Today’s content

National Party 
Luke Malpass (Stuff): National Party leadership: Now Christopher Luxon’s big job of rebuilding begins
Jo Moir (Newsroom): ‘Your mission, should you choose to accept it…’
Richard Shaw (The Conversation): Luxon takes the controls – can the former Air NZ CEO make National straighten up and fly right?
Tim Watkin (Pundit): A Strong Start – But Can Luxon Last?
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Newly appointed Opposition leader Chris Luxon signals little change to National Party’s direction
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Christopher Luxon’s plan to lead a moderate National Party
Claire Trevett (Herald): Chris Luxon’s first job was reassuring National voters – next is the fetid mess in caucus (paywalled)
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Quick to rise Luxon (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): What’s the Luxon-Bridges deal?
Barry Soper (Herald): National gets what it wanted
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): New National leader Christopher Luxon’s biggest challenge – and the questions he didn’t want to answer
RNZ: Checkpoint: National’s new leader Christopher Luxon talks to Checkpoint
1 News: Luxon outlines game plan to turn National around
Jennifer Lees (Newsroom): The rebrand challenge for National’s new chief
Stuff Editorial: Christopher Luxon takes on more than just the worst job in politics
John Anthony (Stuff): Former Air NZ CEO Christopher Luxon showed ‘enormous’ intellectual capability but rarely met with ‘ordinary workers’
Grant Bradley (Herald): Will Christopher Luxon’s political timing be as sweet as at Air NZ? (paywalled)
Newstalk ZB: Christopher Luxon on decision to run, what now for Bridges, Collins
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): ‘We are the reset’: Chris Luxon and Nicola Willis take the National Party helm
Tess McClure (Guardian): New Zealand’s National party anoints ex-airline boss Chris Luxon as leader
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Chris Luxon on housing deal, He Puapua and conversion therapy (paywalled)
Tess McClure (Guardian): Who is New Zealand’s new opposition leader Christopher Luxon?
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Who is the new National Party leader Christopher Luxon?
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Nicola Willis’ rapid rise to the top
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Christopher Luxon’s opening gambit as would-be-Prime Minister: Hiring a black Mercedes to drop him across the road
ODT Editorial: National cleared for take-off
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Luxon – National’s best option
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Christopher Luxon has mammoth task of uniting broken National Party caucus
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Christopher Luxon rules out changing abortion laws if he becomes Prime Minister
Irra Lee (1 News): My faith has been misrepresented, says new National leader
RNZ: The Detail: Is Luxon’s face the one that will stick?
1 News: ‘National is back’ – New Party leader Christopher Luxon
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Meet Chris Luxon – the new National leader
Anna Whyte (1 News): Luxon: Country music, water skiing and ‘not John Key’
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Who is the new National Party leader Christopher Luxon?
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Christopher Luxon says ‘National is back’ as he pitches to voters the party lost in 2020
Michael Neilson (Herald): National Party’s new leader Christopher Luxon: Former leaders Don Brash and Jim Bolger share their views
Brent Edwards (NBR): Christopher Luxon’s big job: unify National Party (paywalled)
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): National gambles on political novice to reunite caucus
1 News: ‘Good PR’ Labour Govt leaves NZ at crossroads, says Luxon
1 News: Luxon jokingly apologises to NZ for loving country music
William Hewett (Newshub): New National Party leader Christopher Luxon lists his strengths and weaknesses
RNZ: Watch: National Party’s new leader Chris Luxon and deputy Nicola Willis speak after vote
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Why Dr Shane Reti wasn’t a contender for National Party leader 
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Five economic issues for the new National leader Chris Luxon to tackle
1 News: Full video: Luxon promises to improve lives of all Kiwis
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog):Luxon the Christian Lex Luthor is National Leader! Winners & Losers
Henry Cooke (Stuff): New deputy Nicola Willis says she will focus on stopping party infighting
Magic: ‘We are back’: Nicola Willis signals change in her first interview as Nats deputy leader
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Nicola Willis elected deputy leader of the National Party 
Herald: Chris Luxon elected leader, Nicola Willis deputy
Adam Jacobson and Lucy Xia (Stuff): Botany reacts to local MP Luxon becoming new National Party leader

Traffic light system, Auckland border
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Fully vaccinated Kiwis welcome in Te Tai Tokerau, unvaxxed should stay away- Hone Harawira
Helen Castles (1 News): Iwi looking to block holidaymakers from Bay of Islands
Karina Cooper (Northern Advocate): Bay of Islands iwi plans border control measures to shut out summer visitors
Dion O’Neale, Andrew Sporle, Emily Harvey and Steven Turnbull (The Conversation): As Aucklanders anticipate holiday trips, Māori leaders ask people to stay away from regions with lower vaccination rates
Maxine Jacob (Stuff): ‘Don’t come if you’re not vaccinated’ — Whakatū iwi urge holidaymakers to be responsible
Northern Advocate: Popular Maitai Bay closed for Christmas
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern asks iwi proposing to block people from Bay of Islands to ‘work closely with police’
Magic: ‘I won’t be listening to any roadblocks’: Shane Jones says Northlanders need to take responsibility for low vax rates
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Waiheke and Great Barrier Island braced for visitors at red light
Maddisyn Jeffares (Hawkes Bay Today/Herald): Wairoa’s red light: Balancing a push for the vaccine with respect for the unvaccinated (paywalled)
RNZ: Government taking ‘cautious’ approach to traffic light system – Andrew Little
Brent Edwards (NBR): Act leader sees red at new traffic light framework (paywalled)
Jennifer Eder (Stuff): Golden Sounds: Rhythm and Vines founder turns attention to festivals ‘where we can run events’
Lawrence Gullery (Stuff): Cancellation of summer events at Lake Karapiro a major blow to nearby towns
Mina Kerr-Lazenby (Stuff): Event organisers hopeful for a normal summer, despite ongoing restrictions
Jane Matthews (Stuff): New Plymouth nightlife lovers expected to ‘flood’ back into bars under traffic light system
Mike Tweed (Whanganui Chronicle/Herald): Whanganui events cancelled following traffic light announcement (paywalled)
Mike Tweed (Whanganui Chronicle/Herald): Rangitīkei and Ruapehu mayors prepared for traffic light system (paywalled)

Govt management of Delta outbreak
Herald: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visits Waikato as regions prepare for traffic light system
RNZ: Jacinda Ardern in Hamilton to boost vaccination efforts, meet with business leaders
Wilson Longhurst (1 News): Protesters gather in Hamilton as Ardern visits
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (Herald):  Learning to live with Covid in NZ – let’s leave no one behind
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tells COVID-19 unvaccinated ‘we are still a team’

Mandatory vaccination, vaccine pass, rules
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Black market sales of vaccination passes reported to police
Herald: Lone Star New Lynn ignores vaccine mandate, invites unvaccinated to apply for work
Emily Writes (Spinoff): Playcentre wants ‘recognition of our unique nature’ on controversial vaccination mandate
Charlie Gates (Stuff): Vaccine certificates needed at libraries and pools in Christchurch
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Unvaccinated people barred from Auckland Council facilities and offices
Nick Truebridge (RNZ): Hundreds of unvaccinated young learner drivers barred from practical test
Olivia Caldwell (Stuff): Tarras Country Cafe to close because owners and most staff aren’t vaccinated
Daniel Smith (Stuff): McDonald’s requires vaccine pass to dine in under traffic light system
Jake McKee (RNZ): Fire and Emergency calls on the double vaccinated to fill volunteer firefighter void
Mike Mather (Stuff): City councillor votes against use of vaccine pass to enter council facilities
Yashas Srinivasa (Stuff): Award-winning Riverstone Kitchen shuns vaccine passport, will operate as takeaway only
Chris Tobin (Stuff): Timaru children’s store owner will not enforce mask rules
Logan Savory (Stuff): ILT set to lose staff as vaccine mandate introduced for all employees
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Ruapehu District Council flags risk of losing ‘pro-choice’ staff
Susan Hornsby-Geluk (Stuff): Employers need to take a sensitive and nuanced approach to vaccination
Katie Townshend, Cherie Sivignon and Skara Bohny (Stuff): Going orange: where you’ll need your vaccine pass in Nelson-Tasman

MIQ, home isolation
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): People still waiting up to two weeks for contact during Covid-19 home isolation, say providers
RNZ: MIQ slashes 1000 rooms due to Omicron variant
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Concerns about Omicron variant of Covid-19 cut number of MIQ rooms in latest lobby
RNZ: Tenth try for MIQ room goes to waste for woman after reduced release

Vaccine rollout
Jamie Morton (Herald):  Unvaccinated people nine times more likely to seed outbreaks – model
Robin Martin (RNZ): Taranaki vaccination events moving indoors after physical and verbal attacks
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Auckland DHB vaccination rates sets ‘new national benchmark’ – epidemiologist
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Urban-rural divide realised in vaccination numbers, says Federated Farmers
Māori TV: Māori finding higher protection with double vaccination – Dr Rawiri Taonui
Herewini Waikato (Māori TV): Māori Health Providers receive crumbs from the Crown funding pie
Taroi Black (Māori TV): ‘Get a shot if you want to stay alive’ – kuia worried for her mokopuna
1 News: Bay of Plenty hits 90% first dose jab rate
(Stuff): Bay of Plenty DHB hits 90 per cent vaccination milestone, but no celebrations yet

Omicron variant
Jamie Morton (Herald): Why we can’t yet count on a milder, Delta-beating Omicron
Herald Editorial: Omicron variant is on the heads of world leaders (paywalled)

Housing
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Luxon’s National set to walk back ‘Townhouse Nation’ accord
Eric Crampton (Offsetting Behaviour): Enabling housing and the longer term
Eugenie Sage (Stuff): Enabling density is a start but more needs to be done to rein in the runaway housing market
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Ethan Te Ora (Stuff): ‘Millionaire’s paradise’: Wellington home valuations jump 60.4 per cent 
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Wellington house prices: Singles driven out of the property market, as values jump 60 per cent
Herald: New RVs for Wellington’s most expensive homes – a jump of 41pc
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Wellington house values jump 60 per cent, average land value more than doubles
Steven Walton (Stuff): Record growth pushes average house value in Christchurch past $700,000
Miriam Bell (Stuff): New house listings soar to highest level in seven years
RNZ: House price growth edges down for first time in more than a year
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): Jump in new property listings an early sign the housing market could be turning
Stephen Benson (Stuff): Is there more to life than buying a property? The constant dilemma for Auckland first-home-buyers
Jade Kake (Stuff): How do we achieve good housing design at scale?
Miriam Bell (Stuff): House price increases slow for first time in 15 months
Ben Leahy (Herald): Auckland Council again delays CV revaluation due to Covid
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): The new housing crisis: Banks won’t lend against coastal properties
Teuila Fuatai (Herald): Government Kainga Ora state house policy not solving unruly neighbour issue (paywalled)

Economy, business, government subsidies
Andy Fyers (BusinessDesk): Wage subsidy data reveals scale of tourism hurt (paywalled)
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Mixed reactions from businesses on Government’s new financial support
Nicholas Pointon (RNZ): Business closures outnumber new firms for first time in nearly a decade
RNZ: Businesses not confident to maintain profit margins amid Covid-19 restrictions – ANZ economist
Rob Stock (Stuff): Plan to save cash: Should we force banks and shops to accept and provide cash?
Liam Dann (Herald): As cash use declines, should banks pay more to keep it available? (paywalled)
RNZ: Reserve Bank still consulting on the future of cash
David Hargreaves (Interest): Cash Crunch: RBNZ sees ‘significant issues’ for the cash system
Daniel Smith (Stuff): D-Day: The big KiwiSaver default fund shift starts on Wednesday
RNZ: Fibre internet wholesalers must publicise pricing, performance – Commerce Commission
Jo Lines-MacKenzie (Stuff): Orange light means go – from empty and silent to 1600 nightclubbers
Jimmy Ellingham (RNZ): Bulls chews over changes under red light setting rules
RNZ: Checkpoint: Buy it if you see it – Food & Grocery Council CEO’s Christmas warning
Andrew Barnes (Herald): The business of lies is becoming a dangerous norm (paywalled)

Health
RNZ: ACC workers who shared clients details on Snapchat breached code of conduct
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Auckland hospital projects delayed by fire concerns
Julia Gabel (Herald): Childhood vaccines: Report calls for urgent changes to protect Māori children from ‘lethal’ diseases
Ian Powell (BusinessDesk): Indicators of the government’s new health system (paywalled)
Ian Powell (Second Opinion): Commissioning and contracting: indicative language for New Zealand’s public health system
Louisa Steyl (Stuff): Unions, home care providers and workers ask for PPE
Matthew Parry (Newsroom): Covid-19: Modelling for the future
Shea Turner (Spinoff): Concussions don’t just happen on TV

Environment, conservation, Climate Change
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland’s progress on climate change ‘insufficient’, big changes needed – report
Jamie Morton (Herald): Another NZ ‘marine heatwave’ is unfolding: here’s what that means for you
William Hewett and Alice Wilkins (Newshub): Coastal sea temperatures around New Zealand well above average for time of year
RNZ: Marine heatwave occurring in waters around New Zealand, NIWA says
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): Waiheke Island rāhui over concern for kaimoana officially recognised
RNZ: Rāhui on pāua fishing around Waiheke Island starts 1 December
Joanne Naish (Stuff): Mana whenua panel will advocate for important traditional sites on stewardship land
Keith Woodford (Interest): NZ must quickly come to grips with how agricultural-sourced methane and nitrous oxide are going to be managed within the Zero Carbon Act
Grant Miller (ODT): Coastline retreat favoured
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Building supply shortage impedes climate targets

Primary industries
James Pocock (Hawkes Bay Today): Central Hawke’s Bay farming companies want 15 million cubic metres of groundwater a year, but can they convince the public? (paywalled)
RNZ: Māori agribusiness crop trials hold hopes for local employment
Bruce Munro (ODT): The days when produce was grown on Dunedin’s doorstep

Three waters, local government
Murray Gibb (Kiwiblog): Guest Post: In support of three waters reforms
Graham Skellern (Herald): Infrastructure: Who takes control of our water services? (paywalled)
Gemma Dioni (Stuff): Reimagining Wellington: Growing up and old in the city

Employment
Chris Tobin (Stuff): Port workers to strike in Timaru in December
RNZ: Rural contractor hires young to fill labour gap, recommends others do the same
Sophie Cornish (Stuff): ‘Someone could die’: Fears over safety and bullying at property maintenance company

Police, crime
RNZ: New call to arm police officers after West Auckland shooting
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Christopher Luxon wants police to listen to frontline officers on general arming
Ashleigh Yates (Newshub): Revealed: More than 16,000 police officers injured on the job in past eight years
RNZ: Police need new approach to quell rising gang violence – expert
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): It’s frustrating that Andrew Coster is pretending there isn’t a rise in gang crime
Newstalk ZB: Andrew Coster: There’s nothing to indicate Glen Eden shooting was gang-related

Justice, corrections
Keiller MacDuff (Stuff): South Canterbury lawyer says legal aid crisis causing ‘massive injustices’
Conan Young (RNZ): Marlborough Sounds killer Scott Watson denied parole for a fourth time
John Weekes (Herald): Royal Commission is a shambles and needs urgent reform, survivors’ group says (paywalled)

Foreign Affairs, trade
George Block (Stuff): Solomon Islands requests support from NZ – troops assembling at Linton
1 News: Solomon Islands asks NZ for assistance amid ongoing unrest
RNZ: Pacific regional response to Solomons crisis takes shape
Herald: Solomon Islands requests NZ support following riots in capital
Mary Wareham (Incline): New Zealand Comes Off the Fence on Autonomous Weapons
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): NZ to push for autonomous weapons treaty
RNZ: Government keen to play lead role in banning and regulating killer robots
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Government to push for international ban of autonomous weapons, or killer robots
Asuntha Charles (Herald): The choices being forced on children of Afghanistan (paywalled)

Immigration
RNZ: Immigration blocks pathway for at-risk Afghans to settle in New Zealand
1 News: First round of applications for new NZ Resident Visa opens
Tina Morrison (Stuff): First round of applications open for fast-tracked resident visas for migrants
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): British family ‘ecstatic’ to finally apply for residency under new one-off residence visa

Transport, Infrastructure
Justin Latif (Local Democracy Reporting): Free public transport could be life-changing for many, say campaigners
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Minister chastens KiwiRail board (paywalled)
1 News: Grace period for expired WOFs ends, but licences extended
Nick James (Herald): Interislander ferry Aratere won’t be fully operational until next year
Bay of Plenty Times: New deepwater port on East Cape vying for Government funding
Nikki Mandow (BusinessDesk): Crass emissions: Suburban helicopters fly into choppy air
Tim McCready (Herald): Infrastructure: Auckland’s light rail project poised to take a major step (paywalled)
Claire Edmondson (Herald): Infrastructure: Plotting our best path forward
Sean Sweeney (Herald): Infrastructure: Counting the cost: CRL’s battle with the pandemic
Graham Skellern (Herald): Infrastructure: ‘We weren’t expecting that much demand’

Freedom camping
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Stuart Nash backtracks on call for ban on non-self-contained campervans
1 News: Tougher freedom camping rules, higher fines on the way
Debbie Jamieson (Stuff): Strict new freedom camping certification system and $1000 fines coming
Herald: Freedom camper clampdown: Mandatory toilets, $1000 fines to flush out abuse

Media
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Letter from the Editor: NZME buys BusinessDesk to strengthen news offering
RNZ: NZME to buy specialist news website BusinessDesk
Dita De Boni (NBR): NZME buys BusinessDesk (paywalled)
John Anthony (Stuff): NZME enters deal to buy business news website BusinessDesk for up to $5m
Herald: NZME acquires BusinessDesk in premium content push

Other
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): The land of plenty, just not for many
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): The Simple Thing That’s Hard To Do
RNZ: Nine to Noon: Why does government policy sometimes fail to deliver?
RNZ: Season 2 | Episode 4: 30th November 2021 – Party People