Table of Contents
Republished with Permission
Author: Bryce Edwards
HEALTH
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): ‘It’s censorship’: Public health leaders slam ‘Trumpian’ edict
Matthew Littlewood (ODT): ‘Farcical’: Quarter of hospital budget already spent (paywalled)
Natalie Akoorie (RNZ): Some patients waiting for heart scan given death sentence due to delays, cardiologists say
Paul Penfold (Stuff): New claims of multiple complaints and inaction as ACC review ordered
RNZ: ACC launches review into workplace culture
Peter Dunne: Government must amend ACC act to ensure volunteer firefighters are treated equitably
Mariné Lourens (Press/Post): ‘The point of crisis’: Nearly 300% more youngsters ending up in Christchurch Hospital ED for mental health (paywalled)
Mariné Lourens (Press/Post): Fewer beds, fewer doctors - Christchurch Hospital reduces staffing in ICU (paywalled)
Caron Copek (Stuff): City of 67,500 has no doctor available after 8pm - here’s the Government’s solution
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): Upper Hutt is on the rise, but its healthcare has never been worse
Sapeer Mayron (Stuff): ‘Go out and build’: Generous couple fund Wellington Charity Hospital
Deborah Morris (Post): Who are the couple giving millions to healthcare in Wellington? (paywalled)
Jeremy Wilkinson (Open Justice Reporting): Doctor and former TVNZ presenter Samantha Bailey has medical registration cancelled
Caroline Williams (Stuff): Doctor, former TVNZ host, has medical registration cancelled over misleading Covid videos
ODT: Disgraced GP Elias forgiven by boss (paywalled)
PUBLIC SERVICE, OIA
Herald Editorial: Health NZ treats transparency as a buzzword on a whiteboard (paywalled)
RNZ: Tougher Official Information Act penalties needed, Chief Ombudsman says
Andrew Ecclestone (Proactively Open): Advocating for ‘culture change’: the Ombudsman endorses strengthening the OIA
Jo Cribb (Newsroom): Toothless Luxon’s about-face on diversity
Annika Naschitzki: More risky business?
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE, DEFENCE
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Christopher Luxon’s bold India FTA push could secure second term as PM (paywalled)
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Defence focus on Luxon's last day in India
Adam Pearse (Herald): Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in India defends NZDF job cuts plan
1News: NZDF proposing to cut 374 positions from civilian workforce
Krystal Gibbens (RNZ): New Zealand Defence Force proposing to cut 374 roles, union says
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Defence Force proposing to cut 374 civilian roles, union says
Anna Whyte (Post): NZDF proposes hundreds of civilian roles to go
Dan Brunskill (Interest): New Zealand’s efforts to win a trade deal with India may have ‘damaged’ its relationship with China
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): NZ ‘apathy’ on Sikh separatists shows limits of partnership – Indian journalist
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Air NZ commits to direct India flight, visas still a sticking point
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): PM needs strategic win in India, not just a dairy tale
ODT Editorial: Luxon puts runs on the board (paywalled)
Gaurav Sharma (RNZ): The ‘Indo-Pacific bookends’ seeking to land on common ground
RNZ: PM stresses value of sports diplomacy as he bats a few balls at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai
Gaurav Sharma (RNZ): Cricket diplomacy key to New Zealand business ties with India
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Luxon pads up for cricket diplomacy
Luke Malpass (Post): Notes from India: The PM’s tour moves south (paywalled)
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Lillian Hanly (RNZ): What exactly was Winston Peters' mission in Washington DC?
Bruce Munro (ODT): Global Insight: NZ urged to speak truth to Trump
Thomas Manch (Post): Washington wants defence 'burden sharing' from New Zealand (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Pharmac escapes US plea for Donald Trump to tariff Australia over drug prices (paywalled)
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Trump tariffs won’t hit NZ, Trade Minister says
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Phil Pennington (RNZ): Where does NZ stand on killer drones?
Eugene Doyle (Asia Pacific Report): ‘Declare your city genocide free’ – lessons from NZ’s nuclear-free movement
GOVERNMENT, PARLIAMENT
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Ratings of government performance hit new low - Ipsos survey
Ipsos New Zealand: Issues Monitor - Feb 2025
Martin Van Beynen (Press/Post): ‘It’s the cost of living, stupid’ (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Working group feud re-erupts between Labour and National
Craig Renney and Edward Miller: Away win? - How much would offshore shareholders benefit from a drop in the NZ company tax rate?
Garth Bray (BusinessDesk): 'The speed is good': Hitting fast forward on FIF changes may halt entrepreneur flight (paywalled)
Steven Moe (Post): Government will change charity tax rules at its peril (paywalled)
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Tauranga MP’s proposed equal voting rights bill criticised by iwi group leaders
Audrey Young (Herald): Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters take very different styles to world stage (paywalled)
Mihingarangi Forbes (RNZ): Mata: Nanaia Mahuta and Tau Henare discuss Whānau Ora, foreign policy, frozen school lunches
Anna Whyte (Post): Parliament’s darkest corners showcased on a Spooky Tour (paywalled)
PPPS
Gordon Campbell: On Winston Peters’ bad trip, and the return of the PPPs zombie
Giles Dexter (RNZ): Labour's shifting position on public-private partnerships
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): How many politicians does it take to change a lightbulb?
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Chris Hipkins says PPP school could not hang kids’ art, school disagrees says PPP model is ‘excellent’ (paywalled)
CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENT
Andrea Vance (Post): Government rejects Hauraki Gulf compromise (paywalled)
Eloise Gibson (RNZ): What are New Zealand's international climate targets and do we really have to meet them?
Louisa Steyl (Stuff): Feds welcome stay on Southland Water and Land Plan rules
Nick James (RNZ): World War II era shipwreck could trigger $200m oil spill cleanup
David Hill (Local Democracy Reporting): SH1 lights to be changed to protect town's birds
Andrew Bevin (Spinoff): Industry divided over health of Bluff oyster stocks
Tyson Beckett (Herald: Bluff oysters off the menu as iwi and leading restaurants pull the plug on 2025 tio season
Kim Knight (Herald): Why Al Brown’s Depot is not serving Bluff oysters – but Josh Emett and Judith Tabron are
Craig Ashworth (Local Democracy Reporting): Hapū knowledge could upend kaimoana rules
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WATER
Victor Waters (RNZ): Auckland councillors defend getting freebies for Eden Park events ahead of stadium vote
Lois Williams (Local Democracy Reporting): West Coast mayor fires back at ACT criticism of councils
Local Aotearoa: LGNZ isn't perfect, but it's a lot better than the alternative of councils going it alone
Brent Edwards (NBR): S&P’s uncertainty about Local Water Done Well (paywalled)
Richard Davison (ODT): Proposed rates rises ‘still ungodly’, mayor says (paywalled)
Peter de Graaf (RNZ): Matariki post unleashes racist torrent for Far North council
Anna Sargent (RNZ): Queenstown Lakes pursues new bylaw for freedom campers
RNZ: Cut back on showers, Aucklanders warned, as drought plan activated
Liam Rātana (Spinoff): Western Springs Speedway’s final race after 96 years
Justin Wong (Post): Hutt Valley planned rates increases lower than forecast (paywalled)
ECONOMY
RNZ: Cost of living: Older Kiwis cutting back on food to save money
Liam Dann (Herald): GDP: Is the economy’s ‘surprise’ bounce the start of a real recovery? (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Surprise 0.7% rise in GDP shouldn’t threaten April rate cut (paywalled)
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): No economic ‘hallelujah’ moment just yet, says ANZ (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Economy rebounds out of recession more sharply than expected
RNZ: Economy crawls out of recession, as GDP grows 0.7%
David Hargreaves (Interest): Recession ends: GDP rises 0.7% in December quarter
1News: New Zealand climbs out of recession — GDP up 0.7%
Liam Dann (Herald): Out of recession: New Zealand’s GDP rises 0.7%
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): New Zealand economy exits deep recession with 0.7% expansion (paywalled)
EDUCATION, SCHOOL LUNCHES
John Gerritsen (RNZ): New reading, maths test could see schools unfairly ranked - expert
Michael Daly (Stuff): Labour accuses Government of trying to bring back national standards for schools by stealth
Amy Ridout (Nelson Mail): ‘Horsey’ hairstyle could get chop as school looks to ‘smarten up’ students
Michael Neilson (BusinessDesk): Compass accused of ‘failing legal obligations’ to hundreds of former school lunch staff (paywalled)
RNZ: Creditor 'blindsided' by school lunch provider Libelle Group going into liquidation
Yolisa Tswanya (Northern Advocate): Libelle Group liquidation sparks calls for school lunch reforms and local solutions
TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE
Thomas Manch (Post): Ship broker sought to buy new Cook Strait ferries (paywalled)
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Could speed cameras be used to catch drunk drivers?
Metiria Stanton Turei (ODT): Speed limit increase knowingly puts children’s lives at risk (paywalled)
Erin Johnson (Stuff): ‘Everyone fangs it up here’: The upmarket Auckland street drivers use as a ‘rat run’
Harriet Laughton (Post): $5 park-and-ride fee being proposed by regional council (paywalled)
ENERGY
Alan Brent and Isabella Pimentel Pincelli (The Conversation): If NZ wants to decarbonise energy, we need to know which renewables deliver the best payback
Pokere Paewai (RNZ): Shane Jones looks to convince iwi of geothermal potential under Maori-owned land
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Energy minister wants immediate solutions to prevent another winter power crisis
Libby Kirkby-McLeod (RNZ): Olympians hit back against Kaituna River plans
BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT, CONSUMER AFFAIRS
RNZ: Advertised salary growth rate falls further - SEEK
Ella Somers (Interest): Job ads drop 2% in February, reversing January’s gains
Gregor Thompson (BusinessDesk): NZ tradies trickle into $11,000 'Build a Life in Western Australia’ scheme (paywalled)
RNZ: Customers 'double-billed' when they switch mobile provider
Herald: Half of mobile users switching telcos face issues - Commerce Commission
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): How far do you have to travel to a supermarket?
Emily Makere Broadmore (Post): The New Arrogance: How employers are forgetting the human cost of market power (paywalled)
Greg Hurrell (BusinessDesk): Why climate risk is being left off company balance sheets (paywalled)
Tim Hunter (NBR): Duty-free, where no-one gets a bargain (paywalled)
MEDIA
Shayne Currie (Herald): Media Insider: Influential NZME shareholder Roger Colman on the fight for board seats – and where he sits (paywalled)
Shayne Currie (Herald): Media Insider: TV star Wairangi Koopu and the drugs charges; Stripe Media liquidator: ‘The director has not been located’ (paywalled)
Simon O’Connor: They doth protest too much
OTHER
Rob Stock (Post): Commerce Commission to probe big bank membership of UN’s Net-Zero Banking Alliance (paywalled)
RNZ: Green MP calls for release of prison hunger striker Dean Wickliffe
Neil Holdom (Stuff): Time for Government to help with housing
Terry Baucher (Interest): Te wiki o te tāke: Should NZ Super be changed to a UBI, and treated as a grant?
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): People trafficking probes surge by 4000%, no prosecutions in five years
Juliette Sivertsen (Stuff): Why you might need to get a new NZ passport this yearDavid Williams (Newsroom):Taking flats from lease will ‘destroy’ farm station
Indigenous Endurance: DRR Dancing in the Dark...
Sam Smith (Stuff): ‘It’ll be pretty low’: Chatham Islands forced to conserve fuel, could run out
RNZ: International conflicts see prices at petrol pump fall
Blessen Tom (RNZ): New Zealand eyes India as key market for tourism growth
Alecia Rousseau (Manawatǔ Standard): ‘Real impact’: Lake Alice survivors win at NZer of the Year awards
RNZ: Professor Bev Lawton named the New Zealander of the Year
Katie Oliver (Herald): Former Russell McVeagh lawyer James Gardner-Hopkins seeks new practising certificate
Cartoons
