NZ Politics Daily: 25 September 2023

Dear Subscribers

About one month ago I shifted the email services of the Democracy Project to the Substack newsletter platform. I’m really happy with how this has gone. Please let me know if you have any feedback on the new service – just reply to this email.

One of the reasons for the shift to Substack is that it allows subscribers an easy way to help support the newsletters financially. Putting together our NZ Politics Daily email and our columns does require funding, and we rely entirely on support from subscribers. We have been fortunate to receive donations from subscribers that have kept us going so far, but we are now launching a paid section of our service, so that we can continue to operate with more certainty.

From today you can sign up as a financial subscriber to Democracy Project emails. The rate that we have decided upon is $25/month. We hope that our service will be useful enough for people to feel that this is worth contributing to keep it going. As an incentive to join up soon, we’re offering a discounted subscription of $20/month if you sign up before election day 2023.

I’d like to emphasise that this doesn’t mean that those who can’t pay this won’t continue to receive emails. We will continue to send out our political commentary and analysis for free. The only email that will change is the NZ Politics Daily email.  These emails will in future include a paywall, and those who are on the free subscription will only be able to read part of the message.

Please let me know if you have any feedback. And if you’re a subscriber who can’t afford to pay for the full service, or can only pay a lesser amount, please just let me know and we will find an option that works for you. 

If you have any other feedback, please just reply to these emails (or email me at bryce.edwards@vuw.ac.nz).

Best wishes

Bryce

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NZ FIRST, COALITION WITH NATIONAL
1News: National's Christopher Luxon would work with NZ First if he has to
William Hewett (Newshub): National's Christopher Luxon says he'll work with Winston Peters, NZ First after election if he needs them
Claire Trevett (Herald): Winston is in - National leader Christopher Luxon will pick up the phone to NZ First leader Winston Peters if he really needs to
Luke Malpass (Post): Luxon to voters: We’ll go with Winston, but only if we have to
Newstalk ZB: David Seymour: ACT leader unsure if he can work with Winston Peters
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Winston Peters gets scrappy as Christopher Luxon goes cold on coalition talk (paywalled)
Lloyd Burr (Newshub): Christopher Luxon tells Kiwis to read between lines as coalition questions continue
Michael Neilson (Herald): Winston Peters in Epsom, David Seymour’s hood, raising potential headaches for Christopher Luxon (paywalled)
Cass Mason (Newsroom): A country for old men
Luke Malpass (Post): Winston Peters and the great coalition jockeying game (paywalled)
Claire Trevett (Herald): Pity Luxon as Peters and Seymour react like Mentos and Coke (paywalled)
Ben McKay (AAP): Winston Peters lashes out at corporate Australia on campaign trail
Newshub: The Project: Winston Peters labels Green Party as 'communists' but praises James Shaw in game of 'kiss, kick or marry' on The Project

ACT
John Campbell (1News): Striving to comprehend the multi-headed creature that is ACT
Tess McClure (Guardian): How David Seymour hopes to move New Zealand to the right
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): ACT throws National's tax plan on the bonfire (paywalled)
1News: Pharmacists fear reversing pseudoephedrine ban could endanger workers
RNZ: ACT reveals seniors policy including reversing pseudoephedrine ban

CO-GOVERNANCE
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): A referendum on co-governance would return a big, fat no (paywalled)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Labour can't understand they've divided this country
Elise Johnson (Post): A warning from Brexit Britain on divisive referendums (paywalled)
Perry Wilton (Newshub): Major shouting match in Auckland as Stop Co-Governance movement clashes with counter-protesters

ECONOMY, COST OF LIVING
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Forget the ‘squeezed middle’, what’s on offer for the squashed poor? (paywalled)
Max Rashbrooke (Post): The election’s great beneficiary vanishing act (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): 'Not clear' why beneficiary numbers stubbornly higher than pre-Covid
TVNZ: Q+A: Exclusive polling: How Kiwis feel about paying for poverty, climate change
Vernon Small (Post): The distorted truth about the economy (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): The economic results are in pre-election, have you made up your mind? (paywalled)
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Duelling fiscal plans: Labour-National economic rivalry comes to a head
1News: Q+A: Robertson, Willis clash on finance policy in fiery debate
1News: Q+A: Willis on house price-income ratio: 'Targeted to be much lower'
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): Nicola Willis brings the printouts to an ill-tempered Q+A finance debate
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Q+A Review: Nicola Willis destroyed by Grant Robertson in angry Finance Debate
Dan Brunskill (Interest): We asked twenty economists how they would define a recession in New Zealand
Cameron Bagrie (BusinessDesk): So many big promises, so little money in the bank (paywalled)
Brian Easton (Pundit): Has There Been External Structural Change?
Fair Policy Commentary): The planned amendment of the Reserve Bank’s mandate: The National Party’s most significant programme element and no one talks about it
Mike Williams (Hawkes Bay Today): What makes anyone think National could run the economy better than Labour?
Steven Joyce (Herald): Not so much a recession as an absence of growth (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): More interest rate rises ahead? How the experts split
Herald: Westpac index finds consumer confidence plummets further

ELECTION
Danyl McLauchlan (Listener): Market research, rather than principle, is driving the pledges of our mainstream parties (paywalled)
Grant Duncan: Post-truth or recycled lies?
Damien Grant (Stuff): Can we believe political slogans?
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Gone are the days of political leaders being mobbed
Janet Wilson (Post): After the not-so-great debate, look for panic to kick in (paywalled)
Bridie Witton (Post): Can Labour bounce back just weeks out from the election? (paywalled)
Felix Desmarais (1News): Luxon is going 100kph on campaign trail
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): 3 Weeks until Election: TDB Battlefield Analysis
Craig Hoyle (Post): Exclusive Brethren lessons suggest Destiny should beware meddling in politics (paywalled)
Newshub: Don Brash's Hobson's Pledge returns fire with attack ad taking aim at Chris Hipkins
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Election 2023 profiles: Who are Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw?
Newshub: Chlöe Swarbrick's witty response to sign vandalised with 'woke lesbo' wins praise
Holly Bennett (Newsroom): I don’t want Te Pāti Māori choosing my electoral roll
Listener: Jane Ussher’s political portrait of Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi (paywalled)
Audrey Young (Herald): Labour MP concedes election, Chris Hipkins’ trust win, Winston Peters sets the tone at minor parties’ debate (paywalled)
RNZ: Focus ion Politics: On the campaign trail, week three: Debates, polls, sausage and cheese rolls
Herald: Beehive Diaries: Chris Luxon’s scorecard, a win for Chris Hipkins, what to watch for next week (paywalled)
Peter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: Leaders' debate fails to catch fire
Brent Edwards (NBR): TV debates, TV polls, Auckland's plan and out of recession
Eric Frykberg (Interest): ACT launch implodes, Winston Peters shows responsibility, and the Greens and Labour squabble over solar power
Michele Hewitson (Listener): Pre-election performances career from farcical to fatiguing (paywalled)
Alison Mau (Post): Minor leaders inspire cracking TV, and deserve more voice in election debates (paywalled)
Rob Campbell (Herald): The political parties’ porkies behind the recession, prison and gangs (paywalled)
Earl Bardsley (Post): The risk of becoming the ‘blackout nation’ (paywalled)
Craig Hoyle (Stuff): Why are ACT and Greens supporters more likely to work from home?
Federico Magrin (Stuff): Direct democracy, the political system minor parties are raving about
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Why David Seymour despises TV shows about politics
Spinoff: Sick of tame leaders’ debates? Watch this Youth Wings one instead
Donna Miles (Post): Are you a hobbit, a hooligan or a Vulcan? (paywalled)

ELECTORATES
Bridie Witton (Stuff): 'My heart couldn’t take it any more': How Northland has become a hotbed of frustration, anger and distrust
Gabi Lardies (Spinoff): Who dares challenge Chlöe? The race for Auckland Central
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): Electorates to watch: Candidates fight for face time in Whanganui
Mihingarangi Forbes (RNZ): Mata Reports 3: Ikaroa-Rāwhiti
Justin Wong (Post): Public service spending in the spotlight at Mana electorate debate (paywalled)
Otago University: Q&A with Ingrid Leary and Ben Peters
David Hill (Local Democrac Reporting): Waimakariri election candidates tackle crime, healthcare and the cost of living

LABOUR
Duncan Garner (Listener): Why Labour only have themselves to blame (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): Game on; Hipkins comes out punching (paywalled)
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Hipkins goes on the attack in rally speech
Molly Swift (Newshub): Chris Hipkins reaffirms stance on wealth tax as Te Pāti Māori reveals it as bottom line during Newshub Nation debate
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): More fiscal holes as Labour faces questions about GST policy
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Labour on attack over free school lunches as poll shows support for taxing wealthy more
RNZ: Labour promises to keep school lunch programme
Thomas Manch (Post): Postcards from the road: A week in the life of a Labour campaign (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Chris Hipkins distances himself from former colleague dismissing bullying allegations against Shanan Halbert (paywalled)
RNZ: Hipkins defends Labour's handling of Halbert concerns
1News: Chris Hipkins reveals 'hardest moment' of the campaign so far
Karanama Ruru (Stuff): One of New Zealand's youngest candidates wants to hold the door open for young people
Vincent O’Sullivan (Newsroom): Short story of a Labour candidate

NATIONAL
Chris Trotter (Interest): Moving in the direction of the (new) Government
Brent Edwards (NBR): Still no sign of National's fiscal plan and detailed costings (paywalled)
RNZ: National releases document laying out current economic plan
1News: National to spend at least $30m to reverse speed limit changes if elected
Claire Trevett (Herald): National leader Christopher Luxon takes leaf out of Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s book, declares war on road cones and speed limits
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): National wants to reverse speed limit reductions, minimise use of road cones
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): National promises to reinstate 100kph limit on State Highways
RNZ: Election 2023: National promises to end new speed limit reductions
Jamie Enosr (Newshub): Labour's Chris Hipkins dismisses National's speed limit announcement
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): National promises ‘laser sharp’ focus addressing competition problems (paywalled)
Steve Braunias (Herald): The Secret Diary of ... Truckin’ Luxon (paywalled)

IMMIGRATION
Lincon Tan (Herald): Indonesian overstayers found living in a plywood shed and dilapidated caravan at New Windsor, Auckland property
Michael Neilson , Adam Pearse and Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Govt moves on Dawn Raids, Labour unveils major immigration policy
Trent Doyle (Newshub): Government announces changes to Green List, seasonal employment, Recovery Visas
RNZ: Immigration rebalance: Green List expanded, restrictions on 'dawn raid' deportations
NBR: More roles added to green list to cope with skills shortages
Rayssa Almeida (RNZ): Immigration laws need stability, says adviser group
Casper McGuire (1News): Labour, National, ACT announce similar immigration policies
RNZ: Immigration in spotlight as similar policies announced
RNZ: National announces new parent visa category
Eleisha Foon (RNZ): Dawn Raids stories captured for future generations
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Migrant exploitation is the backbone of NZs low wage addiction
Mark Derby (Post): High-stakes rescue finds new life for Burmese refugee accused of 'high treason' (paywalled)

HOUSING
Ged Cann (Post): Mega Landlords: National wants to 'rebalance market' to help landlords (paywalled)
Max Rashbrooke (Spinoff): Did National really just simply sell off state houses?
John Minto (Daily Blog): State housing fantasies and a tale of two graphs
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National declines to match Labour’s housing promise as campaign enters crucial week
1News: Labour promises another 6000 public homes if re-elected
RNZ: Labour promises 6000 more state houses if re-elected
Stuff: More public housing to regions over coming years, says Labour's Megan Woods
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Chris Bishop calls Labour 'recklessly irresponsible' over housing promise, Megan Woods says 'judge us on our record'
David Chaston (Interest): Gird yourself. Home loan rates will likely rise soon - again
David Chaston (Interest): Residential property auction sales rate drops to 43%
Miriam Bell (Post): Small-town tenants hit hard by rental pressures (paywalled)
Miriam Bell (Post): Forget the stereotype of the ‘typical’ landlord (paywalled)
Katie Townshend (Nelson Mail): Plan Change 29: How easy will it be to build six storeys?
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Tiny homes, big problems

HEALTH
Ruth Hill (RNZ): Wellington doctors told to stop referring women to specialists unless their condition is urgent
Virginia Fallon (Post): ‘We are powerless here’: One night in the emergency department (paywalled)
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Junk food advertising a 'major contributor' to obesity
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): How ultra-processed food became a battleground
Rachel Thomas (Press): From car boot care to queues out the door, what broke after-hours healthcare? (paywalled)
Zoe Madden-Smith (Re: News): Nearly half of NZers can’t afford to go to the dentist
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom) The major health crisis ignored by election campaigns
Liu Chen (RNZ): Asian New Zealanders excluded from the mental health conversation
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Patients on beds in corridors: How will Whanganui Hospital cope with a growing population?
Michael Oehley (Waikato Times): How to make a doctor (paywalled)
RNZ: New Covid vaccines may arrive too late for latest variant
Amanda Gillies (Newshub): Blind woman Minnie Baragwanath calls for NZ to do better for people with vision and hearing impairments

THREE WATERS
Andrea Vance (Post): The circus moves on, but no-one is talking about the elephant in the ring (paywalled)
Kelly Dennett (Post): When bread and butter collides with transformation (paywalled)
Press Editorial: The need for water reform (paywalled)
Stuff: Investigation into Queenstown's cryptosporidium outbreak intensifies, will leave 'no stone unturned'
RNZ: Cryptosporidium outbreak: Health officials search for infection source

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT
Eloise Gibson (RNZ): The multibillion-dollar climate hole faced by both Labour and National
Brent Edwards (NBR): Climate change agreement marked by disagreement (paywalled)
Evan Harding (Southland Times): Farming lobby group revs up 'drive 4 change' campaign, but Labour hits back
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): The Big Lies Climate Deniers, Groundswell, National, ACT and Corporate Farmers keep spinning about NZ emissions
Grant Miller (ODT): Climate action cards to be laid on the table (paywalled)
Annemarie Quill (Stuff): NZ's hottest ever summer could be ahead - with fire, drought and sharks
Newshub: New LAWA data shows two-thirds of monitored New Zealand river sites rated poorly for E. coli
Isobel Ewing (Newshub): New Plymouth residents concerned despite milestone in battle to have toxic chemical plant cleaned up
Mike White (Post): Niagara shipwreck continues to deteriorate while politicians dither (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: River proposal go-slow (paywalled)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Simon Brown (Herald): Trams, plans and parking fines: Wayne Brown has some new ideas for Auckland (paywalled)
Mark Thomas (Newsroom): Mayor Brown’s Auckland Deal is the real deal
Kevin Norquay (Post): Why can’t Wellington have nice things? (paywalled)
Trent Doyle (Newshub): Support for Māori wards in Tāmaki Makaurau low as Auckland Council submissions close
Catherine Hubbard (Nelson Mail): Māori ward 'not true partnership' but step in right direction, say iwi
Denise Piper (Stuff): Northland council considers security as claws come out over new cat rules

TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Are $3 per litre petrol prices driving motorists towards EVs?
Frances Chin (Post): Wellington commuters take full fares in their stride (paywalled)
Finn Blackwell (RNZ): Auckland rail: KiwiRail, Auckland Transport release plans
Krystal Gibbens (RNZ): Hybrid trains on the way for lower North Island
Kate Green (RNZ): Wairoa Airport runway extension gets boost from government

PUBLIC SERVICE
Nikitin Sallee (BusinessDesk): The public service: 'just do it' (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Govt department investigates AI job screening (paywalled)

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, PACIFIC
Mitch McCann (Newshub): Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta rebukes Russia, warns of Pacific destabilisation in United Nations speech
Mitch McCann, Reuters (Newshub): Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta to meet US President Joe Biden next week while at Pacific Leaders Summit
RNZ: Niue announces new scheme at UN to fund and protect its ocean
Lydia Lewis (RNZ): 'We are at crisis point': Climate warrior calls on US, UK to do more for climate action

BANKS
Nona Pelletier (RNZ): Banking services study reveals negative opinions on state of sector
Rebecca Stevenson (Interest): NZ banks are lagging on real-time payments and fraud protections. The Commerce Commission says it could force them to get on with it
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Consumer NZ fears consumers will be underrepresented in banking review (paywalled)
Grant Kemble (Stuff): Banks could do more to open doors to homeownership