NZ Politics Daily – 8th December 2021

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Today’s content

National Party reshuffle, leadership change
Michael Swanson (The Conversation): History made the National Party a ‘broad church’ – can it hold in the MMP era?
Simon Louisson (Standard): Is National’s Luxon among the quick or the dead?
Russell Palmer (RNZ): National MPs align themselves with Luxon’s new-page philosophy
Richard Harman (Politik): National’s new rising star (paywalled)
Richard Prebble (Herald): Christopher Luxon hasn’t got much time to make an impression (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: Luxon’s southern conundrum
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Maori TV): Māori portfolios handed to MPs outside National’s new shadow cabinet
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Former National leader Todd Muller explains why he is scrapping plans to retire from politics
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National elects Chris Penk senior whip, Maureen Pugh to keep junior role

Parliament
Jennifer Lees-Marshment (Newsroom): Anyone’s election in 2023
Claire Trevett (Herald): Who won in first Chris Luxon v Jacinda Ardern showdown? Act’s David Seymour did. (paywalled)
Jessica Mutch McKay (1 News): Analysis: Christopher Luxon’s ‘first taste of the big time’
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): A bit of bite back in the blue team: How National’s first day in Parliament under Christopher Luxon unfolded
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Chris Luxon should not have tried to take Jacinda Ardern at her own Covid game
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Why Christopher Luxon’s first question time was a success, but also showed Jacinda Ardern’s extra gears
Barry Soper (Herald): Christopher Luxon’s biggest mistake in first showdown with Jacinda Ardern
Anna Whyte and Irra Lee (1 News): ICU beds focus of first showdown between Luxon and Ardern
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Christopher Luxon, Jacinda Ardern spar in his first Question Time
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Chris Luxon vs Jacinda Ardern in first Question Time clash
Zane Smalll (Newshub): National leader Christopher Luxon’s first interrogation of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern sparks brouhaha in Parliament
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): David Seymour copped nearly $3000 fine after believing lockdown would be ‘short and sharp’
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Christopher Luxon’s ‘squeezed middle’ of NZ versus Grant Robertson’s ‘Bermuda triangle’
Rachael Kelly and Louisa Steyl (Stuff): Ardern and Gayford have not bought land in the deep south

Political donations
Stuff Editorial: What place for the anonymous in political funding?
No Right Turn: Time to ban anonymous donations
Justin Giovannetti (Spinoff): Strengthening New Zealand’s democracy

Public service
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Pay freeze? Not exactly
RNZ: Public servants paid over $400k almost double in year
Nikitin Sallee (BusinessDesk): Nearly 7% more public servants in one year

Govt management of Covid-19
Derek Cheng (Herald): Revealed – The public health advice to have Auckland unshackled by now and why Jacinda Ardern rejected it
Newshub: Christopher Luxon calls for Auckland border to be lifted ‘tonight’ after previously unreleased public health advice emerges
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Covid-19 Māori response: ‘It is not partnership when Crown ignores advice’
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): Covid-19 modelling showed risk to Māori but Government failed to act, Waitangi Tribunal hears
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): ‘Barrier after barrier’ — Māori health provider tells Waitangi Tribunal of its battle to increase vaccination rates
1 News: Govt should’ve worked with Māori ‘from start’ of pandemic
Teuila Fuatai (Herald):  How the Government continues to fail Māori in Covid (paywalled)
Matthew Hobbs and Lukas Marek (The Conversation): The uninvited Christmas guest: is New Zealand prepared for Omicron’s inevitable arrival?
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): New Covid cases are dipping under 100 a day. Are we on the brink of victory?
Māori TV: Delta cases declining while Māori hospitalisations increase – Dr Rawiri Taonui

Regional concern over Auckland border opening, MIQ
John Weekes (Herald): Anger at Northland iwi for checkpoints is racist, Kelvin Davis says
Anna Whyte (1 News): Te Pāti Māori, Davis throw support behind iwi checkpoints
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Backlash against Northland’s iwi-led checkpoints is racist, says Kelvin Davis
Zane Small (Newshub): ACT leader David Seymour, National’s Christopher Luxon oppose police-led iwi COVID-19 checkpoints
Giles Dexter (Newshub): Northland’s iwi-led checkpoints prompts racism row after David Seymour calls those manning borders ‘thugs’
Katie Todd (RNZ): Police union wants iwi to prove value of Northland border checkpoints
1 News: Police at Auckland’s borders ‘running out of steam’
Nita Blake-Persen (RNZ): Northland Covid border checkpoints set for Uretiti, Maungaturoto
Bernadette Basagre (Stuff): Police to run two Northland checkpoints once Auckland boundary lifts
Herald: Two police checkpoints near Whangārei to replace northern Covid boundary during festive season
RNZ: Police to set up two checkpoints for vehicles heading into Northland this summer
Tamati Tiananga (Māori TV): Northland Iwi leader says checkpoint workers are protectors, not ‘thugs’
Marena Mane (Māori TV): Ngātiwai CEO says ‘spot checks’ at the borders aren’t good enough
Tim Dower (Newstalk ZB): What’s going on with the Northland border?
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Freedom camping concerns pegged out for Covid-affected summer
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): District health boards prepare for Covid-19 cases with mini-MIQs
Mike Houlahan (ODT): SIQ options for Queenstown discussed
Katie Doyle (RNZ): Turning youth prisons into Covid-19 wards ‘dreadful mistake’

Mandatory vaccination, vaccine pass
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern ‘working through how we might enable public to raise concerns’ about COVID-19 vaccine pass compliance
Qiuyi Tan (Herald): Auckland gym staying open without checking vaccine passes despite police warning
Ella Stewart (RNZ): Newmarket shop owners fearful of further anti-vaccine mandate protests: ‘I had to lock the door’
William Hewett (Newshub): Conspiracy theorist films himself calling Subway staff ‘Nazis’ for asking for vaccine pass
RNZ: Man facing several charges after Dunedin bar incident remanded in custody
Herald: Man rants at Subway over vaccine mandate
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Confusion and fear clouds vaccine pass cafe compliance
Katy Jones (Stuff): Schools suspend trips over vaccine passport
Sally Murphy (RNZ): Sealord aiming for 85 percent staff vaccination in each business area by mid-January

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

Vaccine rollout
Jamie Morton (Herald): Has the vaccine pass just driven a spike in jabs?
RNZ: Tamihere concerned over data release delay after latest High Court victory
Stuff:  Māori health agency wins second case for sharing Covid-19 vaccination data
RNZ: Ministry of Health told to review decision on North Island Māori vaccine data
Māori TV: Whānau Ora scores second High Court decision over access to health data
Diane McCarthy (Local Democracy Reporting): Minister praises coordinated approach of Mātaatua iwi on Covid-19
Thomas Mead (1 News): Calls for vaccine exemptions for chronic fatigue sufferers
Daisy Hudson (ODT): SDHB vaccine drive pays off
Nathan Morton (Stuff): Kiwi in Fiji says island nation is ‘living proof’ vaccination works

Economy, business, government subsidies
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Taken for a ride? – KiwiRail to probe ‘double-dip’ claim on wage subsidy
RNZ: Two schools wrongly claim $170k under wage subsidy scheme
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Will the Government borrow money to buy old borrowing? (paywalled)
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Luxon shuts down Bridges’ headline-grabber over Orr
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): ‘Blame yourselves before you blame Orr’
RNZ: Steadily-rising interest rates on the way, RBNZ officials say
RNZ: Foodstuffs North Island says some Commerce Commission proposals unjustified
RNZ: Missed debt repayments increased by 8 percent in November
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Franz Josef, Fox Glacier tourist spots prepare for summer with staffing shortfalls
RNZ: Franchise businesses see growth despite pandemic
RNZ: Cryptocurrency providers at high risk of financial crime – FMA
Dan Brunskill (BusinessDesk): FMA warns on high-risk of crypto money laundering

Inequality, welfare
Scott Palmer (Newshub): New child poverty research finds Government’s failed to fully implement any key Welfare Expert Advisory Group recommendations
Sarah Robson (RNZ): Slow pace of welfare reform increasing pandemic-related inequity – report
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): Government accused of failing to follow roadmap from welfare expert group
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Slow action on child poverty could result in more children in hospital
CPAG: Govt yet to fully implement a single key WEAG recommendation nearly three years on: new research

Health
Ian Powell (Second Opinion): ‘Health reforms’ Ernst & Young revenue stream
Cecile Meier (Stuff): Marginalised groups suffer poor health and discrimination, mental health report finds
MIke Houlahan (ODT): Code Black narrowly avoided
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Midwife shortage at Invercargill Hospital an ‘extreme risk’ – DHB
1 News: Repeat offenders fail latest Consumer NZ sunscreen testing
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Funding Keytruda for melanoma but not for lung cancer is racist, health advocates say
Daisy Hudson (ODT): SDHB told to apologise to dead prisoner’s family
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): Report highlights ‘lack of option’ for Māori in aged residential care
Bronson Perich (Te Karere): South Auckland’s BBM gets funds to help boost health

Housing
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Mixed reaction to housing intensification bill recommendations ahead of second reading
Madison Reidy (Newshub): Debate over whether new housing law will make homes too expensive or turn communities into slums
Thomas Coughlan and Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Mayor Phil Goff calls for design standards to be added to controversial housing bill (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Bipartisan housing deal: Weakening of ‘townhouse bill’ estimated to only cost 1690 Auckland homes
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): The politics of housing is changing – even if progress is slow
Chlöe Swarbrick (Herald): We need more homes, but where?
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Politicians still clueless over housing
Herald Editorial: Housing investors as scapegoats (paywalled)
RNZ: Resource Management Act amendment passes second reading
RNZ: Price pressure shifts to higher valued housing – QV
Ben Leahy (Herald): ‘Inconsistent’ price estimates: Auckland Council explains why CVs have been delayed (paywalled)
Miriam Bell (Stuff): New Zealand’s priciest properties quickly becoming more expensive
Debbie Jamieson (Stuff): Government may allow plans for $1 billion Queenstown development to be fast tracked
Charlotte Fielding (Stuff): Living in a bus is a better option than renting – and that’s absurd
Adam Blackwell (Stuff): Horowhenua renters faced with ‘severely unaffordable’ market

Local government, Three Waters
Jean Bell (RNZ): Thames-Coromandel mayor opposed to vaccine mandates may have to work from home
Grant Miller and Courtney (ODT): Vandervis trespassed from DCC over vax pass
Luisa Girao (ODT): ICC decides to require vax passes
Logan Savory (Stuff): Invercargill councillors introduce vaccine mandate at some council facilities
Diane McCarthy (Local Democracy Reporting):  No vaccine pass requirements yet from Kawerau and Ōpōtiki councils
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Why Efeso Collins would be the best Mayor for the CBD (paywalled)
Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Auckland Transport seeks $50m in funding support from council
Joanne Naish (Stuff): All senior managers leave after Grey District Council restructure
Imogen Wells (1 News): Driver shortage sees slow rubbish collection in Wellington
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington City Council in the dark over hundreds of potentially deadly buildings
Jonnie Haddon (Stuff): Wellington can be a leader in public sector innovation but it’s going to take creativity and a startup mindset
Georgina Campbell (Herald): A Capital Letter: Councillors deserve pay rises, don’t begrudge them (paywalled)
Tina Law (Stuff): Council told to consider changes to its one councillor, one ward system
Tina Law (Stuff): Council chief recommends staying with LGNZ but two councillors urge colleagues to reject her advice
Deena Coster (Stuff): Nearly all of New Plymouth council’s big ticket projects are on track
Nikki Preston (Herald): Waikato regional councillors snub Christmas party hosted by under-fire council chair Russ Rimmington
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Cheaper water bills from the Government’s Three Water Reforms are doubtful, says Auckland Council (paywalled)
ODT: Cost of Gore District Council civic building $190,000 over budget

Environment, conservation, Climate Change
Henry Cooke (Stuff): James Shaw disappointed with current options to tax agricultural emissions
Grant Bradley (Herald): Analysis: The worrying number in Air New Zealand’s Sustainability Report (paywalled)
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Air NZ struggles to meet even conservative climate emissions targets
Kate Green (Stuff): Climate change will affect all of us, but it’s young people who are the most concerned
Joanne Naish (Stuff): Climate change made the May flooding in Canterbury more severe – researchers
RNZ: Air New Zealand outlines path to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Christopher Luxon would have sent minister to COP26 climate conference in Glasgow
Tim Brown (Newsroom): Pining for more profitable and sustainable native forests
RNZ: The Detail: Time to pay attention to our oceans
ODT: Two protesters appear in court

Employment
Simon Chapple and Michael Fletcher (The Conversation): NZ’s unemployment insurance scheme will be the biggest welfare shakeup in generations – is it justified?
Oliver Hartwich (Herald):  Social insurance lessons from Germany (paywalled)
RNZ: Majority of staff unsatisfied with managers’ competence – survey
Herald: Recruitment: Wendy’s gets chatbot to screen applicants first

Foreign Affairs
James Robb (Convincing Reasons): Why the Australian-New Zealand military adventure in the Solomon Islands is bound to fail
George Block (Stuff): New Zealand quietly deploys navy ship to Solomon Islands
Richard Harman (Politik): Ardern’s very long phone call (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Defence minister receiving briefings on Russian’s Ukraine aggression, Cabinet yet to discuss 
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): China says New Zealand athletes ‘welcome’ at Beijing Winter Olympics despite no ministerial representation
1 News: Robertson: NZ won’t be at China Games at ‘ministerial level’
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Beijing Winter Olympics US ‘diplomatic ban’: New Zealand Government not sending ministers, diplomats may attend – Sport Minister Grant Robertson
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): China is a problem for us again

Education
RNZ: 80% of schools recorded surplus after govt funding increase
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Rural schools cry out for mental health support
Cate Broughton and Marine Lourens (Stuff): Otago University under fire for using mice in ‘cruel and unreliable’ test
Point of Order: Richard Dawkins (a foe of creationism) pitches into the NZ furore over letter in defence of science by seven professors
Point of Order: Here’s a worthy challenge for Judith Collins – asking why our Royal Society is investigating two defenders of science

Family and sexual violence strategy
Amelia Wade (Newshub): 1-in-3 girls sexually abused before age 16: The sobering stats behind family and sexual violence
RNZ: Government plan to stop domestic and sexual violence ‘only a start’ – Women’s Refuge
Kirsty Johnston (Stuff): The impossible task: How New Zealand plans to tackle violence without maligning men
1 News: New strategy hopes to eliminate family and sexual violence

Immigration, NZ border
Imogen Wells (1 News): Immigration NZ accused of exploiting victimised migrants
Paul Spoonley (Herald): Why Covid’s challenges to international travel are still relevant (paywalled)
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): Renewed hope for migrant fighting to change the ‘ableist’ system

Primary and extractive industries, Groundswell Protests
Shawn McAvinue (ODT): Forestry on farms fires up speakers
Marena Mane (Māori TV): Activist Chris Huriwai documentary challenges dairy industry
Tina Morrison (Stuff): Dairy prices hit 7-year high on Global Dairy Trade auction as tight milk supply underpins demand

Media
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): TVNZ, RNZ demand right to be in on collective negotiations with Google, Facebook
Daniel Dunkley (BusinessDesk): BusinessDesk among recipients of PIJF’s third round

Other
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Experts divided on how to get more people saving in KiwiSaver (paywalled)
Tumamao Harawira (Māori TV): Ngāti Kahu says one hectare of land down, nineteen thousand to get back
Māori TV: Ngāti Kahu joyous about plans for return of Taipa property
Te Aorewa Rolleston (RNZ): Treaty settlement legislation for Hawke’s Bay hapū passes final reading
David Williams (Newsroom): Hint of justice for Lake Alice’s tortured victims
Jimmy Ellingham (RNZ): Lake Alice Hospital abuse: Royal Commission rejects Selwyn Leeks’ lawyer’s submission
Samantha Olley (RNZ): Law change makes drug testing at festivals easier, funding and policing issues remain
Chris Keall (Herald): Cert NZ tracks fall in losses – but warns reported numbers only ‘tip of the iceberg’ (paywalled)
Katie Harris (Herald): Calls from MPs and survivor for protections for ‘deepfake porn’ victims
John Weekes (Herald): The quiet new criminal masterminds: Police boss warns of different breed behind drug trade
RNZ: Union withdraws strike notices for KiwiRail workers

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