Today’s content

Govt Covid response
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Auckland’s outbreak not under control after more mystery cases announced – Michael Baker
Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘Auckland’s not getting out of level 3’ until mystery cases gone or everyone vaccinated – expert
Science  Media Centre: Spike in cases as Covid affects housing-insecure people – Expert Reaction
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Blame Games
Steven Cowan (Against the Current): Neoliberalism is spreading the virus
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Jacinda Ardern’s elimination strategy is dead, long live the elimination strategy (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): 45 cases – Covid has exposed the bleeding gums of our inequality – fighting Covid means beating poverty
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): Chris Hipkins, Dr Ashley Bloomfield deny Auckland’s alert level change contributed to spike in cases
Belinda Feek (Herald):‘I would expect this number to continue,’ Professor Baker says of 45 cases
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Level 3 may not be working if case spike continues, expert says
Anna Whyte (1 News): ‘Quite a proportion’ of new cases in transitional or emergency housing
Melanie Earley and Josephine Franks (Stuff): Self-isolating ‘not possible’ in emergency or transitional housing
Herald: Gang community part of outbreak, Ministry of Health confirms
RNZ: ‘We’re still aiming to run this into the ground’ – Hipkins on today’s high case numbers
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Bloomfield: ‘Many of these cases were expected’
1 News: Covid ‘endemic in NZ’ means we’re unlikely to see zero cases – professor
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): We need local lockdowns
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Just what sort of a Covid Christmas do Kiwis want?
Jeff Tallon (Herald): What does living – vaccinated – with Covid look like? (paywalled)
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Govt’s reading the room, expect more announcements
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): New Zealand plummets down Bloomberg’s COVID-19 resilience list
Herald: New Zealand slips from 1st to 38th place in the world to live during pandemic
Lorna Thornber (Stuff): New Zealand falls 37 spots on global ranking of best places to be amid the pandemic 
Alex Kazemi (Spinoff): In the face of a pandemic, in a storm of uncertainty, we must put caution first

National’s Covid plan, John Key’s Covid plan
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Judith Collins urges Govt to adopt National’s COVID plan, admits it could result in deaths
Derek Cheng (Herald): National’s reopening plan includes a massive dose of wishful thinking (paywalled)
Dan Lake (Newshub): National claims Kiwis stuck overseas could all be back by Christmas under their COVID-19 plan
RNZ: Checkpoint: Chris Bishop outlines National’s reopening plan
Zane Small (Newshub): Masks? Travel? Elimination? How opening up would look under National and ACT
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National proposes opening up travel at 85 per cent vaccinated, Labour say it would result in ‘Covid for Christmas’
1 News: ‘Opening Up’: National releases 3 pillar, 10-step Covid-19 plan
Russell Palmer (RNZ): National’s plan calls for vaccination targets to end lockdowns, open borders
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Nats up the ante on covid opening (paywalled)
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): National’s ‘home by Christmas’ plan a tantalising prospect for tens of thousands stranded offshore
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): National says it would use a traffic light system to reopen New Zealand once 85% of over-12s are fully vaccinated
Alice Neville (Spinoff): National’s ‘Opening Up’ plan – in a nutshell
Richard Harman (Politik): Four weeks ago Collins fired him; now he’s leading National’s big Covid response plan (paywalled)
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): National’s 10 step Covid-19 plan
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Mediawatch: Is this Judith’s weirdest interview ever & why Kiwis don’t care about MIQ
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Judith Collins’ message to former National MP Matt King after anti-vaccination Facebook post
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Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Quiz: Whose Covid plan is it anyway?
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): The Covid plans are coming thick and fast
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern fires up at ‘rushed and risky’ COVID-19 reopening proposals by National, ACT
1 News: Ardern, Collins debate ‘a Covid-free Christmas or reopening borders early’
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1 News: ‘Stop being smug’: Economist says NZ can’t open borders too soon
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Clarke Gayford lashes back at Sir John Key for ‘name slinging’ in COVID-19 criticism of Government
1 News: Clarke Gayford accuses Sir John Key of ‘name slinging’, Covid ‘disinformation’
Herald: ‘Was there a single new idea?’: Clarke Gayford rubbishes John Key comments on the Government’s Covid-19 response

Border, MIQ, immigration
1 News: Govt smooths residency pathway for most work visa holders, amid backlog
RNZ: Govt offers one-off visa to fast-track skilled migrant residency
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Nearly 165,000 migrants eligible for fast-tracked residency
Michael Neilson (Herald):Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announces residence pathway for 165,000 migrant workers
Katie Scotcher and Russell Palmer (RNZ): Immigration Minister set to expedite residence visa applications
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): National declares win after ‘trigger-happy’ Immigration NZ leaks policy details 
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): Fast track to residence for 165,000
Jem Traylen (BusinessDesk): New ‘once off ‘ resident visa offers hope to migrants (paywalled)
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1 News: 40% of Kiwis unhappy with Govt’s management of MIQ, poll shows
RNZ: MIQ should include priority system – law expert
Katie Todd (RNZ): Government unable to reveal cost of MIQ subsidies for sports teams
Lauren Hendricksen (Newshub): Woman desperate to say ‘final goodbye’ to mum in UK left heartbroken after missing out on MIQ spot
Iain Macleod (Stuff): The heartbreaking consequences of immigration red tape, delays
Claire Trevett (Herald): Kiwi family in Australia gets MIQ spot but can’t get flights to match it
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Kiwis rushing home for Christmas or just far fewer December rooms available?
Claire Trevett (Herald): Prime Minister, MIQ is now a debacle that has made mincemeat of the promise Kiwis could always come home (paywalled)
Phil O’Reilly (Herald): Three things to get right as we open our borders (paywalled)
RNZ: Charter plane companies seeing demand rise as airlines drop flights
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Retirement commissioner comes out to bat for Kiwis in pension crisis after getting stuck in Australia
Herald: Retirees stuck in Australia fear being stripped of pensions
Jamie Searle (Stuff): Overseas shearers needed for busy season ahead
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Jacinda Ardern contends high-profile MMA athletes treated fairly
Hamish Bidwell (RNZ): MMA fighters Adesanya, Hooker ‘too big for little old New Zealand’
Matt Brown (Herald): Kiwi Olympic bronze medallist Michael Venus considering legal action against Government over MIQ system (paywalled)
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Expiring driver’s licences another problem for Kiwis stranded overseas
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): Skipper plans to collect stranded Kiwis to sail from Sydney to NZ, avoiding MIQ 
BusinessDesk: Timing is poor for increased border levies – Tourism Aotearoa (paywalled)

Self-isolation trial
RNZ: Checkpoint: Home isolation expansion by Christmas not ruled out – Hipkins
1 News: Self-isolation trial to happen in Auckland, Christchurch
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): $1000 cost for self isolation pilot (paywalled)
Siobhan Downes (Stuff): Self-isolation trial will cost participants $1000
Liz McDonald (Stuff): Desperate businesses keen for home-isolation pilot, but urge MIQ solution
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Wellington businesses miss out on home-isolation trial later this year

Vaccine
Ben Strang (RNZ): Proposed vaccine passport significantly flawed – ministry insider
Ben Strang (RNZ): Overseas vaccinations proving an issue for Ministry of Health
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Judith Collins comfortable with supermarkets and airlines barring unvaccinated people
Lorna Thornber (Stuff): ‘No vaccine, no flying’: Airline passengers should be vaccinated, experts say
Herald Editorial: Mandatory vaccination is not the New Zealand way
1 News: Over 98% of border workers have received at least one dose of Covid vaccine – Hipkins
RNZ: Port workers’ 95% vaccination rate attributed to tackling misinformation
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Just 3880 first doses given in Auckland on Monday
Henry Cooke and Kate Newton (Stuff): New Zealand’s vaccine rollout explained in 13 charts, as demand starts to drop
Adam Pearse (Herald): The 90% project – How close is your age group to 90%?
Christine Rovoi (RNZ): New data shows Pacific leading NZ youth in vaccination rollout
Corazon Miller (1 News): Growing push to get 90% of Aucklanders jabbed for Covid at least once
Rebecca Wadey (Ensemble): Why are so many ‘beautiful people’ anti-vax?
Shane Te Pou  (Herald): Is it time for incentives for the vaccine-shy? (paywalled)

Alert level rules, compliance, enforcement
RNZ: Police inspector, navy sailor investigated for crossing Auckland boundary without exemption
Anna Leask (Herald): Auckland police inspector at centre of alleged border ‘favour’ breach is top iwi liaison officer
1 News: Investigation underway as Navy sailor breaches Auckland border
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Navy sailor allegedly breached lockdown by travelling to Hawke’s Bay for funeral
Herald:Royal New Zealand Navy investigating sailor’s alleged border breach
Kerre McIvor (Newstalk ZB): Good people don’t break rules, but they do have a breaking point
Shannon Redstall (Newshub): Kiwi kids with shared custody, house movers leave Auckland under new border rules
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Rotorua dad forced to choose work over birth of triplets after Auckland COVID-19 border exemption rejected

Cases, demographics, testing
Stuff: Further Tauranga and Mount Maunganui wastewater tests are negative
RNZ: Possibility of Covid-19 in Tauranga so people with symptoms should get tested – Verrall
Scott Yeoman (Stuff): Dr Ashley Bloomfield urges more Tauranga testing for Covid-19 after positive wastewater result
RNZ: Only one fully vaccinated person hospitalised, 90 unvaccinated
1 News: Asymptomatic testing part of Delta ‘endgame’ – Verrall
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Covid-19 team helps Auckland families frightened of being tested
Scott Palmer (Newshub): Chris Hipkins responds after vaccination volunteer becomes infected with COVID-19
Herald: Scare at police station – 13 officers awaiting final test results
Grant Miller (ODT): Law firm to review Auckland pupil’s actions in Dunedin

1 News Colmar Brunton poll, Parliament
Gordon Campbell: On living in Seymour World
Stuff Editorial: Opposition: where the like-minded butt heads
Martyn Bradbury (Waatea News): Is a rising ACT a threat to Māori?
Brigitte Morten (NBR): Brand Collins is damaging brand National (paywalled)
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Parliament goes into urgency over Covid-19 response bill
Whatitiri Te Wake (Stuff): Wāhine Māori MPs reveal the impact of their jobs on their mental wellbeing
Herald:A grumpy Parliament urgently passes legislation through first reading
Ben Thomas (Stuff): Why we should be concerned that public service neutrality is eroding

Business, economy, employment, wage subsidy
Nita Blake-Persen (RNZ): Wage subsidies: Real estate agents claim more than $1m during lockdown
Andy Fyers (BusinessDesk): Wage subsidy 2021: Aussie retail giant cashes in (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Robertson confirms fourth wage subsidy round, hints at more help for hospitality
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): Dissatisfaction with Labour Government mounting among small businesses – survey
Marta Steeman (Stuff): Small and medium businesses’ dissatisfaction with Government support is increasing a new poll says 
RNZ: The Warehouse bounces back with strong lift in sales
Nadine Porter, Debbie Jamieson, Lee Kenny and Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Leaders fear death knell for businesses as dozens of new Covid-19 cases dash hopes of level change
Fiona Connor (Newshub): The bleak reality for hospitality industry without wage subsidy through level 2
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Property groups say they have given $320m in rent relief amid plea for lease law tweak
Marta Steeman (Stuff): Hospitality sector wants more from Government than rent relief through property law changes 
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): ‘A couple of holdouts’ does not justify Government by fiat (paywalled)
David Chaplin (BusinessDesk): Values and value for money
Bruce Jarvis (Stuff): Amazon investment: New Zealand has 10 years to supercharge our SaaS sector
Tina Morrison (Stuff): S&P says NZ one of the better performing Asia-Pacific economies
Liam Dann (Herald): The October curse – what’s spooking investors this year (paywalled)
RNZ: The Detail: What we don’t know about Amazon’s NZ plans
Jane Phare (Herald): Angry shoppers take out frustrations on staff (paywalled)
Melanie Carrol (Stuff): Vehicle shortage pushes price of used cars higher on Trade Me

Banks
Rob Stock (Stuff): ANZ and ASB face multimillion-dollar class action lawsuit over lending failures
Katie Bradford (1 News): Multimillion-dollar claim launched against banks ASB and ANZ
Ben Butler (Guardian): New Zealand loan holders launch legal action to force Australian-owned banks to refund fees
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): ANZ Bank to defend class action suit (paywalled)
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): ANZ, ASB sued in multimillion dollar class action (paywalled)
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Class action targets ANZ and ASB seeking interest & fee refunds for customers
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Kiwibank: ‘Ongoing problems could damage reputation’

Housing, property investment, tenancy rules
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): A housing travel plan without a destination or a vehicle
Marena Mane (Māori TV): Is Labour’s housing plan a ‘Bob the Build Up’ plan for Māori?
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Property expert slams Govt’s ‘madcap theory’ tax changes will help first-home buyers
Mikaela Wilkes (Stuff): No home but free – millennial chooses van over Wellington ‘rat race’
Jane Holland and Justin Maloney (Newsroom): Proposed Government lease amendment takes market by surprise
Anne Gibson (Herald): Residential landlords keener to sell, more reluctant to buy: new Crockers/Tony Alexander survey (paywalled)
Juliet Speedy (Newshub): Month-long delays to building consents frustrating builders, homeowners in Christchurch

Aotearoa or New Zealand?
Karl du Fresne: The media’s calculated insult to public opinion
1 News: Any NZ name change should be up to the public – Collins
Will Trafford (Māori TV): 60,000 sign petition for Aotearoa rename

AUKUS, foreign affairs, trade
Bryce Edwards (Guardian): Jacinda Ardern needs to speak out on Aukus – her tacit approval allows a dangerous military buildup
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): O’Connor goes offshore again as Europe trade questions grow
Guy Trafford (Interest): Ardern’s views on trade inclusiveness principles may inflame China
Peter Griffin (BusinessDesk): When the chips are down, NZ needs mates (paywalled)
Anna Campbell (ODT): Leadership is needed as sheep and beef farming face fight

Environment, climate change, conservation
Richard Harman (Politik): Shaw and the fragile international politics of climate change (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Greta is right to mock NZ on climate change
RNZ: The Detail: The climate summit that could save our future
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Treasury’s climate change model finds economy ‘resilient to natural disasters’
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Nelson and Wellington tie for the lowest carbon footprint
Amber Allott and Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Not too shabby, Canterbury: farming and transport emissions fell in 2019
Michael Jack (Newsroom): Cutting peak winter power use by 75 percent
ODT Editorial: A flight of fancy?
Samantha Gee (RNZ): Mission to make Farewell Spit predator free
Catherine Iorns and Allan Brent (Stuff): Race to the bottom in RMA reform 
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): ‘Emergency’ fast track consent law to get longer life (paywalled)

Health
Nicholas Jones (Herald): Auckland Hospital mother, baby deaths: Review reveals ‘toxic’ culture claims, staff struggling with workload
Māori TV: 100 years for Māori life expectancy to reach pākehā – report
Simon Connell (Pundit): ACC And Birth Injuries – A Change All To The Good?
Chris Keall (Herald): Worker anxiety, depression rising during pandemic and lockdowns: AUT survey. How to beat it (paywalled)
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Unprecedented demand from sex abuse victims for ACC support: ‘It makes you want to cry’
Alice Wilkins (Newshub): Proposed ACC changes could have major impact for birth injuries, occupational illnesses
Michael Reddell (Croaking Cassandra): Health spending
Logan Hagoort (Stuff): ‘When will we allow people to have the care they need in all areas of their lives’
ODT Editorial: Too much mental health korero
Virginia Fallon (Stuff): This is no ordinary blue: Trying to hold on through a mental health crisis
Barbara Smith (Newsroom): Kia Kaha Kia Manawanui: You’re going to need it
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): $4m for heart disease research ‘game changer for kaumātua’
Kate Nicol-Williams (1 News): ‘Shameful on us’ – Calls for greater support for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
1 News: Rights breached for thousands with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome – Commissioners
Jamie Morton (Herald): NZ is still flu-free – here’s the problem with that

Oranga Tamariki 
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Whānau Ora’s Merepeka Raukawa-Tait wants uplifting of Māori children ‘stopped altogether’
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Government releases Oranga Tamariki advisory board findings: ‘You will see change’
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Oranga Tamariki to ‘end uplifts as we have known them’ in massive overhaul
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Government again directs overhaul after report criticises ‘weak, disconnected and unfit’ agency
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Māori Party says ‘rotten to the core’ Oranga Tamariki should have been disbanded
Anna Whyte (1 News): Oranga Tamariki to see power shift to communities, with uplifts a last resort
Michael Neilson (Herald):‘Change must come’: Mixed views on Oranga Tamariki shake-up
Sam Sachdeva, Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner (Newsroom): Hope mixed with cynicism in response to Oranga Tamariki ‘generational change’
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): ‘Self-centred’ Oranga Tamariki must devolve resources to community – report
Nicola Atwool (Newsroom): The road is long for Oranga Tamariki
Jessica Tyson (Māori TV): Government to ‘transform’ Oranga Tamariki, uplifts to be last resort

Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill
Audrey Young: (Herald):  When terrorism goes from the hypothetical to the real thing (paywalled)
No Right Turn: Building themselves a petard?

Water reforms
Patrick Gower (Newshub): What is the Government’s Three Waters plan and why is it making mayors so upset?
Selva Selvaraja (ODT): Many flaws in water reform process
Felix Desmarais (Local Democracy Reporter): ‘Gross interference’: Rotorua Lakes Council redirects emails from public to councillors on Three Waters reform
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Three waters reform process ‘not the New Zealand way’
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Timaru secedes from NZ councils in Three Waters fight against Government
Stuff: Southern councils express three waters concerns to minister
Laura Mills (Local Democracy Reporting): Reform would bring sustainability of Kaikōura council into question
Laurilee McMichael (Herald): Taupō District Council votes no to Three Waters reform (paywalled)

Local government
Luisa Girao (ODT): Mayor to seek advice over email
Luisa Girao (ODT): Interception of Sir Tim email was appropriate – councillors
Editorial (Hawkes Bay Today/Herald): Refreshing ‘what the?’ comment from young Hawke’s Bay politician (paywalled)
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Laws on Hobbs: apologise or resign
Keiller MacDuff (Stuff): Mackenzie one of only two councils yet to adopt Long Term Plan
Andrew Marshall (ODT): Words ‘very little’ help: sports hall
Riley Kennedy and Grant Miller (ODT): ‘Slap in the face’ for George St retailers
Gianina Schwanecke (Herald): Beach vehicle ban? Waimārama’s issues set to spark conversation across Hawke’s Bay (paywalled)

Transport
Stuff: Booking Air New Zealand domestic flights will look a bit different
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Transmission Gully project builder seeks $75 million from engineer in court
RNZ: Dangerous bridge near Ohakune gets replacement funding

Education
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Auckland secondary school principals worried by teacher shortage
Amy Williams (RNZ): Auckland parents prepare for school holidays in lockdown
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Redundancy appeal unplanned: union
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Otago University calls for voluntary redundancies

Police Ten 7
Justin Latif (Local Democracy Reporting): How one tweet changed the future of Police Ten 7
RNZ: Police Ten 7 racism review advises bias training
Herald: ‘Feeds on racial stereotypes’: Review slams Police Ten 7

Other
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff):The biggest-spending pokie place in the country 
Hugh Campbell (Newsroom): Divided they fall: NZ’s complex farming future
John Weekes (Herald): Last wine at nine? Supermarkets shot down in latest twist over Auckland alcohol sales
Diana Amundsen (Stuff): We should be treating ageing as an opportunity for people to thrive 
Don Douglas (Stuff): Is Aldi the fix for NZ’s supermarket pricing issues?
No Right Turn: Gagging the public for ministerial convenience
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): 1981 Springbok Tour: ‘Brutal’ violence of Auckland riots caught on camera
RNZ: Further $600k funding for rainbow youth in NZ
Apisalome Movono and Regina Scheyvens (Spinoff): For tourism-starved Pacific Islands, when and how to reopen is a vexed question
Matthew Littlewood (Stuff): Author and historian says book about mosque shooting was needed
Arena Williams and Stuart Smith (Stuff): A child should never be punished for speaking the language of their people