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
TAX, GREENS’ TAX POLICY
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Greens’ wealth tax very clever – but income, corporate tax changes are risky
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Greens promise wealth tax as research reveals rich stash $470b in trusts
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): IRD chief says high-wealth project was ‘intrusive’ but important (paywalled)
David Parker (NBR): Right of Reply: The idea of a principles-based approach to tax policy is hardly new or radical (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): What’s the difference between lifting a GM ban and raising a wealth tax? (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Greens’ new tax policies called ‘envy-fuelled’ by ACT, but James Shaw, Marama Davidson say it’s about ‘inclusion’, ‘collective care’
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Greens promise tax cuts for salaries under $125,000, and $385 per week income guarantee
RNZ: Green Party announces ‘Income Guarantee’ plan to help households meet rising costs
Adam Hollingworth (Newshub): Tax the rich, prop up the poor – the main takeaways from Greens’ big election tax announcement
Adam Hollingworth (Newshub): Green Party say New Zealanders can end poverty with wealth tax
Dan Brunskill (Interest): The Green Party would provide a guaranteed income of $385 a week, paid for with a wealth tax on assets over $2m and 45% tax on income over $180,000
Shanti Mathias (Spinoff): Greens come out swinging against Act with expansive tax policy
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): National to reveal how it will pay for tax cuts before pre-election fiscal update, Nicola Willis says
NATIONAL
Farah Hancock and Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Tax, spend and crisis: What hours of interviews reveal about the obsessions of our political leaders
1News: Q+A: Luxon challenged over his 7 houses: ‘Who owns more than you?’
Geraden Cann (Stuff): Christopher Luxon’s properties affected by density laws he plans to scrap
Richard Harman (Politik): Collins paves the way (paywalled)
1News: Q+A: NZ’s GMO laws to be loosened under National govt – Luxon
Isobel Ewing (Newshub): Two top scientists back National’s policy to loosen genetic modification laws
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): National calls to end ‘ban’ on gene edited crops
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National promises to end Genetic Engineering ban
RNZ: National would end genetic modification ‘ban’ if elected
David Farrar: National to end GE ban
Adam Pearse (Herald): National Party’s unplanned request to film with Christchurch police put officers in ‘difficult position’ – Coster
1News: Q+A: Luxon vows to resign if abortion access curbed under any future govt he leads
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): National’s Nicola Willis unleashes at journalists for taking Christopher Luxon’s ‘have more babies’ comment ‘out of context’
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Never mind the babies – let’s get building (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: Having babies and being helpful (paywalled)
Alison Mau (Post): If you want more babies, give us universal basic income first (paywalled)
Nicola Grigg (Herald): What the National Party wants for New Zealand women (paywalled)
ELECTION
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Remember when politicians used to kiss babies and do walkabouts?
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Why 2023 is the year of the minor party
Matthew Hooton (The Australian): Angry Kiwis want a better government but they won’t get it (paywalled)
Molly Swift and Simon Shepherd (Newshub): ACT stealing right-wing voters poses risk to National – senior journalist
Dan Brunskill (Interest): An aggressive Act Party pushes politics to the right
Damien Grant (Stuff): ACT, from lost cause to historic comeback
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Chlöe Swarbrick and the Green machine: Can they take another seat off Labour?
ODT Editorial: A genuine contest of ideas (paywalled)
Mike Munro (Herald): Elections can get grubby – spare us the faux outrage about dirty politics (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): 2023 will be a class war election without the political vocabulary
TAXPAYER’S UNION-CURIA POLL, IPSOS NZ ISSUES MONITOR
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): New poll points to National-Act government despite bump for Greens
Cherie Howie (Herald): Political poll: National, Act could form Government
RNZ: New poll shows National, ACT keeping edge ahead of Labour
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Law and order now number two issue for voters, but most still concerned about the cost of living
MICHAEL WOOD
Vernon Small (Stuff): Transport minister not out of hot water yet
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Michael Wood not out of wood amid Auckland Airport share saga (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Michael Wood: Wooda, coulda, shoulda sold those airport shares
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): What’s the point of sacking Michael Wood? (paywalled)
Steve Braunias (Herald): The secret diary of … Michael Wood’s 12 reminders (paywalled)
RNZ: No ‘adequate explanation’ for Michael Wood failing to disclose, dispose of shares – National
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Labour Party ‘ready to move on’ after Michael Wood, Jan Tinetti dramas – minister Ginny Andersen
PARLIAMENT
Peter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: Chris Hipkins’ worst week
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Beehive Diaries: China confronts New Zealand’s One Building Policy (paywalled)
Glenn McConnell (Post): Hang on … What? Baby boom! Dodgy highways, and ruined plans (paywalled)
Mike Houlahan (ODT): MPs pay homage to Hillside pilgrimage site
Bruce Cotterill (Herald): Our politicians are living in a world of their own (paywalled)
Julie Jacobson (Post): Political staffers lacking support, ‘sacrificing personal lives and mental health’ (paywalled)
Oliver Hartwich (The Common Room): Has Ardern altered the course of NZ?
Shayne Currie (Herald): Dame Jacinda Ardern set to sign record book deal, publishing industry abuzz after ‘bidding war’ (paywalled)
Kylie Klein-Nixon (Stuff): What we’d like to see in a Dame Jacinda Ardern memoir
Herald: Ask Me Anything: Sir John Key talks to Paula Bennett about politics, ambition and raising kids
Finn Hogan (Newshub): Newshub Nation Backstory: Labour MP Helen White recounts financial struggles while raising her children
ELECTORAL REVIEW
Grant Duncan (Stuff): Extending the term of parliament isn’t a terrible idea, it’s just one NZ has rejected twice already
Rebecca Wright (Newshub): Newshub Nation: Electoral review chair Maria Bargh on why politicians can’t decide term lengths
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): ‘I would like to hear from all those people’: Electoral review chair responds to critics
Chris Trotter: The Numbers That Matter
Jonathan Leask (Local Democracy Reporting): Lowering voting age a ‘gateway’ to improving education
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
K Gurunathan (Stuff): Central government’s legislation factory leaves councils at mercy of ratepayers
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Wayne Brown lands first budget, selling fewer airport shares and with higher rates
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): Sale of Auckland Airport shares: What you need to know
Finn Blackwell and Jordan Dunn (RNZ): Auckland budget approved: Councillor likens discussions to eating rats
Stuff: Recap: Protesters thrown out for disrupting Auckland Council budget meeting
RNZ: Developers oppose Auckland Council plan to stop greenfield housing development on city outskirts
Damien Venuto (Herald): The Front Page: Ports of Auckland boss Roger Gray on moving the port, changing the ownership model and working with the union
Eric Crampton (Post): Rates for change: How Wellington can be the blueprint for the rest of NZ (paywalled)
Melissa Nightingale (Herald): Wellington City councillor accused of racism for comments on Chinese garden
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Wellington could run out of water this summer – again
Libby Kirkby-McLeod (RNZ): Union slams redundancy process at South Waikato Council
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Wairoa District Council proposes 15.4% rates hike
Tina Law (Press): Christchurch council office burglar stayed for two hours, stole $3000 of personal items (paywalled)
TRANSPORT
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Waka Kotahi gives big bonuses to well-paid staff
Simon Wilson (Heral): All hail Wellington, our cycling capital (paywalled)
RNZ: Next-generation speed cameras launched in Northland
Molly Swift (Newshub): Air NZ CEO warns Auckland Airport upgrade will cost more, further increasing airfare prices
LOAFERS LODGE TRAGEDY, FIRE SAFETY
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Investigation: How local councils score on their building warrants of fitness
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Bay of Plenty emergency housing has not had fire safety inspections for almost a year
Mike White (Stuff): Man who raised Loafers Lodge fire alarm describes horror, and hardship
Kim Meredith (Local Democracy Reporting): Loafers Lodge fire could happen in Auckland, ex-boarding house resident warns
ECONOMY, INEQUALITY
Max Rashbrooke (Spinoff): The two poverties
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Punishing benefit claimants harms children, advocates warn
Liam Dann (Herald): If we skip recession, does that let the Government off the hook? (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Banks split on whether NZ recession will be confirmed on Thursday
Gareth Kiernan (Post): We’re headed for recession – technical or otherwise (paywalled)
David Hargreaves (Interest): The Reserve Bank will be content enough if the data shows heat coming out of the economy
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Roy Morgan says the number of New Zealanders worried about interest rates has risen as they’ve risen
Rob Stock (Post): Economic downturn will hit bank margins, ratings agency warns (paywalled)
Cameron Bagrie (BusinessDesk): A closer look at the government’s revenue – on a slippery slope (paywalled)
EMPLOYMENT
Andrea Vance (Post): Inside the pay deal that has caused a row among unions (paywalled)
Shane Te Pou (Herald): Fair Pay Agreements Act will cement equality for hospitality industry [paywalled)
Anna Sargent (RNZ): Uber drivers hit speed bump in fight for employee rights as company granted leave to appeal Employment Court decision
James Halpin (Stuff): Annoying or dangerous: How should managers deal with extremists in the workplace?
Lane Nichols (Herald): WorkSafe forestry death probe stalled by lack of evidence, family fears failings could jeopardise prosecution
Dita De Boni (NBR): Trial periods and probationary periods: easy come, easy go? (paywalled)
BUSINESS
Eric Frykberg (Interest): Business NZ commissioned report says NZ restricts foreign direct investment too much and corporate tax rates are too high
Janine Starks (Stuff): Banks need to pay up for financial scams
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Is Countdown’s ‘Great Price for Winter’ campaign really a great price?
Glenn McConnell (Post): Public Service Watch: National to release agricultural emissions plan, MPs head to Fieldays (paywalled)
Riley Kennedy and Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Fieldays 2023: less spending, more politics (paywalled)
Lloyd Burr (Newshub): The New Zealand wool industry needs backing
Seni Iasona (Newshub): Ruapehu hapū says meeting with Miniter Kiri Allan was ‘productive’ as future of ski fields hangs in balance
Karen Rutherford (Newshub): Ruapehu hapū not ruling out high court injunction as ski field stoush with MBIE ramps up
Kelvin McDonald (Whakaata Māori): Ruapehu hapū warn government against selling ski fields without consulting Māori
Brianna McIlraith (Post): Hospitality industry battling skills shortage, food prices and supply chain issues (paywalled)
VAPING
Conor Whitten (I News): Fears confirmed: New data shows vape stores target poorest areas
Sharon Brettkelly (RNZ): First, a smoke-free generation – next, a vape-free one?
Luke Kirkness (Herald): Why we should follow Australia’s lead on clamping down on vaping
HEALTH
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Health Minister Ayesha Verrall targets ‘postcode lottery’, defends waiting list progress (paywalled)
Alex Spence (Herald): Ombudsman rebukes Te Whatu Ora for ‘unacceptable’ OIA delays
Niva Chittock (RNZ): Few guidelines or data over gang conflicts at hospital facilities
Ian Powell (BusinessDesk): GPs: close to death by a thousand cuts (paywalled)
Matthew Ronsenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘We won’t stop’: Medicine petition delivered to Parliament
Teuila Fuatai (E-Tangata): Elana Curtis: We want to see them fly
EDUCATION
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Teacher education programmes report hundreds fewer enrolments
Gianina Schwanecke (Stuff): More strike action as secondary teachers reject latest pay offer
RNZ: Secondary teachers reject latest offer, industrial action to continue
Alwyn Poole (Kiwiblog): PPTA continue to grind students and families into the ground in their own self-interest
Gianina Schwanecke (Post): Primary principals hold ‘crisis summit’ after ‘sobering’ survey results (paywalled)
Stuff: Hundreds of principals could leave the profession within years, survey says
Gianina Schwanecke (Post): Neurodiverse students’ needs not being met, says new coalition (paywalled)
RNZ: Victoria University proposes cuts to country’s only religious studies programme
Gianina Schwanecke (Post): Oh, the Humanities: Vic Uni alumni rally to support threatened arts courses (paywalled)
Fiona Ellis (ODT): Review of uni’s recent financial management called for
Tim Scott (ODT): Uni group calls for more govt funding
Daniel Benson-Guiu (ODT): Hipkins offered nothing when university needs support, funding
RNZ’S PRO-RUSSIA EDITING CONTROVERSY
Thomas Mead (1News): Exclusive: RNZ received complaint over Russian ‘propaganda’ months ago
Gabrielle McCulloch (Stuff): RNZ saga may be related to disinformation from overseas, says security analyst
RNZ: RNZ Editorial Audit
Caroline Williams and Michael Daly (Stuff): Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson briefed by RNZ board chair over Russian propaganda claims
Tess McClure (Guardian): Radio New Zealand investigates Russia-friendly editing of Ukraine articles
Hayden Donnell (RNZ): RNZ investigating Kremlin-friendly story edits
RNZ: RNZ investigating after publishing story including false account of events in Ukraine
Steven Cowan: Is RNZ providing distorted coverage of the war in Ukraine?
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
John Minto (Post): An independent foreign policy means detaching from global superpowers (paywalled)
Steven Ratuva (E-Tangata): Big power posturing in Oceania
1News Q+A: Top diplomat denies US trying to militarise the Pacific
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Cooling talk of ‘a new Cold War’
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): Australia deports 21-year-old with 70 convictions to NZ, despite only living in Aotearoa as a month-old baby
CLIMATE CHANGE
1News: Q+A: ‘We can’t avoid 1.5C’ – Climate scientist warns we’ll miss key target
James Renwick: The coast is under threat
David Williams (Newsroom): National cringes at climate spending
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Is the Government’s He Waka Eke Noa agricultural emissions legislation on its last legs?
Tess McClure (Guardian): New Zealand’s warming seas threaten Māori food sources relied on for generations
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Carbon auction is set to fail
Rod Oram (Newsroom): Hoping for an effective COP28? Bonn chance!
ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION
Kate MacNamara (Herald): Department of Conservation tackles budget shortfall with a half-million-dollar spend on consultants (paywalled)
Anna Whyte (Post): Officials don’t know how much of NZ’s plastic waste is dumped or reused overseas (paywalled)
Laura Mills (Greymouth Star): MPs to Doc: Get advice on mining permits
RNZ: Antipodean albatross could be flying towards an ‘extinction vortex’
POLICE
David Fisher (Herald): Police automatic surveillance of number plates – new accountability and privacy rules mooted
Zane Small (Neshub): Revealed: Police increasingly laying charges for refusing access to digital devices
CRIME
Michael Neilson and Chris Knox (Herald): What is soft on crime? And how do Labour and National’s political claims stack up? The Herald takes a look at the data (paywalled)
Tom Pearce (Stuff): The other side of talking tough on retail crime
Hayden Donnell (RNZ): Mediwatch: Digging out the facts on crime and punishment
CYCLONE GABRIELLE, AUCKLAND FLOODS
Adam Pearse (Herald): ‘Unfair’: About $7m of cyclone business support will be returned unless Govt intervenes
Simon Shepherd (Newshub): Newshub Nation: No time frame for buyout decisions on red-stickered Muriwai homes
ELECTRICITY
RNZ: Electricity sector working to minimise risk of winter blackouts
Kaysha Brownlie (Newshub): New Zealand’s hydro lakes at record levels heading into winter, but challenges remain
OTHER
Janet Wilson (Stuff): Adversarial justice system remains unfair on survivors
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Not In anybody’s backyard, even when we plan it (paywalled)
Karl du Fresne: On Michael Woods, the precarious future of universities and the media
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Law change empowers a new consumer advocacy agency for water
Brian Easton (Pundit): Accountability And Archives New Zealand
David Fisher (Herald): Jacinda Ardern pitches Christchurch Call as world’s answer to risks posed by artificial intelligence
Kate Green (RNZ): Allowing greyhound race to go ahead ‘disappointing’, animal welfare group says
Will Trafford (Whakaata Māori): 95 Māori, Moriori remains including 6 Toi Moko repatriated from Germany
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): ‘Someone is taking this right from us’ – Families broken as relatives denied visits to NZ
Katie Doyle (Stuff): Incoming Stuff CEO Laura Maxwell talks whakapapa, news and whānau
