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
Govt Covid strategy, expert warnings, Waikato, King Country cases
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Is the Covid response rooster turning into a feather duster?
John Bishop (Stuff): Elimination has been abandoned – or not. The PM isn’t clear
Richard Harman (Politik): Covid strategy flakes as reality bites (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Is anyone pleased with government’s new Covid-19 strategy? (paywalled)
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Why Is Labour So Frightened Of “Mr Stick”?
Chris Trotter (Bowalley Road): Introducing Mr Stick
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Political Best Case – Worst Case for NZ’s looming Delta Summer
Michelle Fay Cortez and Ainsley Thomson (Stuff): China now stands alone as last country still chasing elimination
—————
Kate Newton (Stuff): Five things to expect between now and Christmas, as our coronavirus strategy changes
RNZ: New Zealanders should prepare to encounter Covid-19 before Christmas, experts say
Eva Corlett (Guardian): New Zealanders should ‘plan to encounter’ Covid before Christmas, expert warns
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Trajectory of hospitalisations on rise, experts warn NZ could experience crisis similar to Melbourne
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Peeni Henare wants Auckland border to remain in place until Māori vaccination rates increase
1 News: Alert Level 3 boundary extension “absolutely” the right thing to do; vaccines a ‘personal sprinkler system’ against Covid ‘fire’ – Epidemiologist
Hannah Kronast and Janika ter Ellen (Newshub): Alert level boundary map now includes parts of Waikato ahead of alert level change
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Waikato border shifted further south, new COVID-19 cases in Raglan and Hamilton
Chloe Blommerde (Stuff): Extending bespoke level 3 to include Waipā, Waitomo and Ōtorohanga was the right call – Waikato mayors
1 News: Waikato Alert Level 3 boundaries extended amid Covid cases
1 News: Waikato district mayor pushing vaccine uptake after area put back in Level 3
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): We are sitting ducks in the South Island
RNZ: Covid-19: What happened on 7 October
Outbreaks in gangs
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Michael Baker calls for drug decriminalisation as part of effort to stamp out COVID-19
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Gangs hold our Covid freedom in their hands (paywalled)
Rachel Moore (Stuff): First Waikato case crossed Auckland border, returned with the virus
RNZ: Waikato Mongrel Mob says Covid-19 cluster resolved, not distributing meth across border
Zoe Holland (Herald): Waikato Mongrel Mob spokeswoman says there is ‘zero Covid’ amongst Waikato gangs
RNZ: Government defends gang leader border exemptions
Mark Quinlivan and Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Officials reveal five Jet Park quarantine rooms smashed up as workers deal with infected gang affiliates
Testing
RNZ: Government to meet with companies wanting to import rapid antigen tests
RNZ: Covid-19 briefing: Saliva, rapid testing uptake ‘slow’, report finds, as govt plans wider rollout
Science Media Centre: Rapid antigen tests get the go-ahead – experts respond
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Government to pilot rapid antigen testing with private sector
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Expert warns business coalition calling for rapid antigen tests to proceed with caution due to unreliability
Irra Lee (1 News): ‘Negligence’ — Bishop echoes report saying NZ ‘slow’ with saliva, rapid antigen tests
Anna Whyte (1 News): Rapid antigen tests to be trialled in workplaces
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Rapid antigen testing ‘within a month’: Verrall (paywalled)
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Govt to work with businesses to trial rapid antigen testing; details unclear
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Border worker testing regime ‘held together by Sellotape’, IT system struggles with frequent testing
Vaccine certificate, mandatory vaccination, incentives
Mike Lee (Newsroom): Vaccinations and the workplace
Bernard Hickey (Spinoff): Many businesses only want vaccinated staff and customers. Will government let them make the big exclusion?
Ben Strang (RNZ): The three possible ways vaccine certificates could be legally enforced
Debbie Jamieson (Stuff): Aviation Security officers sacked for refusing vaccines
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Teachers’ union will follow COVID-19 vaccine mandate as long as teachers are given other options, not fired
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Government plans to require all teachers and support staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19
Anna Whyte (1 News): Mandatory vaccine decision for health and education workforce on Monday
Herald: Grant Robertson on the self-isolation trial, mandatory vaccination for workers
Rachel Moore (Stuff): No need for teacher vaccine mandate, kaiako will do the right thing – Hamilton principal
1 News: Te Matatini likely to require vaccine certificates – Henare
Taroi Black (Māori TV): ‘I’m vaccinated – for my kapa haka’
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): Double jabbers to get $10k discount on apartments (paywalled)
Vaccine rollout
Chris McDowall and Adam Pearse (Herald): Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Vaccination by area – Rural Kiwis lagging behind
RNZ: Vaccinations by suburb data: Murupara slowest in NZ
Harkanwal Singh (Spinoff): The vaccination rate for every suburb in New Zealand on an interactive map
Hannah Martin (Stuff): What we know about vaccination rates in Auckland’s suburbs of interest
Kate Newton (Stuff): The most detailed look yet at where vaccination rates are lagging
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): Wellington city’s eligible population about to hit 90pc vaccine coverage for at least one dose
Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Wellington vaccination rate disparity ‘not disastrous’, but work to be done
1 News: ‘Te Tiriti focus’ key in Dunedin becoming most vaccinated city in NZ
Grant Miller (ODT): Vaccination insight: act now
—————
1 News: MOH to receive High Court injunction to release Māori vaccination data
Edward Gay (Stuff): Legal action launched in effort to boost Māori vaccination rates
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Whānau Ora has been seeking better Māori vaccination approach since February
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Government needs to ‘brown up’ its vaccine message, expert says
1 News: Henare: Govt shifts focus to one-on-one approach for raising Māori vaccine rates
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Exclusive poll reveals just how many Kiwis keen to get vaccine (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): How white middle-class bureaucrats are holding up Maori vaccinations (paywalled)
Judith Collins (Stuff): Delta is coming, get vaccinated now
Luke Kirkness (Herald): Jacinda Ardern hopes to solve Covid vaccination reluctance, visits Rotorua
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Pfizer and some verbal jabs as PM Jacinda Ardern tours vaccination sites
1 News: Ardern on tour to push greater vaccine uptake among Māori
Stuff Editorial: When the vaccine push shouldn’t come to shove
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): ‘Roadblock’ after early success in Wairoa Covid-19 vaccinations
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Chris Hipkins calls on vaccinated New Zealanders to help reach 20 pct unvaccinated
Carly Gooch (Stuff): Youth vaccination rates addressed during school holidays
William Terite (Herald): The huge vaccination dilemma facing churches
Talei Anderson (RNZ): Pacific sport stars get behind mass vaccination events in Auckland
Matai O’Connor (RNZ): Covid-19 vaccine: Mum encourages teen to grab chance for ‘normality’
Maja Burry (RNZ): Farmlands keen to assist with Covid-19 vaccination drive in rural areas
Māori TV: Dedicated team to support disabled people to access vaccine
ODT: Freight company delivers Covid jabs to its workers
Anti-vaxxers
Sam Olley (RNZ): Minister denounces anti-vax GPs, but won’t intervene
Sam Olley (RNZ): Vaccine opposition in Te Tai Tokerau driven by misinformation – DHB head
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Hardy’s Health Stores co-owner apologetic after boasting ’99 percent’ staff unvaccinated
Aimee Milne (Newsroom): The anti-vax cult has found a witch
Man dies of Covid, cases, demographics
Rawiri Taonui (Waatea News): Delta OutBreak total set to pass last year’s First Wave by Sunday
1 News: ‘Loving father of five’ Covid-19 death felt right throughout AOG church
Herald: Church leaders call for people to get vaccinated after member dies from virus
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Fears new COVID case will spark outbreak amongst unvaccinated Northlanders
Troels Sommerville and Mina Kerr-Lazenby (Stuff): Northlanders ‘on tenterhooks’ after Whangārei case confirmed
Herald: Northland health bosses on high alert after positive case
Northern Advocate: Essential worker who travelled to Whangārei returns second positive Covid test
1 News: Northland’s weak positive case confirmed as having Covid in Auckland
RNZ: Person who visited Northland confirmed as positive case
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Case at Auckland City Mission sparks concern for vulnerable community
RNZ: Call centre staffer at major testing provider returns positive result
Adam Pearse (Herald): Two positive cases found on Auckland’s North Shore
Catrin Owen (Stuff): UN worker medivaced to NZ is stable, but still in hospital 70 days on
Education
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Teachers’ unions aren’t doing themselves any PR favours
Kate Nicol-Williams (1 News): Number of school students stood down jumps significantly in 2021
Māori TV: PPTA Te Wehengarua sets up Māori vice president role
Grant Miller (ODT): ‘Meritocracy’ barrier to fair student selection
Alert level rules, compliance, enforcement
Thomas Manch and Henry Cooke (Stuff): New ‘traffic light’ system of restrictions could replace alert levels
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Police aware of second anti-lockdown protest, ‘planning accordingly’
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Waiheke Islanders divided over Auckland border issue (paywalled)
Liam Napier (Herald): Three Auckland teams set to lose millions after withdrawing from NPC; NZ Rugby consider bail out
Chris Hyde (Herald): Ranfurly Shield – Government gives regional NZ a level 2 hospital pass (paywalled)
Stuff: Waikato Farah Palmer Cup team escapes level 3 restrictions with earlier flight
Miriam Burrell (Herald): Midnight Gardener owner defends private picnics in outdoor space
Matthew Rilkoff (Stuff): A question of whether we’re taking Delta seriously
Border, MIQ, immigration
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Migrant students feel cheated over residence visa decision
Ella Stewart (RNZ): Commissioner joins call for pension extension for seniors stuck overseas
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Pregnancy should be a MIQ priority because stress endangers the baby, Sir Peter Gluckman says
RNZ: Cook Islands repatriation flight to depart from Christchurch
AP (Herald): Virus measures stop legal return of thousands to New Zealand
Geraden Cann (Stuff): Plan for community-based isolation under way as MIQs fill up
Herald: Kosher MIQ meals being flown frozen from Auckland to other facilities
Bernadette Basagre (Stuff): Carpenter facing deportation over food vouchers pleads for second chance
Electoral law review
Steven Cowan (Against the Current): Kris Faafoi: Have I got a deal for you!
Mike Yardley (Newstalk ZB): The Electoral Law review is borne out of shameless self-interest
Parliament and Parties
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Was last week Judith Collins’ best yet? These numbers say yes
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): National leader Judith Collins receives brutal report card from business sector in Mood of the Boardroom
Lloyd Burr (Magic): Political breakdown – Where is Judith Collins?
Water reforms, Local government
Natalie Akoorie (RNZ): Local government review: Interim report sets out problems facing sector
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Councils buckling under Three Waters pressure from ‘ill-informed’ community, mayor says
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Decision on future of Wellington landfill at ‘critical point’
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland politician quits before conduct hearing, says local government is broken
Todd Niall (Stuff): Crunch time for campaign to end West Auckland liquor trust monopoly
Amber Allott (Stuff): ‘History of broken promises’: Canterbury’s bus drivers to strike for living wage
Zane Small (Newshub): National MP Christopher Luxon questions power to delay local elections given ‘Government’s stated commitment to ending lockdowns’
ODT: Taylor seeks answers from Hawkins following Dunedin City Council’s decision not to fund the NZ Sports Hall of Fame
Steve Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Auckland Council still facing $200m bill for leaky buildings
Adam Burns (Local Democracy Reporting): Second Ashburton bridge moves to next phase after fiery debate
Emily Ireland (RNZ): Featherston board demands rates meeting
Vita Molyneux (Herald): Roaming bouncers pitched as way to keep Wellington streets safe this summer
Gianina Schwanecke (Herald): High staff turnover at Hawke’s Bay councils, Tararua and Napier due to poaching, housing, seasonal work (paywalled)
Health
1 News: Formal definition of long Covid welcomed by experts
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Ward upgrade at ‘squalid’ Christchurch Hospital wing to take Covid-19 patients
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Cancer breakthroughs ‘held back’ throughout pandemic
1 News: 72 for 72: Charity running for three days straight to raise suicide awareness
RNZ: Checkpoint: Shops open, but aches remain as physios cannot work in level 3
ODT Editorial: Te Kaika’s remarkable rise
Dr Reena Ramsaroop (Stuff):Let’s fight breast cancer Covid-style
Justice
Cushla Norman (1 News): Supreme Court allows appeal by three strikes offender who kissed stranger
Jake McKee (RNZ): Man to be resentenced after Supreme Court rules three strikes sentence ‘beyond excessive’
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Attorney-General rules out getting involved in judiciary spat
Moana case, Oranga Tamariki
Newsroom: Judge’s block on ‘reverse uplift’ appealed
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Lawyer claims decision on ‘Moana’ case was biased, appeals to High Court
Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner (Newsroom): Lawyer wants psychologist, social worker charged over child removal case
Housing, property investment, tenancy rules
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): Emergency housing provider says Govt making it harder to find homes as waitlist balloons
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Two-tier social housing system ‘unfair’ and ‘completely unnecessary’
Miriam Bell (Stuff): ‘Eye-watering’ house price increases in Wellington region
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington council careful not to back itself into a corner over housing subsidy
Dan Satherley and Lydia Lewis (Newshub): Why experts think OCR hike won’t help first-home buyers
Tumamao Harawira (Māori TV): Ngāti Toa Rangatira to build neighbourhood homes for iwi
Afghanistan
1 News: Man who worked with NZDF in Afghanistan killed by Taliban overnight
Anna Whyte (1 News): NZ launches second phase in Afghanistan response
Thomas Manch (Stuff): New Zealand to send Afghanistan ‘special representative’ to the Middle East
RNZ: New Zealand Afghanistan special representative to support evacuations
Foreign affairs, trade
Don Wiseman (RNZ): China seemingly set on new approach to Pacific influence
David Stevenson (Herald): Arming the new Boeing P-8A aircraft (paywalled)
Business, economy, employment, wage subsidy
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): Auckland businesses want clarity on 3-step reopening plan
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): Much smaller lockdown impact on Fletcher this year: analyst (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Tourism Export Council says sector at tipping point (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Air NZ still aiming for New York, riding out lockdown hurdles (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Risk NZ will fall off the radar for airlines (paywalled)
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Auckland District Law Society challenges Justice Minister to withdraw statement on lease changes (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Kiwibank offers apology but no explanation for latest internet banking outage
Damien Venuto (Herald): ‘We need to get out of lockdown’: Charity groups raising money for cancer, dementia and vulnerable communities losing millions in donations (paywalled)
Tim Newman (Stuff):Nelson businesses hurting after 18 months of Covid
Brian Fallow (Herald): Rate rise ignores dangers that could slow growth (paywalled)
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Westpac to give staff five days wellbeing leave, but union says workers wanted annual leave instead
Herald Editorial: Pandora Papers should shame NZ to act on foreign trusts (paywalled)
Primary industries
Steven Walton (Stuff): Canterbury’s famed agricultural show cancelled for second time due to Covid-19
Sally Murphy (RNZ): Farmers, breeders rue lost chance to showcase stock at Canty A&P Show
Keith Woodford (Interest): Post-1989 forest owners face complex decisions
Tina Morrison (Stuff): ANZ raises forecast for Fonterra milk payment this season
Environment, climate change, conservation
Max Rashbrooke (Stuff):Let’s face it, New Zealand: we’re terrible environmentalists
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Just half of govt vehicles to decarbonise by 2025
Jono Galuszka (Stuff): Decade-old commitment to healing Manawatū River celebrated, but water quality still poor
Tina Law (Stuff): Thousands of properties at risk of flooding or erosion due to sea level rise
Chris Tobin (Stuff): Funding boost for Pareora plant’s coal conversion project
Other
Maiki Sherman (1 News): Roadside drug testing given green light despite evidence of being unreliable
Mitchell Alexander (Newshub): Revealed: Jacinda Ardern warned twice Rocket Lab’s launches could break Nuclear Free Law
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Government progress on debt reduction plan stalls as sum owed by poorest Kiwis nudges $4 billion
Maiki Sherman (1 News): Govt approves extension for expired firearm licences
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Whistle-blower holds meeting after rūnaka writes off more than $400,000 in loans
Thomas Mead (1 News): Man who threatened to car bomb Al Noor Mosque allowed to keep name secret
Felix Desmarais (Local Democracy Reporting): Scrapped Auckland harbour bridge cycleway could fund regional roads
Isobel Ewing (Newshub): Opponents of proposed Central Otago international airport take fight to Parliament with petition
Daniel Dunkley (BusinessDesk): MediaWorks appoints chief people officer (paywalled)
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Balancing the energy trilemma: where NZ ranks (paywalled)
RNZ: NZ Super Fund invests $208m into sustainable energy infrastructure
Sam Olley (RNZ): Outrage after protected pōhutukawa partially hacked down
Hazel McCulloch (Stuff): Why we need to legalise pepper spray for women walkers and runners
