Today’s content

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE, DEFENCE
Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): Why Chris Hipkins is heading to Brisbane – not Beijing
Alexander Gillespie and Robert Patman (The Conversation): Approach with caution: why NZ should be wary of buying into the AUKUS security pact
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Anti-Aukus feeling growing at home
1News: PM eyes ‘significant announcement’ for Kiwis living in Australia
RNZ: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ calendar marked with overseas trips
RNZ: Australia, New Zealand sign army cooperation deal
Herald: New Zealand and Australian army chiefs strengthen relationship with signing of new plan
Michael Neilson (Herald): Russia responds as New Zealand joins condemnation over jailed Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza for treason
Newshub: Russia Embassy in New Zealand rebukes Nanaia Mahuta for showing solidarity with Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza
Thomas Manch (Stuff): New Zealand to hunt terrorists from Jordan for two more years
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National wants India trade deal, but MFAT officials sceptical
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Unrealistic or a missed chance? National criticises stalled India trade deal
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Get ready for the Luxon Hustle
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Luxon puts free trade with India back on the table – should he? (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): National says securing Free Trade Agreement with India would be ‘major strategic priority’ if elected
Eda Tang (Stuff): Kīngitanga to attend coronation of King Charles III

PARLIAMENT, ELECTION
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Open Government head urges NZ to lead on transparency
Adam Pearse. (Herald): Former MP Gaurav Sharma turned down $20,000 donation before failing to reclaim seat in byelection
William Hewett (Newshub): Green MP Ricardo Menendez March tight-lipped on review of colleague Elizabeth Kerekere
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Green on Green unfriendly fire: The Rainbow Parakeet who cried racist
Liam Hehir (Blue Review): Knives Out: What’s going on with the Greens?
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Northland Epsom deal for Shane? Māori Party brashly stalk South Auckland General Electorate Seats & an Ilam cuppa
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): National officially returns to the Māori electorates, after more than 20 years
Michael Neilson (Herald): National MP Harete Hipango picked for Te Tai Hauāuru, party’s first in 20 years to run in a Māori electorate
Brigitte Morten (NBR): Dutch provincial elections point to strong rural political voice (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor and Jenny Lynch (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern’s involvement in Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Netflix show was ‘misrepresented’ in trailer, Prime Minister’s Office claimed

ECONOMY, COST OF LIVING
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Time to hit the panic button on our $34 billion balance of payment deficit?
Richard Prebble (Herald): Losing sleep over the chances of a credit rating downgrade (paywalled)
Amy Williams (RNZ): Looming recession sees number of people needing help from support services rise
RNZ: Report flags overstretched and under-funded community groups as needs increase
Imran Ali (Northern Advocate): NZ Recession: Northland likely to have more working poor, experts warn
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Wealthy pay more tax than you think – report
RNZ: Rich paying their fair share of tax, study concludes

HEALTH
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Taskforce to address health staff gaps failing to deliver, doctors say
Isaac Davison (Herald): Half of Starship Hospital’s $40m intensive care unit unused because of severe nursing shortages
RNZ: Type 2 diabetes: Health researcher calls for ministeral taskforce
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Poor conditions, use of shuttle to reach new Dunedin Hospital will deter cancer recruits – ex-staffer

PARLIAMENT OCCUPATION, COVID
Gianina Schwanecke (Stuff): Year-long $3.5m review into police conduct at Parliament occupation imminent
Craig Kapitan (Herald): Covid 19 lockdown breach: Billy Te Kahika, Vincent Eastwood win fight to discuss case on social media
Chris Tobin (Stuff): Picton seafarer says MBIE harassing him for MIQ fee

ENVIRONMENT
Eloise Gibson (Stuff): David Parker failed to stop NZ’s 11th-biggest emitter beating a climate law
Jack Santa Barbara (Stuff): Today’s the day we blow the budget: Earth Overshoot Day
Rachael Kelly (Southland Times): Environment Southland and Fed Farmers appeal proposed Southland Water and Land Plan
Herald: Ngāti Awa wins right to appeal billion-bottles-per-year water plant expansion

EXTREME WEATHER
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Scientists urge ‘holistic’ approach to river flooding, back calls for ongoing funding
Russell Palmer (RNZ): River flood protections: Regional councils ‘hopeful’ over Budget bid
RNZ: Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence’s response to Cyclone Gabrielle to be reviewed
RNZ: Pop up clinics for Northland Māori businesses to get support kanohi ki te kanohi post-cylone
RNZ: Tai Rāwhiti businesses on edge as Cyclone Gabrielle grants in huge demand
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Spinoff): Wayne Brown turned down 90% of interview requests in days after January flood

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THREE WATERS
Caley Callahan (Newshub): Full interview: Gore Mayor Ben Bell admits ‘difficult’ start to his tenure as councillors vote for independent review
1News: Gore Council to conduct independent review of leadership disagreements
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Gore councillors vote for independent review after leak from in-committee meeting
ODT: Mayor challenging removal from committee
Ripu Bhatia (Stuff): ‘It’s not a one-off’: Auckland councillor concerned after death threat
Alisha Evans (Bay of Plenty Times): Three Waters reform: Bay of Plenty councils lose millions in ‘better off’ funding

TREATY
Katie Doyle (Stuff): National Party MP under fire for treaty comments
Claudia Orange (Newsroom): History of the tiriti fraud

HOUSING
Miriam Bell (Stuff): House price plummet from market peak continues
Max Rashbrooke (Spinoff): Revealed: The four suburbs where house prices have slumped to pre-Covid levels
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): More houses ‘not the answer’ to Queenstown rental crisis

EDUCATION
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Classroom size cut overdue, but policy feels like a dud
Mana Wikaire-Lewis (Whakaata Māori): Can the teacher recruitment drive be achieved despite pay disputes?
Liam Hehir (Blue Review): Exit Stage Left: Hipkins Fails to Steal the Spotlight
Pokere Paewai (RNZ): Case of funding inequity for kura to be heard by Waitangi Tribunal
Bridie Witton (Stuff): She’s paralysed and can’t work, but her $60k student loan still looms over her

BUSINESS
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Where is the grocery commissioner?
Damien Venuto (Herald): The Front Page: Does NZ’s building industry have too much red tape?
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Master Builders contract ‘almost comical’, lawyer says

EMPLOYMENT
RNZ: CTU urges ban on engineered stone products over silicosis risk
RNZ: Trustees of Dunedin’s Jesus Aroma Church ordered to pay exploited migrant workers

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Luke Malpass (Stuff): National promises to double RSE worker cap, ban foreign investment in farm-to-forestry conversions
Michael Neilson (Herald): National Party farming policy to double RSE workers, add residency pathways, cut red tape
RNZ: Father’s warning after girl pinned by huge log at Gisborne beach

ANIMAL WELFARE, ROTHERHAM SCHOOL FUNDRAISER
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Canterbury feral cat hunting competition for kids cancelled after backlash
Samantha Gee (RNZ): North Canterbury hunting competition encouraged children to shoot feral cats
RNZ: Animal welfare group calls for transparency on export of live animals by air

TRANSPORT
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Major changes to driver’s licence test costs, vehicle fees: What you need to know
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Motoring fees to rise by $66 million a year from October
Alan Kenyon (1News): Big changes on the way for driver licence fees

MEDIA
Nikki Macdonald (Dominion Post): What’s in a name? Why ditch the Dominion masthead?
Chris Lynch: The Spin-Off, Newshub, NZME receive ‘Public Interest Journalism Fund’

OTHER
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): Expert urges Government to set up specialist mental health court
Justin Wong (Dominion Post): A $4 million Corrections recruitment drive boosts prison officer ranks by 53
Paul Majurey (Herald): Time for all Auckland iwi to move forward together (paywalled)
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Controversial East Coast barge facility ‘getting close’
Matthew Dallas (Stuff): Raising grandson easier than negotiating ‘minefield’ of social services
RNZ: RSA calls for an extra day to recognise all war veterans
1News: RSA calls for second national day to honour veterans