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.

NZ Politics Daily: 21 September 2023

COALITION ARRANGEMENTS
Felix Desmarais (1News): Kiwis want to know if Luxon will work with Peters
Chris Trotter: Calling the big dog’s bluff
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Christopher Luxon doesn’t say what ACT policies National could adopt if in position post-election

ELECTION
Chris Trotter (The BFD): Who wants 20 Years of Woke?
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Chris Hipkins is running out of time, less than one week before first votes cast
Oliver Hartwich: Under NZ’s complex polling system, Labour’s weak polling raises the possibility of “list MP extinction”
Dominic O’Sullivan (The Conversation): Racism and democracy: why claims of ‘division by race’ in the NZ election and Voice referendum need challenging
ODT Editorial: Vetting Zoo (paywalled)
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): The latest charts and data on Election 2023
Michael Johnston (Newsroom): MMP system is complex and secretive
Sharon Brettkelly (RNZ): The Detail: When a ‘wasted vote’ isn’t wasted
Brent Edwards (NBR): NZ First reckons it would bring public spending under control (paywalled)
Iain Lees-Galloway: Those who seek to govern us need to talk with us
Gabi Lardies (Spinoff): Shop the fit: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Gabi Lardies (Spinoff): How to vote based on your zodiac sign

1NEWS VERIAN POLL, IPSOS SURVEY
Felix Desmarais (1News): Poll: National, ACT, retain slender advantage in path to power
1News: Luxon says foreign buyer tax questions aren’t impacting polls
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): National dips in new poll, but no Labour bump
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog):New TVNZ Poll shows how fragile Right Victory is – step up NZ Left!
Joel MacManus (Spinoff): A new poll reveals New Zealanders back National on almost every important issue

TVNZ DEBATE
Brent Edwards (NBR): News media loses election debate coverage (paywalled)
Peter Dunne: Hipkins and Luxon may be more in touch with the public mood than drama-seeking commentators might like
1News: ‘Beige’ – Economist slams leaders’ ‘lack of ambition’ in debate
Liam Hehir (The Blue Review): Who will fact check the fact checkers?
Robert MacCulloch: TVNZ asked academics to “fact check” the leaders debate & the academics got it wrong
Ella Stewart (RNZ): The falsehood Christopher Luxon was allowed to repeat in the leaders’ debate
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Chris Hipkins said there is ban on fizzy drinks in primary schools, ministry says there isn’t
1News: Fact check: Leaders’ claims in the first debate put to the test
Herald Editorial: Luxon draws first blood in debate, leaving Labour playing catch-up (paywalled)
Liam Hehir (The Blue Review): Are you not entertained?
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Stuff): Politics aside, was the Leaders’ Debate good TV?
Ani O’Brien (Plain Sight): The TVNZ leaders debate
Calum Henderson (Spinoff): Every sporting analogy used to describe the first TVNZ leaders’ debate

UPCOMING DEBATES
Gray Gibson (Newshub Nation): Powerbrokers’ Debate: Everything you need to know about David Seymour, Winston Peters, Debbie Ngarewa -Packer and Marama Davidson
Anna Whyte (Post): Minor parties prepare for debate showdown (paywalled)
Melenie Parkes (Stuff): Multi-party debate moderator Jack Tame says smaller parties could have more influence than ever before

NATIONAL
Morgan Godfery (Post): The only way we can pay for tax cuts is with a decade of austerity (paywalled)
Richard Harman: An ill wind (paywalled)
Mike Houlahan (ODT): It’s about the economy – and getting results
Brent Edwards (NBR): National’s plan for a predictable regulatory environment (paywalled)
Claire Trevett (Herald): National Party leader Christopher Luxon’s big mistake as he goes for the goat vote
Lloyd Burr (Newshub): National releases new attack ad reworking Labour’s own
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Spinoff): Luxon takes search for missing mojo to Auckland goat farm
1News: Watch: Christopher Luxon tries his hand at goat milking
RNZ: National’s Christopher Luxon fronts up on lunches, housing
Jonah Franke-Bowell (Waikato Times): Who is Ryan Hamilton? (paywalled)

LABOUR
Derek Cheng (Herald): Why Labour’s 30% prison reduction goal made no sense, and axing it makes no sense (paywalled)
Andrea Vance (Post): Labour MP concedes his party will likely lose election (paywalled)
William Hewett (Newshub): Labour commits to building new hospital in Hawke’s Bay
1News: Labour promises new Hawke’s Bay hospital if re-elected
Thomas Manch (Post): Sun and silt as Hipkins heads to Gisborne (paywalled)
Robert MacCulloch: The PM falsely told the AM Show the new Grocery Commissioner can ensure GST cuts are 100% passed on
Charlotte Muru-Lanning (Spinoff):MP Michael Wood speaks candidly about airport shares ordeal

ELECTORATES
The Hui: The Hui panel analyses Tāmaki Makaurau debate – and who they think won
The Hui: The Hui Māori electorate debate – Tāmaki Makaurau candidates
Liz McDonald (Press): Wigram, an electorate with a foot in both camps (paywalled)
Seni Iasona (Newshub): National’s candidate ‘not worried’ about ACT as Brooke van Velden vies for strong blue seat
Tumamao Harawira (Whakaata Māori): Housing, health and jobs key to Te Pāti Māori victory in Tāmaki Makaurau
Amy Ridout (Nelson Mail): Teacher steps in as sparks fly at Nelson candidate meeting

CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME WEATHER
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Labour alleges National needs a massive climate tax on households – they’re not entirely wrong (paywalled)
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): National MP who could be next climate minister says ‘social obligation’ can drive a cleaner NZ without cash subsidies
Greg Hurrell (BusinessDesk): David Parker slates National as ‘vandals’ over planned emissions policies bonfire (paywalled)
Kim McVicar (NBR): Business and climate change: ‘NZ on edge of tipping point’
Brent Edwards (NBR): Plea from 50 specialists to politicians to put climate first (paywalled)
Kevin Trenberth (Newsroom): Beyond recycling, what to do about climate change?
Felix Walton (RNZ): New Zealand not alone in failing to meet climate challenge – UN
Amedlia Wade (Newshub): Chris Hipkins doles out cash for cyclone projects as Prime Minister, denies ‘electoral politics’ at play
RNZ: Government approves funding for flood resilience work in Tai Rāwhiti
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Wairoa Mayor wants National, ACT commitment on town’s post-cyclone recovery
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Political meddling in market won’t lower emissions, says Toyota NZ boss

HEALTH
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Ministers were advised taking GST off fruit and vege would not lower prices
1News: Healthcare rivals cost of living as key worry in some regions
Tova O’Brien (Stuff): National and Labour promise not to let Pharmac fall off fiscal cliff
Ian Powell (Post): Singing a gloomy tune on health (paywalled)
Ian Powell: Getting the health system culture right; aligning moralities
RNZ: Employment Relations Authority asked to step in over senior doctor pay dispute
Rachel Thomas (Post): Patients find lab unlocked but empty during strike (paywalled)

EDUCATION
RNZ: Watch: ACT promises tender process for ‘failing’ schools, stricter early childhood education
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Act promises shake-up of ECE and schools
Gianina Schwanecke (Post): Education Watch: Parties on the foundation of education, early childhood (paywalled)
Soumya Bhamidipati (RNZ): Te Pūkenga halves the number of jobs it plans to cut
Gianina Schwanecke (Post): Te Pūkenga restructure has ‘broken’ people staff say (paywalled)
Gianina Schwanecke (Post): Life as a social worker in Wainuiomata’s schools (paywalled)

ECONOMY, COST OF LIVING
Brent Edwards (NBR): Treasury criticises Productivity Commission report on inequity (paywalled)
Roger Partridge (Herald): The inequality debate we should be having (paywalled)
Mike Grimshaw (Plain Sight): It’s the economy – and the spirit, Stupid…
Damien Venuto (Herald): The Front Page: The shadow recession is not going anywhere for some time
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): New Zealand’s GDP growth likely increased in second quarter on robust migration – economists
Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): Improved current account deficit still leaves NZ vulnerable to credit rating downgrade (paywalled)
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Trade deficit narrows to 7.5% of GDP as exports recover
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Stubborn balance of payments deficit risks higher interest rates, says ANZ (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Balance of payments deficit dips under $30b for first time in a year
AP: NZ set to exit recession, data expected to show
Brianna McIlraith (Stuff): Mum feels like she’s failing as parents cut back on essentials during cost of living crisis (paywalled)
RNZ: Soaring fuel prices likely to hit summer holiday road trips
William Hewett (Newshub): High petrol prices could see interest rates increase – economist

MEDIA
Gavin Ellis: The danger in thinking it is safer to keep your mouth shut
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): NZ media is in a major slump. Will a National-Act government make it worse?
Ben Kepes (The Press): Can we regain what we’ve lost with journalism’s decline? (paywalled)
Roy Morgan: 2.8 million New Zealanders now read newspapers and almost 1.7 million read magazines
Amberleigh Jack (Stuff): Carol Hirschfeld has a new job at TVNZ

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland councillors block top transport job for wealthy businessman who donated to Wayne Brown’s election
Brendon McMahon (Local Democracy Reporting): Smaller councils face ‘considerable difficulty’ to meet audit deadline
RNZ: Queenstown cryptosporidium outbreak: Council served with compliance order for water treatment plant

TRANSPORT
Erin Gourley (Post): Divisive Wellington transport project faces legal threat (paywalled)
Nicholas Boyack (Post): Hutt cycleways cost $33 million per km and rising (paywalled)
Lauren Marrion (Spinoff): A thank you letter to the Robin Hoods of the Auckland Transport outage

WORKSAFE
Laura Frykberg (1News): Fears for workplace safety as WorkSafe job losses loom
RNZ: WorkSafe expected to cut more than 100 jobs

HOUSING
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): The most expensive districts to rent in Aotearoa as supply dwindles and demand surges
Melania Watson (Newshub): Trade Me data reveals the most expensive districts to rent in New Zealand
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Let Auckland decide on intensification, says new coalition
Catherine Hubbard (Stuff): Richmond’s plan for higher density housing

ENVIRONMENT
Manawatū Standard: Iwi fight for Lake Horowhenua to be included in freshwater standards
Debbie Jamieson (Stuff): Otago council a step closer on Manuherekia River changes, no-one happy

MIGRANT WORKERS
Adam Burns (RNZ): NZ govt warns migrant workers of employment scams amid Immigration review
BusinessDesk: NZ to provide financial support to exploited migrants

DEFENCE
Charlie Mitchell (Press): Work begins on $70m military camp upgrade
Simon Ewing-Jarvie: A New Model Defence Force

CRIME
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): Defining issues: What is the youth crime problem we’re trying to solve?
Bex Silver (Newsroom): Being ‘tough on crime’ is too easy – and ignores the evidence
Joanne Naish (Press): Dairy owners suspend meetings with police minister (paywalled)
Kristie Boland (Press): Tobacco retailers will feel ‘full brunt of crime’ once city outlets slashed to 13 (paywalled)

OTHER
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): IAG encourages customers whose properties were hardest hit by extreme weather earlier this year ‘to reside elsewhere’
Liz McDonald (Press): Uncertainty remains for on-sold EQC claimants (paywalled)
Katie Ham and Catrin Owen (Stuff): Protesters clash with police after court appearance of Posie Parker juice thrower
Stuff: Parliament protester lit and stoked fire, pelted police with concrete
Hamish McNicol (NBR): NZ Law Society should just do regulation, ADLS president says (paywalled)
Maria Slade (NBR): Sharp increase in scams ‘worrying’: Banking Ombudsman (paywalled)
Sally Wenley (RNZ): ‘Absolutely reprehensible’ – former Dilworth student on sexual abuse at the school
Paul Little (Listener): New Zealanders may be leaving for Australia in droves, but they’ll be back (paywalled)
Andrea Fox (Herald): Power list: Who’s who of New Zealand’s $2.4 billion wine industry (paywalled)