Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – April 9 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.
Today’s content
Tax
Alison Pavlovich (Herald): The point being missed in the capital gains tax debate
Lucy Bennett (Herald): BusinessNZ-commissioned poll shows voters against CGT
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): ‘Majority of people support a capital gains tax’ – lobby group
Katie Fitzgerald and Miriam Harris (Newshub): Farm flippers should be taxed – Federated Farmers
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Large majority of New Zealanders don’t want capital gains tax – poll
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): CGT supporters and Taxpayers Union take tax wrangle to Parliament
Derek Cheng (Herald): Few people at campaign launch in favour of capital gains tax
Zane Small (Newshub): Pro-capital gains tax campaigners Tax Justice Aotearoa protest at Parliament
RNZ: Bridges says CGT will affect up to 570,000 businesses
David Farrar: Cullen attacks CGT critic
Greg Presland (Standard): Astroturf organisation accuses Tax Justice Aotearoa of being an astroturf organisation
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Should iwi pay capital gains on traditional assets?
Stuff: Tourism puts hand out for 20 per cent of GST paid by overseas visitors
Education and training
Luke Kirkness (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the Government can’t offer primary schools more funds, mega-strike looming
Anna Whyte (1News): No more money says Ardern, as primary teachers reject latest offer
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Teachers’ strike: What ‘work to rule’ would mean for teachers and students
Laura Macdonald (Newshub): ‘Mega-strike’ looms as primary, secondary teachers consider joining forces
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Primary teachers and principals reject latest collective agreement offer
Melissa NIghtingale (Herald): Strikes loom again as primary school teachers reject latest pay offer
1News: New strike looms as primary teachers and principals reject latest offer from Government
RNZ: Primary school teachers and principals reject latest pay offer
Rhonwyn Newson (Newshub): Teachers reject latest Ministry of Education offers
Māori TV: Teachers “overwhelmingly” reject latest pay offer
Jody O’Callaghan (Stuff): Education reforms chance to reengage disillusioned Maori and improve economy
Charlotte Cook (RNZ): Ex-student opens up about toxic culture at Otago uni hostel, says she was raped
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Course closures make farming a tough industry to crack
Royal Commission of Inquiry into Christchurch mosque attacks
Southland Times Editorial: Royal Commission deserves neither blind faith nor sanctified mistrust
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Royal commission terms please Muslim leaders
Herald: Supreme Court judge Sir William Young to lead Royal Commission of Inquiry into Christchurch mosque attacks
RNZ: Terror attack inquiry: ‘No stone will be left unturned’ – PM
1News: Supreme Court judge to head royal commission of inquiry into Christchurch terrorist attack
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Supreme Court Justice William Young to head Royal Commission of Inquiry into Christchurch terror attacks
Zane Small (Newshub): Supreme Court Judge Sir William Young to lead Royal Commission of Inquiry into Christchurch terror attack
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Government instructs Royal Commission of Inquiry into Christchurch terror attacks to work with ‘urgency’ and report back by December
Gun laws
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Firearms law clears select committee hurdle
Katie Fitzgerald and Jared McCulloch (Newshub): National Party happy with gun laws, despite need for a few tweaks
RNZ: Firearms amendment: Select Committee makes few changes
Derek Cheng (Herald): Select committee recommends Arms Amendment Bill to pass, with extra exemptions
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): Select Committee recommends Government go ahead with semi-automatics ban
Collette Devlin (Stuff): About 60 per cent of submitters support new gun law
1News: Loopholes in gun legislation could go against its intent, police union warns
Crusaders name change
Herald: Prime Minister denies report pushing for Crusaders to change name
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern denies pushing for Crusaders to change name after Christchurch attacks
Alex Mason (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Sports Minister Grant Robertson pushing for Crusaders name change, sources say
Anna Whyte (1News): ‘Real leadership’ shown from Crusaders as rugby team weighs up whether to change its name, Jacinda Ardern says
Dominic Harris (Stuff): Petition to keep Crusaders name nears 25,000 signatures
ODT Editorial: Time for crusade to end
Steve Deane (Newsroom): Time to end rugby’s uneasy, ill-chosen Crusade
Government
Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Government minister Shane Jones is skating on thin ice
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Why Shane Jones must be destroyed
Liam Hehir (Stuff): When political realities of the day collide with grace and poise
Intolerance, diversity, hate speech
Chris Trotter (Interest): A nation divided – is an absolutely normal nation
Press Editorial: When does free speech become hate speech?
David Cormack (Herald): Who polices the words?
Euthanasia
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Tensions and hot tempers over euthanasia law
Alex Penk (Spinoff): Why we should be sceptical of David Seymour’s euthanasia bill
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Euthanasia’s an issue whose time has surely come
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Choosing life despite a terminal diagnosis
Health
1News: Greater flexibility needed by Pharmac to fund new medicines, including cancer drug – expert
1News: ‘Too many people dying’ – rugby player with terminal illness puts helping create national cancer plan on bucket list
Evan Harding (Southland Times): Blair Vining ticking off bucket list
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Optometrists want end to cataract ‘postcode care’: ‘It’s affecting people’s quality of life’
Meghan Lawrence (Herald):Bloodstains, faeces and double-bunking: Former patient questions mental-health ward conditions
Libby Wilson (Stuff): Waikato DHB lawyer complains about Coroner who found Nicky Stevens’ death ‘avoidable’
Dave Macpherson (Daily Blog): Waikato DHB tries to bully legal system into changing Coronial outcome in Nicky Stevens case
Karen Brown (RNZ): Junior doctors’ possible five-day strike raises concerns for patients
RNZ: DHBs call for junior doctors’ union to consider offer before strikes
Rotorua Daily Post: Major international health conference starts in Rotorua
Samesh Mohanlall (Stuff): Measurable progress made at South Canterbury District Health Board, survey reveals
Charlotte Carter (Stuff): Elderly woman given wrong medication three times at Auckland retirement village
1News: Rest home gives elderly resident another’s medicine, wrong dose of her own
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Northland primary school raises nearly $20,000 for students’ meningococcal vaccines
Shane Reti (Northern Advocate): No meningitis cash for North but millions for New Guinea/Fiji vaccinations
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Māori health coalition calls for less punitive drug law reform
Nita Blake-Persen (RNZ): ACC rejects Auckland family’s renovation plans to care for daughter
Christina Persico (Stuff): Advice for anyone wanting to serve their District Health Board
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Increased rates of PTSD, anxiety, depression ‘inevitable’ after Christchurch terror attack
State care of children, child welfare
David Farrar: Anti-Catholic prejudice
Chris Morris (ODT): Call for Sir Anand to resign from commission
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Calls for a Māori Children’s Commissioner to give voice and advocacy tamariki
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): ‘Te Kōtuku’ bilingual safety programme aims to curb preventable injury, death among Māori children
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Māori families need support in communities, not in Government
Facebook, social media
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Jacinda Ardern mulls NZ’s role in social media reform
Richard Harman (Politik): Look out Mark – here comes Jacinda
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern calls for global approach to block harm on digital platforms
Stuff: Privacy commissioner: Facebook are ‘morally bankrupt pathological liars’
Herald: Facebook are ‘morally bankrupt, pathological liars’ – NZ Privacy Commissioner
ODT: Morally bankrupt Facebook ‘don’t give a Zuck’: NZ privacy watchdog
RNZ: Facebook should turn off livestreaming – Privacy Commissioner
1News:‘Pathological liars’ – Privacy Commissioner lashes out at Facebook over Christchurch live stream
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): Facebook are ‘morally bankrupt liars’ says New Zealand’s privacy commissioner
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Gone in 20 minutes: Facebook strips student nude mag cover
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Bank stand-off against social media set to end as ANZ mulls return to advertising
Foreign affairs
Matt Nippert (Herald): Anne-Marie Brady case: Jacinda Ardern pushes back on Oz claim
Jamie Gray (Herald): NZ-China relations good for now, but could worsen over Huawei
Audrey Young (Herald): Beijing’s growing ‘Flatwhite’ coffee empire has seeds in NZ
RNZ: NZ West Papua support group urges action on Papua crisis
RNZ: NZ arrest warrant still current for Cooks’ MP
Christine Rovoi (RNZ): Pacific Trade Show exhibits blocked by Biosecurity NZ
Census
1News: Simon Bridges calls out 2018 Census as ‘botched’, data yet to be released
No Right Turn: This is not how our public service should work
Mosque video charge
David Clarkson (Stuff): Christchurch teenager denies mosque video charge
RNZ: Man to defend himself over ‘Target Acquired’ image
1News: Christchurch teen reappears in court charged with sharing mosque attack livestream
Anzac Day
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): ‘More than 300’ hate messages sent to Anzac service organiser after cancellation
RNZ: Auckland Anzac Day services to merge for safety
Herald: Anzac Day commemorations cancelled for West Auckland RSAs following Christchurch attacks
Kim Baker Wilson (1News): Anzac Day service cancelled as terrorism threat level remains ‘high’ after Christchurch attacks
Laine Moger (Stuff): Matakana Anzac Day service cancelled citing ‘terror threat levels’
Environment and conservation
Ryan Anderson (Stuff): 4000 native species still under threat of extinction despite change, new report shows
Zane Small (Newshub): Enormous 900,000-hectare 1080 drop planned for South Island forests
Oliver Lewis (Stuff): Department of Conservation to undertake huge predator control programme in response to ‘mega mast’
1News: Predator plague in forests that threatens native wildlife could intensify due to biggest ‘mast’ in more than 40 years
Maureen Howard (ODT): Seeing the forest
Stuff: Global warming is shrinking glaciers faster than thought
Paul Gorman (Stuff): New Zealand’s piles of historic rubbish – with a sea view
Alton Jamieson (Herald): We should not wait another 10 years for clean beaches
Georgia Forrester (Stuff): Climate change: Is an Auckland professor’s no-fly movement beginning to soar?
Northern Advocate: Northland’s Motukawanui Island one of top global conservation hopes for threatened species
Liu Chen (RNZ): Plastic bag recycling scheme ‘needs to be more sustainable’
1News: Water New Zealand says ‘flushable’ products may not meet their own claims, blockages cost $16 million per year
Pare Hauraki settlement
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): 50 complaints against Andrew Little over Treaty settlement
RNZ: Ngāi Te Rangi presses claim to Tauranga Harbour at urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry
Heta Gardiner (Māori TV): Ngāi Te Rangi take grievance with Pare Hauraki to Waitangi Tribunal
Waatea News: Iwi battle over settlement veto
Primary industries
Heather Chalmers (Stuff): Industry scrabbles to find fruit pickers, offering $23.50 an hour
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): Kiwifruit industry welcomes declaration of seasonal labour shortage in BOP
Laura Wiltshire (Hawkes Bay Today): Māori king launches rebranded Takitimu Seafoods, a project ’30 years in the making’
Waatea News: Fishy history means eyes on Takitimu Seafoods
Georgie Ormond (Herald): Local Focus: Workers unite behind Takitimu Seafoods
Eric Frkyberg (RNZ): Possible new rules for banks could hurt farmers – economist
Nick Clark (Newshub): Opinion: Reserve Bank’s proposals just adding more stress to farmers
Angie Skerrett (Newshub):Agricultural climate change conference ‘first of its kind’
West Coast flooding
Angie Skerrett (Newshub): ‘We will help you, but don’t expect a cheque’: Ag Minister to West Coast farmers
1News: Race against time to clean up rubbish on West Coast before predicted rain
RNZ: West Coast rubbish wash-out did not spread to Fiordland
Local government
Dave Macpherson (Spinoff): In defence of Hamilton City Council
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Campbell Barry enters race for Lower Hutt mayoralty with Labour Party backing
Joanne Carroll (Stuff): Westland District Council pulled up again by Auditor-General for illegal actions
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): No wards or community boards for Palmerston North
Corrections
Matthew Rosenberg (Stuff): Man taken to hospital following alleged assault at Paremoremo prison
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Auckland prisoner rushed to hospital after alleged stabbing
1News: Prisoner rushed to hospital after alleged assault at Auckland Prison
Transport
Herald Editorial: Lower speed limits should help reduce road deaths
Anne Gibson (Herald): Transporter hits back at NZTA: ‘only 4 speeding tickets in 4 years’ – Semenoff Logging
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Scrapping light rail to West Auckland sparks questions about transport alternatives
Damian George (Stuff): Dozens of extra buses and drivers needed to prevent further Wellington bus cancellations
1News: AA spokesperson suggests using traffic cameras to catch people using phones while driving
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Texting and driving: ‘Mangled bodies are not nice
Te Papa
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Te Papa backs down over fish expert redundancy
RNZ: Te Papa expert made redundant gets offered new role at museum
Wheel clamping
Derek Cheng (Herald): ‘Intimidating behaviour’: Clamping down on wheel clamping
Derek Cheng (Herald): Govt advice on wheel-clamping based on anecdotes and media reports, says MBIE
Other
Dave Armstorng (Dominion Post): Bridges fails leadership test over ’emotional junior staffer’ case
Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes (Māori TV): Putting a lid on gambling venues
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Former staff claim bullying at Wellington Zoo prompts exodus of key staff
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Work gets under way on plan for implementation of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
Farah Hancock (Newsroom): Homeowners ignore healthy home advice
Harrison Christian (Stuff: Immigration NZ accused of ageism after noting 33-year age gap between Kiwi man and Filipina woman
Alice Peacock (Herald): Camping crackdown: Eleven people fined for illegal freedom camping over summer period
Herald: Burger King removes ‘racist’ ad in New Zealand
Jihee Junn (Spinoff): Everything wrong with Burger King’s ‘Vietnamese’ burger ad
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Why flexible working doesn’t work in practice
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Wellington Zoo lion lock-up breach leads to departure of senior manager
Tim Miller (ODT): Church threatens legal action against demolition opponents
Herald: Newstalk ZB host Larry Williams hanging up the headphones
Emily Brookes (Stuff): Newstalk ZB host Larry Williams to retire after nearly three decades
Matthew Theunissen (RNZ): Remembering actor and activist Anzac Wallace
Māori TV: ‘Utu’ lead actor Anzac Wallace passes away
