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
MICHAEL WOOD
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Even in resigning Wood doesn’t accept full blame
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Michael Wood’s bizarre behaviour casts a pall over Labour
Audrey Young (Herald): Michael Wood’s resignation from cabinet forced by unforgivable sloppiness – but there’s a way back (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Michael Wood resignation: Labour MP’s 16 back-and-forths with Cabinet Office over shares
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Will light rail go the way of Michael Wood’s Auckland airport shares? (paywalled)
Jem Traylen (BusinessDesk): PM Hipkins puzzled but determined after losing another cabinet minister (paywalled)
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Chris Hipkins’ bonfire was meant to be for policies, not ministers
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Michael Wood’s behaviour went from unacceptable to plain dishonest
Richard Harman (Politik): Did Wood lie? (paywalled)
Thomas Manch and Anna Whyte (Stuff): Third ministerial resignation unwanted distraction for Labour as election looms closer
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Chris Hipkins may be starting to dread election day
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): The case of Michael Wood will go down as a perplexing political stuff-up
No Right Turn: Good riddance to feckless rubbish
1News: Wood ‘could have a good future as a stockbroker’ – Seymour
RNZ: Watch: PM Chris Hipkins announces Michael Wood has resigned
Felix Desmarais (1News): Michael Wood resigns as minister, PM bemused by conflict failures
Thomas Manch and Anna Whyte (Stuff): Michael Wood resigns as minister after further shareholdings revealed
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says Michael Wood’s position was untenable
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Chris Hipkins has asked for Michael Wood’s resignation after he found shareholdings in Chorus, Spark and the National Australia Bank
Dita De Boni (NBR): Wood gets two grillings hours before his resignation (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Michael Wood resignation: Opposition crows as minister falls over revelations of more shareholdings
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Wood’s exit shows ‘Chris Hipkins is weak’ – Luxon
Newshub: Chris Hipkins, Michael Wood’s full statements after he resigns over share scandal
MENG FOON
Herald Editorial: Accountability has been lost in lack of leadership (paywalled)
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): What the minister knew, and why Meng Foon faced axe at Human Rights Commission
ELECTION, PARLIAMENT
Horizon Poll: New Zealanders feeling more positive about Hipkins than Luxon
Felix Desmarais (1News): Analysis: Luxon could have turned that Tesla into Teflon
1News: Luxon won’t confirm if Clean Car Discount used for wife’s Tesla
Newshub: Christopher Luxon quizzed about claiming Clean Car Discount on new Tesla
Brent Edwards (NBR): More to come still on Stuart Nash saga (paywalled)
Gordon Campbell: On TOP, and the bank inquiry
Mike Hosking (Herald): Election 2023 – Labour will get punished for what they did, not didn’t, do (paywalled)
Seamus Lohrey (Stuff): Before we lower the voting age, we need to do better at understanding our democracy
RNZ: Heather Te Au Skipworth steps down from Te Pāti Māori
COMCOM MARKET STUDY INTO BANKING
Rob Stock (Post): Former big bank chief economist says banking probe is missing the real problem (paywalled)
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Encouraging to see 4 key issues in the banking competition probe, it won’t address business banking, and leaves the elephant room of the New Zealand banking economy untouched
Rob Stock (Stuff): Commerce Commission opens banking competition probe
Rebecca Stevenson (Interest): Commerce Commission already contacting NZ’s big four banks as chairman warns market studies are ‘no quick fix’
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): We need a report into why we do so many reports
Kerre Woodham (Newstalk ZB): Is there any real reason to beat up on the banks?
ECONOMY, INEQUALITY
Mike Treen (Daily Blog): How to end race and class inequalities destroying working people’s lives in NZ
Brent Edwards (NBR): Productivity Commission’s report on poverty should not be ignored (paywalled)
David Hargreaves (Interest): The good, bad and potentially very ugly for the economy till the end of 2023
David Hargreaves (Interest): NZ economy ‘in peak stagflation’
Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): ‘Over-zealous’ language causes confusion over who can join powerful RBNZ committee (paywalled)
TAX, IRD
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Tax talk risky for top accountants: David Parker (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Opposition questions ministers over other tax advice (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Inland Revenue’s $30 million plan for office renovations called ‘out of touch’ by National’s Nicola Willis
HEALTH AND DISABILITY
Peter Dunne: It looks like déjà vu all over again
Herald: Nurses’ organisation backs ethnic equity adjustor to support better health outcomes for Māori and Pasifika
Jenny Ling (Herald): Fears ethnicity-based health policy will impact elderly Northlanders awaiting surgery (paywalled)
Peter Davis (Post): How NZ is out of step with the world in its approach to drug advertising (paywalled)
Malcolm Mulholland (Post): Therapeutic Products Bill is still not healthy (paywalled)
Dougal Sutherland (The Conversation): It’s 4 years since the NZ government pledged $1.9 billion for better mental health services – why are we still waiting?
Alexsia Hopkins (Stuff): Govt doesn’t know how many vape shops are 300m from schools, despite new policy
Katie Kenny (Stuff): Fact checking claims about New Zealand’s 2022 death rate
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): Disability funding not best practice – experts
Patrick Gower (Newshub): More obese Kiwis need access to publicly funded weight loss surgery
ORANGA TAMARIKI
Ruth Hill (RNZ): Oranga Tamariki: Sexual misconduct allegations show independent watchdog crucial – experts
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Oranga Tamariki youth residences should be shut down: Children’s Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers
RNZ: Calls for Oranga Tamariki residences to be shut down after serious allegations come to light
Joseph Los’e (Herald): Kelvin Davis ‘proud’ of Oranga Tamariki staff who blew the whistle on colleagues
1News: Minister attacks ‘Mr Tesla’ while defending Oranga Tamariki
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Second Oranga Tamariki sexual misconduct allegation discovered during surprise visit
Michael Neilson (Herald): MPs in fiery debate as Oranga Tamariki staff accused of ‘inappropriate sexual behaviour’ at youth residences
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Raw emotion in Parliament over Oranga Tamariki alleged inappropriate sexual behaviour
RNZ: Two Oranga Tamariki staff removed after claims of ‘inappropriate sexual behaviour’
1News: 2 Oranga Tamariki staffers accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour
Herald: Oranga Tamariki staff accused of ‘inappropriate sexual behaviour’ at youth residences
EDUCATION
Adam Pearse (Herald): Education Minister: Industrial action doesn’t require changes to end-of-year exams – yet
Gianina Schwanecke (Stuff): Secondary teacher strikes called off as arbitration terms agreed
RNZ: PPTA calls off industrial action as it agrees to arbitration
RNZ: Covid-19 pandemic still hurting students’ grades, Education Review Office report says
Herald: Covid 19 impact on schools and education, ERO ‘seriously concerned’ as learning, attendance plummets
Gabrielle McCulloch (Stuff): How one school kitchen feeds more than 2000 people in Manurewa every day
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Victoria University layoffs: 229 jobs on the line, seven courses could be discontinued
Erin Gourley (Stuff): Courses to be cut at Vic include geography, teaching, languages
Gianina Schwanecke (Post): Staff and students protest as further details of Vic Uni job and course cuts revealed (paywalled)
George Heagney (Manawatū standard): Union calls for transparency from Te Pūkenga over national restructure
Elizabeth Engledow (Spinoff): For students at Te Pūkenga, there’s no papering over the cracks of a sector in crisis
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THREE WATERS
Tom Hunt (Stuff): A once-in-a-generation change to local government but don’t expect rates relief
RNZ: ‘The local has gone out of local government’ – LGNZ
Tom Hunt (Post): Wellington mayors agree local government is broken, support wide-reaching changes
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): NZ’s tiniest town shows attack is the best defence against amalgamation (paywalled)
RNZ: Brave, timely, and courageous’: Māori leaders positive about local government review
Brendon McMahon (Local Democracy Reporting): West Coast leaders mixed on council reform
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): Why wouldn’t we want less councils?
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown following up sale of Auckland Airport shares by putting Ports of Auckland on the block (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Wayne Brown: Parking and road pricing on the menu (paywalled)
Che Baker (Southland Times): Gore CEO accepts apology from mayor Ben Bell and councillors
1News: Gore Mayor Ben Bell, councillors apologise to CEO Stephen Parry
RNZ: Gore council: Mayor, councillors apologise to CEO, agree to collaborate
David Hill (Local Democracy Reporting): Rates hiked by 10% in Canterbury as regional council signs off ‘socially responsible budget’
Justin Wong (Post): Porirua City Council fined $1000 for Spicer Landfill odour, braces for another (paywalled)
———-
Kate MacNamara (Herald): Three Waters: New mechanism for local control in reforms deemed diluted (paywalled)
Lokesh Padhye (Newsroom): If there’s something in the water, we need to know
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Wang Xiaolong (Herald): Chris Hipkins’ trade delegation to China: NZ’s opportunity lies in practical co-operation (paywalled)
RNZ: Most New Zealanders believe building partnerships with Asia increasingly important – survey
Alex Smith (Spinoff): What do New Zealanders think about China ahead of Chris Hipkins’ visit?
David Fisher (Herald): Exclusive: What ScoMo really had to say about New Zealand and the Aukus nuclear submarine deal (paywalled)
1News: Pair accused of deceiving Afghan refugees, asking for $450,000
Mike Mather (Post): Hamilton pair accused of conspiring to deceive fleeing Afghan evacuees (paywalled)
BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT, WAGE SUBSIDY
Greg Hurrell (BusinessDesk): Philanthropists push back against MSD wage subsidy claims (paywalled)
Ben Thomas (Stuff): Government is back to ‘picking winners’ as a strategy
Riley Kennedy (BusinessDesk): Ruapehu Alpine Lifts’ liquidators working ‘hard’ to avoid worst case scenario (paywalled)
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Ruapehu sale: Conservation concessions sign-off is the great unknown
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Ruapehu Alpine Lifts officially in liquidation following court hearing
Tim Hunter (NBR): Whakapapa buyer ‘willing and able’ to rekindle RAL deal (paywalled)
Riley Kennedy (BusinessDesk): ‘Hopelessly insolvent’ Ruapehu Alpine Lifts officially put into liquidation (paywalled)
Sam Kelway (1News): Ruapehu Alpine Lifts officially liquidated, future uncertain
Newshub: Ruapehu Alpine Lifts reportedly goes into liquidation
Herald: The liquor baron, the five-year bottle store investigation, and the $87k fine
Jo Cribb (Newsroom): Matched KiwiSaver pledge an important step forward for gender pay gap
Simon Bridges (NBR): Working from the office is back – for good reasons (paywalled)
Brianna McIlraith (Post): Who’s got the most to fear from shift to work-from-home? (paywalled)
IMMIGRATION
Robert MacCulloch: Labour Turns on the Immigration Tap which Stuart Nash said we “could not afford to turn on”
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Immigration changes ‘mixed bag’ for migrant workers
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): Govt defends skilled migrant category changes (paywalled)
Leeann Watson (Herald): Immigration alone can’t bridge New Zealand’s ’employability gap’ (paywalled)
George Block (Herald): Czech drug smuggler and former kickboxing champ Karel Sroubek can remain in NZ pending last-ditch appeal bid despite deportation decision
MEDIA, BROADCASTING
Dita De Boni (NBR): Willie Jackson wants Country Calendar ‘8 x over’ at TVNZ (paywalled)
André Chumko (Stuff): RNZ editing scandal result of ‘longstanding operational issues’ – minister
Seni Iasona (Newshub): Radio New Zealand journalist accused of editing stories to include pro-Russian sentiment resigns
GANGS
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): National leader Christopher Luxon defends gang crackdown
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (Herald): Sir Robert Muldoon had the right idea when it came to gangs (paywalled)
CRIME
1News: Self-defence, citizens’ arrests: Dairy owners ‘manifesto’ revealed
Frances Chin (Stuff): Killed dairy worker’s dad joins call for lawmakers to crack down on crime
Bill Hickman (RNZ): Dairy owners want parents held to account for young offenders’ crimes
Lucy Thomson (Newshub): Father of slain Auckland dairy worker Janak Patal demands Govt action to prevent further tragedies
Mildred Armah (Stuff): 16-year-old ‘youth criminal’ says tougher penalties will mean more trauma
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Kiwis losing almost $2 million a month to cyber criminals
1News: Whangārei man scammed out of $330k in living nightmare
Kerry Harvey (Stuff): You’ve Been Scammed By Nigel Latta wages war on rip-off merchants
CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME WEATHER
Simon Wilson (Herald): ‘Managed retreat’: Should we stop building homes on flood plains or is there a better option? (paywalled)
Amy Williams (RNZ): Hundreds of Kāinga Ora properties in Auckland on list for potential buyout, flood mitigation
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Cost of buying-out cyclone affected properties could ‘bankrupt’ Hawke’s Bay councils
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): No timeline for cyclone-affected Gisborne homes
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Call for more streamlined approach, training for services involved in flood rescues
ENVIRONMENT
Logan Church (1News): Exclusive: Criminals felling ancient native trees, selling for profit
Shanti Mathias (Spinoff): The new single-use plastic bans, explained
RNZ: South Wairarapa farmer fined $26,000 for breaching consent conditions
Alexia Russell (RNZ): The Detail: The oil disaster waiting to happen
ROTHERHAM SCHOOL CAT HUNT FUNDRAISER
Newshub: North Canterbury Hunting competition reinstates feral cat killing section
1News: Canterbury feral cat hunt back on despite backlash
RNZ: Controversial hunting competition returns this weekend
HOUSING
Mary Williams (ODT): ‘Housing insecurity’ affecting all sorts
Debbie Jamieson (Post): ‘Greedy and deplorable’: Queenstown landlord with 22 tenants accused of overcrowding
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): Queenstown rentals spike 20% to $750 a week (paywalled)
TRANSPORT
Siobhan Downes (Post): Airlines are still holding millions of dollars in trips that never happened (paywalled)
Conor Knell (Post): Public Service Watch: A sold-off ferry and a botched speed review (paywalled)
OTHER
Esther Taunton (Post): Consumer NZ: Prepay customers paying significantly more for power (paywalled)
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Offshore wind developer to seek consent in Taranaki
Susan Murray (RNZ): Sawmills face temporary closures as demand dives
Leighton Heikell (Newshub): Rimutaka Prison inmates say they were left to do CPR on deceased prisoner when officers ‘didn’t intervene’
