NZ Politics Daily – 2nd March 2022

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Today’s content

Vaccine mandates, Wellington anti-mandate protest
Madeleine Chapman (Spinoff): Giving a voice to Voices for Freedom
Paul Spoonley (The Conversation): The extremism visible at the parliament protest has been growing in NZ for years – is enough being done?
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Good morning NZ – today is the kind of democracy that tastes like pepper spray
Steven Cowan: Teanau Tuiono and Marama Davidson: Nazi Hunters
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Stuff: Live: Protesters armed with ‘pitchforks and plywood shields’, police move on Parliament
William Hewett (Newshub): Latest on Parliament protest, COVID-19 community outbreak – Wednesday, March 2
1News: Live: Parliament protesters seen with plywood shields, pitchforks, lasers
RNZ: Live: Anti-mandate protest enters 23rd day as police descend on Parliament
Erin Gourley and George Block (Stuff): Protesters pepper sprayed as hundreds of police move in
Herald: Anti-mandate protest at Parliament enters 23rd day – police gather in big numbers
George Block, Kate Green and Erin Gourley (Stuff): Additional concrete blocks delivered to Parliament to manage protest
William Hewett (Newshub): Protester accuses cop at Parliament protest of ‘inciting violence’, mob yells ‘murderers’ after showers taken
1 News: Parliament protest showers removed, police car tyres flattened
Martin Van Beynen (Stuff): ‘I’ll take this to the end’: Protest shower block man Colin Wightman says police stole it
RNZ: Police accuse anti-mandate protesters of damaging their cars
Vita Molyneux (Herald): Police tyres slashed, protesters told to get out of Auckland Domain as anti-vaccine protest continues
Stuff:  How police have ended other long-term protest occupations
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Miriam Burrell and Isaac Davison (Herald): ‘We’re not going anywhere’: Anti-mandate protesters at Auckland Domain defy eviction notice
James Halpin and Bernadette Basagre (Stuff): Eviction notices handed to anti-mandate protesters at Auckland Domain
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Auckland Domain protest: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei wants it brought to a swift end
Tumamao Harawira (Māori TV): Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei tells Pukekawa occupiers to go home

Russia invasion of Ukraine
Reuben Steff (Newsroom): NZ must act as Putin rips future wide open
Alexander Gillespie (The Conversation): Ukraine crisis: how do small states like New Zealand respond in an increasingly lawless world?
Gary Hughes (Herald): Why NZ can’t levy proper sanctions on Russia, and what it lays bare (paywalled)
Robert Ayson (Incline): Sanctioning Russia: Where New Zealand and Partners Sit
Liam Hehir: NZ drags the chain on Russia (again)
David Farrar: Ardern provides the perfect example of why perfect is the enemy of good (paywalled)
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Law changes needed to sanction Russia, says international law expert 
Richard Prebble (Herald):  Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has lessons for New Zealand (paywalled)
Malcom Evans (Daily Blog): Whadda Ya Know?
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Jacinda Ardern hints at Russian Sanctions Bill coming
RNZ: Government moving fast on new law to allow more sanctions on Russia
Thomas Manch (Stuff): ‘Slava Ukraini’: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern leads Parliament in condemnation of Russia, amid criticism of inaction
Russell Palmer (RNZ): National urges visa for Ukrainians fleeing ‘unhinged’ Putin’s war
Michael Neilson (Herald): NZ Parliament condemns ‘bully’ Putin; Luxon and Ardern face off on living costs
Thomas Manch (Stuff): ‘The blatant act of a bully’: Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta condemns Russia’s invasion at UN
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National’s Erica Stanford and Greens’ Golriz Ghahraman and Ricardo Menendez March want NZ to welcome Ukrainians fleeing war
John Weekes (Herald): Christopher Luxon says Putin ‘unhinged’, invasion an affront to human rights
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): National calls for stronger action against ‘completely unhinged’ Russian President Vladimir Putin
Herald Editorial: Encircling and isolating Russia as Ukraine resists (paywalled)
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Sanctions will drive business rethink on dealing with Russia – international trade lawyer
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): KiwiSaver managers exit Russian investments but ethical expert calls for more action (paywalled)
Charlie Gates (Stuff): Ukrainians and Russians unite on streets of Christchurch to condemn Putin’s invasion
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Russian and Ukrainian community in Christchurch protest against conflict
Emma Clark-Dow (Stuff): Auckland liquor stores pull Russian alcohol from shelves in support of Ukraine
Joe Bennett (Stuff): Ukraine shows Putin is not a man of his word 
Rachel Moore and Chloe Blommerde (Stuff): Hamilton’s river city refuge for Ukrainian refugees

Foreign affairs, trade
Richard Harman (Politik): The Maori free trade trap (paywalled)
RNZ: FTA with UK: Dairy and meat exporters thrilled, but academic criticises deal
David Chaston (Interest): New Zealand signs a me-too free trade deal with the UK
Will Trafford (Māori TV): Tiriti neglected, Māori failed by UK trade agreement – NTW
Sally Rae (ODT): NZ-UK FTA ‘significant boost’ for farmers
No Right Turn: Locking away our culture
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Free trade agreement with UK ‘not just sending carcasses’ – Damien O’Connor
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): New Zealand, United Kingdom sign Free Trade Agreement eliminating tariffs on Kiwi exports, boost of up to $1b to GDP
David Farrar: NZ the odd one out on Israel

Public health measures, Testing, Masks, Vaccine, Isolation
Derek Cheng (Herald): The testing failure hangover from Delta and why it matters (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Ashley Bloomfield fronts over failure, no minister to be seen
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Covid testing ‘overestimate’ grounds for concern
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Bloomfield misled public over testing capacity, says opposition
Eric Crampton (Newsroom): What we now won’t know about Covid
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admits ‘errors have been made’ with COVID-19 test backlog of 32,000
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Ashley Bloomfield apologises for ‘overestimating’ PCR test capacity, delays
Hannah Martin (Stuff): ‘A bit pointless’ to process tens of thousands of days-old PCR tests
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Pressure on Ashley Bloomfield with PCR testing system overwhelmed
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Overwhelmed GPs urge patients to keep calm over RATs and ‘self-manage’ Covid-19 
Cherie Howie (Herald): Demand for Rapid Antigen Tests soars as outbreak grows
Rob Stock (Stuff): Price war beckons as The Warehouse starts selling rapid antigen tests
Rachel Thomas (Stuff): Bloomfield puts pressure on DHBs to ramp up rapid antigen test distribution as queues top 1 kilometre
Eric Trump and Grant Miller (ODT): Southern Rat race on as competition for stock rises
Emile Donovan (RNZ): The Detail: How RATs change the Covid-19 testing game
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Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Data from Delta and Omicron outbreaks show 1 in 15 unvaccinated cases were hospitalised – significantly more than vaccinated
1News: Novavax Covid vaccine approved for use in NZ
Adam Pearse (Herald): Novavax approved in New Zealand
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Herald: Over 200 Navy personnel isolating after outbreak
Shea Turner (Stuff): Oubreak at Auckland navy base sees 216 personnel isolating
Herald: Auckland Harbour Bridge hit by Covid-related staffing issues
Alice O’Connell (Stuff): ‘I literally cannot afford to get Covid-19’ Where to go for support right now

Govt response to Omicron outbreak, Cases
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Covid-19 hospitalisations to hit 800 in under a week at current rate
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Pandemic measures saved 2750 lives, caused life expectancy to rise 
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Omicron’s potentially bumpy peak
Herald: ‘Tough few weeks’ predicted but rapid tests, mask use should help, Bloomfield says
David Farrar: No Covid-19 antiviral drugs until April!
RNZ: Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield provides a Covid-19 update
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): How pattern of symptoms has changed and what children particularly show if infected
Teanau Tuiono (Stuff): The recovery from Covid must focus on strengthening communities
Nikki Preston (Herald): Nearly 20,000 new community cases, 373 people in hospital – Ashley Bloomfield
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Three months of high cases

Border
John Anthony (Stuff): Border reopening: ANZ predicts 20,000 Kiwis a year will leave for Australia
Grant Bradley (Herald): Crunch time for airlines nears despite easing of New Zealand border rules (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: Opening time

Health
Herald: DHBs ask Employment Court to stop 10,000 healthcare workers from striking
RNZ: DHBs go to court to try and stop planned one-day strike by health staff
Miriam Burrell (Herald): St John Auckland workload up 31 per cent, 150 staff unwell
Megan Wilson (Bay of Plenty Times/Herald): Tauranga Hospital at 93 per cent capacity as Omicron surges (paywalled)
Olivia Shivas (Stuff): Omicron: How disabled people manage the health system, hospital visits during outbreak
Nikki Preston (Herald): Aged-care centres around the country locked down to protect residents
Jody O’Callaghan (Stuff): One in 10 visitors to Ryman Healthcare rest homes return positive test at entry
Stuff:  Reports of atypical ‘tummy symptoms’ in children with virus
Nadine Porter (Stuff): Health and mental wellbeing can be influenced by where you live, health experts find
Louisa Steyl (Stuff): Southern DHB cancer specialists have highest workload in NZ
Mike Houlahan (ODT): More staff needed to reduce cancer lists
Gabrielle McCulloch (Stuff): Most medicinal cannabis users buy on the black market – report
Oscar Francis (ODT): ACC age discrimination claim

Employment
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Workers at large Auckland pallet supplier go on indefinite strike
Susan Hornsby-Geluk (Stuff): Can you be fired for attending a protest?

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

Parliament, MPs
Graham Adams (The Platform): Can a government die of laughter?
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Hybrid Parliament lets MPs deliver important speeches and boring questions
RNZ: ACT Party’s offices at Parliament relocated due to ‘security issue’

Housing
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Banks issued a blunt warning that vulnerable customers would be most impacted by CCCFA (paywalled)
John Bolton (Stuff): Will the review of responsible lending laws bring the changes we need?
Geraden Cann (Stuff): CoreLogic say buyer-seller standoff developing as house prices fall
Miriam Bell (Stuff): It’s been the biggest renovation boom in decades, but it’s winding down
Herald: House price growth rate lowest since Sept 2020 as property market loses strength
Chris Schulz (Spinoff): ‘I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach’: One flatter’s Wellington nightmare comes true
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): Where angels fear to tread? (Paywalled)

Local government
Glenn McLean (Stuff): Report slams New Plymouth District Council’s contractor management as weak and open to fraud
Georgina Campbell (Herald): A Capital Letter: Wellington mayor’s leadership on the protest better late than never (paywalled)
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Confusion over whether Wellington mayor was a close contact at occupation site
Stephen Ward (Stuff): Councils split on push for Gulf co-governance model
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Tasman District Council boss to head up local government reform team
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Oh happy day! Auckland Establishment Left forced to back Efeso Collins as Mayor
Anne Gibson (Herald): Council wants answers from Ali Williams, Anna Mowbray on helicopter application (paywalled)
Isaac Davison (Herald): Auckland Council accidentally throws out man’s disability aids after mistaking them for inorganic collection
Stephen Ward (Stuff): Stalwart of Waikato local government hanging up his chains after 12 years as mayor
Jo Lines-MacKenzie (Stuff): Collection of Hamilton City Council’s food scrap bins paused due to Omicron
Olivia Caldwell (Stuff): Christchurch QEII closes some pools over Covid-related staff shortage
Logan Savory (Stuff):Invercargill deputy mayor’s museum collection push voted down
Logan Savory (Stuff): Invercargill City Council to review vaccine mandate policy in April

Education
1News: Bloomfield calls start of uni – ‘nationwide super-spreader event
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Teachers’ union criticises Victoria University as Covid-19 sweeps through halls
RNZ: Checkpoint: Tertiary union disappointed at VUW’s handling of Covid-19
Mairatea Mohi (Stuff): Kura kaupapa ‘jumping through hoops’ to acquire rapid antigen tests
Avina Vidyadharan (Herald): Northland education leaders frustrated on the frontline by lack of critical worker status (paywalled)
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Mum pays $270 a week to retain preschool place as she keeps daughter home due to Omicron
Chlöe Swarbrick (Herald):  Tertiary education pathway far steeper climb for New Zealand’s poor
George Heagney (Stuff): Education group makes funding plea for refugee children

Economy, Business
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): The S word that has businesses and bankers worried
David Hargreaves (Interest): The return of the old enemy – inflation expectations
RNZ: Omicron, worker exodus point to testing times ahead – economic reports
1News: Countdown addresses supply shortages as 1000 staff in isolation
Nathan Morton (Stuff): A thousand Countdown staff out with Covid, food shortages at Auckland stores
Andrea Fox (Herald): No quick relief for big-paying cargo shippers in return of aviation (paywalled)
Benn Bathgate (Stuff): Border reopening uncertainty making it ‘nigh on impossible to operate’, tourism players say
Esther Taunton and John Anthony (Stuff): National leader Christopher Luxon in favour of creating hospitality portfolio
Katie Townshend (Stuff): ‘Domino effect’ starts to hit hospitality suppliers
Aimee Shaw (Herald): Grocery business: Comings and goings in NZ’s supermarket scene (paywalled)
Laura Smith (Herald): Rotorua’s Rainbow Springs will close and its animals be rehomed by September (paywalled)

Environment, Climate Change
RNZ: Climate change will increase existing social inequalities – James Shaw
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Our future is on the line
Anne Salmond (Newsroom): IPCC report condemns forestry use planned by NZ
Eloise Gibson (Stuff): Why baby steps won’t be enough to defend our farms and cities 
Bruce Glavovic (The Conversation): IPCC report: Coastal cities are sentinels for climate change. It’s where our focus should be as we prepare for inevitable impacts
Mirjam Guesgen (Spinoff): The climate crisis isn’t just about the environment, it’s about people
Stuff Editorial: Amid kaleidoscopic problems, climate change is still the big picture
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): 5 + 13 = 3: Climate Commission relies on “irrational” maths to justify advice, lawyers argue
David Williams (Newsroom): Deloitte reviews DoC’s mess in the Mackenzie
Doug Sail and Brooke Black (Stuff): Investigations a waste of public money, Opuha Water says

Child welfare
Katie Harris (Herald): ‘Oranga Tamariki is failing’: Young person who tried to die in state care urges Govt to act
Veronica Schmidt (RNZ): Child sex abuse claimants need more support in court – experts
Carrie Leonetti (Newsroom): How the Family Court rewards abusive behaviour rather than recognising it

Media
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): Departing TVNZ CEO Kevin Kenrick: ‘If I had my time over again, I’d have gone faster’
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Gutless censorship by Sky TV is outrageous

Other
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Public service bullying data: ‘out of sight, out of mind’?
Stuff:  Challenge to use of pepper spray that prisoners call ‘excruciating’
Karl du Fresne: Does the right to say what we think still apply when we do it anonymously?
Jem Traylen (BusinessDesk): Record 10,000+ resident applications crash INZ’s system
Oscar Francis (ODT): ‘Out of touch’: INZ’s visa message shocks family

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