PAY EQUITY, GOVERNMENT USE OF URGENCY
Andrea Vance (Sunday Star Times): The girl-math budget that will cut deep, especially for women (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): An ugly week for National MPs (paywalled)
Vernon Small (Sunday Star Times): National will pay a steep price for grotesquely bad pay review politics (paywalled)
Craig Renney: Pay Equity Questions yet to be answered
Verity Johnson (Stuff): Kate Sheppard would be rolling in her grave after this week’s drive-by political shooting
Danyl McLauchlan (Listener): Govt pay equity move opens Pandora’s Box (paywalled)
Catherine McGregor (Spinoff): Government’s political gamble backfires as backlash to pay equity reform grows
Paul Michel Taillon (Newsroom): Paying women less won’t help the economy, stupid
Shane Te Pou (Herald): Christopher Luxon’s pay equity blunder could be Chris Hipkins’ opportunity (paywalled)
GoodIdeas: The human, democratic and political costs of attacking pay equity (paywalled)
Steve Braunias (Newsroom): The Secret Diary of .. the pay equity reforms
Ian Taylor (Stuff): Rushed legislation, forgotten women, and the triumphant return of the word 'pillock'
Andrew Gunn (Press/Post): A nice word salad in lieu of pay equity for all those hard-working Kiwi women (paywalled)
Adam Pearse (Herald): Hundreds brave downpours to protest Govt’s pay equity changes, MPs claim misinformation
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): ‘The fight is on’: Unions say pay equity protests will ramp up
RNZ: Protests against new pay equity legislation continue
Connie Buchanan (E-Tangata): I’m one of the women ‘saving the budget’
Matt Reid (Post): The direct line between pay equity and the crisis among our children (paywalled)
Victor Billot (Newsroom): An Ode to … King Lux: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Steven Cowan: Brooke van Velden: Unavailable for comment
Brandon Johnstone (ISO): Attacks on Pay Equity to Fund dirty deeds done dirt cheap Cuts for the Rich – This is Class War
—————
1News: Q+A: Urgency under scrutiny as pay equity changes rushed through
Bryce Edwards (The Integrity Institute): Pay equity urgency and vested interests
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Govt says do be hasty (paywalled)
PARLIAMENT, PUBLIC SECTOR
Farah Hackcock (RNZ): Ministers continue to make decisions on fast-track projects after parties take donations linked to applicants
Charlie Mitchell and Andrea Vance (Sunday Star Times): Inside the murky evolution of Dirty Politics 2.0 (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): Why New Zealand needs more MPs (and more like David Parker) (paywalled)
Louis Collins (RNZ): The House: Labour's 'conviction politician' waves Parliament goodbye
David Farrar: Bill to reinstate prisoner voting ban
Roger Partridge: Gmailgate: When the NZ Media Discover a Scandal and It Turns Out to Be a Printer
David Farrar: A nonsense issue
—————
1News: Q+A: Agencies urged to be more 'frank, honest' with public - watchdog
Anna Whyte (Post): Who’s Your Boss: Paula Tesoriero (paywalled)
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Treasury registers interest in ride-share apps over taxis for staff
BUDGET, ECONOMY, INFRASTRUCTURE
Anna Whyte (Post): What public services can expect from Budget 2025 (paywalled)
Michelle Duff (Guardian): ‘Hollowing out’: New Zealand grapples with an uncertain future as record numbers leave
Julie Jacobson (Post): Wellington’s hidden hungry ‒ the middle class (paywalled)
Brian Easton (Pundit): Seeking Fiscal Balance
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): It’s not the debt that’ll sink us (paywalled)
Chris Abercrombie (Herald): What secondary teachers need from the education Budget
Libby Kirkby-McLeod (RNZ): Budget 2025: What's in it for the youth?
Simon Shepherd (NBR): Luxon: Government boosts capital spend, keeps R&D tax credit (paywalled)
Greg Hurrell (BusinessDesk): Scientists waiting to see the money in Budget 2025 (paywalled)
SOCIAL MEDIA BAN
Derek Cheng (Herald): Social media ban for under-16s: A good start, or ineffective ‘half-baked’ populism? (paywalled)
Tracy Watkins (Sunday Star Times): Social media ban for under-16s is too little, too late
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Government to work on social media ban for under-16s, despite ACT disagreement
RNZ: Social media ban for young people to be investigated - Luxon
Ellen O’Dwyer (RNZ): Australian politician who sparked social media ban says it's 'worth it' even if kids find way around it
Rachel Helyer Donaldson (RNZ): Social media can be positive for teenagers, coaches and teachers say
Colin Peacock (RNZ): Mediawatch: Sudden surge of political concern about social media
David Harvey: Deceptive Messaging
Mark Callander (Post): 2degrees CEO: Why I support a social media ban (paywalled)
Damien Grant (Stuff): Banning under 16s from social media will prove popular. Foolish ideas often are
Georgina Stylianou (Post): The law changes our kids really need (and no, a social media ban isn’t one of them) (paywalled)
HEALTH
Azaria Howell (Herald): Health New Zealand’s million-dollar spend on consultants to manage restructures (paywalled)
Ian Powell: A timely call for a social contract in health
Public Health Communication Centre: New Zealanders strongly support policies to curb alcohol harm – will government listen?
Denise Piper (Northern Advocate): The doctor-less north: Stroke patient seen by telehealth at Kaitāia Hospital
Nicholas Jones (Stuff): Given months to live, a businessman looked overseas for treatment. Now he’s cancer free
Rachel Helyer Donaldson (RNZ): New cancer drugs get Pharmac boost
Katie Oliver (Herald): Budget 2025: Coromandel policeman’s urgent plea for life-saving cancer drug
Avina Vidyadharan (Waikato Times/Post): Peer support services begin at Waikato Hospital emergency department (paywalled)
Mariné Lourens (Press/Post): ERA to facilitate bargaining between Health NZ and doctors’ union
David Farrar: Huge perks for public sector doctors
Mariné Lourens (Press/Post): Warning signs NZ is heading for ‘relatively severe’ flu season
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Hospice NZ sounds alarm about cost cutting, reduced services at hospices
Kevin Norquay (Sunday Star Times): Hospice care: Priceless, caring, and facing a ‘perilous’ future
WAITANGI TRIBUNAL REVIEW, MĀORI-CROWN RELATIONS
Te Rina Kowhai (Te Ao Māori News): A 50‑year check‑up, or a step backwards? Experts weigh in on the Waitangi Tribunal Review
RNZ: Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka assures outcome of Waitangi Tribunal review won't be predetermined
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Waitangi Tribunal review to kick off this year, Government confirms
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Potaka launches review of Waitangi Tribunal
Karanama Ruru (Stuff): Government announces review into ‘activist’ Waitangi Tribunal
Thomas Manch (Post): Government launches review of Waitangi Tribunal’s reach (paywalled)
RNZ: Government announces review into Waitangi Tribunal, Seymour calls it 'activist'
RNZ: Regulatory Standards Bill claim brought forward by Tribunal
Greg Presland (The Standard): Get ready for the Regulatory Standards Bill
Tainui Stephens (E-Tangata): Audacious incompetence
Ben Thomas (Post): Settlements about opening doors not shutting them (paywalled)
Carwyn Jones (E-Tangata): Making Matike Mai happen
TAX
RNZ: Inland Revenue discovers millions in unpaid tax from property developers and investors
Greg Ninness (Interest): IRD crackdown on property developers and investors finds $150m in undeclared tax
Chris Knox (Herald): Gangs, cash, tradies and babysitting: How big is New Zealand’s black market and how much tax are we missing out on? (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Over $160 million in outstanding tax refunds still unclaimed, Inland Revenue data shows
Amy Cruickshank (Newsroom): Charity donation tax incentives not as generous as we think
ABUSE IN CARE
Glenn McConnell, Steve Kilgallon and Edward Gay (Stuff): ‘A broken promise’: Abuse in care survivors left reeling after Government announcement
Fox Meyer (Newsroom): ‘We had a right to expect much better today’: Survivors get pay but no power
Jo Moir (RNZ): No new compensation scheme for abuse survivors, more funds for current system
ODT Editorial: Jury out on abuse redress
MEDIA
Philip Crump: NZME’s New Chapter and the Six Challenges Undermining Media Trust
RNZ: NZME board backs nomination of Steven Joyce as chair, Jim Grenon's bid as candidate
Shayne Currie (Herald): NZME’s bitter board battle at end - Steven Joyce to be chairman, Jim Grenon to be director, alongside three existing board members (paywalled)
Sam Smith (Stuff): Is the battle for control at NZME over?
BusinessDesk: Steven Joyce to chair NZME (paywalled)
NBR: NZME board battle ends as Grenon and Joyce nominations backed (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (Post): Grenon, associates and NZME appear to reach a deal over board involvement (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (Post): Mid-way through a board stoush, NZME partners with Aussies for car listings service (paywalled)
Stuff: The NZ Media Council upholds complaint about Stuff’s failure to disclose paid sponsorship
Karl du Fresne (Post): The colourful life and times of Bob Brockie ‒ obituary (paywalled)
JUSTICE, POLICE, CRIME
Justin Hu (1News): Govt backs away from promised 500 new cops by November: 'Not a failure'
Mike Thorpe (Herald): Police Commissioner: 500 new officers likely delayed to mid-2026
Herald Editorial: Government must keep its promise for 500 extra cops (paywalled)
Finn Blackwell (RNZ): Government announces harsher penalties for boy racers, fleeing drivers
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Boy racers crackdown: Swift destruction of vehicles under proposed legislation, new powers for police
Kelly Makiha (Rotorua Daily Post): Street racing-plagued Rotorua residents welcome law change to have vehicles destroyed or forfeited
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): New laws aim to put the brakes on illegal street and boy racers
RNZ: Government puts $35m towards keeping drugs out of the country
Herald Editorial: Drug gangs and the Govt are both increasing funding, who will win? (paywalled)
FIREARMS REGISTRY
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Firearms registry review: Act triggers rarely used coalition clause amid disagreement with National
RNZ: ACT invokes 'agree to disagree' clause over firearms registry review
Thomas Manch (Stuff): ACT declares disagreement with coalition partners over firearm registry
BANKS, FINANCIAL SERVICES
Arena Williams (Interest): National's closed-door deal to protect bank profits
Janine Starks (Post): Banks introduce new code for scam repayments - shame about the gaping holes (paywalled)
Borja Ares (Sunday Star Times): Banks’ scam code ‘hollow gesture’ to protect themselves, scam victim says
Rob Stock (Post): What we learned from ANZ, Westpac and BNZ’s half year profit announcements (paywalled)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WATER
Brent Edwards (NBR): Why business should care about local body elections (paywalled)
Mike McRoberts (NBR): A turning point for Māori representation (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Post): Auckland mayor Wayne Brown rates Government a ‘B+’(paywalled)
Gabi Lardies (Spinoff): In the wings: Desley Simpson is biding her time
Jonathan Killick (Sunday Star Times): Wayne Brown, Kerrin Leoni fight it out for multicultural Auckland (paywalled)
Bruce Cotterill (Herald): Why the so-called Super City hasn’t delivered for Aucklanders (paywalled)
Mary Afemata (Local Democracy Reporting): From mattresses to marijuana: Auckland’s illegal dumping problem grows
Tom Hunt (Post): Ten days to decide: Councillors slam surprise May 22 water reform deadline (paywalled)
Nick James (RNZ): Wellington mayoral race: Who wants the top job?
Harriet Laughton (Post): Rates rises front of mind as residents have their say (paywalled)
Harriet Laughton (Post): Are back-to-back road works stalling city? (paywalled)
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Tauranga flood map update a ‘win’ for landowners, developers
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Inside the new office building Tauranga City Council is paying $91.9m to lease
Ruby Shaw (ODT): ‘Widely tipped’ to run for mayor (paywalled)
ODT: Claim higher water rates could sink cheese plant
Ruby Shaw (ODT): Email addresses shared by ORC (paywalled)
Grant Miller (ODT): ‘Gagged’ over benefits of Winton landfill (paywalled)
Sophie Barker (Sunday Star Times): Candidates Corner: Sophie Barker on making Dunedin the best place to live (paywalled)
Jules Radich (Sunday Star Times): Candidates Corner: Jules Radich on Dunedin, ‘our favourite place’ (paywalled)
Andrew Simms (Sunday Star Times): Candidates Corner: Andrew Simms on a better future for Dunedin (paywalled)
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Challengers emerge in race for Ruapehu mayoralty
RNZ: Council calls on Māori candidates to stand in local election
Linda Hall (Local Democracy Reporting): David Seymour backs watercress seller facing $600 council fee
DEFENCE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE
Phil Pennington (RNZ): US cuts back on generals to boost 'lethality' - should NZDF follow suit?
Thomas Manch (Post): Major defence firms line up for $2b helicopter spend (paywalled)
Post: Defence force service to be considered after vaccine case win (paywalled)
Gaurav Sharma (RNZ): Luxon calls for an ‘all of New Zealand’ investment in India relationship
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Peters jokes about visiting Indian minister’s name
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): NZ swerves Trump tariff talks as Asia looms large
Maria Siow (South China Morning Post): New Zealand’s ‘hawkish’ China turn drives its expanding Asian security footprint
Dita De Boni (Sunday Star Times): High-flying expat urges Kiwi businesses to look beyond China to the Gulf countries (paywalled)