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
Election
Jack Vowles (The Conversation): The 2020 NZ election saw record vote volatility — what does that mean for the next Labour government?
Jason Walls and Chris Knox (Herald): 20 fascinating facts about the 2020 election you might have missed
Stuff: Labour Day: A vote-by-vote analysis of New Zealand’s historic shift to the political left
Brian Easton (Pundit): Do Landslides Change The Landscape In The Long Run?
Julie Iles (NBR): Election 2020: What happens next? (paywalled)
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): What does Auckland Central’s swing left mean for the cannabis vote?
Andy Fyers (BusinessDesk): The Chart: How good were the polls? (paywalled)
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): The scale of National’s collapse and Labour’s surge
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Why voters rejected conspiracy theorists
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Billy Te Kahika Jr admits ‘200,000 disqualified vote’ figure was nonsense, doubles down on debunked ‘smiley face’ theory
Brent Edwards (NBR): Despondent National, bitter-sweet Greens and ecstatic Labour (paywalled)
Frank Newman (NZCPR): Election 2020 Reflections and 2023 Projections
Leith Huffadine (RNZ): What happens if electorate candidates are tied after the election
Charlotte Jones (RNZ): Voting for first time at 37 years old: ‘I felt really good after it’
José Barbosa (Spinoff): Election night 2020: All the misery, all the tumescent joy
Madeleine Chapman (Spinoff): Week in memes: Tōfā soifua to 19 National MPs
Tara Ward (Spinoff): Solved: The mystery of Nick Smith’s ‘jam and scones’ election billboard
Duncan Garner (Newshub): I’m going vegan and it’s a terrifying ordeal
Emily Brookes (Stuff): The AM Show’s Duncan Garner will go vegan for a year, sticking with his pre-election promise
New government policy and direction
Jessica Berentson-Shaw (RNZ): Building support for transformational policies crucial to Labour’s vision
Graeme Edgeler (Democracy Project): Mandates are not mandatory, but they are also not meaningless
Susan St John (Daily Blog): Time to act is now
Bryan Gould: Lessons from the election
Pam Corkery (Sydney Morning Herald): I was a non-believer, but now I too want a hug from Jacinda
Matthew Brockett (Bloomberg): Ardern’s Landslide Victory Shows Power of Inclusive Leadership
Newstalk ZB: Grant Robertson: Labour’s majority a ‘mandate to get on with the job’
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): The biggest thing the Government will do that you’ve never heard of
Phil Vine (Newsroom): Labour could out-green the Greens
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Without NZ First, will Labour hit the gas on electric cars?
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): What happens next for Labour’s promised Matariki public holiday?
Dan Satherley (Newshub): The four big things the new Government needs to focus on, according to an economist
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): Labour’s top tax rate: Here’s how it will affect you
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): NZ Super Fund closes in on billion-dollar Auckland light rail deal
Paul Brislen (Herald): What my briefing to the incoming IT Minister would say
Government, Labour-Greens relationship
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Labour will not be forming a formal coalition with the Greens
Keith Locke (Daily Blog): Labour/Green relations: don’t weaken the independent Green voice
David Williams (Newsroom): Why standing apart is good for the Greens
Derek Cheng (Herald): Next Government unlikely to push hard or fast enough for Greens’ liking – Marama Davidson
1News: Labour Party can’t afford to lose support from Greens, Māori Party – political commentator
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern hints at a mostly red Government with a slight tinge of Green
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern reveals timeline for deciding on coalition partners, ministers, Deputy Prime Minister
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern says talks with Greens to conclude next week as she arrives to huge applause in caucus
Anna Whyte (1News): Labour-Green discussions to conclude next week, Jacinda Ardern says
Derek Cheng (Herald): Jacinda Ardern leaves door ajar on who the deputy PM will be
Julie Iles (NBR): Deputy PM role dependent on Labour caucus vote (paywalled)
David Farrar: Meet your new Deputy PM?
Caucuses meet
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom):Labour’s red wave hits Parliament as National soul searching begins
Justin Giovannetti (Spinoff): The only two words at parliament this week: no comment
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern admits her ‘significantly sized team’ will have to familiarise with ‘very different workplace’
1News: John Campbell interview: Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi promises ‘disruption’ in Pākehā Parliament
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Māori Party’s Rawiri Waititi arrives at Parliament in style
RNZ: ‘Fighting every step of the way’ – New Green MP
John Weekes (Stuff): Chloe Swarbrick: Time for action on Hauraki Gulf, strategy on Auckland’s homeless
National
Richard Harman (Politik): Where National’s campaign went wrong
Liam Hehir (Newsroom): The roots of National’s fall
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): National needs to avoid over-reacting to election loss
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Judith Collins doesn’t believe colleagues are conspiring against her
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Caucus-wide witch-hunt underway in National to sniff out leakers
Zane Small (Newshub):Judith Collins admits she could have done better but expects to remain National leader through to 2023
Jason Walls (Herald): ‘Upwards and onwards:’ National Party MPs meet for first time after devastating election lost
Anna Whyte (1News): Judith Collins says it’s ‘onward and upwards’ for National after devastating election loss
RNZ: Judith Collins speaks after National Party caucus meeting: ‘Onwards and upwards’
Anna Whyte (1News): Judith Collins says it’s ‘onward and upwards’ for National after devastating election loss
Zane Small (Newshub): National MP Denise Lee who slammed Judith Collins in leaked email speaks out in support of her
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Judith Collins suggests National voters in rural areas backed Labour to keep Greens from power
RNZ: Checkpoint: Tears, goodbyes and silver trays for departing National MPs
Thomas Manch and Liz McDonald (Stuff): National’s Gerry Brownlee and Nick Smith won’t resign after losing long-held seats
Stuff Editorial: Red pill election takes Nick Smith into new reality
Yvette McCullough (RNZ): National MPs say goodbye as caucus dissects what went wrong
Newshub: National MPs ‘disappointed’, backing Judith Collins and want leakers to front up ahead of ‘sombre’ caucus meeting
Newstalk ZB: Steven Joyce explains what went wrong for National
Newstalk ZB: ‘Fingers will be pointed’ – Don Brash on National’s caucus meeting
Hugh Collins (Herald): Former Christchurch councillor says he is not surprised Gerry Brownlee lost his Ilam seat
RNZ: Ousted National MP Jo Hayes takes on role with Wairarapa iwi
Māori TV: Hayes to return to her roots in post-Parliament career
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): National’s Melissa Lee tears up thinking of departing MPs
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Ousted National MP Alfred Ngaro to lead prayer for New Zealand on steps of Parliament on last day in the job
Parliament
Craig Stephen (RNZ): Parliament still packed with lawyers – but is that a bad thing?
ODT Editorial: The changing face of Parliament
RNZ: New Zealand’s new LGBTQ MPs make Parliament most rainbow in world
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): New Zealand’s queer Parliament heralded by LGBTQI+ advocate
Taroi Black (Māori TV): World’s first transgender MP honoured
Wage subsidy
John Anthony (Stuff): Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Asahi and Tesla – international giants hold on to Covid-19 wage subsidies
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Lord of the Rings tour group lays off staff, uses $500,000 government money to pay management
RNZ: PGG Wrightson lifts profit expectations, resumes dividend payout
Coronavirus – testing, tracing
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Dramatic scale-back of Auckland testing sites should never have happened, doctors say
Amelia Wade (Herald): Health Minister Chris Hipkins blindsided by testing centre closures
Ian Powell (Second Opinion): Leadership failures threaten public trust and confidence in Covid-19 response
Duncan Garner (Newshub): Chris Hipkins must demand explanation over lack of COVID-19 testing stations
RNZ: Plea to businesses to remind customers to use Covid app
Coronavirus – border exemptions
RNZ: No changes to border exemptions after fishing crew test Covid-19 positive
Delphine Herbert and Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): No cause for alarm after international fishermen test positive for coronavirus – expert
Blair Ensor and Sam Sherwood (Stuff): ‘Major outbreak’ at Christchurch isolation facility housing dozens of international fishermen
RNZ: Imported cases of Covid-19 confirmed at Christchurch isolation facility
1News: 11 positive Covid-19 cases, 14 more under investigation after fishermen arrive at Christchurch hotel
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Kirsten Dunst’s nanny deemed an essential worker, enters NZ
Health
Stephen Forbes (RNZ): Monumental change urged to battle South Auckland diabetes epidemic
Peter Davis (Herald): Advice to the incoming Minister of Health (paywalled)
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Concern over resthome complaints prompts DHB inquiry
1News: Auckland man who spoke out after Judith Collins’ obesity comments shares his own battle
Pasifika
1News: Opinion: Talofa and tōfa soifua – Where to for Pasifika after the election?
Mariner Fagaiava-Muller (Spinoff): What this election means for Pasifika
Teuila Fuatai (Herald): After a disappointing 3 years, it’s delivery time (paywalled)
Education
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Big increase in enrolment zones for Auckland schools
Amy Williams (RNZ): High hopes homebound teachers will fill vacancies
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): International support for University of Canterbury China expert Anne-Marie Brady
Local government
Susan Botting (RNZ): Northland Regional Council votes for Māori constituencies: councillor resigns and walks out
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Hawke’s Bay Māori criticise controversial regional council plan change
Lois Williams (RNZ): Hefty bill looms for Greymouth ratepayers to save park from sea
Chloe Ranford (RNZ): Big highs and long drops revealed in Marlborough satisfaction survey
Grant Miller (ODT): Brainstorm defended
Housing
RNZ: Sunday Morning: Punk Economist: ‘The most prudent thing to do now is spend’
Ashley Church (Herald): What PM’s big win means for the housing market – six predictions
Daily Blog: Some Home Truths For The Next Government – University of Auckland
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): RBNZ threatens cold bath for hot housing market
David Hargreaves (Interest): Orr’s warning on return of LVRs: ‘We are looking at it now’
RNZ: Auckland property companies fined $74,000 for extra charges to homebuyers
1News: Northland community dig deep to help change lives and fight homelessness
Abuse in care
Aaron Smale (Newsroom): Defending state abuse: Follow the money
Andrew McRae (RNZ): More than half of abuse in care settlement money spent on process
David Cohen (RNZ): Opponents at state abuse inquiry share some common ground
RNZ: The Detail: The inquiry and the cover ups over abuse in state care
Travel bubbles
1News: Kiwis taking advantage of Australia’s lax internal borders a matter for them, Jacinda Ardern says
Michael Daly (Stuff): Trans-Tasman bubble: Kiwis are getting a cool reception in some Australian states – this is what the rules say
Nine News: Trans-Tasman bubble: South Australia chasing Jacinda Ardern for special quarantine deal with NZ
RNZ: South Australia opens borders to New Zealanders effective immediately
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): What’s wrong with Kiwis flying around Australia?
RNZ: Cooks reviews plans for NZ travel bubble
Intelligence agencies
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Intelligence agencies blow cover to launch public recruitment drive
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): GCSB, NZSIS want ‘everyday people’ to work in intelligence
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): GCSB Minister Andrew Little surprised by ‘shout out’ to NZ over indictment of alleged Russian hackers
RNZ: New Zealand helps US nab Russian hackers targeting companies, political campaigns
Food insecurity, waste
Charmian Smith (ODT): Local companies step into breach
John Gibb (ODT): Call to do more to reduce food waste
Business
Louisa Styel (Stuff): Meat industry should change pay structure to keep migrants, MBIE says
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Growing number of firms now looking to hire more staff
Matt Nippert and Duncan Bridgeman (Herald): Legal fees highlight Sir Owen Glenn’s epic battle against Eric Watson (paywalled)
Victoria Young (BusinessDesk): Jail “truly appalling” for Eric Watson, court told (paywalled)
Other
Liam Hehir (Democracy Project): Online abuse and the standard you walk by
Jonny Edwards (Stuff): ‘Beautiful’ South Island station could be privatised
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Fired up over freshwater
Maja Burry and Eleisha Foon (RNZ): Drought fears for South Canterbury, North Otago farmers
Gavin Evans (BusinessDesk): Oil explorer gets offshore ban escape route (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Poverty protection or reward for years working: What’s the pension for, anyway?
1News: NZ’s newest billionaire: Covid-stranded American gaming CEO Gabe Newell applies for NZ residency
RNZ: Queenstown pins hopes on ad campaign to lure holidaymakers
Ben Stanley (Herald): The most influential ‘Kiwi’ politician you’ve never heard of (paywalled)
Lee Kenny (Press): Christchurch schools rebuild plan still years from completion
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): ANZ chairman Sir John Key wants capital requirements delayed further (paywalled)
Melanie Reid and Bonnie Summer (Newsroom): How did 3 year-old Lachie really meet his death
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): RBNZ to protect notes and coins for the vulnerable
