| Items of interest and importance today
1NEWS KANTAR POLL, PARLIAMENT
1News: Poll: National and ACT strengthen, Luxon closes gap on Ardern
1News: Poll: Economic pessimism soars to 10-year high
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): This new poll delivers one clear message – and a clutch of other clues
Claire Trevett (Herald): The trifecta of troubles buffeting Labour in the polls – and here comes Winston (paywalled)
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Staggering to Christmas: Labour’s ragged home stretch (paywalled)
Richard Harman: National’s winning streak (paywalled)
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Poll not too bad for Labour, all things considered (paywalled)
Liam Hehir (Blue Review): The decline and (probable) fall of the Labour government(paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): TVNZ poll: Hard Right National/ACT Government soar – Winners, Losers and Predictions
Anna Whyte (Stuff): New poll shows National and ACT in comfortable position to form government, economic confidence drops
RNZ: Latest political poll has Labour, National locked in head-to-head battle
Eva Corlett (Guardian): Support for Jacinda Ardern and NZ Labour sinks to lowest since 2017, poll shows
Herald: Latest political poll: National and Act have clear majority
Jonah Franke-Bowell (Stuff): National holds double-digit edge over Labour in Hamilton West by-election poll
Adam Pearse (Herald): Poll: National’s Tama Potaka leads Hamilton West byelection race
Newshub: Senior Green Party MP Jan Logie announces she won’t stand in 2023 election
Herald: Popular Green MP announces she won’t run in next year’s election
RNZ: Green MP Jan Logie will not stand for re-election in 2023
ROYAL COMMISSION INTO GOVT’S COVID-19 RESPONSE
Luke Malpass (Stuff): The real people will remain invisible in this royal commission
Adam Pearse (Herald): Covid response Royal Commission of Inquiry hailed amid claims parameters fall short
Oscar Jackson (Today FM): Professor chairing COVID inquiry helped shape New Zealand & Victoria response
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Greens, National say Royal Commission into Covid response ‘too narrow’
RNZ: Jacinda Ardern, Ayesha Verrall announce Royal Commission into Covid-19 response
1News: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid response announced
Giles Dexter (RNZ): Royal Commission on Covid-19 response: Political parties ponder purpose
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Royal Commission of Inquiry into New Zealand’s COVID-19 response announced
RNZ: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 pandemic response: What you need to know
Eva Corlett (Guardian): New Zealand announces inquiry into Covid-19 response
THREE WATERS
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk): If Labour was smart, they would ditch the TVNZ-RNZ merger
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Three waters: Jacinda Ardern sticks by Nanaia Mahuta – for now
Damien Venuto (Herald): How did the Government make such a mess of Three Waters reform?
Mike Hosking (Newstalk): PM’s trust and integrity in question over Three Waters
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Q&A: Who should pay for desperately needed Three Waters work?
RNZ: Ardern on government’s U-turn on Three Waters entrenchment: ‘We are taking this as a team’
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Ardern admits Labour made a ‘mistake’ with Three Waters constitutional clause
RNZ: Ardern on government’s U-turn on Three Waters entrenchment: ‘We are taking this as a team’
Duncan Garner (NBR): Entrenched but asleep – who is running the show? (paywalled)
Tim Dower (Newstalk ZB): Don’t be fooled by government’s Three Waters backdown
Dave Kennedy: Is 3 Waters entrenchment really a stupid idea?
Zarina Hewlett (Today FM): Two Sides: Green MP defends Three Waters entrenchment, Chris Bishop slams as ‘outrageous’
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT
RNZ: Chief Ombudsman details investigation into OIA processes
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Watchdog announces major investigation amid public concern Government agencies using OIA to ‘stifle flow of information’
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Ombudsman to investigate government departments’ OIA delays
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Opposition accuses Government of political interference over ‘outrageous’ official information delay
Rachel Maher (Herald): History books rather than the headlines: Ombudsman launches investigation into OIA delays
Jem Traylen (BusinessDesk): Ombudsman launches new investigation into OIA delays (paywalled)
No Right Turn: Yet another OIA inquiry
MEDIA
Mark Jennings (Newsroom): Can the minister please explain?
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Spare Willie Jackson a thought – the new public media plan is barely defensible
Daniel Dunkley (BusinessDesk): ANZPM: what happens next? (paywalled)
1News: Ardern has ‘spoken to’ Jackson over Q+A interview
1News: Seymour says Helen Clark would have sacked Jackson over interview
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): PM steps in after concerns raised from Willie Jackson’s RNZ-TVNZ merger interview
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Mediawatch: Melissa Lee + Thomas Coughlan + Glenn McConnell attacking Willie Jackson’s ‘Trainwreck’ Interview
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): New Zealand just signed up to a global staredown with Meta and Google
Jonathan Ayling (The Platform): Worlds of Journalism Study shows concerning trend, but without free speech there is no free press
ECONOMY, BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT, COST OF LIVING
Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): Reserve Bank officially stops money printing (paywalled)
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): How much cheap public money have individual banks borrowed via the RBNZ’s Funding for Lending Programme?
Lane Nichols (Herald): Banking Ombudsman begins probe into Westpac case after pensioner has funds siphoned by thieves (paywalled)
Rob Stock (Stuff): They were middle class, now they are lining up for food parcels for the ‘new poor’
Sela Jane Hopgood (Spinoff): The cost of living crisis is hitting Pasifika parents the hardest
Tina Morrison (Stuff): Commerce Commission to release market study into building materials
Daniel Smith (Stuff): Under-fire small business network We Are Indigo to head new $5.45 million Creative NZ funding body
Maria Slade (NBR): We Are Indigo gets $5.3m government digital arts contract (paywalled)
Sam Brooks (Spinoff): CNZ just picked embattled agency We Are Indigo for a $5m+ digital arts platform
Victoria Young (BusinessDesk): Auditing the auditors – the cost of ‘other’ fees (paywalled)
Roger J Kerr (Interest): How New Zealand will get its economic mojo back
Mike Yardley (Stuff): Ministry of Justice should strike a swift settlement to end crippling strike action
Rob Stock (Stuff): How much money do we need to be happy? The science is out
Herald: ‘Concerning’ gap between big bosses, other staff in the major workplace happiness study
Maria Slade (NBR): Demand for personal loans up despite CCCFA rules (paywalled)
Will Mace (NBR): Rocket Lab establishes US ‘national security’ subsidiary (paywalled)
PHARMAC “GAG ORDER” ON TODAY FM
Rachel Smalley (Today FM): Pharmac issues media ban on Today FM and across entire Mediaworks network
Lloyd Burr (Today FM): ‘You’re about to break hearts’ Pharmac lied about funding Trikafta to retain PR push
Emily Writes (Spinoff): Pharmac and the curious case of media management
Oscar Jackson (Today FM): Health Minister Andrew Little says he will look into Pharmac’s Today FM gag order
HEALTH
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Number of nights funded for people to stay in mental health, addiction beds dropping
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): ‘Beyond crisis’: A Wellington woman’s harrowing ED ordeal
Ian Powell (BusinessDesk): General practice is on the brink (paywalled)
Adam Burns (RNZ): Man who spent $330,000 a year self-funding cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta welcomes Pharmac funding
Donna Chisholm (BusinessDesk): Pharmacy profits: competition is a bitter pill to swallow
Lucy Xia (RNZ): Call for Asian views to be canvassed for healthcare planning
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
COVID-19
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Cases expected to peak in week of Christmas, as numbers climb
RNZ: Covid-19 update: 34,528 new cases, 418 hospitalised over past week
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Five-star coffee one day, behind bars the next: Why’s this cafe owner in jail?
1News: GP who spammed 600 patients with anti-vaccine views slammed
Herald: Editorial: Another Covid-19 wave is an unwelcome Christmas and holiday guest(paywalled)
DISABILITY
Andrew McRae (RNZ): ‘Repeated and catastrophic failure’, Abuse in Care commissioner says as study published
RNZ: Allegations of neglect in home for disabled sparks urgent call for answers by ministry
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Simon Wilson (Herald): Why doesn’t the mayor love the new transport funding programme? (paywalled)
Todd Niall (Stuff): Fare rise double whammy could hit Auckland public transport users
Bernard Hickey: Wayne Brown should sell the golf courses instead
Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Wayne Brown’s budget proposals get mixed response from Auckland councillors
RNZ: Auckland mayor Wayne Brown proposes below-inflation rates rise
Tina Law (Press): New report encourages Christchurch City Council to partially sell its assets
NBR: ChCh council advised to consider asset sales (paywalled)
Joseph Los’e (Herald): Māori leadership wants a hui with Kaipara mayor over karakia calamity
Diane McCarthy (Local Democracy Reporting): Debate over adding ‘library’ to label Ōpōtiki book repository, Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi
HOUSING
Jonathan Killick (Stuff): One-third of Kiwi renters living with gross mould in their home
Krystal Gibbens (RNZ): Kāinga Ora tenants in Wellington to be moved from ‘no longer fit-for-purpose’ flats
CRIME, CORRECTIONS, JUSTICE
James Halpin (Stuff): What the youth crime statistics actually say
John Campbell (1News): Interview with locked up teen ram-raiders
Stuff: Ex-prisoner Arthur Taylor wins $18k damages – out of $1.45m claimed
Jono Galuszka (Stuff): Industrial action at Ministry of Justice putting the brakes on justice
IMMIGRATION, MIGRANT WORKERS
Jehan Casinader (Stuff): Are migrants really welcome in New Zealand?
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Immigration Minister questioned over knowledge of Cobwebs use
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Last-minute change of heart sees immigration minister delay major partner visa policy
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Wood postpones partner work visa changes until Easter
Brent Edwards (NBR): Horticulture supports tough penalties for migrant worker breaches (paywalled)
Michael Daly (Stuff): Efforts under way to give stabbed dairy worker’s parents ‘peace of mind’ on their visa status, Ardern says
Greg Ninness (Interest): ACT’s immigration policy would likely see a flood of migrant workers and more parents of existing migrants coming into NZ
Bess Manson (Stuff): Hungarian family’s business at risk as they await residency fate
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): India is the elephant of the global economy, but is New Zealand investing enough in the relationship?
1News: PM Marin: How NZ can catch up with Finland’s economy
Greg Bruce (Herald): Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Jacinda Ardern appear in a familiar story
Alison Mau (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern, Sanna Marin and the misogyny that’s baked into us all
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): No policy to diversify trade away from China, up to exporters to weigh up risk
Tina Morrison (Stuff): Exorbitant tariffs, import barriers and protectionism: what’s holding back our trade in Asia
Simon Draper (Stuff): NZ needs to ‘up its game’ in toughening trading environment
RNZ: ‘Double whammy’ sees main commodities at lowest level in nearly two years
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Govt investigating China peach dumping claims
Lucy Xia (RNZ): New Zealand Chinese community protests China lockdowns and ‘dictatorship’
ENVIRONMENT, PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Agriculture minister says communication with farmers needs to improve (paywalled)
Rod Oram (Newsroom): NZ’s farmers’ global customers demand more rigorous climate response
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): National plays the field at Fieldays
RNZ: Ngāti Awa’s bid to stop company from bottling water at Ōtākiri aquifer dismissed
Angus Kebbell (Interest): Gaming the market, a Gresham’s Law for the environment
Nicol Horrell (Stuff): Amid swirling reforms, carbon trading demands scrutiny
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Climate change threatens kiwifruit chemical ban
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): NZ King Salmon faces a setback to its first open ocean farm (paywalled)
Lois Williams (Newsroom): ‘It’s raining every day but we’re running out of water’
RNZ: ‘As good as it gets’: Call for caution despite water storage closing on 100%
RNZ: Fifty-year plan for Te Mata Peak’s future unveiled
EDUCATION
John Gerritsen (RNZ): One in five schools needs intensive help, Education Review Office warns
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Te Pūkenga won’t explain why three deputy CEOs had their contracts cut by 9 months
Gabrielle McCulloch (Stuff): ‘It’s a broken system’: More than a third of disabled children funding applications denied
Gabrielle McCulloch (Stuff): ‘Tapestry of culture’: The future of religious education in schools
Evan Harding (Stuff): School rejects criticism after deciding to axe whānau class
1News: Outsourcing Chinese language teaching ‘inexcusable’ – academics
Ngāti Maniapoto describes apology by the Crown as a fresh start for relations
NGĀTI MANIAPOTO APOLOGY, TREATY
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Ngāti Maniapoto describes apology by the Crown as a fresh start for relations
RNZ: Jacinda Ardern offers Crown apology for pain suffered by Ngāti Maniapoto
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Whakatōhea votes to accept $100m Treaty settlement
Waatea News: Knives out as Ngai Tahu challenges fisheries carve up rule
OTHER
Gordon Campbell: On why the SIS need operational ground rules
Nikitin Sallee, Pattrick Smellie & Andy Fyers (BusinessDesk): One in five public servants say they’ve been bullied
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Will you be in the 44% to automatically get paper Census forms?
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Wasted: One kilo used to be a big drug bust – now it’s 613kg
Graeme Tuckett (Stuff): Gower v Espiner: Two of NZ’s top journos release drug docos within the same week
Michael Neilson (Herald): Police investigating after reports more Te Urewera huts destroyed
RNZ: Police investigating report of further Te Urewera hut burnings
Rayssa Almeida (RNZ): Rhythm & Vines face backlash over decision to keep convicted rapper Dizzee Rascal in line-up
Herald: Women’s Refuge calls for Rhythm and Vines to drop rapper Dizzee Rascal |
