Today’s content

Vaccine mandates, Wellington anti-mandate protest
Luke Malpass (Stuff): The protesters who set fire to their own cause
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Questions over how protest grew so large, and on misinformation, loom over the future (paywalled)
Ben Thomas (Stuff): A fantasy of connection in the real world
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): The day the grounds of parliament burned
Richard Harman (Politik): It was always going to come to this (paywalled)
Chris Trotter: The Twenty-Third Day
Herald: Parliament occupation: Former police negotiator says sprinklers hardened standoff resolve
Stuff Editorial: Fire and force, milk and menace
Mark Daalder (Newsroom): Clashes a catalysing moment for NZ’s fringe
Jo Moir (Newsroom): The day the music died
David Farrar: Despicable scenes at Parliament
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): 2/3/2022 has been a terrible day for NZ Democracy – the rough Beast of Bethlehem burns
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Parliament’s Lawns burn while Mallard fiddles as the woke cheer – this is who NZ is now
No Right Turn: Thoughts on a riot
Herald Editorial:Parliament protest broken up having proved nothing (paywalled)
Herald: World reacts to Wellington protesters setting ‘Parliament lawn ablaze’
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Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemns ‘violent’ Parliament demonstration ‘fuelled by conspiracy theories’
1 News: ‘Foreign influence’ involved in protest misinformation, PM says
RNZ: PM Jacinda Ardern on violence outside Parliament: ‘We will restore these grounds’
Herald: Trevor Mallard believes wall around Parliament may be needed
Herald: MPs call out ‘shocking and distressing’ scenes on Parliament grounds
Glenn McConnel (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern promises peace will return to Wellington
Jane Matthews (Stuff): Taranaki MP’s heartbreak at violent scenes as police bring an end to occupation of Parliament grounds
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1News: Police won’t tolerate renewal of protest at Parliament – Coster
Blair Ensor and Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Baptism of fire: The police operation that ended the occupation of Parliament
André Chumko, George Block and Erin Gourley (Stuff): Protesters disperse from Parliament after major police operation
RNZ: Parliament grounds ‘reclaimed’: Police operation ends 23-day protest
Herald: 12 hours of mayhem – How standoff went up in flames
Herald: Commissioner Andrew Coster reveals why police moved on protesters today
1News: Growing concerning behaviour led to protest operation – Coster
Ben Strang (Stuff): ‘It will take as long as it takes’: Coster vows to bring Wellington protest to an end
Anna Leask (Herald): Police won’t stop until occupation cleared out, says former frontline cop
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1News: Wellington mayor working on support package to ‘reactivate’ city
Anna Leask (Herald): ‘Thank you’ – Parliament’s neighbours applaud, cheer police after 23 days of worry and fear over protest
Erin Gourley (Stuff): Parliament grounds clean-up crew to show ‘what community actually looks like’ 
André Chumko, Matthew Tso and George Block (Stuff): Clean-up begins for Parliament and Wellington after protesters evicted
1News: Mass of debris strewn across Parliament grounds after protest
Herald: Riots, fire and violence as police end occupation
Herald: Police fire sponge rounds at mob; protesters smash university campus; PM blasts occupiers ‘desecrating’ Parliament
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Parliament protest damage bill climbs: $242,000 children’s slide set ablaze among extensive destruction
Zane Small (Newshub): Parliament’s $500,000 playground set on fire in shocking scenes as police circle in on protesters
Herald: Police storm occupation site – tents on fire, slide torched as Parliament lawn cleared
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Card spending down 50% in Wellington, level of protest pollution unknown
Laura Walters (Stuff): Protesters lose ground, key amenities in assertive police operation
Steven Walton (Stuff): All Wellington trains stopped amid ‘deteriorating’ Parliament protest
Laura Walters (Stuff): Fires burn at Parliament as protesters mount last-ditch effort to hold on
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Herald: Heart-stopping moment protester aims car at police
RNZ: Photo essay: Fires, explosions and violence on grounds of Parliament
Herald: Through the lens: Police action in Wellington
Stuff:  Photos & Videos: Police have taken back control of Parliament grounds
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Nadine Porter and Amber Allott (Stuff): Wellington protesters heading to Cranmer Square, Christchurch protesters say 
Dylan Reeve (Spinoff): As police target parliament grounds, clone protests spring up around New Zealand
James Halpin (Stuff): Council quiet on negotiations with Auckland Domain protesters
RNZ: Kiingitanga calls for resolution to occupations on Covid-19 measure
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Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Hipkins: Schools interpreted sports vaccination rules too narrowly
Zoë George (Stuff): Vaccine mandates may be gone in time for winter sport
Diane McCarthy (Stuff): Whakatāne hospitality businesses tell MP – mandates are killing us
Evan Harding’ (Stuff): Mandate injured’ teacher supporting High Court action
Luisa Girao (ODT): Demand to end vax mandate rejected

Russia invasion of Ukraine
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): The ins and outs of autonomous sanctions
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): British High Commissioner Laura Clarke says autonomous sanctions good option
Simon O’Conno (Herald):  NZ needs power to impose autonomous sanctions (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Christopher Luxon says New Zealand must keep independent foreign policy in aftermath of Ukraine conflict
RNZ: National Party leader Christopher Luxon calls for Russian ambassador to be expelled
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): NZ agrees to release oil reserves as part of response to war on Ukraine
Shane Te Pou (Herald): Why the war in Ukraine matters to Kiwis (paywalled)
RNZ: New Zealand to contribute in global oil stocks release – Minister
Emile Donovan (RNZ): The Detail: What we don’t want is World War III’ – Clark on Ukraine
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (Bay of Plenty Times/Herald):  Russia-Ukraine war a sign leaders have learned nothing (paywalled)
David Chaplin (BusinessDesk): The Russian exit: why the way out is not easy for investors (paywalled)
Will Trafford (Māori TV): Putin’s invasion could be blow to fisheries – Jones

Public health measures, Testing, Masks, Vaccine, Isolation
Toby Morris (Spinoff): The Side Eye’s Two New Zealands: The left behind
Derek Cheng (Herald): Fears vulnerable patients falling through cracks due to ministry IT issues
Keith Lynch (Stuff): Omicron NZ: Will everyone catch Covid in the current wave?
Paula Tesoriero (Stuff): ‘Oh well, we’ll all get it’ attitude to Omicron ignores increased risk to people with disabilities
Nadine Porter (Stuff): New website allows people to order free RATs online 
1 News: Free rapid antigen tests now available for home testing
RNZ: Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins on RATs: ‘We don’t want people stockpiling’
Herald: Minister doesn’t want Ashley Bloomfield to resign over testing failure
Soumya Bhamidipati (RNZ): Delays in RAT delivery the latest government failure during pandemic, doctor says
Leon Grice (BusinessDesk): RATs not good enough for our coming omicron peak (paywalled)
Daniel Smith (Stuff): Price gouging concerns raised for rapid antigen tests – Consumer NZ
Aimee Shaw (Herald): Kiwi RATs importer on incoming sales boom – why NZ should be safe from price gouging seen in Australia (paywalled)
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington test sites under pressure, stadium being set up instead
Herald: Health services report high demand for tests

Govt response to Omicron outbreak, Cases
Jamie Morton (Herald): The biggest Covid 19 question: What comes after Omicron? (paywalled)
Kate Newton and Steven Walton (Stuff): Covid-19 in 12 charts as cases and hospitalisations take off
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Majority of residents at Dunedin rest home test positive for Covid-19
Mike Houlahan (ODT): 20 of 26 infected as rest-home infiltrated
Melanie Earley (Stuff): One death during Omicron outbreak was infected with Delta variant
Herald: Doctor says gastro symptoms in children with the virus are typical of viral illness
Mina Kerr-Lazenby (Stuff): More than 22,000 community cases, MIQ to be shrunk
Susana Suisuiki (RNZ): Pasifika need to be proactive in phase three of Omicron response
Arena Williams and Stuart Smith (Stuff): Propaganda isn’t new, what’s different is how social media weaponises misinformation

Health
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Surgery centre cuts services, diverts staff to Middlemore amid Omicron woes
Hannah Martin (Stuff): New Zealand’s hospital and ICU beds in numbers, as Omicron cases rise
Louisa Steyl (Stuff): Rural hospitals prepared to take patients 
Katie Townshend (Stuff): Specialised ward opens as Nelson-Marlborough daily cases top 250
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Cancer services plan ‘just adequate’
Sophie Harris (Stuff): Fears mothers and newborns put at risk by a lack of Plunket support
Olivia Shivas (Stuff): World Hearing Day: New Zealand needs accessibility legislation for ‘freedom and choice’ 

Border
Zane Smith (Newshub): National leader Christopher Luxon accepts ‘we do need to get through the peak’ of Omicron before welcoming tourists
RNZ: Border restrictions: Tourists could be welcomed to NZ earlier than expected – Sir David Skegg
Lorna Thornber (Stuff): Overseas travel: Is it time for New Zealand to scrap pre-departure tests?
Jonathan Leask (Local Democracy Reporting): Fears border changes may burst domestic travel bubble
Jane Phare (Herald): ‘I owe how much?’ Sir Ian Taylor chased by debt collector for an MIQ bill

Employment
Ryan Boswell (1News): Gloriavale gets $2m a year in tax credits, court hears
Ryan Boswell (1News): Gloriavale member tells court wages donated back to trust
Joanne Naish (Stuff): Founder’s son fails to give evidence for Gloriavale in Employment Court
Rachel Thomas (Stuff): Employment Court to assess bid to halt 10,000 allied health workers from striking
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Union labels DHBs’ court action a ‘cynical move’
RNZ: Employment Court to consider injunction to stop health workers’ strike
Daniel Smith (Stuff): Restaurant to pay former employee $11,500 after post-lockdown redundancy ruled unjustified
David Dyason (Herald): Our window on workers is closing

Parliament, MPs
Jaydene Buckley (Stuff): Covid-19 makes need for open government more important than ever 
Thomas Coughlan (Herald):  Jacinda Ardern besting Christopher Luxon in Question Time (paywalled)
Brigitte Morten (NBR): Labour’s ego stops bipartisan progress (paywalled)
Herald: Jacinda Ardern reveals she forgot anniversary with Clarke Gayford on air with Jono and Ben

Housing
RNZ: Credit approvals continue to be hit by changes to rules – Centrix
Rob Stock (Stuff): Increase in loan rejections sharpest for people with high 700-plus credit scores, Centrix says
Tamsyn Parker (Herald):  Lower risk borrowers more affected by credit law change (paywalled)
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Housing market slows as lending becomes restrictive
Cameron Bagrie (BusinessDesk): More to housing slowdown than CCCFA lending rules (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Consents drop but turning them into houses ‘still the bigger problem’
Nicholas Pointon (RNZ): House price growth rate lowest since Sept 2020 as property market loses strength
Greg Ninness (Interest): CoreLogic says rising property values may have peaked and are likely to start falling soon
Stuff: Billion-dollar Sleepyhead project given official go-ahead

Local government
Luisa Girao (ODT): Support group to stay in place
Dan Sheridan (Stuff): Treaty claim could halt Tauranga reserve development
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Tairāwhiti: Hapū collective making progress with council over land return
Maia Hart (Local Democracy Reporting): Marlborough council backs iwi collaboration on freshwater management
Stephen Ward (Stuff): $300,000 in pest fish machinery sits idle under Waikato Regional Council’s watch
Chloe Ranford (Local Democracy Reporting): Pictures tell story of multi-million dollar council art collections
Felix Desmarais (Local Democracy Reporting): Lake weed stench plagues Rotorua lakefront
Maia Hart (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘Glaring omission’ corrected with extra funds for Marlborough Heritage Trust
Brendon McMahon (Local Democracy Reporting): Council promises flood protection work will start in six months
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Stewart Island/Rakiura: Community board backs doubling of visitor levy, but not triple
Deena Coster (Stuff): Councillor concern over lack of progress on $25m Waitara walkway plans
Glenn McLean (Stuff): NPDC boss spends $30k on professional development
Marjorie Cook (ODT): Quality of Life results disappoint

Education
Ella Stewart (RNZ): Covid-19 taking its toll on university students in halls of residence
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Third of students in Dunedin’s halls of residence isolating with Covid-19
Ellen O’Dwyer and Tom Hunt (Stuff): Isolation food criticised amid hundreds of Victoria University hall cases
Katy Jones (Stuff): College to re-open but questions over hybrid learning
James Halpin (Stuff): Third of ‘precarious academic staff’ face bullying, discrimination – survey
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Former MP Amy Adams named as new chancellor of University of Canterbury

Economy, Business
Daniel Dunkley (Stuff): Fear factor weighs on hopes of return to normal as Covid restrictions ease
John Anthony (Stuff): Covid-hit New Zealand Couriers delivering only critical items to Auckland as Covid bites
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Meat, Starbucks and Hello Fresh in short supply as staff isolate and supply shortages continue
Keiller MacDuff (Stuff): Fight ahead for hospitality operators as Omicron hits
RNZ: Hotels planning full room refits as managed isolation and quarantine comes to an end
RNZ: 16.5m funding available for Matariki-related tourism infrastructure
Andrea Fox (Herald): Auckland importers and exporters’ cargo congestion penalty bill tops $140m-plus
Rahul Sen and Sadhana Srivastava (Herald): An unpredictable road ahead
Tina Morrison (Stuff): Dairy prices jump 5.1% to a record, boding well for milk payments to farmers
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): DOC closes Whanganui River journey after paddlers test positive
Chris Keall (Herald): Telcos cracking down on sim card hijacking, again – why this time is different (paywalled)
Chris Keall (Herald): Consumer group wants roaming charges scrapped, telcos push back (paywalled)
Tim McCready (Herald): Deloitte Top 200 awards: Top business leaders crowned

Environment, Climate Change
RNZ: Govt taking public feedback on managing new forest planting
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Climate Commission responds before fire closes court: We can’t move as fast as activists desire
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): ‘We must act now’ — Māori researchers call for action on major climate report
Hamish MacLean (ODT): New inquiry after staff refusal to talk
Stephen Ward (Stuff): River appeal centres on control of up to $40 million in clean-up funding

Other
Susan St John (Daily Blog): The purpose and principles of the social security act
Brent Edwards (NBR): Is Transmission Gully delay a sign of weakness or strength of PPPs? (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (NBR): Mayoral aspirant plugs vision of free public transport nirvana (paywalled)
Stefan Dimitrof (Māori TV): New trade deal’s cultural protection fails against big money
Matthew Hooton: Wellington, Kyiv, the UN and Ashley Bloomfield (paywalled)
Jamie Mackay (Herald): From Russia to Wellington – here’s what I’m thinking (paywalled)
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Taxpayer bill for Erebus memorial up $1m, caused by protest-related delays and Covid
Andrew McRae (RNZ): Child abuse operation: Level of offending much higher than before – investigator
Edward Gay and Catrin Owen (Stuff): 43 Kiwis arrested, six children rescued as part of global abuse investigation
Dita De Boni (NBR): TVNZ heads have full confidence but little detail on planned RNZ merger (paywalled)