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
1NEWS-VERIAN POLL
Felix Desmarais (1News): Labour might need to capture the moon to turn this tide
1News: Jessica Mutch McKay: Labour need to ‘dig in’ as National ‘smell victory’
Felix Desmarais (1News): Poll: Labour dips to just 29%, National, ACT on course for win
Maiki Sherman (1News): Poll: Winston Peters closing in on a return to Parliament
Felix Desmarais (1News): Poll: Hipkins vows ‘underdogs’ Labour can win election
Adam Pearse (Herald): PM Chris Hipkins responds to Labour’s worst result in six years in latest 1News Verian poll
1News: Poll: Which issue is top-of-mind for voters?
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): What does Labour do now?
Claire Trevett (Herald): Labour leader Chris Hipkins under pressure after 1News Verian poll gives clear lead to National and Act (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): Chris Hipkins becomes Mr 29% amid Labour’s latest Damascene conversion(paywalled)
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Labour’s policy goody bag falls short
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): 55% struggling financially + trust in public services collapses – it’s the neoliberal state, alienating identity politics and incremental centrism that’s failing you
Tova O’Brien (Stuff): Labour and Chris Hipkins sent violent wake up call with latest poll
ELECTION, PARLIAMENT
Max Rashbrooke (Spinoff): Has Labour really been ‘the most transparent and open’ government ever?
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Practice makes Luxon less imperfect
Duncan Garner (NBR): Sideshow Brian – disrupted election on cards as tension rises (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: Divisive politics, fear and loathing on campaign trail (paywalled)
Sela Jane Hopgood (Spinoff): Chris Hipkins’ frantic Ōtara visit is a worrying sign of things to come
Adam Pearse (Herald): Candidates warned of foreign interference as security spend jumps by $1m
No Right Turn: More Labour secrecy
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Former PM Helen Clark makes donation to Labour, as National continues to rake in big cash
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Politics should be about the best person for the job
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Winston Peters offers an economics lesson – and an electioneering masterclass
The Standard: Why New Zealand First Will Get Back In
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Public Service Association hits out at ACT’s promise of performance pay for Government department bosses
Joel Maxwell (Post): Our final political destination – sheer volume trumps clash of ideas (paywalled)
Eda Tang (Stuff): Time for Māori to lead change, says Kīngitanga
Newshub: Green Party apologises after campaign EV gets stuck in park, rips up grass
Johnny Blades (RNZ): ‘Stay grounded and connected to the community’ – Aupito William Sio
NATIONAL’S PRESCRIPTION CHARGES/CANCER TREATMENT POLICY
Lloyd Burr (Newshub): Warnings sounded over how National would fund new cancer treatment policy
Emile Donovan (Stuff): Newsable: More cancer medication sounds great, but what’s the opportunity cost?
Derek Cheng (Herald): National to roll-back free prescription fees to pay for 13 cancer treatments
RNZ: National promises to restore prescription fees for most, put savings towards cancer treatments
Melanie Earley (Stuff): National will pay for 13 cancer treatments by bringing back prescription fees
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): National promises to pay for 13 new cancer treatments if elected
LABOUR’S VAPE STORE POLICY
Derek Cheng (Herald): Labour wants state control over the number of vaping stores and where they can be
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Labour promises to cap number of vape stores, enforce harsher penalties for underages sales
1News: Labour pledges to halve number of vape retailers if re-elected
RNZ: Labour pledges to halve number of vape stores nationwide
Stuff: Labour to cap number of vape stores in NZ if re-elected
Shannon Redstall (Post): Third of Christchurch vape stores within 400m of schools (paywalled)
HEALTH
Peter Davis (Herald): Pharmac and the dark shadow of adversarial politics (paywalled)
Danica MacLean (Herald): ‘Frustrated and disheartened’: Dental surgeons unable to keep up with children’s waitlist
Fiona Ellis (ODT): Te Whatu Ora admits sending more radiation therapists to the North Island than initially claimed (paywalled)
RNZ: Radiologists call for urgent upgrade of medical imaging systems
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Former soldier takes on new battle to rebuild our health system
RNZ: Senior doctors, dentists who work in hospitals vote to strike
Bridie Witton and Rachel Thomas (Stuff): Senior doctors and dentists to strike next month
1News: Senior doctors, dentists to go on strike nationwide
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Exit stage left: Inside the ‘Dicks’ guy’s last ever (maybe) counterprotest
ECONOMY, COST OF LIVING
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Reserve Bank still sees hard landing as only a medium-term risk after Evergrande filing (paywalled)
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): New Zealanders won’t feel improvement in economy until 2025, Cameron Bagrie predicts
David Hargreaves (Interest): Westpac economists say if the RBNZ’s judgement is wrong, then New Zealand could be facing a protracted period of strong domestic inflation pressures
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Reserve Bank Assistant Governor Karen Silk says the Official Cash Rate is working despite sticky core inflation and record high employment
Michael Reddell: Misleading Parliament
William Hewett (Newshub): Cost of living crisis: Pain ahead for New Zealanders with high inflation and interest rates but ‘things are turning’, ASB says
Susan Edmudnds (Stuff): ASB: A turning point for the economy is coming
Dan Brunskill (Interest): The Government may pick up an extra $14.6 billion of debt over the next four years as the economic slowdown hits tax revenue
Brianna McIlraith (Stuff): Advocates want electricity disconnection fees banned as people struggle to afford power
John Braddock (World Socialists): Survey shows majority of New Zealanders struggling financially
Brian Easton (Pundit): Credit Ratings And International Financial Standing
HOUSING
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Thousands of families and cyclone victims subject to capital gains tax on family home under new rules; ‘capital gains tax by stealth’ – National (paywalled)
Miriam Bell (Post): ‘Delinquent landlords’ put on notice in bill regulating property managers (paywalled)
No Right Turn: Finally…?
Greg Ninness (Interest): Ongoing rises in mortgage interest rates gazumped rising incomes and drooping house prices for first home buyers last month
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Kiwis spend half their household income on mortgages despite housing affordability improving – CoreLogic
RNZ: Housing more affordable but mortgages cost half household income – research
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Mortgage twice as pricey as rent, does buying still make sense?
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Pricing of NZ mortgage interest rates ‘difficult to reconcile’ and offer ‘unsustainable returns’, says CEO of ASB’s Aussie parent bank CBA
EDUCATION
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Govt to mandate teaching methods for reading, writing & maths
RNZ: Core reading, writing and maths teaching requirements to be made compulsory
Gianina Schwanecke (Stuff): Government announces compulsory teaching requirements for maths, reading and writing
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Spinoff): National accuses Labour of ‘stealing its homework’ in education policy tussle
Leighton Heikell (Newshub): National accuses Government of stealing policy to tackle falling literacy and numeracy rates in schools
Gordon Campbell: On the FIFA women’s football, and teaching kids about finance
Seni Iasona (Newshub): Labour’s financial literacy policy welcomed, but fears curriculum is already overcrowded
RNZ: Financial literacy policy has principals wary of curriculum overload
Gabrielle McCulloch (Stuff): Last major education agreement settled, area school teachers see 14.5% pay jump
BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT
Rob Stock (Stuff): Country’s largest insurer IAG posts profit increase of 138% despite cyclone and flood claims
Rob Stock (Post): NZ’s largest insurer joins trend to increase premiums on risk-prone homes (paywalled)
Rob Campbell (Newsroom): Time to cooperate, not worship the God of competition
Esther Taunton (Stuff): The sneaky way businesses get you to spend more
Zane Small (Newshub): Trolley locks and double-entry gates: Countdown investing $45m in security after massive spike in crime, aggression
RNZ: Checkpoint: Countdown investing $45 million in security after huge jump in assaults and thefts
Miriam Bell (Stuff): Tough times for construction, but ‘it’s not a GFC situation’
Kate Prickett (The Conversation): Labour’s promise of paid parental leave for partners is ‘the right thing to do’ – but NZ could still do better
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): ‘We would rather discuss sexually-transmitted diseases than how much we are paid’ (paywalled)
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Employee absence at highest levels in 6 years, employers becoming more suspicious – survey
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Kiwi employees missed 10 million workdays in 2022, report shows
Tracy Watkins (Post): The hole in Wellington’s heart
Dave Armstrong (Post): Perfect storm hits capital’s CBD (paywalled)
Charles Finny (BusinessDesk): Going under in a sea of wealth – Wishbone and the Bowen St triangle(paywalled)
Riley Kennedy (BusinessDesk): Ezibuy administrators racked up $1.5m bill for two months’ work(paywalled)
Victoria Young (BusinessDesk): Talley’s safety systems to be monitored for two years (paywalled)
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Helen Beattie (ODT): Animal welfare report should spark action
RNZ: Industry bodies welcome legislative protection for fruit and vegetable growing areas
Jacqueline Rowarth (Post): Does New Zealand need a national food strategy? (paywalled)
MEDIA
Mark Jennings (Newsroom): Struggling TV3 asks Govt for financial help
Eric Crampton (Post): The ‘shakedown’ news legislation that is heading to parliament (paywalled)
Shayne Currie (Herald): The stream dream: Warner Bros Discovery/Newshub boss Glen Kyne on the future of TV, a changing news landscape and turning around a sea of red ink (paywalled)
Tova O’Brien (Stuff): A mouthpiece for the National Party AND the Labour Party
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Tina Law (Press): More than $3b worth of Christchurch’s public assets at risk due to climate change(paywalled)
David Williams (Newsroom): Canterbury lines company squeezed
John Ryan (Newsroom): Auditor-General wants review of council reporting: ‘I see the pressure’
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Former councillor thrown out of Tauranga City Council meeting after Tolley clash
TRANSPORT
Simon Wilson (Herald): Auckland transport – big plans and bigger problems (paywalled)
Todd Niall (Stuff): Who should drive the bus when it comes to Auckland’s transport planning?
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Who shot the supply chain sheriff? (paywalled)
Tim Hurdle (Post): We need a mindset change about how we pay for our roads (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Discussions under way after Interislander review (paywalled)
Rayssa Almeida (RNZ): Auckland parking costs to increase from next week
Raphael Franks (Herald): Auckland Transport to increase street-parking prices by $1 an hour from next week
Melania Watson (Newshub): Revealed: The huge changes coming to Auckland’s parking prices
1News: Auckland on-street parking prices being hiked
RNZ: Checkpoint: Ferry cancellations and staff shortages a long-simmering issue, Fullers boss says
COVID
Shayne Currie (Herald): New life of Sir Ashley Bloomfield – reflections on fame, Hosking the ‘shock jock’, and the C word (paywalled)
Virginia Fallon (Post): ‘What people forget is the trauma’: Where has the pandemic left us? (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): If Covid is over, what did it do to the economy?
RNZ: Covid-19 update: 3953 new cases, a further 12 deaths
KIWISAVER
Andy Fyers (BusinessDesk): How does your KiwiSaver fund rate?
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Would National’s KiwiSaver plan do what it expects?
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Sophisticated investors could be allowed to manage their own KiwiSavers – National
JUSTICE, CORRECTIONS
Shaneel Lal (Herald): National, Act want them scrapped but cultural reports are essential for just sentencing
RNZ: Arohata Women’s Prison inmates moved to other prisons unlawfully, judge finds
JAMES WALLACE KNIGHTHOOD WITHDRAWN
Sam Hurley and Derek Cheng (Herald): James Wallace case: King Charles strips disgraced arts patron of knighthood
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): King Charles approves cancellation of disgraced sex offender James Wallace’s knighthood, PM confirms
Catrin Owen (Stuff): King Charles approves cancellation of sex offender James Wallace’s knighthood – PM
OTHER
Damien Venuto (Herald): Is New Zealand being left behind on gambling regulation?
Anaru Eketone (Herald): There’s a lot of scaremongering about Māori elite, but what about the Pākehā elite?
Public Health Communications Centre: Where do the parties stand? Long-term thinking & catastrophic risks
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Migrant workers claim they have been duped into believing they were getting jobs and a better Kiwi life
Susana Suisuiki (RNZ): Banaban community seeks apology from NZ government over mining
RNZ: Referrals to Women’s Refuge at ‘epidemic levels’
Karl du Fresne: Professor Dutta ducks below the parapet
Jessica Roden (1News): Māori landowners in Nelson say $1b lost by Crown’s broken promise
Jill Herron (Newsroom): Clock ticking on containing conifers: ‘It’s a battleground and anyone’s guess’
Samantha Gee (RNZ): Nelson homeowners affected by flooding should be treated same as Cyclone Gabrielle victims – National
Ryan Anderson (Stuff): State care abuse survivors take Crown to court over ‘grave’ compensation concerns
Kevin Norquay (Post): Graham Kelly: ‘It was a vicious, nasty, time’ (paywalled)
Tony Wall (Stuff): ‘It was a clusterf…’: 1080 blackmailer Jeremy Kerr speaks about infamous baby formula hoax for first time
Tess McClure (Guardian): Women’s World Cup: NZ refused request for police escort for Fifa president Gianni Infantino
