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

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE, DEFENCE
Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): Why Chris Hipkins is heading to Brisbane – not Beijing
Alexander Gillespie and Robert Patman (The Conversation): Approach with caution: why NZ should be wary of buying into the AUKUS security pact
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Anti-Aukus feeling growing at home
1News: PM eyes ‘significant announcement’ for Kiwis living in Australia
RNZ: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ calendar marked with overseas trips
RNZ: Australia, New Zealand sign army cooperation deal
Herald: New Zealand and Australian army chiefs strengthen relationship with signing of new plan
Michael Neilson (Herald): Russia responds as New Zealand joins condemnation over jailed Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza for treason
Newshub: Russia Embassy in New Zealand rebukes Nanaia Mahuta for showing solidarity with Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza
Thomas Manch (Stuff): New Zealand to hunt terrorists from Jordan for two more years
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National wants India trade deal, but MFAT officials sceptical
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Unrealistic or a missed chance? National criticises stalled India trade deal
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Get ready for the Luxon Hustle
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Luxon puts free trade with India back on the table – should he? (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): National says securing Free Trade Agreement with India would be ‘major strategic priority’ if elected
Eda Tang (Stuff): Kīngitanga to attend coronation of King Charles III

PARLIAMENT, ELECTION
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Open Government head urges NZ to lead on transparency
Adam Pearse. (Herald): Former MP Gaurav Sharma turned down $20,000 donation before failing to reclaim seat in byelection
William Hewett (Newshub): Green MP Ricardo Menendez March tight-lipped on review of colleague Elizabeth Kerekere
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Green on Green unfriendly fire: The Rainbow Parakeet who cried racist
Liam Hehir (Blue Review): Knives Out: What’s going on with the Greens?
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Northland Epsom deal for Shane? Māori Party brashly stalk South Auckland General Electorate Seats & an Ilam cuppa
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): National officially returns to the Māori electorates, after more than 20 years
Michael Neilson (Herald): National MP Harete Hipango picked for Te Tai Hauāuru, party’s first in 20 years to run in a Māori electorate
Brigitte Morten (NBR): Dutch provincial elections point to strong rural political voice (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor and Jenny Lynch (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern’s involvement in Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Netflix show was ‘misrepresented’ in trailer, Prime Minister’s Office claimed

ECONOMY, COST OF LIVING
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Time to hit the panic button on our $34 billion balance of payment deficit?
Richard Prebble (Herald): Losing sleep over the chances of a credit rating downgrade (paywalled)
Amy Williams (RNZ): Looming recession sees number of people needing help from support services rise
RNZ: Report flags overstretched and under-funded community groups as needs increase
Imran Ali (Northern Advocate): NZ Recession: Northland likely to have more working poor, experts warn
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Wealthy pay more tax than you think – report
RNZ: Rich paying their fair share of tax, study concludes

HEALTH
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Taskforce to address health staff gaps failing to deliver, doctors say
Isaac Davison (Herald): Half of Starship Hospital’s $40m intensive care unit unused because of severe nursing shortages
RNZ: Type 2 diabetes: Health researcher calls for ministeral taskforce
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Poor conditions, use of shuttle to reach new Dunedin Hospital will deter cancer recruits – ex-staffer

PARLIAMENT OCCUPATION, COVID
Gianina Schwanecke (Stuff): Year-long $3.5m review into police conduct at Parliament occupation imminent
Craig Kapitan (Herald): Covid 19 lockdown breach: Billy Te Kahika, Vincent Eastwood win fight to discuss case on social media
Chris Tobin (Stuff): Picton seafarer says MBIE harassing him for MIQ fee

ENVIRONMENT
Eloise Gibson (Stuff): David Parker failed to stop NZ’s 11th-biggest emitter beating a climate law
Jack Santa Barbara (Stuff): Today’s the day we blow the budget: Earth Overshoot Day
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Environment Southland and Fed Farmers appeal proposed Southland Water and Land Plan
Herald: Ngāti Awa wins right to appeal billion-bottles-per-year water plant expansion

EXTREME WEATHER
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Scientists urge ‘holistic’ approach to river flooding, back calls for ongoing funding
Russell Palmer (RNZ): River flood protections: Regional councils ‘hopeful’ over Budget bid
RNZ: Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence’s response to Cyclone Gabrielle to be reviewed
RNZ: Pop up clinics for Northland Māori businesses to get support kanohi ki te kanohi post-cylone
RNZ: Tai Rāwhiti businesses on edge as Cyclone Gabrielle grants in huge demand
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Spinoff): Wayne Brown turned down 90% of interview requests in days after January flood

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THREE WATERS
Caley Callahan (Newshub): Full interview: Gore Mayor Ben Bell admits ‘difficult’ start to his tenure as councillors vote for independent review
1News: Gore Council to conduct independent review of leadership disagreements
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Gore councillors vote for independent review after leak from in-committee meeting
ODT: Mayor challenging removal from committee
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): ‘It’s not a one-off’: Auckland councillor concerned after death threat
Alisha Evans (Bay of Plenty Times): Three Waters reform: Bay of Plenty councils lose millions in ‘better off’ funding

TREATY
Katie Doyle (Stuff): National Party MP under fire for treaty comments
Claudia Orange (Newsroom): History of the tiriti fraud

HOUSING
Miriam Bell (Stuff): House price plummet from market peak continues
Max Rashbrooke (Spinoff): Revealed: The four suburbs where house prices have slumped to pre-Covid levels
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): More houses ‘not the answer’ to Queenstown rental crisis

EDUCATION
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Classroom size cut overdue, but policy feels like a dud
Mana Wikaire-Lewis (Whakaata Māori): Can the teacher recruitment drive be achieved despite pay disputes?
Liam Hehir (Blue Review): Exit Stage Left: Hipkins Fails to Steal the Spotlight
Pokere Paewai (RNZ): Case of funding inequity for kura to be heard by Waitangi Tribunal
Bridie Witton (Stuff): She’s paralysed and can’t work, but her $60k student loan still looms over her

BUSINESS
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Where is the grocery commissioner?
Damien Venuto (Herald): The Front Page: Does NZ’s building industry have too much red tape?
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Master Builders contract ‘almost comical’, lawyer says

EMPLOYMENT
RNZ: CTU urges ban on engineered stone products over silicosis risk
RNZ: Trustees of Dunedin’s Jesus Aroma Church ordered to pay exploited migrant workers

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Luke Malpass (Stuff): National promises to double RSE worker cap, ban foreign investment in farm-to-forestry conversions
Michael Neilson (Herald): National Party farming policy to double RSE workers, add residency pathways, cut red tape
RNZ: Father’s warning after girl pinned by huge log at Gisborne beach

ANIMAL WELFARE, ROTHERHAM SCHOOL FUNDRAISER
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Canterbury feral cat hunting competition for kids cancelled after backlash
Samantha Gee (RNZ): North Canterbury hunting competition encouraged children to shoot feral cats
RNZ: Animal welfare group calls for transparency on export of live animals by air

TRANSPORT
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Major changes to driver’s licence test costs, vehicle fees: What you need to know
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Motoring fees to rise by $66 million a year from October
Alan Kenyon (1News): Big changes on the way for driver licence fees

MEDIA
Nikki Macdonald (Dominion Post): What’s in a name? Why ditch the Dominion masthead?
Chris Lynch: The Spin-Off, Newshub, NZME receive ‘Public Interest Journalism Fund’

OTHER
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): Expert urges Government to set up specialist mental health court
Justin Wong (Dominion Post): A $4 million Corrections recruitment drive boosts prison officer ranks by 53
Paul Majurey (Herald): Time for all Auckland iwi to move forward together (paywalled)
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Controversial East Coast barge facility ‘getting close’
Matthew Dallas (Stuff): Raising grandson easier than negotiating ‘minefield’ of social services
RNZ: RSA calls for an extra day to recognise all war veterans
1News: RSA calls for second national day to honour veterans