral system fairer, clearer, and more accessible
ACT
Andrea Vance (Stuff): ACT is on the brink of holding (some) power. What does that mean?
Vernon Small (Stuff): Follow the ACT leader: How David Seymour is outflanking the Nats
Anneke Smith (RNZ): ACT preens as party in waiting ahead of Election 2023
Bridie Witton (Post): ‘Clear purpose, destiny’: ACT launches campaign with faithful pitch (pawyalled)
Bridie Witton (Stuff): ACT Party launches campaign, announces new ‘Ministry of Regulation’
Anneke Smith (RNZ): ACT Party conference: A new ministry to sort ‘jungle of red tape’, ‘speaking out’ against Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Adam Pearse (Herald): ‘Red tape police’: Act to promise enhanced powers for ditching excess regulation if elected
Adam Pearse (Herald): Act to continue mission to double its vote in 2023 election at annual conference
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): Act’s David Seymour promises to ‘dial up the brew’
1News: ACT Party makes big election promise to slash govt red tape
Isobel Ewing (Newshub): ACT MPs hope to ride wave towards power as ‘fastest-growing party in New Zealand’
Newshub: Full speech: ACT leader David Seymour pulls up in little yellow car, attacks red tape, other parties in major speech
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): Beyond firearms: Nicole McKee gets ready to fight in Act’s law and order corner
POLITICAL INTEGRITY
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Transport Minister Michael Wood promises to sell his Auckland Airport shares, National alleges conflict of interest
Newshub: Michael Wood in hot water over holding Auckland Airport shares, PM says he didn’t know about them
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Education Minister Jan Tinetti formally warned by police over electoral breach complaint
Adam Pearse (Herald): Education Minister Jan Tinetti warned by police for electoral advertising breach
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Education Minister Jan Tinetti given police warning over social media post
RNZ: Minister was warned in November over by-election day advertising – police
Jacqui Van Der Kaay (Democracy Project): Why Parliament’s rules matter
David Farrar: The Tinetti timeline
Paula Bennett (Herald): In truancy data saga, Education Minister Jan Tinetti commits five offences (paywalled)
MEDIA
Gavin Ellis: We definitely need to talk about harmful speech proposals
Janet Wilson (Common Room): A new media regulator – a safe haven or Big Brother?
Simon Shepherd (Newshub Nation)cc: New Zealand media outlets concerned over newly-proposed social media regulations, raise questions over freedom
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Tackling harmful content never going to be a simple discussion
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): There is a far better solution for NZ media than the Department of Internal Affairs ‘Ministry of Truth’
David Farrar: Government proposes censorship regime for blogs
Karl du Fresne: Please, Stuff, spare us the hypocritical rhetoric
Damien Venuto (Herald): The Front Page: Media expert Bob Hoffman’s stark warning about Google, Meta and TikTok
Ricardo Simich (Herald): Spy: Tova O’Brien doubles down on comments about Today FM bosses
BILINGUAL ROAD SIGNS, TE REO MĀORI
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Analysis: National opposed bilingual road signs, so what does the evidence say?
Verity Johnson (Stuff): You can’t just import the culture wars to win points
Newhsub: Whānau Ora chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait questions if National ‘trying to pitch Māori as being public enemy no.1’
Jessie Gurunathan (Herald): Electioneering is a soap opera of whistleblowing and backtracking
Kiri Gillespie (Herald): Simeon Brown’s view on bilingual traffic signs fails convince
Awanui Te Huia (E-Tangata): Did Chris Luxon tell me, or the bowling club, his real feelings about te reo?
RNZ: Rotorua iwi embraces bilingual road signs
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE
Thomas Manch (Stuff): China promises to greet ‘jackals with shotguns’ as superpower tension ramps up
Thomas Manch (Stuff): US promises bolstered alliances to deter China, NZ left off the list
Thomas Manch (Stuff): New Zealand signs military agreement with Japan
Herald: New Zealand, Japan defence cooperation strengthened amid Indo-Pacific concerns
Thomas Manch (Stuff): New Zealand declines Chinese request for joint military exercises, urges talks with United States
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Andrew Little tells nuclear powers New Zealand’s stance isn’t just ‘wishful thinking’
Mike Smith (Standard): Diplomacy with China hasn’t failed – it hasn’t been tried
Frances Chin (Stuff): Fijian prime minister in New Zealand for first official visit in 25 years
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): New Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka arrives in New Zealand
1News: Exclusive: Hipkins offered chance to meet with Zelensky in Kyiv
Nicholas Khoo (The Conversation): The war in Ukraine is escalating and New Zealand will not escape the consequences
Eugene Bingham (Stuff): The ones who got left behind: life in Afghanistan under the Taliban
James Halpin and Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Prime Minister weighs in on Russian interest in Chatham Islands, government not investigating ‘Putin’s chef’
Gordon Campbell: On how private profits are driving Defence spending
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Simon Wilson (Herald): Wayne Brown’s budget showdown – rates or shares sale? (paywalled)
Jaime Lyth and Simon Wilson (Herald): Councillors respond after Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown forwards them abusive emails
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown denies forwarding abusive emails to councillors
1News: Wayne Brown blames ‘dip s***’ email on staff ‘fit of excitement’
Hayden Donnell (Spinoff): Wayne Brown forwarded councillors emails that called them ‘dip shits’
RNZ: Auckland mayor forwards emails calling councillors ‘dip shits’
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Mayor’s councillor call-outs ‘a mark of his desperation’
Kim Meredith (Local Democracy Reporting): Auckland City councillors say mayor Wayne Brown’s threats are not the Pacific way
Victor Billot (Newsroom): An Ode for .. Wayne Brown
Rebecca Wright (Newshub Nation): Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau calls meeting attendance attacks ‘gendered’ in revealing interview
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): The beginning of the end for Tory Whanau
Kiwiblog: Tory Whanau and gendered criticism
Mike Yardley (Post): Power play on full display as city council finalises its Annual Plan (paywalled)
Craig Ashworth (Local Democracy Reporting): Paltry payouts as bids surge for new council Māori fund
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Fee hikes for Tauranga’s community facilities come under fire
TRANSPORT
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Let’s Get Wellington Moving: Seventh councillor has no confidence in transport plan
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington wins global prize and $650,000 for controversial cycleway rollout
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Auckland Harbour Bridge wobble: Low-cost fix presented to transport agency 13 years ago
Matthew Hansen (Stuff): Local ute sales grow as steeper Clean Car penalties loom
EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Wage theft: Labour MP Ibrahim Omer urges National to get tough on crime by backing his bill
Giles Dexter (RNZ): ‘No one should be exploited at work’ – Frustrated strippers meet with MPs
Cameron Smith (Herald): What’s worrying Gen Z and Millennials the most (paywalled)
Sasha Borissenko (Herald): Legal staff working a day a week free – law firms respond (paywalled)
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): Bao Guo’s story: From instant noodles every day, to a job and hope
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Pak’nSave trials body cameras amid growing retail crime
Nona Pelletier (RNZ): Greenwashing investigation into Kiwi businesses needed – Consumer
Herald: Consumer NZ calling for Kiwis’ examples of dodgy supermarket pricing, watchdog pushing for Commerce Commission investigation
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Consumer NZ receives 160 complaints about supermarket specials in the last two months
Mark Hallett (Herald): The Entain NZ TAB deal and looking a gift horse in the mouth (paywalled)
POLICE
Sam Sherwood (Herald): Revealed: Nearly 30 police staff under investigation by anti-corruption unit (paywalled)
Louise Ternouth (RNZ): Police reveal new electric patrol car to trial on frontline
EDUCATION
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Government can’t stop University of Otago cutting staff – PM
1News: PM greeted by angry student protesters in Dunedin
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): PM Chris Hipkins strolls down memory lane before being grilled by Otago students
Steven Joyce (Herald): Govt selling our future short by starving universities (paywalled)
Dave Armstrong (Post): Great news! The university’s naming the massive deficit after me (paywalled)
Justin Wong (Stuff): ‘Stealing from the future’: Victoria University students, academics rally against proposed cuts
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Language schools call government levy unfair
RNZ: Early Childhood Council drops legal challenge to government’s teacher pay parity funding
Denise Piper (Stuff): Injured student hospitalised last year at Northland school involved in Abbey Caves tragedy
Jason Walls and Aaron Dahmen (Newstalk ZB): Parents and teachers sound alarm over ‘king of toxic masculinity’ Andrew Tate content being consumed at schools
HOUSING
Timothy Welch (The Conversation): National’s housing u-turn promotes urban sprawl – cities and ratepayers will pick up the bill
David Schnauer (NBR): National’s housing policy something positive in election year (paywalled)
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Forget big business and big government, ‘big neighbour’ is more powerful than both (paywalled)
Geraden Cann (Stuff): Have house prices really hit a floor?
Greg Ninness (Interest): Housing market slump deepens with stock levels at an 8 year high & new listings at a 16 year low
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Research suggests Auckland families pay 22% less to rent thanks to Unitary Plan zoning reform
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): What’s going wrong for tiny home companies?
AI
Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): How fake AI images could stoke tensions in the Indo-Pacific
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Politicians tackling AI regulation – but will it be too late?
Jack Santa Barbara (Newsroom): A little-discussed but significant AI danger
IMMIGRATION, REFUGEES
Liam Dann (Herald): Why NZ’s record migration gains won’t be an election issue (paywalled)
Iain MacLeod (BusinessDesk): Most migrants here for a good time, not a long time (paywalled)
Geraden Cann (Stuff): ‘Brain drain’ to Australia increases 42% in three months
Finlay Dunseath (Stuff): No plan B: Ukrainian refugees in NZ call for clarity on visa scheme
KING’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS
Finlay Dunseath (Stuff): King’s Birthday honours: The full list of all the recipients for 2023
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): King’s Birthday Honours: Jacinda Ardern receives one of the highest accolades
Olivia Caldwell (Stuff): Sir John Key says honours is rite of passage for former prime ministers, and doesn’t recall negativity around his knighthood
David Farrar: PM Honours
Tess McClure (Guardian): Jacinda Ardern becomes a dame as New Zealand honours former PM
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Honours for journalists Colin James and Nicky Hager (paywalled)
