NZ Politics Daily - 14 August 2018
14 August 2018
Today's content
National
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Simon Bridges road show cash splash: More than $100,000 taxpayer money on limos and hotels
Jo Moir (Stuff): Bridges: National caucus didn’t leak travel expenses
RNZ: Simon Bridges defends $113k expenses bill
Stuff: Opposition Leader Simon Bridges says the country has been forced into wasting millions
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): What would Simon do?
1News: Abolishing Māori seats would spark ‘incredibly divisive debate’ - Simon Bridges
Newshub: Don Brash rates John Key’s Government 0/10
Act
Dominion Post Editorial: If it ain’t broke, don’t ACT
Newstalk ZB: Peters: ACT ‘desperate’ to look relevant
Lucy Bennett (Herald): Referendum required on Act leader David Seymour’s proposals, Peters and Bridges say
Michael Reddell: A case for more MPs?
Point of Order: A smaller Parliament was a big vote winner in 1999 – but ACT was more popular then, too
Pete George: Do we really need fewer MPs?
Labour and Greens
Jo Moir (RNZ): Labour’s rise to power ‘one hell of a ride’ - outgoing general secretary
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Averting the Green’s slide into political irrelevance
Māori electoral roll
Herald: Māori electorates could drop by one after Option result
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Māori roll grows by just 1200 voters after electoral option
Chris Bramwell (RNZ): Smaller proportion on Māori electoral roll despite growth
Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Māori roll results are in: Here’s what you need to know
Rotorua Daily Post: Results in for 2018 Māori Electoral Option
Housing
Jo Moir (RNZ): Online pre-qualification opens for KiwiBuild homes
Henry Cooke (Stuff): KiwiBuild pre-qualification opens, allowing keen buyers to get ready to enter ballot
Greg Ninness (Interest): Kiwibank fires the opening round in the battle for KiwiBuild customers
Rob Stock (Stuff): Kiwibank’s 90 per cent KiwiBuild mortgages
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Banks keen for KiwiBuilds
Herald: Kiwibank offers KiwiBuild mortgages with only a 10 per cent deposit
Jason Walls (Interest): Controversial foreign buyers ban bill likely to pass this week
Newshub: Foreign buyer ban not the way to keep prices down - property expert
Herald Editorial: NZ needs to be ready for falling house prices
1News: Watch: Jacinda Ardern confident New Zealand property market won’t slump like Sydney, Melbourne
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): ’Degrading’ adverts that outraged renters are shown the door
RNZ: Quinovic apologises over social media campaign
Catherine Hutton (RNZ): Property management campaign disgusts tenants
Ben Leahy (Herald): Company pulls ads suggesting landlords should squeeze their tenants for money
Emma Hurley (Newshub): Property management company criticised for ads targeted at landlords
Joel Ineson (Stuff): He was ‘chronically homeless’. Now Michael Apanui has a home and a job
Annabelle Tukia (Newshub): Sky-high rent forces Wanaka locals into ‘shanty town’ campsite
Laura Tupou (Newshub): Low-income Auckland families driving ‘extreme’ demand for curtains
Roundup
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Horticulturist calls for urgent NZ review of Roundup’s safety
RNZ: Monsanto: Roundup less toxic than bleach
Gerard Hutching (Stuff): Everyone in the dark over extent of Roundup use
Jamie Morton (Herald): Roundup case: Scientists caution against knee-jerk NZ ban
Mike Watson (Stuff): Taranaki councils have no plans to stop using herbicide Roundup
Environment and conservation
Jono Galuszka (Stuff): Horizons Regional Council disputes ‘D’ grade for dairy farm checks
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Regional councils fail to enforce rules around dairy effluent
No Right Turn: Turning a blind eye to pollution
Andrew Ashton (Hawke’s Bay Today): Hawke’s Bay Regional Council accused of broken promises
No Right Turn: Time to end the pastoral lease rort
Florence Kerr (Stuff): Raukawa Iwi chair Vanessa Eparaima resigns from Waikato River Authority after Roger Pikia appointment
Chris Hutching (Stuff): Mitre 10 moves to protect bees from pesticides
Sara Meij (Nelson Mail): Myrtle rust found on four sites in and around Nelson
Grant Bradley (Herald): Climate change worsens infrastructure deficit - Chapman Tripp
Pat Baskett (Newsroom): It’s not too late to avert an impending crisis
Jamie Morton (Herald): Climate change: risk of ‘tropical’ distant future for NZ
Todd Muller (Southland Times): Zero carbon for Southland not so simple
Dan Dalgety (RNZ): Punakaiki residents frustrated over infrastructure upgrades
Plastic
1News: Watch: Meet the Wellington woman taking on the scourge of plastic ‘nurdles’
Catherine Harris (Stuff): Plastic bags battle won but the war against non-recyclables far from over
Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): A third of Countdown stores are plastic free at checkouts
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Banning plastic bags is just a PR stunt
Michael Reddell: Plastic bags
Michael Reddell: I’ve just been shopping
Eric Crampton: Bag Ban
Justice
David Fisher (Herald): Big Read: How double rapist William Katipa was sent to prison and was able to become a monster behind bars
Matt Stewart (Stuff): Justice advocate says Andrew Little is ‘losing the plot’ as summit looms
Tony Wall and Blair Ensor (Stuff): Prime minister says placing a sex offender with vulnerable families was a ‘huge oversight’
1News: Jacinda Ardern says Government department made a ‘huge oversight’ placing sex offender in same motel as at-risk children
Herald: NZ Herald under fire for criticising judge’s decision on suppression
Sam Hurley (Herald): He robbed a woman seriously injured in a car crash – but a judge won’t let us name him
Tim Dower (Herald): Secret shame - our name suppression rules need to change
Newshub: Specialist psycho-social support to be trialled for sexual violence court cases
Robin Martin (RNZ): Bereaved families could face huge bills - funeral director
Police and crime
Jared Savage and Phil Kitchin (Herald): Police to investigate why Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha phoned a staff member about alleged bullying ahead of Herald story
Emma Hurley (Newshub): Police investigating claim Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha phoned witness to bullying incident
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Meeting called to discuss crime and safety concerns of Auckland’s ethnic communities
1News: Most Kiwis want police to continue chasing fleeing drivers - 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll
Provincial Growth Fund
Richard Harman (Politik): Provincial Growth Fund turns green
Thomas Coughlan (Newsroom): Greens win big native trees concession
Lucy Bennett (Herald): One billion trees achievable but challenging, says Forest Owners Association
Jason Walls (Interest): Government doubles one billion trees scheme budget
Lucy Bennett (Herald):$240m more from Provincial Growth Fund for Govt’s One Billion Trees programme initiatives
TVNZ: Up to 60 million new trees to be planted after Government’s $240m cash injection
Stuff: Boost for plan to plant one billion trees
Emma Hurley (Newsub): Government hands One Billion Trees scheme $240 million boost
Employment
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern blames nine year ‘valve of pressure’ for multiple strike actions
Shamubeel Eaqub (Stuff): Businesses back to pre-GFC profits and workers want their share
RNZ Checkpoint: Freightways looks to improve ‘contractor revenue’ for drivers
Cecile Meier (Stuff): Woman who miscarried ‘stunned’ to learn she did not qualify for bereavement leave
Southland Times Editorial: Miscarriage grief needs legal acknowlegment
Business and economy
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): When frustration and ‘hearing’ is not enough
RNZ: Government has never lost focus on the economy - Ardern
1News: ’The signs are positive’ for New Zealand's economy despite slowdown - Reserve Bank Governor
1News: Simon Bridges says unchanged OCR shows Reserve Bank Governor’s shaken faith in the economy
Terry Baucher (Interest): Anybody expecting the Tax Working Group to suggest a cut in company tax is going to be disappointed
Liz Gordon (Daily Blog): Putting us first
Health
RNZ: Dialysis patients’ care ‘not at risk'
Herald: Criteria for Multiple Sclerosis drugs ‘budget not evidence based’: Expert
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Medicine cut for MS patient because he can’t walk 500 metres
Emma Dangerfield (Stuff): Breast cancer sufferer calls for life-saving Kadcyla drug to be publicly funded
1News: Another alcohol delivery company prompts debate on whether it’s convenient or harmful
Anne Marie May (RNZ): Class action launched in Australia over sterilisation device
Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): Counties Manukau DHB told to improve systems after girl’s missed appointments lead to eye disease
Ruby Macandrew (Stuff): Declining HIV numbers bolstered by new prevention drug but more data needed
Iulia Leilua (Māori TV): TV star Pio healing from son’s death
MIchelle Lomax (Stuff): Mental health: Mother desperate for something better
Dave Macpherson (Daily Blog): Alarming Picture Painted by Mental Health Statistics
Bruce Munro (ODT): The Art of Psychiatry
Education
Gavin Brown (Newsroom): A case for, and against, NCEA exams
Newshub: ’The world is watching’ how NZ handles teachers' strike - Principals' Federation
Simon Collins (Herald): Schools cut reading, extension programmes due to teacher shortage
Eli Hill (Waikato Times): Te Poi School principal Linda Larsen says teacher shortage hurting rural schools
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Teachers’ strike: Where will the children go?
Simon Collins (Herald): Most schools will close for strike - but most parents have childcare sorted
Emily Cooper (1News): Parents question what to do with kids as last-minute talks fail to halt teachers’ strike
Jo Lines-McKenzie (Stuff): Teachers’ strike sees parents scrambling for child carev
Adele Redmond (Stuff): Primary school teachers preparing to strike say they have no work-life balance
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Striking teachers call for greater incentives to stay in profession
Anna Whyte (1News): ’Our children need us’ – schools urge pay equity for teacher aides, who work with high-needs and vulnerable students
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Pesky people and problems: A university vice-chancellor’s lot isn’t a happy one
Child welfare
1News: ’A social crisis’ - Children’s Commissioner demands urgent action after devastating effects suffered by 'P babies' revealed
1News: Northland principal begs for funding to help kids escape P-related suffering - ‘Help now or build bigger prisons’
Jonathan Guildford (Press): Hungry Christchurch kids to continue receiving free lunches
ODT Editoral: A fundamental human right
Helen Borich (Herald): Parents must take responsibility on porn issue
Richard MacManus (Newsroom): Is digital technology harming our children?
Foreign Affairs and trade
Bernard Lagan (Listener): NZ is partly to blame for Australia’s deporting of Kiwi-born criminals
Simon Mark (Dominion Post): New Zealand’s Pacific reset: the case for cultural diplomacy
Jane Kelsey (Herald): Out with old and let’s be transparent with new
Martin Johnston (Herald): Researchers: Radioactive Australian sheep bolster nuclear weapon test claim against Israel
Free speech
Elena McPhee (ODT): University would let Brash speak
Joel Maxwell (Stuff): Let’s hear it for Davidson’s c-word and Brash’s M-words
David Hay: Speaking or silencing: It’s not about free speech
Treaty settlements
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): Ngāpuhi negotiations a priority for Little
Kim Webby (Māori TV): Delay in Treaty claim divides iwi
Māori TV: Tamati Coffey saddened by public criticism of Pare Hauraki settlement
Māori TV: Public submissions open for Ngāti Rangi Claims Settlement Bill
Media
RNZ: Lisa Owen to replace John Campbell on Checkpoint
Monika Barton (Newshub): Lisa Owen replacing John Campbell on RNZ’s Checkpoint
Leonie Hayden (Spinoff): Al Nisbet no longer has a job and today has been a good day
Transport
Richard Wagstaff (Stuff): Putting the brakes on bus chaos – how to fix public transport tendering
Matthew Tso (Dominion Post): Standing room only at ‘fiery’ meeting as Wellingtonians speak out on capital’s buses
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Civil disobedience could be next step for disgruntled Wellington bus commuters
RNZ: Hamilton bus strike: Go Bus says fleet up to standard
Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): Waikato bus drivers striking over pay and working conditions
Newshub: Waikato bus drivers striking over working conditions and pay
Sean Nugent (ODT): Ministry sticks with school bus policy
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Truckers pulling rigs from road after urgent safety alert
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Alert issued for urgent checks on heavy vehicle towing connections
Herald: NZTA urges vehicle owners to check towing connections after inspector suspended
Newshub: Why aren’t Kiwis interested in electric cars? (video)
Honours system
Laura Walters (Stuff): Honours system expanded to include public servants
RNZ: New exclusive medal to recognise public servants
Local government
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Auckland Council devising PR blitz to avoid ‘reputational risk’ over parks sell off dispute
Newshub: Auckland Council accused of racist response to Northcote brothel complaint
Richard Swainson (Waikato Times): With us or agin us politics
Gender
Herald: Birth certificate gender changes would put women and girls in danger, lesbian alliance says
Herald: Should you be able to change the sex on your birth certificate?
NZer of the Year
Regan Paranihi (Māori TV): NZer of the Year Award nominations to close in Sept
1News: Don Brash among those nominated for 2019 New Zealander of the Year award
RNZ: Don Brash nominated for New Zealander of the Year
Newshub: Don Brash nominated for New Zealander of the Year
Other
Chris Hutching (Stuff): Tower hits homeowner with $10,000 premium hike under new quake risk assessment
Finn Dillon (Newsroom): Labels speak a thousand words
Liam Hehir (Stuff): It’s time for civilised countries to follow New Zealand’s lead on the death penalty
David Cormack (Herald): The politics of unaccountability
Chris Harrowell (Stuff): Kiwi campaigners set to unite for ‘Official Animal Rights March’ in Auckland
RNZ: Earning $150k and still falling behind
Jess Berentson-Shaw (Spinoff): Misinformation is riding a digital wave. Here’s how we can counter it
RNZ: Former sailor loses appeal over allegations made against UK military
Simon Roberts: MMP Elections & Defence