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

National Party
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Collins’ risky strike against Bridges could be her last
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Amid the Collins vs Bridges animosity, one thing is clear
Newstalk ZB: Barry Soper: ‘So feral’ – Collins’ National leadership in doubt
Richard Harman (Politik): Collins burns Bridges (paywalled)
RNZ: Simon Bridges on being demoted: ‘What we saw yesterday was truly desperate stuff from Judith Collins’
1 News: Simon Bridges says demotion ‘truly desperate stuff’ from Collins
Herald: Simon Bridges on his demotion after alleged comments to Jacqui Dean
Stuff: Simon Bridges comes out swinging after being demoted over ‘serious misconduct’ allegation
Newshub: National Party chaos: Simon Bridges’ full statement ahead of caucus meeting after shock demotion
Tova O’Brien and Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Mark Mitchell calls Judith Collins’ Simon Bridges announcement ‘deeply disrespectful’, confirms caucus meeting, won’t rule out leadership challenge
1 News: National in chaos: MP says Judith Collins must resign
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Simon Bridges demotion: National Party MPs urgently meet following Judith Collins’ bombshell announcement
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Simon Bridges ‘highly likely’ to challenge Judith Collins for National leadership – party source
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Leadership challenge to Judith Collins likely as Simon Bridges attacks her actions as ‘truly desperate’
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Simon Bridges’ supporters accuse Judith Collins of set-up, possible caucus challenge underway
RNZ: National caucus to meet after Collins shock demotion of Bridges – MP
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Collins cancels & shanks Bridges – what just happened & why?
Herald: Simon Bridges on his demotion after alleged comments to Jacqui Dean
Herald: Simon Bridges demoted by National Party leader Judith Collins following serious misconduct allegation involving historic interaction with MP Jacqui Dean
Herald: Simon Bridges Demotion: MP who laid the complaint leading to demotion is understood to be Jacqui Dean
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Simon Bridges demoted by Judith Collins over alleged historical comments to a female colleague
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Simon Bridges demoted, stripped of portfolios after allegation of ‘serious misconduct’ over comment to female colleague
1 News: Simon Bridges loses portfolios after ‘serious misconduct’ claim
RNZ: Collins demotes Simon Bridges over allegation of misconduct
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Judith Collins says she wouldn’t resign even if National caucus had numbers to roll her
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Is Act’s high polling permanent? Judith Collins ponders a permanently split centre-right vote

Govt management of Delta outbreak
Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): Today’s constitutional disgrace in Parliament
Brigitte Morten (NBR): Speeding through traffic lights dangerous in any context (paywalled)
Michael Neilson (Herald): ‘Contemptuous’ Covid Bill passes within 24 hours amid opposition
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Speaker Trevor Mallard lashes Government for urgently passing Covid-19 law
RNZ: Mandate legislation pushed through Parliament amid fierce opposition
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Judith Collins slams use of urgency to pass ‘traffic light’ law, says it’s not needed due to high vaccination coverage
Ben Thomas (Stuff): Vaccine mandates are too significant to be rushed through Parliament
Steven Cowan (Against the current): The Green Party votes for a ‘constitutional disgrace’
Stuff Editorial: Govt leaning too heavily on expedience
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Ben Strang (Stuff): Government refuses to release policy advice on vaccine passes and certificates
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (1 News): Waitangi Tribunal grants inquiry into Govt’s handling of pandemic
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Waitangi Tribunal to hold special hearing into govt handling of Covid-19 for Māori
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): One hundred days of harsh lessons for Māori as calls for help go largely unanswered
Eric Crampton (Offsetting Behaviour): Missed opportunities
RNZ: Covid-19 wrap: MIQ changes and traffic light legislation
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Thousands logged as waiting for call in self-isolation a ‘recording error’ 

NZ border changes, MIQ
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research poll: 7 in 10 believe vaccinated, COVID-negative Kiwis should be able to skip MIQ
John Weekes (Herald): Govt’s long-awaited MIQ end dates as much about ‘groaning’ admin system as health risk, says expert
Jo Moir (Newsroom): No logic in why Kiwis in Oz can’t be home for Christmas
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Why border reopening could be faster than the Government’s announced dates
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Is there no end to the absurdity of this Government?
Russell Palmer (Newshub): Opposition parties decry border reopening, trans-Tasman delays
Samantha Worthington (1 News): National, ACT compare Government to Grinch over border timeline
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Opposition slams ‘callous, heartless’ plans to drop MIQ for vaccinated Kiwis after Christmas
John Weekes (Herald): Grand reopening no Greatest Hits, more the ‘least worst’ option
Nadine Porter (Stuff): Tourism operators, expats condemn plan for seven-day isolation from next year
John Gerritsen (RNZ): International language sector says border reopening date for students too late
John Anthony, Debbie Jamieson and Joanne Naish (Stuff): New Zealand border opening: Seven-day isolation ‘excessive’, ‘nonsense’, tourism industry leaders say
Kaysha Brownlie (Newshub): Disappointment at Government’s self-isolation requirement as tourism business struggle on
Laura Hooper (Stuff): Tough summer expected for Fiordland as international border opening date set for April
David Coombes (Herald): Flight Centre chief on opening up to the world (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): RIP MIQ – travel and tourism react to border plans (paywalled)
Maryana Garcia and Carmen Hall (Bay of Plenty Times): ‘It’s an early Christmas present’ – Travel industry reacts to borders reopening (paywalled)
RNZ: Government’s border reopening plan stirs mixed emotions
Stephanie Holmes (Herald): NZ’s international borders reopening has me crying my eyes out
RNZ: Sports ponder impact of new COVID travel rules
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Grant Robertson needs to step up
John Anthony (Stuff): Air NZ cancels more flights following border opening announcement 
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Anna Whyte (1 News): Border shake-up: What you need to know
Dan Lake (Newshub): Everything you need to know about New Zealand’s borders reopening in 2022
Anna Whyte (1 News): No MIQ for Kiwis in Australia from Jan 17 as borders start to open
Siobhan Downes (Stuff): Fully vaccinated Kiwis can skip MIQ from February
Irra Lee (1 News): Staged re-opening of borders to overseas visitors from April
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern deems overseas arrivals ‘significant risk’ despite no trans-Tasman COVID-19 cases among vaccinated travellers since Delta
Zane Small (Newshub): Dates confirmed: COVID-19 home isolation allowed for vaccinated international arrivals into New Zealand from 2022 in stages
Corazon Miller (1 News): NZ to drop five countries from ‘very high risk’
Tess McClure (Guardian): New Zealand to reopen borders to vaccinated visitors from new year
RNZ: Major MIQ changes from early next year

Vaccine pass
Chris Keall (Herald): The PM says the Vaccine Pass only needs to be sighted – why that’s a big problem (paywalled)
Irra Lee (1 News): Ministry of Health confirms vaccine pass verifier app not compulsory
Ben Strang (Stuff): Migrants unable to get a vaccine pass, Ministry of Health call centre overwhelmed

Mandatory vaccination, incentives
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Judith Collins says payment for workers who refuse jab too much
Alexa Cook (Newshub): Hospitals carrying ‘heavy burden’ after nearly 1500 staff off the job after refusing COVID-19 vaccine
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Summer fire risk could be elevated by lower crew levels
Maja Burry (RNZ): Food exporters’ vaccine mandate put on ice
Che Baker (Stuff): Seven doctors fired by Southern DHB over vaccine mandate
Rotorua Daily Post (Herald): Rotorua’s Red Stag Timber to pay $3000 bonus to vaccinated staff (paywalled)
RNZ: Red StagTimber offers cash incentive for double vaxxed workers
Anne Gibson (Herald): No jab, no mortgage? One broker claims finance pulled over vax status (paywalled)
Bridget Tunnicliffe (RNZ): Vaccine hesitancy threatens Silver Ferns’ programme
Kirsty Wynn (Herald): Unvaccinated airport worker gets interim reinstatement after dismissal
Stuff:  Supreme Court rejects ‘exceptional’ basis for health professionals and teachers ‘no jab, no job’ appeal

Move to traffic light system
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Vulnerable communities with low vaccination rates not keen to see Aucklanders this summer
Matai O’Connor (RNZ): Lake Waikaremoana off limits as Tūhoe tries to raise vaccination rates
Sandra Conchie (Herald): Fears Bay of Plenty could be in ‘red’ until end of the year (paywalled)
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Iwi collective urges whānau to prepare to be frontline carers
Jessica Roden (1 News): South Island hospitals preparing for influx of summer Covid cases
Whatitiri Te Wake (Māori TV): Traffic lights strategy and tangihanga – how will it work?
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): How travel will work in the new traffic light system
Whanganui Chronicle: Expert Q&A on traffic light system
Georgia Forrester (Stuff): How weddings, funerals, tangi, and other gatherings will work under the traffic light system
Ben Leahy (Herald): Auckland hair salons reopen for first time in three months

Vaccine rollout
Rachel Thomas (Stuff): More than 75,000 people are overdue for their second vaccination
Kate Newton (Stuff): The latest data highlights persistent gaps in the vaccine rollout
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): Māori health leaders criticise govt data hesitancy after vaccination info released
1 News: Bureaucrats ‘consistently blocking’ Māori vaccine efforts – Tamihere
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Pacific communities reach 90 percent first dose vaccination rate
Jogai Bhatt (RNZ): Indian New Zealanders amongst the most highly-vaccinated in the country
Scott Palmer (Newshub): COVID-19 vaccine map: Major jump in areas to reach 90 pct target
Adam Pearse (Herald): Book My Vaccine to make comeback in booster campaign
RNZ: Another strong community turn-out for Porirua vaccination event

Cases, demographics, Delta spreads
Herald: New Zealand closing in on 5000 cases, 20 per cent in kids under 9
Melanie Earley (Stuff): Ten out of 15 people who have died were unvaccinated
1 News: Only 20% of Delta outbreak Covid deaths fully vaccinated
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Vaccination status of deaths during Delta outbreak revealed
RNZ: 15 people have died in current Delta outbreak, Ministry of Health confirms
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Concern in Napier over movements of Covid-19 case who arrived from Auckland
Taroi Black (Māori TV): First confirmed case in Tuhoe nation
1 News: Eastern Bay of Plenty community asked to isolate after positive Covid case
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Bay of Plenty’s Te Waimana community to self isolate, get tested after confirmed case of Covid-19
Leanne Warr (Hawkes Bay Today): Ongoing positive wastewater results a strong indication of Pahiatua cases
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Iwi collective urges whānau to prepare to be first-line carers
Marena Mane (Māori TV): Dr Lily Fraser talks about catching Covid-19

Vaccine misinformation, protests, rule breaches
Katie Harris (Herald): Doctor who posted controversial Covid videos loses fight to stop Medical Council investigation
Anna Leask (Herald): Former cop says two month investigation into high ranking officer’s alleged border breach is ‘bullsh*t’
Chris Parsons (Stuff): Vaccine resistance is not new 
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Faith versus science: Inside the mind of a Covid-19 anti-vaxxer 
Mike Mather (Stuff): ‘Freedoms’ motorcade protesters appear in court on Covid breach, driving charges
Belinda Feek (Herald): Hamilton kindy owner charged after letting woman ride on her car during ‘Great Gridlock’
Herald: Kiwi woman tries to stop anti-mandate, lockdown protest with kung-fu moves

Testing
Jason Walls (Herald): 10k rapid antigen Covid tests ‘gathering dust’ after the Government withholds its approval
Nita Blake-Persen (RNZ): Rapid Covid-19 tests could be widely used over summer holidays
Ian Taylor (Herald): The biggest, and potentially most dangerous, shortcoming in our Covid response (paywalled)
Sinead Gill (Stuff): $250 fee for health clinic Covid test left me shook

Kāinga Ora, housing
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Labour’s Eyes Wide Shut To “Unruly Tenants”
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Kāinga Ora: State housing not a ‘right’, even if unruly tenants have children – lawyer
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Why won’t the govt act over social housing?
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): The intensifying debate over housing reform
Brent Edwards (NBR): Bipartisan Housing Supply Bill faces mounting criticism
Josephine Franks (Stuff): 100 days locked down in emergency housing

Three Waters, local government
Nikitin Sallee (BusinessDesk): Three Waters ad campaign was based on secret report
Nikitin Sallee (BusinessDesk): Three Waters’ TV ad evaporates after commission warning
Susan Botting (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘Trust your councillors’ says Whangārei District councillor ahead of Oruku Landing decision

Parliament, parties
Thomas Coughlan (Herald):  The case for Labour (paywalled)
Benedict Collins (1 News): Winston Peters looks to take legal fight to Supreme Court
The Country (Herald): Jacinda Ardern on Groundswell, Barry Soper and press conference issues

Environment, climate change, conservation
Matt Burgess (Herald): First tell us how your Climate plan works, Minister James Shaw (paywalled)
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Farm emissions pricing plan won’t cut emissions
The Standard: He Waka Eke Noa?
Tina Law (Stuff): Government plans to address climate change not ambitious enough, city leaders say

Primary industries, Groundswell protests
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Will Nash meet with Groundswell NZ leaders?
Herald Editorial: Groundswell needs to weed the barmy from it’s farmy army (paywalled)

Economy, business, wage subsidy
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): 100 days in lockdown: How hard was the economy hit?
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): An Auckland business thrives, while another keeps doors closed in a ‘dire’ 100 days of lockdown
James Halpin (Stuff): Auckland restaurants prepared for hectic reopening, but worried about summer slump
David Long (Stuff): Tennis New Zealand cancels all national championships over Covid-19 uncertainties
Liam Dann (Herald):  ‘Time of cheap money is over’ – brace for seven more rate hikes (paywalled)
RNZ: Official cash rate hike ‘just another blow’ for first-time home buyers
Katie Bradford (1 News): Reserve Bank lifts official cash rate
Liam Dann (Herald): OCR: Reserve Bank hikes rate by 25bp, more rises likely
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): Reserve Bank raises the official cash rate to 0.75 percent
RNZ: Methven’s Ōpuke Pools opened with aim to make the high country a year-round destination
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Judith Collins courts tech sector with offer of ‘big fix’ policy and summit
Chris Keall (Herald): Judith Collins kicks off technology policy process with Peter Beck and others (paywalled)

Health, ACC
Herald: New rules ban smoking in cars with kids from Sunday
John Weekes (Herald): Up to 2000 victims skipped: Survivor with PTSD exposes scale of compensation loophole
RNZ: Drug checking to be permanent after law passes third reading
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Largest ever cohort of Māori health professionals to graduate from Otago University

Employment, Immigration, migrant workers
Ian Powell (Democracy Project): Unionism and nursing in New Zealand
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Government finalises massive expansion of social safety net, funded by 1-2 per cent tax hike (paywalled)
RNZ: Countdown distribution workers strike over pay
RNZ: Tonga unable to repatriate stranded RSE workers till 2022
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): NZX-listed companies gifting shares as employee incentives (paywalled)

Justice, corrections
RNZ: Scrutiny of use of segregation and force in New Zealand prisons underway as review kicks off
Katie Harris (Herald): ‘Retraumatised’: Calls for prison double bunking to be axed as new data shows level of sex assault
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Modern Family Court will look like a ‘different world’ to current system, says top judge
Nicole McKee (Magic): Opinion: A lot of law, but where’s the order?
Anna Leask (Herald): Man seeking $25K in damages from NZDF after court agrees he felt ‘detained’ by military police
Tara Shaskey (Stuff): Appeal against post-sentence detention upheld in human rights test case

Transport
1 News: KiwiRail boss Greg Miller quits amid culture complaints
RNZ: KiwiRail group chief executive Greg Miller quits
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Relief and recriminations: KiwiRail’s Miller departs
Andrea Fox (Herald): KiwiRail strikes still set but union hopes CEO departure may bring new approach to wage talks (paywalled)
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Regional council ‘won’t tolerate’ being blamed over delayed Transmission Gully opening
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Lack of financial transparency around Te Huia frustrates Hamilton politicians

Education
RNZ: Police investigating allegations of historical abuse at St Peter’s School
Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Mana College ditches gendered prefect titles, experts say more NZ schools doing the same

Other
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Government finalises massive expansion of social safety net, funded by 1-2 per cent tax hike (paywalled)
Integrity Talking Points: New Zealand still the most free country according to the Human Freedom Index
RNZ: Treaty of Waitangi settlement for Moriori completed as bill passes final reading
Karl du Fresne: Don’t mention the war
Will Trafford (Māori TV): ‘I give nothing to racism’ – Mahuta hits back over Tatua director’s social posts
Shane Te Pou (Herald): Four things I want from broadcasting reforms (paywalled)
Daniel Dunkley (Stuff): Peng Shuai: When sport, business and politics collide
Dr Elizabeth Kerekere (Stuff): Trans Awareness Week a chance to reflect on journey so far, but still a long way to go
Qiuyi Tan (Herald): Auckland cafe fires manager over anti-Muslim messages
Henry Burrell (BusinessDesk): Nats go into bat for tech sector (paywalled)
Redline: The bizarre case of the Royal Society investigating academics defending science
Mike White (Stuff): British government still lying about disastrous flight into war zone, New Zealanders say
David Williams (Newsroom): Lake Ōhau fire narrative goes up in smoke
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Mt Ruapehu skiers on carve-up: ‘We don’t want another Waiwera hot pools’