Today’s content

MICHAEL WOOD AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Michael Wood, the shares, and the taint of incompetence
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Transport Minister Michael Wood on thin ice, but safe for now (paywalled)
Jo Moir (Newsroom): PM stung by his own team falling short
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in ‘constant state of mopping up ministerial muck-ups’
Richard Harman (Politik): Hipkins’ words come back to haunt him (paywalled)
David Farrar: Wood didn’t sell shares despite six reminders from Cabinet Office
David Farrar: Will Wood face Privileges Committee also?
No Right Turn: Another trust problem
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Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Stood-down Transport Minister Michael Wood declined North Shore airport application, while holding Auckland Airport shares
Anna Whyte (Stuff): Michael Wood asked ‘about half a dozen times’ about his Auckland Airport shares, Hipkins says
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Michael Wood shares scandal: Minister didn’t offer to resign, says ‘hitch’ with ‘old email’ led to delay with sale
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): PM stands down Michael Wood as Transport Minister over Auckland Airport shares
RNZ: Transport Minister Michael Wood stood down after airport shares controversy
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Chris Hipkins stands Michael Wood down as Transport Minister over Auckland Airport shares fiasco
RNZ: Further conversation to be had with transport minister about airport shares, PM says
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Prime Minister Chris Hipkins doesn’t rule out sacking Michael Wood over Auckland Airport shares botch-up
Felix Desmarais (1News): ‘Luxon: Hipkins ‘soft and weak’ over Wood’s shares scandal
Felix Desmarais (1News): ‘Increasingly untenable’: Luxon on Wood’s airport shares ‘error’
Felix Desmarais (1News): ‘An error’: Transport Minister on Auckland Airport shares blunder
Molly Swift (Newshub): ACT’s David Seymour defends Michael Wood, says shares wouldn’t have influenced his decisions
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Erin Johnson (Stuff): Auckland Council looking into potential conflicts of interest over airport shares
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Michael Wood’s wife Auckland councillor Julie Fairey forced to correct statement about airport shareholding
Nick Truebridge (Newshub): Auckland Councillor Julie Fairey corrects interest in Auckland Airport after husband Michael Wood’s share debacle

ELECTORAL SYSTEM REVIEW
Eric Frykberg (Interest): National & Act dismissive of proposals to reform the electoral system, Greens & TOP supportive, PM not excited
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Political parties divided over electoral review interim recommendations
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Labour leader Chris Hipkins not ruling out four-year term referendum if re-elected
Felix Desmarais (1News): PM supports lowering voting age to 16, won’t ‘pursue’ it
Amelia Wade (Newshub): The political fallout to major changes recommended for NZ’s electoral system
Newshub: Electoral system review: Ministers give views on proposals to lower voting age, four-year terms
Newshub: ACT’s David Seymour slams electoral recommendations as ‘waste of everyone’s time’
1News: Winston Peters: Recommended electoral changes ‘disastrous’
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John Minto (Daily Blog): A contest of ideas, not a contest of cash
James Perry (Whakaata Māori): Changes to electoral system ‘fairer’ for Māori but unlikely to garner support
RNZ: ‘No time to waste’ dropping voting age to 16 – campaigners
No Right Turn: Labour’s electoral review
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Lowering the voting age, lowering the MMP threshold and 4 year terms
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): These electoral changes will never see the light of day
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): 16-year-olds voting wouldn’t be the end of the world

ELECTION, PARLIAMENT
Tommy de Silva (Spinoff): National is shooting its Māori seat candidates in the foot
Nadine Roberts (Stuff): Freedom movement splintering amid infighting and the formation of new political party
Kris Faafoi (Stuff): The campaigning is about to get real. Here’s what to expect
Tema Hemi (Whakaata Māori): ‘Now I’ve got somebody to vote for’ – Te Au-Skipworth encouraged by reaction in general seat
Joseph Los’e (Herald): National Māori MP Tama Potaka is possibly the fittest politician in Parliament

VAPING
Erin Gourley (Post): New vaping policies not enough to stop youth falling into the trap – advocates (paywalled)
Anna Sargent (RNZ): Principals back clampdown on youth vaping, urge more help for kids to give up
Adam Pearse (Herald): Disposable vapes banned from November, new retailers can’t be within 300m of schools and marae
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Health Minister Ayesha Verrall clamps down on youth vaping
RNZ: Watch: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, Health Minister Ayesha Verrall speak at post-Cabinet press conference
Felix Desmarais (1News): Govt to outlaw ‘enticing’ vape flavour names like cotton candy
Tess McClure (Guardian): New Zealand to introduce new rules to crack down on youth vaping
Herald Editorial: Vapes – the panacea that became the problem (paywalled)

HEALTH
Ben Leahy (Herald): Counties Manukau Health wait times: Man loses sight in eye waiting for specialist after urgent referral
Rachel Thomas (Post): Tens of millions spent on health research for studies that never shared results (paywalled)
Charlotte Paul (Post): The National Screening Unit is world-class and save lives, so why is Te Whatu Ora planning to close it? (paywalled)
Kirstie Boland (Post): Pharmac not funding drugs for trial a ‘tragedy’, says health leader (paywalled)
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): The Covid response awards were designed to recognise service. For many, they erased it
RNZ: Covid-19 update: 12,028 new cases and 59 further deaths
Kristie Boland (Press): ‘No visible end’ in sight to Christchurch Hospital surgery woes
Fiona Ellis (ODT): Staff shortages mean more with mental health issues in prisons (paywalled)
David Burton (Post): Nurses win right to strike on health and safety grounds (paywalled)
Damien Venuto (Herald): The Front Page: How bad is the aged-care crisis in New Zealand?
Brendon McMahon (Local Democracy Reporting): West Coast health pilot identifies changes needed to improve health and well-being
Jessica Roden (1News): Rebuild of Nelson’s hospital delayed by at least six months
Warren Gamble (Nelson Mail): Nelson Hospital redevelopment delays worry mayor
Teuila Fuatai (E-Tangata): Untangling implicit bias in our hospital
RNZ: Mid-life women being let down by Pharmac, say menopause experts
Lana Andelane (Newshub): New Zealanders remain ‘overwhelmingly omnivorous’ despite cost concerns, survey finds

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Auckland airport share sale: how not to win an argument (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: High-stakes airport shares vote (paywalled)
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Councillors partial to partial airport sale
Duncan Garner (NBR): Charisma bypass urgently required for ‘Mr Misery’ (paywalled)
Grant Duncan: The Wayne Brown Show
Georgina Campbell (Herald): A Capital Letter: Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau needs a win, hints one is coming (paywalled)
Nicholas Boyack (Post): Question marks remain over funding for shared Eastbourne pathway
Newshub: Cameron Bagrie calls for councils to regularly review balance sheets, says model used is ‘fundamentally broken’
David Hill (Local Democracy Reporting): Kaikōura commits to Local Government New Zealand
David Hill (Local Democracy Reporting): Kaikōura District Council keeping rates under 5 percent
RNZ: Landfill closure likely to lead to ‘great expense’ for Horowhenua – councillor
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Free bus rides a step too far for Palmerston North city councillors
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Prescription forger was Gore mayor’s former assistant

ECONOMY, FINANCE
Rob Stock (Post): Bank of New Zealand’s bumper interest haul now also revealed (paywalled)
Esther Taunton (Stuff): More people expect to delay retirement as cost of living and mortgage rates bite
Brent Edwards (NBR): The Treasury’s response to calls for better financial reporting
Will Trafford (Whakaata Māori): Auditor-General scathing on accountability for government spending on Māori
Bridie Witton (Post): ‘Psychology with numbers’: The people with Grant Robertson’s ear (paywalled)
Christoph Schumacher (NBR): What does Govt being ‘more of a friend than foe’ to RBNZ mean? (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Economists: Is the Reserve Bank wrong about the OCR peak?
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): How legit are economic forecasts? (paywalled)
Brian Easton (Pundit): What Do Economists Do?
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Pandemic wealth vanishes: Will we get it back?
Brigitte Morten (NBR): Is Taxation Principles bill David Parker’s last legacy attempt… (paywalled)
Amy Hamilton Chadwick (BusinessDesk): Is this the last nail in the coffin for trusts? (payalled)
Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): IRD guidance on trust tax tweaked over concern it was promoting tax avoidance (paywalled)
Gordon Stuart (Stuff): Would any bank give this government a loan?
Terry McFadgen (NBR): New Zealand policy a boiling frog (paywalled)

EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS
Richard Prebble (Herald): Who’ll do all the work if the jobseekers won’t? (paywalled)
RNZ: Most people return to the workplace at least 3 days a week
David Jefferson (The Conversation): How NZ’s own law helped Australia win the Manuka Honey trademark war

HOUSING
Tom Hunt (Post): Nearly all Wellington City Council flats lack lifesaving sprinklers (paywalled)
Alexander Gillespie (The Conversation): Housing and heritage aren’t mutually exclusive – a few basic rules can help get the balance right
Carles Martinez-Almoyna Gual (Newsroom): Why we’re getting urban densification so wrong
Anne Gibson (Herald): Developers oppose anti-greenfields Auckland housing plans, council defends (paywalled)
RNZ: Greens urge tenants to share stories to bolster tenancy reform
Nathan Morton (Herald): Family looking for rental turned down 50 times
Jonathan Killick (Stuff): Affordable housing on sale in this gated community, but only if you’re over 45

EDUCATION
RNZ: Primary teachers reach deal with government over pay, conditions
Gianina Schwanecke (Stuff): Under a third of 82 new attendance officer roles have been filled
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Government action plan failing to deliver for neurodiverse students, support groups say
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Mega polytech’s operating model could be a decade away
David Skegg (ODT): A bright future tipped for the university
Rachel Moore (Stuff): University of Waikato proposing staff cuts to IT, maths departments
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): ‘Concerning and noteworthy issue’ causes delay in large Otago university project
Duncan Connors (ODT): Bring back the student pub

CRIME AND SAFETY
Max Harris (Herald): Crime and safety in NZ: This debate is going round and round in circles (paywalled)
Julia Gabel (Herald): New poll on crime and safety shows New Zealanders feel less safe today than five years ago
Seni Iasona (Newshub): Foodstuffs statistics show North Island retail crime against its stores has hit record highs
William Hewett (Newshub): ACT’s David Seymour blames spike in supermarket crime on Government’s plan to reduce prison population

CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME WEATHER
James Renwick (Stuff): We need an economy that doesn’t choke the Earth
Jamie Morton (Herald): Climate crisis: James Renwick ‘optimistic and pessimistic’ about future (paywalled)
RNZ: Climate scientist says New Zealand insulated from worst, but warns climate chaos here already
Michael Neilson (Herald): National says He Waka Eke Noa climate change farming emissions group is ‘dead’
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): National pulls support for He Waka Eke Noa
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Labour’s $327 million climate policy that will save little carbon
Esther Taunton (Stuff): Govt’s refusal to rule out fertiliser tax met with criticism
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Rumours grow after farming Minister tackles fertiliser tax
Perry Wilton (Newshub): Lakes rise, homes washed out, Bay of Plenty climate change victims warn worst is yet to come
Alexa Cook (Newshub): Climate-related damage to people’s homes can have significant effects on their health, well-being – study
RNZ: Wairoa mayor says town will struggle to pay for flood protection
Jonathan Leask (Local Democracy Reporting): Lack of Govt money for flood protection disappointing – councillor
RNZ: ‘It’s just part of us’ – Māori fear for whenua future with cyclone recovery plans

ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Tramper plunged 16m into river from unsafe bridge – report
Eugene Bingham (Stuff): Government agencies in stand-off over controversial pest poison 1080
Mike White (Stuff): A Northland shipwreck has been labelled an environmental time bomb – so why is the Government refusing to act?

FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ODT Editorial: Closer defence co-operation with Japan (paywalled)
RNZ: West Papuan leader reiterates calls for release of NZ hostage
Julie Jacobson (Post): Diplomatic community: it’s not all cocktails and chit-chat in the capital (paywalled)

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Fishing industry plan slammed as nothing but a subsidy
BusinessDesk: Hipkins still pushing for agri emissions industry accord (paywalled)
Liz McDonald (Press): Canterbury farm drops bid for feedlots for 2200 cattle (paywalled)
Riley Kennedy (BusinessDesk): Controversial plans for Canterbury feedlot scrapped -‘for the interim’, owner says (paywalled)

OTHER
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Government ministry blocks AI technology from staff use
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Internal Affairs checking whether Entain email broke NZ law (paywalled)
Chris Trotter (Interest): Corrupted generations
Gordon Campbell. On red tape and Nicky Hager’s regal reward
Tim Williams (Post): What Aotearoa can learn from the UK about water reform (paywalled)
Eric Frykberg (Interest): Superannuation: the real costs and the real issues
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (Herald): Ending poverty requires serious Govt approach
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): The Detail: The places where bilingual is the norm
Damien Grant (Stuff): Our problem with Crown Law
Michelle Duff (Post): Instead of bravery, it’s time we talked about responsibility (paywalled)
Carrie Leonetti (Herald): Children must be at the heart of all Family Court decisions
Annemarie Quill (Stuff): Kiwi victim of drug scam starving to death in Bali jail
RNZ: Jehovah’s Witness church seeks exemption from royal commission abuse in care inquiry
1News: New law to see extra $20 a week in sole parents’ pockets
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): The places where NZ Post no longer lets you send mail
Olivia Caldwell (Stuff): Aussie ‘brain drain’ a reflection of post-Covid life, Chris Hipkins says