Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
Today’s content
Budget leak
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): ‘Human error’ that led to Treasury Budget information access well-known – source
Herald: Budget leak ‘not unlawful’, the Treasury’s website exploited: Police
RNZ: Budget breach didn’t break the law – Treasury
Stuff: Budget leaks ‘not unlawful’, no further police action
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Police advise access to Treasury website not unlawful
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Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Intense speculation on Budget leaking and hacking (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Stuff): What we know and don’t know about the Budget ‘hack’
Jason Walls (Herald): The Government is distancing itself from claims it ‘smeared’ National over Treasury hack saga
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): National teases Budget surprise after day of few revelations
Audrey Young (Herald): Mental health set for massive injection in today’s Budget but National set to steal thunder (paywalled)
Claire Trevett: (Herald): Wellbeing Budget at risk of becoming Mutually Assured Destruction
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Budget 2019 eclipsed by allegations Treasury was hacked
Pattrick Smellie (Herald): ‘I leaked the budget in 1986’ (paywalled)
Dominion Post Editorial; Was there any point to the Budget leak?
Danyl Mclauchlan (Spinoff): Budget hacking scandal: About time Treasury told us what actually happened
No Right Turn: Treasury, “hacking”, and incentives
No Right Turn: Treasury owes us answers
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Budget 2019 is already overshadowed and National may reveal more
Gordon Campbell:On the Budget leak
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Budget hacking scandal: what the hell just happened?
John Anthony (Stuff): Budget 2019: ‘They’ll remember it as the budget that got hacked’
Emma Hatton (RNZ): Budget leak: When is a hack not a hack?
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Budget hack: should some of the Budget be released early?
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Budget hack theory could raise questions as to what is illegal
Jessica Mutch McKay (1News): Budget leak saga an extraordinary story and embarrassing for Government
Newshub: National Party’s release of Budget details sets off ‘political rollercoaster’ – Tova O’Brien
Paul Brislen (RNZ): Only option for clarity on Budget breach is to wait
Audrey Young (Herald): Simon Bridges needed to do two things today and he did neither (paywalled)
Brigitte Morten (RNZ): National plays strong hand over politics jackpot
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Labour has lost control of the week it should have been in control of
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Budget ‘hack’ political games to embarrass the Government – Michael Cullen
RNZ: Jesse Mulligan: Is it hacking or not? The budget scandal
Juha Saarinen (Herald): Conspiracy or cock-up? Strong evidence Treasury published Budget accidentally – rather than a hack
Herald: Treasury hack ‘not likely at all’ – security expert
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Cyber experts not convinced Treasury was hacked
Eric Crampton: Oh Treasury … again
RNZ: Simon Bridges accusations ‘desperate’, Finance Minister says
Sam Sachdeva and Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Bridges cries ‘witch hunt’ over Budget hack allegations
Anna Whyte (1News): Simon Bridges accuses Finance Minister of lying, says Budget hack allegations are a ‘witch hunt’
RNZ: Budget 2019 Treasury breach: ‘Entirely appropriate behaviour’ from National – Bridges
Derek Cheng (Herald): Simon Bridges on Budget saga: ‘Bungling, incompetent’ Govt to blame, not hacking
Dubby Henry (Herald): National MP flat-out denies Budget information came from a hack
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): ‘He’s lying’: Simon Bridges lashes out at Grant Robertson after hack claims
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern says there is no ‘gag’ on Opposition’s Budget info
Jason Walls (Herald): Number of National staff and MPs allowed at the Budget lockup slashed compared to last year
1News: Paula Bennett calls for ‘heads to roll’ following ‘absolutely outrageous’ Budget leak allegations
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): New Zealand police called in after mass hacking attempt on ‘wellbeing’ budget
Budget
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Budget preview: can Grant Robertson make ‘fetch’ happen?
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): Wellbeing Budget: ‘Joining the dots’ for a bold vision
Simon Wilson (Herald): 10 tests for the Wellbeing Budget (paywalled)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): What’s in today’s Budget – plenty of waffle and not so much wellbeing
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Budgets that made us, broke us and kept us on the edge of our seat
Jason Walls (Herald): Budget 2019: What has been announced so far?
Debrin Foxcroft Stuff): Budget 2019 has the potential to delight and disappoint with its focus on wellbeing
Anna Whyte (1News): Budget basics: Priorities and pre-Budget announcements ahead of tomorrow’s opening of the books
Dominion Post: What do Kiwis hope to gain from the 2019 ‘well-being’ Budget?
Leigh-Marama McLachlan (RNZ): Eyes on targeted Māori funding in Wellbeing Budget
RNZ: Disability advocates unsure if Wellbeing Budget will deliver for community
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Solo mum wants more support for low income workers, teacher aides, from Budget 2019
Kawe Roes (Māori TV): Hearing-impaired Māori plead for interpreter funding in Budget 2019
Teachers’ mega-strike, teacher pay
Simon Collins (Herald): Teachers look for ‘creative solution’: ‘We can’t continue like this’
Zane Small (Newshub): Fact-checking the teachers’ pay deal: Is it as good as the Government says?
1News: ‘Not good enough!’ Education Minister Chris Hipkins drowned out by chanting teachers at Parliament
Stuff: Education Minister Chris Hipkins says ‘I cannot offer you that’ as teachers strike nationwide demanding Government action
Tema Hemi (Māori TV): Mega march on parliament
1News: Thousands protest across the country demanding increased teacher pay and better conditions
1News: Massive teachers’ strike goes ahead today as Government reiterates there’s no more money
RNZ: Checkpoint: Teachers vow to strike again if govt doesn’t up its offer
Stuff: Teachers strike across the country demanding Government action
Tom McRae (Newshub): Mega-strike: What happened when 55,000 teachers took to the streets
Eleanor Ainge Roy (Guardian): New Zealand schools hit by ‘mega-strike’ as 50,000 teachers walk out
Mark Longley (Newshub: Mega-strike: Parents support teachers striking, NZPTA says
Nicole Bremner (1News): Concerns from parents, businesses if teachers’ strike action continues
Stuff: Teacher strike: We’re not being greedy – we’re asking for what we deserve
Lois Williams (RNZ): Special needs teacher suffers permanent damage after incident
Marion Townsend (Stuff): Things need to change for us teachers, but this strike is a bitter pill to swallow
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Teachers’ strike: Burnt out, depressed, disillusioned – the staff quitting the classroom
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Auckland teachers’ strike draws thousands to Queen St
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Teachers consider career changes if no better offer
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Thousands demonstrate in Christchurch as part of NZ’s biggest ever teachers’ strike
ODT: Vow for more strikes as thousands march in South
ODT: Support in South for teachers’ cause
George Heagney (Manawatū Standard): Manawatū mega strike sends mega message as teachers walk off the job
Raniera Harrison (Māori TV): Largest-ever national teachers strike hits Northland streets
Eleanor Rarity (Timaru Herald): South Canterbury’s education sectors want Budget 2019 to deliver more funding and support
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Mega-strike teachers fear budget betrayal
Brianna McIlraith (Stuff): Education strike: Taranaki teacher questioning career after just six months
Katy Jones (Stuff): Teachers strike: Nelson teachers add their voices to national protest
Alice Angeloni (Stuff): Teachers strike: Rights and respect behind Marlborough teachers’ stand
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Josephine Franks (Stuff): Hundreds of teachers paid less than minimum wage
John Lewis (ODT): Teachers below minimum wage
Mental health and addiction inquiry
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Mental health response not transformative… yet
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Government’s response to mental health inquiry generally welcomed
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Mental health: Mum of bipolar daughter’s emotional plea to Jacinda Ardern
Anna Whyte (1News): Govt pledges ‘significant’ mental health funding, but rejects suicide reduction target
RNZ: Government accepts 38 of 40 recommendations from mental health inquiry report
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Government says ‘no’ to suicide reduction target recommended by Mental Health and Addictions Inquiry
Alex Braae (Spinoff): Mental health and addiction inquiry: the government responds
Lucy Bennett and Jason Walls (Herald): Mental health reform: Government to boost funding, re-write re-write laws relating to compulsory treatment laws
Zane Small (Newshub): Mental health inquiry: Government commits to expanding alcohol and drug support
Christchurch terror attacks
Derek Cheng (Herald): Royal Commission into mosque shootings to keep most info secret
David Fisher (Herald): Mosque shooter’s prison guards seek help from jailers of Norwegian mass murderer and terrorist Anders Breivik (paywalled)
Lisa Davies (1News): Christchurch terrorist attack victim struggling with lack of ongoing support from Government agencies
Tony Wall (Stuff): Former Methodist leader Keith Rowe says church groups haven’t gone far enough in accepting Islam
Tony Wall (Stuff): The conservative Christians who believe NZ has gone too far in its embrace of Muslims
Tony Wall (Stuff): Ally Hawkes works at a Catholic church and has two sons who converted to Islam
Transport
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Politicians supported Stan Semenoff’s bid for a seat on the NZ Transport Agency board
Meriana Johnsen (RNZ): Transport Agency admits it rushed e-scooter process
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): E-scooter courtesy zone trial adopted for Dunedin’s CBD
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Mayor Justin Lester favours trackless trams over light rail for Let’s Get Wellington Moving
Todd Niall (Stuff): Don Brash in group seeking inquiry into Auckland Transport
Katie Bradford (1News): Group including Don Brash accuses Auckland Transport of mis-management, ‘war on pedestrians’
RNZ: Anti-Auckland Transport lobby group launches
RNZ: Wellington commuters question cancelled services as empty school buses running
Employment, migrant exploitation
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): PNG workers connected with Destiny Church worked for free on Te Mata winery – ERA
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): ERA orders contracting firm to pay $30,000 for migrant exploitation on Hawke’s Bay vineyard
1News: Contractor ordered to pay $30k for exploitation of migrants at popular Hawke’s Bay vineyard
Stuff: $30,000 in penalties after workers at popular vineyard missed out on wages
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): Restaurant owner accused of paying manager $400 a month, ‘taxing’ her $370 a month
Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor (RNZ): Pasifika women face institutional racism, discrimination and pay inequality
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): Staff reeling as The Warehouse confirms it will close distribution centres
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): What’s going on at The Warehouse?
Peter McKenzie (Newsroom): The birth of a union
RNZ: Box ticking: Are Rainbow Tick workplaces really safe for LGBTQI staff?
Jonathan Mitchell (RNZ): Rainbow Tick more than just window dressing – manager
Brad Olsen (Infometrics): Employing the unemployable
Mental health in construction sector
Lana Andelane and Wilhelmina Shrimpton (Newshub): Report reveals alarming rates of construction worker suicide in New Zealand
RNZ: Building industry working to improve mental health, reduce suicide
Health
1News: Thousands of Kiwis illegally obtaining medicinal cannabis, new research suggests
1News: Vaping ‘about as bad as smoking’ warns prominent US anti-smoking activist
Ruby Macandrew (Stuff): Smokers outnumber vapers in Wellington but the balance is shifting, raising fresh public health concerns
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Call for mental health discussion
Natalie Akoorie (Herald): Suspected suicide: Esther Osborne spent 10 years at a mental health facility before she died. Her family want answers (paywalled)
Mike Houlahan (ODT): SDHB launches review into roadside birth
RNZ: Southern DHB to review changes after roadside birth
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Maternity care: SDHB ‘will be held to account’
Damian Rowe (Southland Times): Southern DHB healthy home strategy to reduce hospital admissions
Karen Brown (RNZ): New bowel cancer kit aimed to help those under 60
D’Angelo Martin (Māori TV): West Auckland weighs up its liquor laws
Michael Cropp (RNZ): Youth leaders oppose liquor ban in Wellington suburb
Lucy Warhurst (Newshub): Middlemore hospital already seeing double the flu cases it did last year
Brittney Duguara (Stuff): Health Star Ratings absent from 80 per cent of food and drink packages, study finds
Foulden Marr mining proposal, Mining Forum
Simon Hartley (ODT): Maar site appears safe in short term
RNZ: Foulden Maar fossil fight: Council considers options
Bruce Munro (ODT): Digging up the past
Simon Hartley (ODT): Debaters largely in accord on fossil fuels
Environment and conservation
Scott Palmer (Newshub): New Zealand monitoring possible 3.5m Antarctic sea-level rise
Don Rowe (Spinoff): There are eleven more bodies on Everest
Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes (Māori TV): Infamous track on Te Mata Peak exposes racism
Alison Ballance (RNZ): Kākāpō health concerns continue
ODT: Single-salmon bag limit as fishery ‘in crisis’
Media
RNZ: Advisory panel chosen for Māori media sector review
Māori TV: Māori Media Sector Shift advisory panel named
Māori TV: Māori Television announces Shane Taurima as new CEO
RNZ: Shane Taurima named as new Māori Television chief executive
Housing
Susan St John and Janet McAllister (Newsroom): The cash benefit fuelling NZ’s housing crisis
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Property investors ‘won’t all hit insulation deadline’
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): Aucklanders happy to trade the backyard for apartment life
Reserve Bank’s Financial Stability Report
Richard Harman (Politik): Orr challenges trading banks over their profits
RNZ: LVRs to remain unchanged – Reserve Bank
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): New Zealanders’ incomes not keeping pace with growing debt
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Reserve Bank warns of insurance risk to house values (paywalled)
Business
Liam Dann (Herald): Business confidence gets bounce off CGT backdown
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Government ‘needs to get some runs on the board’ with business
BusinessDesk: Business confidence a tad higher
RNZ: Business confidence rises, but still low – ANZ
Primary industries
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Treasury fears over farm debt bill
Raniera Harrison (Māori TV): More Māori youth set for horticulture sector
Other
Stacey Kirk Stuff): NZ stock-still: Welfare, child abuse, housing and maternity care show no gains
Marty Sharpe (Stuff): Child’s drawing of Mob patch lying on wet road is a sign of hopelessness
Karl du Fresne (Stuff): Populism on the rise as the elite shows its contempt for ordinary people
1News: Customs refuse to reveal details about alleged passenger search involving new Whale Oil book
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Google’s NZ tax bill edges up to $398,000 after ditching controversial model
David Williams (Newsroom): The early plan to rebuild Scott Base
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Long-serving Dunedin mayor Dave Cull to stand down
Kate Aschoff (Stuff): Drastic change needed: Allow beneficiaries to live with dignity
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Parliament building ‘safe’ while engineers probe earthquake concerns
Stuff: Mark Solomon appointed head of Māori development funding body for South Island iwi
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Radical gun lobby gets opponent
Sophie Bateman (Newshub): New Zealand’s international influence surges thanks to Jacinda Ardern’s leadership
Sharnae Hope (Stuff): New Māori Wardens providing safety at ground zero
Paul Hobbs (1News):Grandfather of white supremacist due to be released from Christchurch Prison warns it’s a ‘matter of time’ before he kills
RN: Man warns about white supremacist grandson’s intentions to kill
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Father ‘heartbroken’ after son abducted by mother despite border alert
RNZ: Man to sue police, Customs, Attorney-general after son taken by mother
Stuff: Dancing With The Stars: David Seymour teaming up with ‘unmitigated legend’ William Waiirua
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Dancing with the Stars: The return of David Seymour
Terry Bellamak (Stuff): Denying the right to an abortion is a form of tyranny
