Today’s content

Border, MIQ, Charlotte Bellis
RNZ: Cabinet ministers to finalise dates for reopening borders
Georgia Forrester (Stuff): Kiwis set to learn more about how NZ will ‘reconnect’ with the rest of the world
John Weekes (Herald): Govt to unveil plans to reconnect NZ to rest of the world
Greg Presland (The Standard): The problem with and the benefits of MIQ
Herald Editorial: An answer to managed isolation and quarantine headaches (paywalled)
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): This government has become like a can of CRC
RNZ: Pregnant journalist Charlotte Bellis offered a place in MIQ
Michael Neilson and John Weekes (Herald): Charlotte Bellis returning to New Zealand in March to give birth to her baby girl
Michael Neilson (Herald): Charlotte Bellis to continue speaking up for rights of pregnant women after winning MIQ battle with Government
1 News: Pregnant journalist Charlotte Bellis thanks NZ public for support
Zane Small (Newshub): Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins accused of breaching pregnant Kiwi journo Charlotte Bellis’ privacy
Dubby Henry (Herald): Border exception scheme for 300 teachers has let just eight educators into New Zealand
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Ministry of Education tells principal to apply for emergency MIQ spot for teacher
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): The MIQ madness has to stop now
Alexandra Birt (Stuff): MIQ, the dark shadow across New Zealand that has to lift
Audrey Young (Herald): Meet Kiwi lawyer behind Grounded Kiwis – helping those missing out in MIQ lottery (paywalled)
RNZ: Checkpoint: Farmers desperate for machinery workers before cows go hungry
Anne Gibson (Herald): NZ pensioners stuck in Australia have super payments ceased
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Will the Government allow pregnant Kiwis home?
Muzhgan Samarqandi (The Guardian): Trivialising the Taliban is not the way to force New Zealand to change its Covid quarantine rules

Housing
Bernard Hickey: Robertson says voters don’t really want house prices to drop
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Minister stands by lending rules, says he will listen
Miriam Bell (Stuff): House price rises are not out for the count just yet, CoreLogic says
RNZ: Property values climb despite tougher lending rules, higher mortgage rates
Priscilla Dickinson (Newshub): National property values deliver ‘surprise’ 2.1 pct gain in January amid forecasts of slower growth
No Right Turn: Public radicalisation vs political self-interest
1 News: Home ownership dream ‘gone’ for Porirua renter
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Women ejected from emergency housing a picture of failing system, say advocates
Anne Gibson (Herald): Parents helped daughter into house, snared in tax trap: ‘Don’t be caught like we were’ (paywalled)
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Dawn Chorus: Inside the not-so-crunchy home loan figures (paywalled)
Greg Ninness (Interest): Realestate.co.nz says homes are taking longer to sell pushing up the stock of homes on the block
Catherine Smith (OneRoof): Houses near the beach cheaper than houses by the airport
Catherine Smith (OneRoof): Omicron wave: What NZ can learn from Australia and the UK
Matthew Martin (Stuff): Housing project hopes to bring iwi back to ancestoral land
Andrew Marshall (ODT): Council gives accessible housing needs higher priority

National Party, parliament, polling
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Yes, minister: Te Ururoa Flavell on cultural competency
Grant Duncan: What’s up with 2022?
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Luxon’s smooth landing in Queenstown (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald):  Christopher Luxon turns leaf for National, but old problems linger (paywalled)
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen shares team-building expertise with National MPs
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Our leaders’ state-of-the-nation speeches – the shorter, totally made up edition
Muriel Newman (NZCPR): A Cultural Con

Omicron strategy
Zane Small (Newshub): National returns to ‘end MIQ now’ campaign after dropping ‘now’ from petition
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): National leader Christopher Luxon calls for border relaxation
Jane Patterson (RNZ): National Party calls for borders to open, frequent RAT tests in schools
Mike Tweed (Whanganui Chronicle): Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer calls for swifter Ministry updates
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Christopher Luxon wants to give rapid tests to schools, cut isolation periods
Zane Small (Newshub): National would slash COVID-19 isolation to a week, give all schools rapid antigen tests for twice-weekly checks
Irra Lee (1 News): National wants twice-weekly RATs for teachers, students
Bridie Witton (Stuff): New strategy needed for Omicron, says National leader Christopher Luxon
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): This Government is beyond embarrassing, it’s tragic
Claire Trevett (Herald):  Covid 19 Omicron outbreak – can PM Jacinda Ardern put out the fires as she moves on borders, Charlotte Bellis, boosters and rapid antigen tests? (paywalled)
Sam Olley (RNZ): Omicron spread a ‘huge worry’ for Grey Power members

Testing, Contact Tracing
Zane Small (Newshub): 58 million COVID-19 rapid antigen tests secured as modelling shows demand could reach 9 million a week
John Weekes (Herald): New rapid tests ordered, Govt says nine million a week might be needed
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Government promises enough rapid antigen tests for Omicron wave, orders a further 36 million tests
Anna Whyte (1 News): Purchase of 36 million extra rapid antigen tests confirmed
Herald: Expert says critical worker RATs rollout faces ‘accessibility issues’
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Look what happens when the government lets businesses help
Ian Taylor (Herald): The Covid test offered to NZ last year that we need
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Twice-weekly RATs possible for all at peak omicron (paywalled)

Vaccination rollout, misinformation
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Government paid $36.50 per dose of Pfizer vaccine
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Two-thirds of those eligible for booster dose have had it
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): As schools reopen, paediatric vaccine rates remain low, principal warns
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Nearly half Wellington’s 5 to 11-year-olds received a Pfizer shot in first two weeks
Nathan Morton (Stuff): Ministry of Health deems Northland 90 per cent first dosed – despite being 500 jabs short
Steven Walton (Stuff): 99 per cent of Canterbury has had one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine
Sri Krishnamurthi (RNZ): More ethnic-specific figures on booster jabs needed, Pacific GP
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Iwi eye back-country stations in bid to lift Māori vaccination rate
Katie Townshend (Stuff): Māori vaccination rate hits first 90 per cent milestone for Te Tauihu
—————
RNZ: Calls for Facebook to take stronger action on Covid-19 misinformation as antivax leaders banned

Modelling, cases, public health measures
Hanna McCallum (Stuff): People could be contagious 24 hours after contracting Omicron, Covid-19 modeller says
Chris Hyde (Stuff): Fly at your own risk, and make sure you have a self-isolation plan
RNZ: Covid-19 update: 126 new community cases, 79 in MIQ
Karina Cooper (Herald): Prisoner at Northland Region Corrections Facility tests positive
Jamie Morton (Herald): What NZ can expect from new Omicron subvariant (paywalled)
RNZ: Colleagues isolating as Hawke’s Bay Airport worker’s positive result announced
Vanessa Phillips (Stuff): People hunker down, tourists cancel bookings, as Omicron cases rise in Nelson
Keiller MacDuff (Stuff): Family forced to isolate in small cabin allowed to return home after U-turn
ODT Editorial: Playing the numbers game
1 News: Focus on seat rows as new flights added to locations of interest

Inequality
Josie Pagani (Herald): Covid has increased the class division to a chasm (paywalled)
Richard Prebble (Herald): Govt policies, inflation make the rich richer while the poor get poorer (paywalled)
Georgina Campbell (Herald): A Capital Letter: Covid-19 is the ultimate rip off for young people (paywalled)
Arena Williams and Stuart Smith (Stuff): The NZ labour market is all too often a race to the bottom on wages
Murat Ungor (The Conversation): Inflation is raising prices and reducing real wages – what should be done to support NZ’s low-income households?

Economy, Business, Employment
Matt Burgess (Herald):  Why inflation looks here to stay (paywalled)
1 News: Arts and culture sector gets huge Govt funding boost
Kate Green (Stuff): Govt’s $120m funding boost for arts and culture offers relief for Omicron-hit sector
Zoe Holland (Herald): Government grants more financial support for Arts and culture sector
Nicolas Pointon (RNZ): Construction material shortages, price hikes plague building industry
David Dyason (The Conversation): Omicron will only add to looming workforce shortages already faced by key New Zealand industries
Carmen Hall (Herald): Want a job? 24,000 seasonal kiwifruit workers needed for 2022 harvest as labour shortage bites (paywalled)
Ric Stevens (Herald): Facebook group recruits Indonesians for horticulture work
Anita Rosentreter (Stuff): Government’s supply chain assurances meaningless with Omicron in the community
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Supermarket food limits mean families are shopping more often, but is that ideal during an Omicron outbreak?
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): Why the politics of inflation could ultimately depend on supplies
Ben Kepes (Stuff): We need to stop putting all our economic avocados in one basket
RNZ: The Detail: Post-Covid tourism living on a strategy of hope
Grant Bradley (Herald): Tourism sector’s $16b question – when will borders reopen?
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Tourism NZ restarts global advertising, while the border remains closed
John Anthony (Stuff): Air NZ goes on cabin crew recruitment drive to gear up for border reopening
Uma Ahmed (Stuff): Plan unveiled to boost the Southland economy with Tiwai’s closure looming
Jake Kenny (Stuff): Donut Dispensary’s four stores closed due to ‘heartbreaking’ pandemic struggles
Helen Harvey (Stuff): Womad proceeding cautiously until decision on whether to go ahead is made in two weeks
Emily Brookes (Stuff): Live music venue San Fran in Wellington will close under Red
Nadine Porter (Stuff): Famed Aoraki Mt Cook cafe closes over Covid-19 vaccine mandate stance
Logan Savory (Stuff): Concern further cancellations could dent athlete motivation
RNZ: Organisers pull the pin on NZ Golf Open
Jake Kenny (Stuff): Christchurch’s Nostalgia Festival joins long list of cancelled events
Matt Brown (Herald): Ryan Fox hits out at the ‘absurdity’ of Government Covid response following NZ Open cancellation (paywalled)
Susan Hornsby-Geluk (Stuff): We need to talk about the fairness of restraint of trade clauses
Gary Hamilton-Irvine (Hawkes Bay Today/Herald): Hawke’s Bay company collapses after Government recalls $106k in wage subsidies (paywalled)
Kim Moodie (RNZ): University programme providing support guide for employers on helping menopausal workers

OECD’s NZ economic survey
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): OECD warns action needed for New Zealand to meet emissions targets
Geraden Cann (Stuff): OECD: New Zealand (still) at risk of large house price fall
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): OECD fears ‘large, sudden’ house price fall in NZ (paywalled)
RNZ: Border delays and a crash in house prices are the main risks facing the NZ economy – OECD report
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): OECD recommends Govt scraps FHB KiwiSaver withdrawals and other policies targeted at FHBs, and focuses on increasing housing supply
Richard Harman (Poliitk): OECD points out where the government is failing (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): OECD frets over risk of NZ border-opening delay and tech worker catch-22
RNZ: Labour won’t raise the age of superannuation – Grant Robertson
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Grant Robertson rejects OECD warning NZ Super age must rise from 65
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Christopher Luxon says no U-turn on superannuation age ‘for now’
Amelia Wade (Newshub): National backs raising superannuation but Labour continues to rule out lift
Herald: Link NZ Super age to life expectancy, OECD report recommends

Health
Ian Powell (BusinessDesk): An undeclared state of emergency (paywalled)
RNZ: Murupara doctor suspended from Friday
Diane McCarthy (Local Democracy Reporting): Murupara doctor suspended from practising medicine after 30 years
Vandhna Bhan (1 News): Mental health callouts on the rise for under-14s
Shea Turner (Stuff): 30% increase in mental health-related incidents for St John Ambulance
Louisa Steyl (Stuff): Dunedin ED head says department needs support
Dylan Cleaver (Spinoff): World Rugby’s beer problem

Education
Avina Vidyadharan (Herald): Northland principals stressed as tensions rise over schools doubling as vaccine clinics (paywalled)
Katy Jones (Stuff): Mask exemptions low despite high applications, as schools start back
Katie Doyle (RNZ): Fears mask mandate will set back learning for deaf, hard of hearing students
Morgane Solignac (Stuff): School’s make-do attitude to mask mandate on first day back
Will Trafford (1 News): Whānau struggling more than ever to cover school costs – NMA

NZ Catholic Church abuse statistics
RNZ: ‘Horrifying’ statistics show abuse complaints laid against 1 in 7 Catholic clergy working for a bishop
Eva Corlett (Guardian): New Zealand’s Catholic church admits 14% of clergy have been accused of abuse since 1950
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): Catholic Church reveals huge abuse stats – but it’s a ‘drop in the bucket’ say survivors
Isaac Davison (Herald): Catholic Church in New Zealand discovers 14 per cent of clergy accused of abuse, with Cardinal describing findings as ‘horrifying’

Local government
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellingtonians faced with a 9.1 per cent rates increase
Shea Turner (Stuff): Auckland Council apologises for manager’s email about ‘people with poor English’
RNZ: Wellington’s first wahine Māori councillor will not seek re-election
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Manawatū councillor to resign, move from Feilding to Christchurch
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Differing views on vaccine passes in Napier and Hastings
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland Council staff lose jobs over vaccine mandate
Andrew Marshall (ODT): Levy could help music venues
Toni McDonald (ODT): Councillors split over island visitor levy rise
Jared Morgan (ODT): Public shut out of camp discussion

Auckland light rail, Transport
Bernard Orsman (Herald): $24 billion? Government keeping higher cost for Auckland light rail under wraps (paywalled)
Todd Niall  (Stuff): Auckland rail: 23 new commuter trains, costing $330m, take city fleet to 95
Logan Savory (Stuff): Speed review: ‘Tomorrow’s too late for any loss of life’
Nile Bijoux (Stuff): Largest drop in new-vehicle CO2 emissions since 2006

Primary industries
Tina Morrison (Stuff): Dairy prices hit 8-year high at auction; milk payments to farmers could lift
Andrea Fox (Herald): Bankers muscling in for a big slice of record dairy payout? (paywalled)
Maja Burry (RNZ): MPI consider timing of new cattle barn restrictions
ODT: Environment Southland responds to Fed Farmers
Piers Fuller (Stuff): Farm dump riverbank blowout pollutes Wairarapa river with plastic

Tonga
Barbara Dreaver (1 News): Two community cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Tonga
RNZ: Tonga to enter lockdown after port workers test positive for Covid-19

Other
RNZ: Disproportionate number of rangatahi Māori appearing before youth court despite drop in offending
James Perry (Māori TV): First Children’s Monitor report exposes shortfalls, Oranga Tamariki promises to fix them
Eda Tang (Stuff): Ministry of Social Development announces new fund to help prevent elder abuse in NZ
RNZ: New firearms laws won’t change situation overnight – Police minister
Shannon Thomson (ODT): A hero remembered
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Investigation uncovers ‘concerning culture’ at Auckland court police workplace, woman repeatedly sexually harassed
Leonie Hayden (Spinoff): How to celebrate Waitangi Day at home
Mana Wikaire-Lewis (Māori TV): Online Waitangi commemorations win support from Te Kahu o Taonui
Katie Todd (RNZ): NZ performance at World Trade Expo cancelled after dance crew members get Covid-19
Eric Trump (ODT): Predator Free Dunedin to expand
Will Trafford (Māori TV): Historic land wars site returned in $1 council deal