Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here.
Today’s content
AUKUS Pact, Afghanistan, China
Tess McClure (Guardian): Aukus submarines banned from New Zealand as pact exposes divide with western allies
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): AUKUS’s impact on New Zealand: Nuclear policy ‘unchanged’, Five Eyes ‘will endure’ in face of new defence pact
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern delighted to be snubbed by best friends (paywalled)
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Aukus deal’s awkwardness for New Zealand
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): We haven’t been sidelined by AUKUS defence pact
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Keep New Zealand Nuclear-Free – Stay Out of AUKUS!
Thomas Manch and Lucy Craymer (Stuff):Distance between NZ and allies grows, as Australia brings nuclear submarines to the Pacific
Lucy Craymer (Stuff): New Zealand’s exclusion reflects our ‘friend, not ally’ status with the US
Bruce Munro (ODT): Global Insight: Security pact threat to nuclear reduction
Bruce Munro (ODT): Security deal worrying, academic says
Russell Palmer (Newshub): New Zealand a winner in AUKUS agreement, but risks remain – experts
Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern says no change to relationships
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): AUKUS: Jacinda Ardern welcomes United Kingdom, United States engagement in Pacific, says NZ nuclear stance ‘unchanged’
Jamie Ensor and Emma Cropper (Newshub): New Australia, United Kingdom, United States defence pact ‘sidelines New Zealand’, focus on nuclear capabilities
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Australia, United Kingdom, and United States announce major new AUKUS defence pact
RNZ: UK, US and Australia launch landmark security pact
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Dawn Chorus: Australia’s shock nuclear sub move
1 News/AP: China slams AUKUS pact as ‘extremely irresponsible’
Reuters (Newshub): AUKUS: China says pact ‘severely damages’ peace, France ‘angry and bitter’
—————
RNZ: Afghanistan: Pressure stays on NZ government to take action
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): 3 cheers for the Taliban?
—————
Reuters (Newshub): China sends New Zealand letter asking to join CPTPP, has telephone chat with Damien O’Connor
1 News: China applies to join CPTPP trade deal
National Party
Matthew Hooton (Herald): National’s problems go much deeper than Judith Collins (paywalled)
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): The pettiness destroying Judith Collins’ leadership
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Collins has got to go
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National knows something needs to change – the question is what (paywalled)
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): A National Party leadership challenge for Judith Collins is stirring and may not be far away
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Collins the master of her own death spiral
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Advice for National
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Willie Jackson says his social media obsession with Judith Collins is ‘nothing personal’
Vaccine rollout
RNZ: Health experts say talk of vaccination targets unhelpful
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Health chief Ashley Bloomfield reveals vaccine rollout target
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Latest vaccine hesitancy data shows 79 percent of Kiwis keen to get the jab
ODT Editorial: Vaccinating for dear life
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): Vaccines in the workplace new territory for employment law
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Willie Jackson defends Kelvin Davis’ ‘ignorant’ comments about unvaccinated Māori
Taroi Black (Māori TV): Māori largest number of new cases – ministry ‘didn’t follow the science’
Bernadette Basagre and Lucy Xia (Stuff): Asian Kiwis lead the way in Covid-19 vaccine uptake, high rates ‘a triumph’
Adam Pearse (Herald): John Tamihere claims vaccination booking capacity going to waste
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Waitematā DHB senior medical staff pitch in to help vaccinate
Eva Corlett (Guardian): ‘Do it for our kids’: Ardern urges people to get Covid vaccine as New Zealand reports 13 cases
1 News: PM’s message to vaccine hesitant: ‘Do it for our kids’
Tom Hunt and Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff):‘Not acceptable’ teens were targeted in anti-vax campaign, deputy principal says
RNZ: Buses a ‘self-determined’ vaccination initiative for socially excluded: Māori health advocates
1 News: Fleet of Covid-19 vaccine buses hit Auckland streets
Herald: Vaccination buses hit South Auckland streets
Ben Uffindell (The Civilian): Covid outreach disaster as online poll sees vaccination bus named ‘the murder wagon’
Government management of outbreak, expert advice
RNZ: Debate: When should New Zealand open up its borders?
Nick Wilson, Julie Bennett, Leah Grout, Jin Russell, Jennifer Summers, Michael Baker (Public Health Expert): Intensifying Covid-19 Control Measures: 5 Measures for Faster Elimination and 5 Measures to Prevent Future outbreaks
Herald: Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall says outbreak close to being ‘under control’
Bridie Witton (Stuff): New Auckland cases will stop rest of country moving to alert level 1
Nadine Porter and Jake Kenny (Stuff):Level 1 still a way off for the rest of New Zealand, experts say
Des Gorman (Herald): Ease up on the Covid fear-mongering – it is not helpful (paywalled)
Peter Gluckman (Newsroom): Beyond science, there are hard decisions ahead
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): Time to call in a delta ‘Red Team’ – Gluckman
Ben Kepes (Herald): Let’s accept there’s no best way out of Covid (paywalled)
Dr Oliver Hartwich (Herald): Don’t let ‘sunk costs’ hold NZ back from freedom (paywalled)
Steve Braunias (Herald): What Aucklanders stuck in lockdown hell need from the rest of NZ (paywalled)
Damien Venuto (Herald): The power of the 1pm briefing – the Government’s ‘America’s Cup’ level grip on attention (paywalled)
Anna Whyte (1 News): Rest of NZ likely to stay at L2 while Auckland at high levels
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Govt pumps another $7b into covid relief fund (paywalled)
Tess Brunton (RNZ): ‘Decimated’: Franz Josef tourism businesses suffer as borders stay closed
Border, MIQ, immigration
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Bloomfield, Government website at odds over whether COVID-19 cases have to quarantine for 10 or 14 days
1 News: Border workers should wear N95 masks, experts say
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Sports teams, business people and entertainers using MIQ spots
RNZ: Checkpoint:‘Devastated’ woman who could not return from Australia faces pension cut
Kim Moodie (RNZ): Reopened MIQ bookings welcomed but ‘still the same number of needles in the haystack’
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): How the new MIQ booking system works
Edward O’Driscoll (Newshub): Restaurateur pleads for MIQ hotels to be taken out of Auckland CBD by 2022
Rachel Moore (Stuff): Two-week stay in dirty, bug-infested MIQ room ‘unbelievable’
Kristin Hall (1 News): ‘Bordering on eugenics’ – Greens want to see immigration policy scrapped
RNZ: Wellington hotel to no longer be used as MIQ facility
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): Families coming out of MIQ provided with transitional housing
Contact tracing, testing
RNZ: Truck driver’s infection picked up in Covid-19 surveillance testing – Henare
1 News: Covid-19 saliva test drop-off sites set up near Auckland
1 News: Rapid antigen tests have arrived, to be used in 2 pilots
Wānaka Couple, Alert level rules, compliance, enforcement
Herald: Judge sends legal warning after reporters ask questions about Wānaka lockdown breach
Craig Kapitan (Herald): Person who reported Wānaka holidaymakers speaks out
Rosemary McLeod (Stuff): Name suppression for lockdown escapees added to sense of privilege
James Nokise (Stuff): For one lockdown escaper the worst was yet to come
Herald: Three Auckland essential workers arrested after a trip to the snow
Sean Hogan (1 News): Three taken into custody on Tūroa ski field over Covid breach
Grant Chapman (Newshub): Outrage at Silver Ferns travel exemption under COVID-19 Alert Level 4
Anna Leask (Herald): No breach – police clear entrepreneur’s lockdown Auckland-Wānaka charter flight
George Block (Stuff): Cops clear cryptocurrency entrepreneur’s Auckland to Wānaka lockdown charter flight
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Air NZ offered free flight change from Auckland to Hamilton departure
Helen Harvey (Stuff): Polytech student who spent lockdown in Auckland attends class in Taranaki
1 News: Auckland man fined after twice trying to drive to Raglan
Herald: Police charge man after border breach for McDonald’s trip
Danielle Clent and Nathan Morton (Stuff): Man charged after posting video about leaving Auckland to get McDonald’s
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Hundreds of the dead wait to be farewelled
Brittany Keogh and Jake Kenny (Stuff): Who’s wearing it better? Wellington and Christchurch in mask faceoff
Justice
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Revealed: Who is being discharged without conviction
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Pākehā granted name suppression three times as often as Māori
Stuff Editorial: Investigation into name suppression disparities suggests justice not colour-blind
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Access to justice or protecting the big end of town?
Wage subsidy, business, economy
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Possibility of raising gathering limit to 100 a ‘ray of sunshine’ for hospo and event sectors, but big venues will still find it tough
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Allowing 100 people in restaurants and bars a ‘game changer’ – Hospitality New Zealand
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Auckland eyes up Paris-style street dining, as experts predict ‘long-term’ level 2
Karen Coltman (Herald): Union: Supermarkets should keep paying level 4 bonus
Zane Small (Newshub): The COVID-19 wage subsidy application caveat that’s got one business advisor outraged
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Shorter wage subsidy deadline causing ‘unnecessary financial and mental stress’, business adviser claims (paywalled)
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Auckland sex worker unable to pay rent after wage subsidy declined
Grant Bradley (Herald): Auckland tourism businesses close down (paywalled)
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Auckland man in wage subsidy limbo after Northland workplace moves to level 2
Herald Editorial: Economic stats don’t tell the full story (paywalled)
Brian Fallow (Herald): Hi ho, hi ho, it’s back in gear we’ll go (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Huge 2.8% GDP jump suggests solid recovery from lockdown, Finance Minister says
Liam Dann (Herald): GDP figures a bitter-sweet reminder of alternate economic reality (paywalled)
Anna Whyte (1 News): GDP rises 2.8% in June quarter prior to Delta outbreak
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Banks hike interest rates despite lockdown in Auckland
Ella Stewart (RNZ): Auckland businesses question how ‘essential’ is defined
Jack Crossland & Katrina Bennett (Herald): Government ministers say public servants should return, but thousands in Wellington aren’t allowed to
Liz McDonald (Stuff): Covid-19 sinks SailGP’s multimillion-dollar NZ yachting event
Georgia Forrester (Stuff): Buying up large in lockdown? The psychology behind our online shopping habits
Kate MacNamara (Herald): Cautious optimism that rate freezes and a new competitor will ease container shipping woes (paywalled)
Anne Gibson (Herald): Construction sector defies Covid: Long-term high-rise crane numbers up 6% in latest quarter (paywalled)
Cases, demographics
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Truck driver who left Auckland border for work tests positive
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Snells Beach wastewater results due later this week after ‘unexpected’ detection
Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): New location of interest shows person with virus was shopping three days ago
Herald: New ED patient infection exposure case at Middlemore Hospital
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Case tests positive at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital, three patients close contacts
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Infected family linked to Māngere church ‘in tears’, blindsided after positive tests
Barbara Dreaver (1 News): Pasifika providers come to aid of South Auckland families recovering from Covid
Environment, Climate change
No Right Turn: Climate Change: An excuse, not a justification
RNZ: ‘I’m gutted, I didn’t want to do it’ – Shaw on climate plan delay
Zane Small (Newshub): ACT ridicules Government for extending emissions reduction plan after declaring climate emergency
Greg Dixon (Listener/Herald): Down to earth: Why we need to act to save this precious resource (paywalled)
Susan Botting (Local Democracy Reporting): Northland climate change adaptation efforts gain importance: new sea-level rise predictions
Mall terror attack
RNZ: Scepticism as government watchdogs launch review into LynnMall terror attack
Herald: Co-ordinated review of events leading to attack at New Lynn Countdown launched
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Review launched into actions of police, Corrections and SIS
Anna Whyte (1 News): Multiple authorities to investigate events before LynnMall terrorist attack
Katie Todd (RNZ): LynnMall stabbings: Review into risk terrorist posed launched
Housing
Eva Corlett and Tess McClure (Guardian):‘Generation frozen out’: New Zealand house prices soar despite government reform
Geraden Cann (Stuff): Average asking price in Auckland’s ‘most affordable’ district nears $1 million
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Rents up 8 percent in past year, rising even faster for small homes
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): ‘Racist, ageist and discriminatory’: Does mixed housing work?
Anne Gibson (Herald): Auckland Council committee backs 660% Drury fee rise proposal, Kiwi Property disappointed (paywalled)
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Rural towns in Central Hawke’s Bay eyed for housing development
Herald Editorial: The last thing Hawke’s Bay needs is rich Aucklanders (paywalled)
Te Reo Māori
Bronson Eruera Perich (1 News): Excluding non-Māori from te reo will kill it, ex-reo commissioner says in support of Lorde
RNZ: The Detail: Muscling in on te reo Māori – the heft of a superstar
Zeb Nicklin (Stuff): Making up for generations of language loss
Health
Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Experts predict growing pressure on south Auckland mental health services
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Property magnate offers to fund new mental health unit (paywalled)
RNZ: ‘Lean on a gate, talk to a mate’ campaign aims to break down boundaries
Karen Pasco (ODT): Maternity patients transferred
RNZ: Māori men urged to get tested for prostate cancer
Rachel Thomas (Stuff): Māori more likely to die after surgery than non-Māori – study
Derek Cheng (Herald): ‘Thousands will suffer’: Major medicinal cannabis fix won’t help patients losing products next month (paywalled)
Transport
Todd Lauchlan (Stuff): Present day thinking on transport is a road to nowhere
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Transmission Gully mobile phone ‘black spots’ could pose risk for emergency services
RNZ: Air NZ investigates viability of hydrogen-powered aircraft
Dan Lake (Newshub): Air New Zealand and Airbus team up to bring futuristic hydrogen-powered flying to Aotearoa
Grant Bradley (Herald): Air New Zealand and Airbus sign deal over hydrogen-powered planes (paywalled)
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Council officials still working towards Transmission Gully opening in 10 days
Other
Bernard Hickey (Spinoff): Is a kinder, gentler sort of capitalism really possible?
Anna Casey-Cox (Herald): Welfare doled out with doses of cruelty and inhumanity (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Repatriating Islamic State terror suspect Suhayra Aden cost $60,000
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Judge questions value of Mob-led rehab programme at sentencing of gang member
RNZ: Consumer NZ pushes for probe into retirement villages’ care claims
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Mine closing while nearby resource investigated
Zane Small (Newshub): Fact-check of Sky News Australia segment warning of ‘apartheid’ in New Zealand
Sam Olley (RNZ): Whakaari eruption: Review of WorkSafe months overdue
Joanne Naish (Stuff): Pike River mine to be finally sealed after families drop legal action
Laura Smith (ODT): Agencies work together to address food hardship
Aaron Smale (Newsroom): Willie Jackson under fire from Maori Council
Herald: AM Show host Ryan Bridge, Government minister Willie Jackson mock each other in live interview
1 News: Hastings fed up with anti-social driving; police impound 133 cars in six months
Paul Lewis (Herald): 37th America’s Cup: Team NZ, Kiwi rich-lister Mark Dunphy in talks over late bid to host regatta in Auckland (paywalled)
Katherine Ravenswood, Amber Nicholson, Fiona Hurd (The Conversation): Overlooked and undervalued, New Zealand’s community caregivers have become the ‘invisible’ essential workers
Alexa Cook (Newshub): Charity Shine urges those in danger to pop COVID-19 bubble amid escalation in domestic violence during lockdown
Maria Slade (NBR): Too many reports, too little action on delivery driver ‘race to bottom’ (paywalled)
Simon Ewing Jarvie (Unclas): Modelling the Kiwi Veteranscape
Sally Rae (ODT): Sale of Catlins station for forestry approved
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Conversion therapy ban bill: Submitters call for stronger law
1 News: Cyber attacks costs Kiwi organisations $3.9m in 3 months
