Today’s content
Modelling dispute, Govt Covid strategy
RNZ: Modeller stands by government’s Covid-19 data release amid criticism
Science Media Centre: ‘Very high’ vaccination rate needed to end lockdowns – Expert Reaction
Newstalk ZB: Shaun Hendy defends Covid modelling, but Rodney Jones says it’s overcooked
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Rodney Jones says Shaun Hendy’s 7000-death vaccine model doesn’t pass plausibility test
Herald: Expert calls new Covid-19 modelling ‘overcooked’ and ‘rushed’
Richard Harman (Politik): The PM picks a political number (paywalled)
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Simon Bridges calls out ‘scare tactics’ to get people vaccinated, says ‘truth is, some won’t’
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Shaun Hendy’s model is not plausible
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Doubt over doom claims
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Modelling suggests 7000 deaths in a year even with 75 per cent of country jabbed
Jamie Morton (Herald): 90% vaccination uptake is possible, but alternative is bleak
Anna Whyte (1 News): Lockdowns could be avoided with very high vaccination rates – new modelling
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Modelling: Thousands of deaths without high vaccination rates
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Modelling showing thousands dead if COVID-19 vaccination rates stagnate spooks experts
RNZ: Covid-19 modelling: 90 percent vaccination needed to avoid lockdowns
Andy Fyers (BusinessDesk): The importance of 90%+ vaccination rates
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveils ‘what the future could look like with a vaccinated population’
Keith Lynch (Stuff): Ireland and Covid-19: More than 1000 cases every day but normality looms
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Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Government is always about politics
Jim Metson (Herald): Shaping a post-Covid New Zealand (paywalled)
Chris Trotter (Bowalley Road): Is This What We Want?
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Is there some hope in our Covid response?
Rawiri Taonui (Waatea News): The Delta tail and lessons from last year’s First Wave
Glen Johnson (Evening Report): In spite of relentless media negativity, NZ’s covid story is largely successful
Vaccine rollout, testing
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Government denies it has failed Māori on Covid
1 News: Henare supports providers but stands by hardline stance on Māori vaccine rates
Herald: Govt concedes ‘big mountain to climb’ to lift vaccination rate
1 News: 90% vaccination rate means less risk for Māori — researcher
Herald: Call for mass school vaccinations to counter ‘doom and gloom’ modelling
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): How Maori vaccine hesitancy will allow the AntiVaxxers to avoid their moment of Darwinism and hand ACT more momentum
Barbara Dreaver (1 News): Pasifika being targeted by anti-vax messaging horrifies community
Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): Dedicated vaccination drives being set up to get more Pacific people vaccinated
Mariner Fagaiava-Muller (RNZ): The race to meet vaccination rates for Pasifika
1 News: Government looks to rethink Covid rollout for hesitant youth
Stuff Editorial: Vaccine push means considering a host of motivational measures
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Dawn Chorus: Where are he vaccine mandates? (paywalled)
Anne Gibson (Herald): Concrete supplier refused Auckland building site delivery, no safety measures: construction chief (paywalled)
RNZ: Tradie vaccination a process of consulting with staff, clients – construction boss
Greg Presland (The Standard) The more difficult end to the vaccination programme
Adam Jacobsen (Stuff): Vaccine passports needed to curb future Delta outbreaks, expert says
RNZ: Corporates add financial incentives for employees to get vaccinated
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Covid-19 vaccination programme moving away from ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern issues thinly veiled warning to anti-vaxxers as efforts continue to ramp up in Auckland
Herald: 10 of the biggest vaccine myths debunked
Damien Venuto (Herald): How to convince a hesitant family member to get the vaccine
Phil Goff (Herald): Why Aucklanders should get vaccinated today
Eva Corlett (Guardian): ‘Would you like Pfizer with that?’ New Zealanders could get Covid jab with fast-food fix
Tessa Parker (1 News): Covid-19 jabs for those waiting in fast food queues being weighed up
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): Health authorities looking at COVID-19 vaccines for under 5s, Dr Bloomfield reveals
1 News: NZ to donate surplus Covid jabs to help Pacific neighbours vaccinate teens
Stuff: New Zealand donating more Covid-19 vaccines to Pacific, Indonesia
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): NZ gives vaccine to islands – but needs help reaching its own Pacific peoples
Mirjam Guesgen (Spinoff): What is rapid testing and when is it coming to New Zealand?
Alert level rules, compliance, enforcement
Danielle Clent (Stuff): More Aucklanders caught breaking rules in latest lockdown
Herald: ‘Significantly higher volume’ at checkpoints in Auckland’s first day in level 3
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): Police turn back five times more Aucklanders on first day of alert level 3
1 News: Middlemore staff isolating after close contact of Covid case visits patient
Sharnae Hope (Stuff): Waikato man charged over fake positive coronavirus test result
Herald: Cambridge man arrested after editing text to say he tested positive
1 News: Aucklanders face homelessness by moving rules at Level 3
Daniel Rutledge (Newshub): Stephen Colbert pokes fun at ‘Kentucky Fried Bandits’ caught by NZ Police during Auckland’s COVID-19 lockdown
Border, MIQ, immigration
Katie Todd (RNZ): Government agreed to subsidise MIQ costs for international sports stars
Katie Todd (RNZ): Government ministers wanted bespoke MIQ for athletes but were warned of public backlash
RNZ: UFC star Israel Adesanya done with dreams of NZ return
Rachel Moore (Stuff): Dozens of MIQ shortcomings found, secrecy surrounds which hotels aren’t making the grade
Māori TV: No more new managed isolation hotels in Rotorua – Chris Hipkins
1 News: Another Christchurch hotel converted into MIQ facility
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): New MIQ in Christchurch after Rotorua says no
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Rotorua’s politicians welcome news tourism hub won’t host a fourth MIQ facility
RNZ: Business pushing for self-managed isolation for overseas work travel
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom):Immigration froze residency applications processing in Auckland’s lockdown
Caroline Williams (Stuff): Migrant can’t start new job or provide for family after Immigration NZ delays
Employment
Kim Moodie (RNZ): ‘Some customers are losing it’ – Stress for eateries in Level 3
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Workers left fearing for future and struggling to pay rent after closure of liquor stores
RNZ: Sanford fined $500K over employee’s death, CEO apologises
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Bread maker George Weston Foods trades blows with First Union, saying strike threatens supply (paywalled)
Max Rashbrooke (Stuff): How social insurance could provide a safety net for NZ’s most vulnerable workers
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): Farmers tells HQ workers ‘return to the office or get just 80% of pay’
Grant Miller (ODT): Delay of promised pay ‘cruel’ — union
Business, economy, wage subsidy
Guy Williams (ODT): Skyline vote on repaying wage subsidy
James Graham (Stuff): Wage subsidy was essential to save jobs during lockdowns
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Restaurants call for more financial support, subsidised fine dining and a GST-free feed
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Restaurant Association unveils roadmap as industry loses 13,000 jobs
RNZ: ‘Such a rip off’: Booker beware as travellers stung by Covid-19 cancellation fees
RNZ: Latest lockdown crippled business, dairy owner claims
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Cruise ship industry sends warning over border uncertainty
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Staying at Level 2 having ‘deep, irrevocable impact’
Grant Bradley (Herald): SkyBus ends Auckland Airport-city service
Herald: Over 80% increase on roads in Auckland’s first day in level 3
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Brian Fallow (Herald): Law tweak to Commerce Act to make sure giants play fair (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (NBR): Suppliers ask MPs to support mandated code of conduct for supermarkets (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): Phew! Market meltdown averted – for now (paywalled)
AUKUS, foreign affairs, trade
Matthew Hooton (Herald): NZ’s anti-nuclear law threatens our security and prosperity (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): New Zealand’s AUKUS moment might turn out to have benefits (paywalled)
Murat Ungor (ODT): Pact’s bearings for research worth considering
Ford Hart (Stuff): Aukus shows US is committed to the Indo-Pacific
Manqing Cheng (Newsroom): China’s difficult bid to join the Pacific trade deal
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): NZ exports to China hit new record amidst diversification talk
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): A second death for autonomous sanctions – but hints of another life
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Parliament, political parties
Andrew Geddis (Spinoff): This overseas voting rule is arbitrary and stupid. It’s time to scrap it entirely
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Labour moves to restore leadership election powers to caucus at conference
John Bishop (Stuff): While the right revives, National seems focused on internal warfare
Herald: Judith Collins on cancelled interviews and that 35 per cent remark
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Gangs, plain language and journalists’ sources: Seven new members’ bills drawn out of Parliament’s biscuit tin
RNZ: Parliament to consider ban on public funds to gangs
Anna Whyte (1 News): Proposal to improve surrogacy laws among seven pulled from ballot
Housing
Anne Gibson (Herald):Housing Minister: Policy advice sought on build to rent sector (paywalled)
Jade Kake (Stuff): How do we slow the property market?
Brent Edwards (NBR): Treasury warns govt over weak guidance to housing agency (paywalled)
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Reserve Bank to tighten loan-to-value restrictions, admits that makes it harder for first-home buyers to get on the ladder
RNZ: Reserve Bank takes action over ‘unsustainable’ house prices
Tracy Neal (Newsroom): Social housing stigma unnerves upmarket hotel developers
Matiu Hamuera (Renews): Homelessness is not just living on the streets: 5 housing workers explain why
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Government expected to reveal details of interest deductibility rule change for property investors early next week, only days ahead of the implementation date
Daniel Smith (Stuff): Landlord ordered to pay compensation after son used chainsaw and floodlight to ‘intimidate’ tenant
Health
Matai O’Connor (RNZ): MHA members welcome chance to drive reforms in Māori health
RNZ: Government announces team leading new Health NZ and Māori Health Authority
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Health New Zealand and Māori Health Authority board members announced
Mare Haimona-Riki (Māori TV): Groundbreaking Māori Health Authority board named
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Henry Cooke (Stuff): Auditor-general to investigate whether DHBs are appropriately using ‘ring-fenced’ funding on mental health services
Kaaren Mathias (Spinoff): The beacons and black holes of NZ’s big new mental health plan
Will Trafford (Māori TV): Critics slam government’s new mental health strategy
Katie Harris (Herald): Calls and texts to mental health line almost double since 2019
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Ian Powell (Democracy Project): Reputations in tatters
Nicholas Jones (Herald): ICU nurses are in demand globally. They can’t get into New Zealand to take up job offers (paywalled)
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Patient safety endangered at Hawke’s Bay Hospital – union
RNZ: Young Pasifika male nurse recognised in 2021 honours
Vita Molyneux (Herald): Families ‘heartbroken’ by birthing facility closure, director says Government ‘failed’ them
Sapeer Mayron (Stuff): All Auckland elective surgeries back on, patients being contacted
Water reforms
Jean Bell (RNZ): Auckland Mayor Phil Goff opposes Three Waters proposal, calls for accountability
Todd Niall (Stuff): Three Waters: Auckland mayor hints at Government re-think on water shake-up
Ethan Griffiths (Herald): Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta responds to Rangitīkei mayor’s Three Waters concerns (paywalled) Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘Too big a decision’ – Councillor calls for Auckland input on water reforms
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Mahuta digs in on three waters reforms (paywalled)
Steven Walton (Press): Water reform will save Christchurch residents money – but not as much as first thought
Alan Sutherland (Stuff): We’re 10,000 miles apart, but on water we’re closer than we think!
Sally Kidson and Skara Bohny (Stuff): Council locks doors on anti Three Water protesters
Matt Burrows sand Seni Iasona (Newshub): Demonstrators storm Nelson City Council building in protest at proposed Three Waters reforms
Chloe Ranford (Local Democracy Reporting): Life in a super entity: Three Waters webinar outlines the reality for Marlborough
Felix Desmarais (Local Democracy Reporting): Three Waters Reform: Rotorua raises concerns and pleads for more detail
Taroi Black (RNZ): Councillor fumes over ‘redneck’ Napier water policy
Local government
David Clarkson (Stuff): Roading engineer used false invoicing scheme to scam council of $178,000
Laura Hooper (Stuff): Invercargill City Council mana whenua representatives announced
ODT: Mana whenua representatives appointed to ICC roles
Climate change, conservation, environment
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): James Shaw’s mission improbable to Glasgow (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: COP26 in Glasgow needs to deliver real action (paywalled)
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Why are we ignoring nitrogen fertiliser?
Jamie Gray (Herald): Millions at stake: What does the future hold for carbon? (paywalled)
Katy Jones (Stuff): Proposed library and homes at risk from insurance retreat, expert says
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Horowhenua Council and iwi agree to temporarily close controversial dump
RNZ: Severe summer water restrictions for Auckland unlikely as reservoirs hit 82% capacity
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): New documentary highlights ‘environmental catastrophe’ in Taranaki
RNZ: Multiple protections at planned East Cape development
Alice Angeloni (Local Democracy Reporting): Wipeout on wet wipes in Gisborne mooted as fatberg solution
Education
RNZ: Students without devices missing out on crucial learning: ‘It’s just a worrying situation’
Dubby Henry (Herald): Waikato Dio student denied Auckland border exemption despite weeks in isolation, negative test
Linda Burgess (Spinoff): Walk shorts and dreams: Oh, to be a teacher in the 90s
Emma Houpt (Herald): More than 1700 Bay of Plenty teachers and principals quit over five years (paywalled)
Ellen O’Dwye (Stuff): Victoria University on financial rebound after tough 2020: vice-chancellor
Amazon data centres
Ben Kepes: Why Amazon’s data centres are such a big deal for NZ (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Infrastructure and ‘talent’ why Amazon selected Auckland for $7.5b investment
Nicholas Pointon (RNZ): Amazon Web Services to spend $7.5 billion on giant data centres in Auckland
1 News: Amazon to spend $7.5 billion on Auckland cloud data centres
Transport
1 News: Union asks for more support after attack on bus driver
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Auckland man arrested after bus driver beaten within an inch of his life in ‘unprovoked attack’
1 News: Auckland bus driver left seriously injured after alleged attack by passenger
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Wellington City Council approves 147km citywide cycling network
Primary industries
ODT: Shearer shortage looms as borders remain closed
ODT: Fonterra profit drops by $60 million, sets 20c dividend
Keith Woodford: Fonterra moves on strategy and structure
Taito Phillip Field has died
Audrey Young (Herald): Former Labour MP Phillip Field dies – a career of promise, pride and shame
Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Pacific leaders remember former Labour Party minister Taito Phillip Field
RNZ: Former Minister Taito Phillip Field has died aged 68
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Former Labour Party minister Taito Phillip Field has died
Herald: Taito Phillip Field, former Labour minister, dies
Māori TV: Taito Phillip Field dies
Other
Graham Adams (Democracy Project): Going where the media won’t
Max Harris (Guardian): New Zealand is no ‘off-grid’ safe haven from the apocalypse
1 News: Coster: New tactical response model keeps police safe
RNZ: ‘Little value’ in credit card repayment insurance – review
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Grant Dalton admits on-demand loans from Team New Zealand principal are a ‘wild card’ (paywalled)
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Highlanders allowed to keep beer logo |