Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – March 12 2019
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
The Beehive and Parliament Buildings.
Provincial Growth Fund
Audrey Young (Herald): Shane Jones’ conflict of interest issue is worrying on several levels
Herald Editorial: When Shane Jones declares a conflict of interest he should act on it
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Shane Jones has to treat criticism more seriously
RNZ: Jones never part of Hokianga cultural centre – Trust
RNZ: Shane Jones denies he’s conflicted in Northland Provincial Growth Fund decision
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern backs Shane Jones over conflict of interest
Derek Cheng (Herald): Shane Jones says he managed conflict of interest over tourism project appropriately
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern backs Shane Jones amid conflict of interest allegations
1News: Shane Jones ‘wiggling like a hyperactive worm on a hook’ over funding decision – David Seymour
Tax
Chris Trotter (Interest): The Government’s handling of the Tax Working Group has highlighted Grant Robertson’s reliance on his mentor Michael Cullen
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declines to commit to a revenue-neutral capital gains tax
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Ardern won’t commit to offsetting any tax hikes with tax cuts
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Greens co-leader Marama Davidson proposes opening capital gains tax to include family home
Dan Satherley (Newshub): We’ll back the CGT if it applies to family homes – NZ Property Investors’ Federation
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): One in five KiwiSaver members may be worse off under capital gains tax proposals
Zane Small (Newshub): National will return bright-line test to two years – Simon Bridges
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Cullen on CGT: On balance, I’ve changed my mind
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Farmer fury: ‘Tax Working Group recommendations threaten prosperity’
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Labour puts its feelers out on a capital gains tax
Pete George: Labour’s bob each way CGT petitions just double barrelled contact harvesting
Amy Adams (The Spinoff): Labour cannot outsource its tax advocacy to Cullen
Water bottling
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Law firm run by Christchurch Mayor’s husband scraps offer to lobby politicians for water bottler Cloud Ocean Water
Michael Daly (Stuff): Charge on export water likely but not guaranteed this term, minister says
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Government ‘virtue signalling’ on foreign water bottlers instead of fixing issue – Simon Bridges
David Farrar: Tradeable water rights, not a tax
Mike Yardley (Press): Water-bottling should be blitzing our ECan rates bills
Foreign affairs and trade
Richard Harman (Politik): How the Government is calming things with China
Jamie Ensor and Kethaki Masilamani (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s positive view of New Zealand-China relations backed by experts
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Ardern, Peters take different line on foreign interference
RNZ: National doubts China tourism event delayed due to ‘scheduling’
Jason Walls (Herald): PM Jacinda Ardern says the new data of the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism is March 29
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): China-NZ Year of Tourism gets its launch date after postponement controversy
1News: Earlier postponed Chinese tourism event for Wellington will go ahead later this month, PM confirms
Zane Small (Newshub): China-NZ rift: Jacinda Ardern confirms Wellington tourism event back on
RNZ: China-New Zealand Year of Tourism event back on
Michael Reddell: An establishment perspective
Mike Smith (Standard): Magicked-Up Weapons
John Moore: China expert treated as a pariah by Labour Party
Simon Draper (Stuff): Māori at an advantage in engagement with Asia trade
Talisa Kupenga (Māori TV): Mahuta to promote indigenous ties and perspectives in Chile
Insurance
Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): Plea for Earthquake Commission rethink as insurers withdraw from market
Laura Dooney (RNZ): No new contents insurance in Wellington protects companies – broke
Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): Wellington renters struggle to get contents insurance
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Country’s largest insurer makes move to retreat from Wellington
Health
Phil Pennington (RNZ): DHBs could owe staff millions in holiday pay
Kirsty Lawrence (Stuff): Māori Health Select Committee announces inquiry into effect of health system on Māori
Elena McPhee (ODT): Alcohol laws’ effect on Maori questioned
RNZ: Physicists working with cancer patients to go on strike
Mike Houlahan (ODT): More health staff on strike
Brittany Keogh (Stuff): Government data could be used to prevent youth suicide, academic says
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Pregnant Auckland woman who purchased health drink shocked to taste alcohol
Alice Webb-Liddall (Newshub): ‘It’s changed my home’ – US anti-cannabis lobbyist’s warning to NZ
Eric Crampton (Newsroom): Reducing harm or barking at cars?
Cas Carter (Stuff): Tobacco industry is committed to serving the human need for vices, like vaping
1News: Rise of self-poisoning using pharmaceuticals a ‘wake-up call’ for Kiwi doctors, says expert
1News: Insomnia, schizophrenia drugs implicated as NZ fatal poisonings stay high – study
Karen Brown (RNZ): Resthome nursing shortage: ‘Worst it’s been in last 12 months’
No Right Turn: The solution is obvious
1News: Plan to tackle period poverty taking off in Waihi and Paeroa
Jamie Ensor and Delphine Herbert (Newshub): Hauraki District Council backs eco-friendly menstrual cup initiative
Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): Clerence Natnaur hopes the new eye clinic in Vanuatu will make her dream come true
Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): Living in a world of darkness – life as a blind man in the village
Martin Johnston (Herald): National 1918 influenza pandemic memorial unveiling delayed
Measles outbreak
RNZ: Measles outbreak: Up to 100,000 Cantabrians must be vaccinated
1News: Canterbury health authorities ‘intensify’ battle against measles as cases expected to rise
Press Editorial: Ensuring the right information on measles gets to the public now is important
Southland Times Editorial: Beware this truth-resistant strain of vaccine hesitancy
Tom Kitchin (Stuff): Immense pressure for vaccines as Christchurch measles outbreak number reaches 25
Herald: Measles in Canterbury now ‘in widespread circulation’ as infections rise to 25
Katie Todd (RNZ): Canterbury measles outbreak: 22 people infected
1News: As measles case in Canterbury rise authorities urge residents exercise vigilance
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Christchurch measles baby’s mum’s plea: ‘Think about your community’
Thomas Mead (Newshub): Canterbury measles outbreak: Mum’s plea as toddler with cancer forced into isolation
Environment and conservation
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): ‘Appalled and disgusted’ – Great Barrier Island residents head to high court to stop dumping
Jason Walls (Herald): Greenpeace is calling on the Super Fund to divest its $550m of shares in oil and gas companies
BusinessDesk: Ambition, urgency needed in renewables thrust – Refining NZ
1News: Could editing gene technology be the key to NZ becoming predator free by 2050?
Pat Baskett (Newsroom): Grandparents, we must leave a habitable planet
No Right Turn: Cimate change: Locked in
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Contemplating the end of the world with Extinction Rebellion
Amber-Leigh Woolf (Stuff): Plea for homes for up to 80 wild Kaimanawa horses from annual muster
RNZ: Homes wanted for wild horses mustered from Kaimanawa Ranges
School students’ climate change strike
1News: Academics sign open letter for students to protest for climate change on a school day
Jono Edwards (ODT): Principal: strike caveats futile
Transport, road safety
1News: Fiji Airways to continue flying Boeing 737 Max 8’s to NZ as other airlines ground fleets after crash
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Revealed: The worst of New Zealand’s drink-drivers
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Wellington’s Inner City Bypass: Years on costs and benefits do not stack up, study says
Lynley Hood (ODT): How do cycleways benefit pedestrians?
Justice, corrections
Chester Borrows (Herald): Now is the time to speak up about prisons
Laura Walters (Newsroom): ‘Do the same thing, get the same results’
Police
Anna Leask (Herald): Cops investigating their own after allegations of bad behaviour from off-duty officers
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Police investigating ‘inappropriate’ behaviour by off-duty cops
1News: Number of police officers being investigated over their off-duty behaviour
Thomas Mead (Newshub): Police nearly ending up court over their own massive speeding fines
Tommy Livingston (Stuff): Police investigating behaviour of off-duty officers after alleged sexual assault
Chelsea Boyle, Anna Leask and Carolyne Meng-Yee (Herald): The Chase: To pursue or not to pursue, that is the question for police
Anna Leask (Herald): The Chase: Fatal pursuit cop warned driver of ‘killing your mates’ 48 hours before crash
Kurt Bayer (Herald): The Chase: Young offenders playing ‘high speed cat-and-mouse’ with police
Anna Leask (Herald): The Chase: Woman convicted after pursuit ‘don’t judge me’
Anna Leask (Herald): The Chase: Fleeing driver – ‘I knew if I drove erratically they would stop chasing me
Defence
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ‘not directly briefed’ on NZDF misconduct allegations
Point of order: Navy planners consider replacements for ageing Anzac Class frigates
Pacific
Johnny Blades (RNZ): NZ union keen to support Pacific RSE workers
Bronwyn Wood and Milica Homolja (Newsroom): A celebration of the fabric of modern NZ
RNZ: Call for Rotumans in NZ to start teaching language in homes
Rochelle Stewart-Withers and Jeremy Hape (Stuff): Pacific rugby facing uncertain future with brawn drain likely to accelerate
Liam Ratana (Vice): We Asked Cook Islanders If The Cook Islands Should Change Its Name
RNZ: Aus, NZ soldiers giving ‘logistical’ support to Solomons poll
Education
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Strikes, crisis talks and ministry reviews: 2018 gave us a schooling
Adele Redmond (Stuff): Christchurch’s high schools to be zoned in city-wide effort to control enrolments
Zoe Hunter (Herald): Tauranga to lose more principals, dozens of teachers leave last year
Julie Chapman (Stuff): The heartbreaking letter from a principal forced to beg for help
Matthew Rosenberg (Stuff): Children sent to kindy with bags of sugary lunches – or nothing at all
Paddy O’Brien (Stuff): SIT autonomy has benefited Southern sport and wider society
Local government
David Shand (Briefing Papers): Local government role and autonomy
Todd Niall (Stuff): Former MP Chris Carter returns to Labour politics
RNZ: Councillors call on Goff to reverse speedway decision
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): Auckland Council to vote on $5.5m upgrade to ASB Tennis Arena
Alexia Russell (Newsroom): Cat lovers get concessions on pest control
Stephen Forbes (Interest): Auckland Council set for staffing review
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): Wellington City Council distances itself from survey on future of Miramar Peninsula
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Committee recommends private ownership for Otama Water Scheme
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): Multimillion-dollar plan to fix Greymouth’s CBD released
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): City council and Rangitāne agree to joint reserve management
Housing
Isaac Davison (Herald): Only one in four of Government’s new public housing places in Auckland are new builds
Logan Church (RNZ): Empty housing units finally available for homeless in Kaikōura
Madison Reidy (RNZ): Government eyeing build-to-rent housing
Benedict Collins (1News): Hurdles deterring potential buyers from snapping up KiwiBuild homes, developer says
1News: KiwiBuild is not working, economist says, but PM still confident homes will sell
Edward O’Driscoll and Katie Fitzgerald (Newshub): Homeless charity Orange Sky pleading for more support to provide laundry, shower services
Primary industries
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Western Sahawari protesters appeal to Ardern over phosphate
RNZ: Kiwifruit growers’ PSA case: Biosecurity Act misinterpreted, Crown says
Eric Frykberg (RNZ): Kiwifruit growers’ PSA case: Government’s appeal begins
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Kiwifruit growers’ $450m compensation claim heads to Court of Appeal
Luke Kirkeby (Stuff): Fruit fly false alarms bug Ministry for Primary Industries
David Hargreaves (Interest): Pressure on Fonterra
Ihumātao
Kymberlee Fernandes (RNZ): South Auckland group takes land protest to Parliament
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Hikoi disappointed with Government response
Catherine Delahunty (The Spinoff): Ihumātao: a field of stones and flags
Vodafone
Jonathan Mitchell (RNZ): Hundreds of Vodafone staff opting for voluntary redundancy – Union
RNZ: About 2000 Vodafone staff told to consider voluntary redundancy
Chris Keall (Herald): Vodafone asks nearly all of its 2800 staff if they want redundancy
Rodeo
Patrick Gower (Newshub): Do-nothing Green MPs are complicit in rodeo bloodsport
1News: ‘I want to see an end to rodeo, pure and simple’ – SAFE renews call to ban rodeos after horse dies at Canterbury event
RNZ: Horse’s death at rodeo ‘an accident issue’
Newshub: ‘Take some bloody responsibility’: Angry Patrick Gower confronts rodeo advocate
Michael Jackson
John Moore: Michael Jackson and the spectre of censorship
Samantha Motion (Bay of Plenty Times): ‘Michael Jackson Monday’: Tauranga cafe protests TV documentary, plays his greatest hits on rotation
Katie Meadows (Stuff): How do we reckon with Michael Jackson in the wake of Leaving Neverland?
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): 716,000 Kiwis tune in during Michael Jackson documentary, not everyone could stomach it
Andrew Dickens (Herald): Leaving Neverland signals the end for Michael Jackson
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Leaving Neverland left me conflicted, confused – and needing a shower
Other
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Government venture capital fund turned down early offer to invest in Rocket Lab
Damien Venuto (Herald): WorkSafe NZ appoints FCB as new ad agency, looks to reach ‘a more culturally diverse audience’
Terry Baucher (Spinoff): Huge tax risks for SkyCity with offshore online gambling venture
Michelle Duff (Stuff): Gender equality: C’s might get degrees, but do they get re-election?
Herald: The GCSB and the NZSIS building will be flying the rainbow flag ahead of Wellington Pride Parade
David Cormack (Herald): A National fight
Kiwiblog: Guest Post: Can National win 2020 election?
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern talks motherhood, ‘not being allowed a chest’ in NEXT magazine piece
Herald: Former White House adviser John Podesta praises ‘superstar’ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): ‘Anticipate intensive lobbying from the large banks’
Stuff: Should the Government allow private individuals to fence off public land?
Todd Niall (Stuff): Team NZ backs marine industry opposition to superyacht levy
Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes (Māori TV): Māori Media Shift – Tūranga FM
Michael Reddell: In defence of capital charges (and higher public sector discount rates)
Dale Husband (E-Tangata): Rawiri Wright: It’s cool to be Māori
Shilo Kino (E-tangata): She thought I was homeless
Rob Stock (Stuff): Air NZ seeks millions in damages from Z Energy after fuel pipeline damaged
RNZ: Air New Zealand seeks damages from Z Energy over fuel pipeline rupture
Daniela Maoate-Cox (RNZ): Parliament briefed on food waste
Jonathan Guildford (Stuff): Canterbury Museum returns skulls to First Nations tribes after more than a century
Damian Rowe (Stuff): COGS funding formula under review after speculation of funding cuts to provincial areas
Tom Hunt (Stuff): US war whistle-blower silenced aboard cruise ship to New Zealand
Salient: Right and Hopefully Right – Freedom of Speech is Dying
Herald: Former Prime Minister extends sympathies to those killed in Ethiopian airliner crash
