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
1News Colmar Brunton poll
Thomas Coughlan and Luke Malpass(Stuff): Spectre of Labour-Green coalition National’s worst nightmare
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Labour needs Greens on latest One News poll (paywalled)
Claire Trevett (Herald): Do the polls deliver a whisper of hope for National? (paywalled)
David Farrar: Latest poll
—————
1News: 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll: Labour and Greens in driving seat, but ACT still strong
1News: National’s poll bump ‘not big enough for this point in the election cycle’ – Jessica Mutch McKay
1News: Collins rises as preferred PM, but still significantly behind Ardern – 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll
1News: ‘It’s game on’ – ACT’s popularity continues to rise in latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll
RNZ: Latest TVNZ political poll shows Labour down, National up
Newshub-Reid Research poll
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research poll shows Kiwis trust Labour over National to run economy as Paul Goldsmith dodges blame over fiscal hole
Mark Quinlivan and Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern hasn’t ‘entertained’ idea of governing alone despite polls showing a majority
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Judith Collins says poll shows National ‘coming back’, vows to bring more ‘steel’ in lead-up to NZ Election 2020
Māori Television Curia Research Te Tai Hauāuru poll, Te Tai Hauāuru candidate debate
Māori TV: Voters undecided over Te Tai Hauāuru candidates – poll result
Māori TV: Te Tai Hauāuru voters want a Labour-Māori Party coalition
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Poll of Te Tai Hauāuru brings bad news for Māori Party
RNZ: A third of Te Tai Hauāuru voters yet to decide what MP to vote for
—————
Māori TV: Experts on how the Te Tai Hauāuru debate went
Māori TV: Most Te Tai Hauāuru voters want cannabis legalised
Māori TV: Te Tai Hauāuru candidates staunchly oppose voters on End of Life Choice Act
Māori TV: Te Tai Hauāuru candidates feature in first Māori TV debate tonight
TVNZ Young Voters’ Debate
1News: TVNZ Young Voters’ Debate sees parties vie for youth support with housing, climate, education policies
1News: How parties would relieve the Covid-19 burden put to young candidates at TVNZ debate
1News: Chlöe Swarbrick hits back at ACT MP’s ‘fiscal child poverty’ comment, calling it ‘disgusting’ and a typical ‘soundbite’
1News: ‘Stopped more houses being built at Ihumātao than they’ve built’ – National’s Simeon Brown targets Labour’s housing record
1News: Full video: Young Voters’ Debate
1News: Issues that matter to Aotearoa’s rangatahi in the spotlight in TVNZ’s young voters’ debate
Election
Chris Trotter (Interest): Judith Collins expects to lose – she may even be looking forward to it
Richard Shaw (The Conversation): With polls showing Labour could govern alone, is New Zealand returning to the days of ‘elected dictatorship’?
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Small fortunes: Dunne’s tips on the pitfalls of party popularity
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Are Labour voters turning Green? (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): Labour tacks and National dog whistles
Brent Edwards (NBR): National, Labour blueprints for post-Covid economic recovery differ (paywalled)
Julie Iles (NBR: Election 2020: Political world’s biggest Facebook ad spenders? (paywalled)
Gordon Campbell: On whether this election is already a foregone conclusion
Herald: The Front Bench podcast: National struggles while Act rises in the polls
Matt Bartlett (Newsroom): Parties miss the mark on technology
Mike Yardley (Press): Legislating against offence will make for a highly censored society
Andrew MacFarlane (1News): Vote Compass: Most New Zealanders want conversion therapy banned
Georgina Campbell (Herald): All or nothing in Ōhāriu electorate as three MPs contest seat
Newstalk ZB: Spotlight on Wellington: Focus on the Ōhāriu electorate
Martin van Beynen (Press): Plugging In… to Waimakariri: Will Nat voters be swayed by the Ardern effect?
Martin van Beynen (Press): Plugging in… to Christchurch East
John Weekes (Stuff): Chris Luxon a shoo-in for Botany, but expert issues warning
Deena Coster (Stuff): Fiery debate keeps New Plymouth candidates on their toes
Alex Braae (Spinoff): How a Dunedin election debate became the hottest ticket in town
Labour’s Tiwai smelter announcement
Jason Walls (Herald): Battleground Tiwai – Political parties clash over Southland smelter policies
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Labour criticised by environmental groups for promise to keep Tiwai Point smelter open
No Right Turn: One way or another, we’re paying for this
Stuff Editorial: Tiwai’s story is now “To be continued . . . ”
Laura Smith and Luisa Girao (ODT): Rio Tinto welcomes Labour pledge
Logan Savory (Southland Times): Southland leaders welcome Labour’s Tiwai policy, but wary of timing, funding
David Hargreaves (Interest): Labour aims for three-to-five year extension to Tiwai smelter, including ‘supporting’ Transpower to allow reduced power costs for smelter owner NZAS
Gavin Evans (BusinessDesk): Smelter to be offered lower transmission price (paywalled)
Jason Walls (Herald): Labour promises to keep Tiwai Point on life support – but there’s a catch
Stuff: Labour promises to keep Tiwai smelter open longer
RNZ: Labour commits to Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter extension negotiations
1News: Labour promises to negotiate extension of Tiwai Point smelter operations
Zane Small (Newshub): Labour joins National, New Zealand First in seeking extension to Tiwai Point smelter closure
Logan Savory (Stuff): Ngai Tahu pushes for green hydrogen transition at Tiwai Point
RNZ: Mataura toxic waste stoush in Environment Court today
Labour
Shane Te Pou (Herald): Māori Caucus could ‘heed lessons from Congressional Black Caucus’ (paywalled)
1News: Labour failing tangata whenua as Treaty partners, says Māori Party co-leader
Matthew Tso (Dominion Post): Regional hubs won’t be far if Labour is re-elected, Hipkins says
Jo Moir (RNZ): Labour to pledge increase in emergency dental grant from $300 to $1000
National
Derek Cheng (Herald): The return of ‘Crusher’ Collins (paywalled)
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Judith Collins asked to embrace ‘Crusher’ persona
Anna Whyte (1News): National promise tertiary providers $4K for each unemployed Kiwi that gets work
Zane Small (Newshub): National promises tertiary educators $4000 for every unemployed Kiwi they get back into work
RNZ: National would pay $4000 to retrain unemployed into work in reskilling policy
Amelia Wade (Herald): National promises a ‘zero suicide’ strategy for mental health
RNZ: National promises ‘zero suicides’ strategy, mental health minister
Thomas Manch (Stuff): National promises free Covid-19 counselling sessions, a Minister for Mental Health
Zane Small (Newshub): National wants new Mental Health Minister, promises ‘100,000 free counselling sessions’
RNZ: National promises Nelson hospital rebuild with work starting by 2024
Zane Small (Newshub): Labour compares National’s financial plan to fraudulent Fyre Festival in the United States
Cherie Sivignon (Nelson Mail): Concern about economy No. 1 issue on campaign trail says Collins
Tim Newman (Nelson Mail): Collins goes on the offensive at public meeting in Nelson
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Judith Collins hits back at ‘disgusting’ accusations of her ‘weaponising’ husband’s ethnicity
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Could Sir John Key save National from Jacinda Ardern?
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Senior National Party figure ‘Merv from Manurewa’ aka Roger Bridge still in leadership
RNZ: Nats official who allegedly goes by ‘Merv’ still in leadership
ACT
Liam Hehir (Newsroom): The secret to ACT’s popularity
Jo Moir (RNZ): ACT Party relishing gain in polls
Newstalk ZB: Act’s impressive rise in political polls continues
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Party ‘skills shortage’ why ACT unlikely to work with Labour – David Seymour
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): ‘A lot of ways’ New Conservatives and ACT could work together ‘for the benefit of New Zealand’ – Leighton Baker
1News: Seven Sharp: ‘The outside was the best bit’ – David Seymour eats cake depicting himself, baked by Laura Daniel
NZ First
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): What does Winston Peters do now?
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Winston Peters has done us a favour over Ihumātao
Greens
Daisy Hudson (ODT): Co-housing project a light for NZ, Green leader says
1News: ‘My very own Bernie Sanders moment’ – Butterfly lands on James Shaw’s mic at Greens campaign event
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Butterfly makes unexpected appearance during James Shaw’s speech
Relationships across the political divide
Liam Hehir (Democracy Project): How to prevent politics and elections dictating your personal relationships
RNZ; The Detail: When politics and dating don’t mix
Cannabis referendum
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Cannabis referendum: Will we see a vote to continue with hypocrisy?
Tracy Neal (RNZ): Global medicinal cannabis market could undercut NZ growers
Herald: My Story: Tuari Potiki, NZ Drug Foundation, as told to Elisabeth Easther (paywalled)
Euthanasia referendum
John Gibb (ODT): Prediction of ‘yes’ vote in referendum
Ben Gray (Newsroom): Assisted dying an opportunity cost
Welfare, inequality
Isaac Davison (Herald): What’s the plan for welfare and child poverty?
RNZ: Labour’s Jacinda Ardern defends track record on child welfare and poverty
Susan St John (Daily Blog): What? No benefit increase
Brooke Stanley Pao (Spinoff): You can’t eat kindness
The Standard: What Have Labour Done For The Poor, Exactly?
Coronavirus, Trans-Tasman bubble, border exemptions
Thomas Manch and Louisa-Jane Steyl (Stuff): Judith Collins questions if Kiwis are ready for trans-Tasman bubble
RNZ: Winston Peters optimistic about Australian travel bubble
AAP: ‘We need New Zealanders, just like they need Australians’ – Morrison and Ardern open to bubble
Stuff: Transtasman travel bubble within weeks – Australian reports
Sally Murphy (RNZ): Tourism industry hopeful about pre-Christmas trans-Tasman bubble
Brook Sabin (Stuff): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says trans-Tasman travel may be possible before Christmas
—————
Amy Williams (RNZ): Another private managed isolation plan to be proposed after elections
1News: Construction industry wants to fund its own Covid-19 quarantine centre for highly skilled workers
RNZ: Business NZ urges border exemptions for investors
RNZ: Checkpoint: NZ rejecting Pacific yachts in cyclone season ‘ludicrous’ – Ocean Cruising Club boss
—————
Ben Strang (RNZ): Police considered charging Black Lives Matter march organisers
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern waiting ‘with interest’ trial results of COVID-19 sniffer dogs
Business
Rob Stock (Stuff): Waves of ‘zombie’ company failures predicted as Covid support withdrawn
Tim McCready (Herald): Mood of the boardroom: CEOs compare finance rivals Grant Robertson and Paul Goldsmith (paywalled)
Aimee shaw (Herald): Mood of the boardroom: What business wants from the next government (paywalled)
Newstalk ZB: Mood of the Boardroom: Govt get ‘pass mark’ for Covid response
Amy Williams (RNZ): Auckland job losses not as severe as predicted
Sally Rae (ODT): Lack of economic confidence in South
Environment
Jamie Morton (Herald): $160m a year: Sweeping new assessment of NZ’s big flood threat
Newsroom: Party leaders tackle the ‘green recovery’ question
Spinoff: 100 year forecast: A five part documentary series on the impact of climate change for New Zealand’s future
Eleisha Foon (RNZ): Extinction Rebellion protesters block entrance to Canterbury coal mine
Michael Hayward (Stuff): Water quality data reveals a ‘very mixed bag’ for Canterbury rivers
Matthew Littlewood (Timaru Herald): Water quality report is good and bad for South Canterbury rivers
Primary industries
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Trawl gear damages fragile coral reefs, so why is the Government sanctioning more hauls?
Crystal Wu (Newshub): Green Party insists on speeding up instalment of fishing cameras after reports of illegal shark finning
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): Election 2020: What’s on the table for farmers?
David Williams (Newsroom): Last battles loom for Mackenzie dairy farm
Education
Laura Walters (Newsroom): NZ First commits to ECE pay parity
Aaron Leaman (Waikato Times): Grant Robertson promises student lifeline
George Heagney (Manawatū Standard): International students’ absence to be felt for some time at Massey University
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Principals worried by prospect of frequent Education Review Office visits
Simon Collins (Herald): Covid 19 coronavirus: No holiday for Auckland NCEA students
Transport
Phil Pennington (RNZ): NZTA hushed historic Auckland Harbour Bridge contamination
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Anger from Auckland locals kept in the dark about Harbour Bridge contamination
Amelia Wade (Herald): NZ First leader Winston Peters says Auckland’s light rail cost is $10-$15b
Foreign affairs
Robert Ayson (Newsroom): Election 2020: The foreign policy cupboard is bare
Herald Editorial: Why it is important for NZ to maintain a light diplomatic touch (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: China’s misguided assertiveness
Health
Oliver Lewis and Laura Walters (Newsroom): Mental Health efforts risk stalling without action plan
Francesca Rudkin (Newstalk ZB): Political parties lacking policy on fixing our healthcare system
Jamie Morton (Herald): Less trust among Māori in vaccines and GPs, study suggests
Local government
Andrea Fox (Herald): Auckland port’s financial results reignite questions about council ownership (paywalled)
Matthew Littlewood (Timaru Herald): Timaru District Council submits $14m of water projects for $6.8m stimulus fund
Other
No Right Turn: International Right To Know Day
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Police, WorkSafe, Labour Inspectorate visit Gloriavale after allegations of controlling behaviour, worker exploitation
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): In Taranaki, just transition fails to materialise
RNZ: Provincial Growth Fund: $18.8m for Māori development projects
Louise Scott (ODT): Iwi will use funds to tell island’s story
Herald: No quarantine rule change for All Blacks – but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern offers some hope for ‘hot spot’ transtasman bubble in time for Christmas
Mandy Te (Stuff): Wellington City Mission receives $10 million for new building with social supermarket and housing units
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington City Mission gets $10 million for redevelopment plans
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): City Mission to set up new community hub in Mt Cook
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): ‘Unethical’ immigration refund process challenged
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Abuse in care: Man who suffered as a child gives evidence
Steve Braunias (Newsroom): Alpacas vs the Taxpayers Union
George Andrews (Newsroom): Richard Thomas: a tireless pursuer of better television
Gavin Ellis: Welcome return of old friends
