Table of Contents
Republished with Permission
Author: Bryce Edwards
RMA, ENVIRONMENT
Lillian Hanly and Giles Dexter (RNZ): Farmers hail end of 'unworkable' RMA, Greens say changes dismantle protections
Jamie Ensor and Julia Gabel (Herald): Major proposed changes to Resource Management Act outlined for freshwater, infrastructure, farming
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Sweeping RMA changes for housing, freshwater, infrastructure rules proposed
Eric Frykberg (Interest): Swathe of reforms proposed by the Government would ease regulatory controls on farming, forestry and other primary industries
Alice Neville (Spinoff): What you need to know about the proposed freshwater reforms
Charlie Mitchell (Press/Post): Government pushes overhaul of freshwater rules (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Post): Government proposes RMA overhaul to infrastructure, freshwater, housing regulations (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Govt reveals new rules for mining, farming and infrastructure (paywalled)
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Govt announces 'farmer-focused' RMA reforms (paywalled)
Martha Jeffries (Post): Our leaders should be brushing up on the lessons of The Lorax (paywalled)
Andy Brew (Press): Mining company granted exploration permit in Marlborough Sounds
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Environment activists apologise for using fake identities to organise protests
William Mason (Newsroom): Why don’t we grow hemp and straw to use in construction?
PARLIAMENT, URGENCY, PUBLIC SERVICE
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Govt on record-breaking urgency streak amid flurry of Budget laws
Lianne Dalziel (Newsroom): Why I’ve joined people’s pay equity committee
RNZ: PM doesn't believe coalition subject to more leaks than previous governments
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Deputy PM handover: Seymour vows straight talk, Peters fires up campaign
Chelsea Daniels (Herald): Front Page: David Seymour weighs in on Opposition, Treaty Principles and being hated as he prepares to become Deputy PM
Catherine McGregor (Spinoff): Introducing David Seymour, deputy prime minister
Audrey Young (Herald): Why David Seymour’s upcoming stint as Deputy Prime Minister has nerves on edge (paywalled)
Benn Bathgate (Waikato Times/Press): ACT leader David Seymour bets big at SkyCity: Treaty Principles Bill ‘a taonga, a gift to New Zealand’ (paywalled)
Lloyd Burr (Stuff): Winston Peters’ Deputy PM tenure is about to end. Here are his greatest hits
Metiria Stanton Turei (ODT): Penalty proof Maori MPs facing disproportionate scrutiny (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): How Bolger was betrayed (paywalled)
BUDGET, GOVT SPENDING
Matthew Hooton (Herald): If superannuation can’t be cut, wage subsidies must be (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Govt plan to reduce 'distressing' Working for Families debt
Zane Small (Stuff): Government cuts KiwiSaver contribution as MPs get generous superannuation subsidy
ODT Editorial: Tough KiwiSaver changes (paywalled)
Ruth Hill (RNZ): Government's health boost less than claimed, expert says
Adrienne Begbie (Post): Investment Boost is a win, but can businesses afford it? (paywalled)
Susana Suisuiki and Christina Persico (RNZ): 'Look at the plan for growth' - Pacific peoples minister on NZ budget
Local Democracy Reporting: Pacific Wardens get funding boost – but leaders question amount
Tobias Macintosh (Stuff): What is a ‘$200,000 environmental test chamber’, mentioned in Budget 2025?
EDUCATION
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Government ramping up truancy enforcement, parents condoning it could be prosecuted
Julia Gabel (Herald): David Seymour warns of prosecutions this year in school truancy crackdown
1News: Parents could be prosecuted amid school truancy crackdown
Jaime Cunningham (Newstalk ZB): Charter schools face scrutiny over reporting requirements
Libby Kirkby-McLeod (RNZ): David Seymour grilled on proposed Waikato medical school by business leaders
Tim Wilkinson (Newsroom): Tomorrow’s doctors no longer all lectures and labs
HEALTH
Russell Palmer (RNZ): National campaigned on this bonding scheme, so why has no work been done on it?
RNZ: Waitangi Tribunal hears new strategy on improving Māori Health
RNZ: Mainstream health system failing Māori, Waitangi Tribunal told
Nicolas Jones (Stuff): ‘System at breaking point’: Warning over community lab testing service
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Largest private medical scanning company ready to take on public system's MRI, CT backlogs
Ruth Hill (RNZ): Specialist paediatric palliative care service funded by charity soon to run out of money
Robin Martin (RNZ): Government announces $59.2 million funding to ensure Taranaki hospital revamp
Helen Harvey (Stuff): Millions more announced for Taranaki Base Hospital Stage 2 rebuild
RNZ: 370 Auckland nurses refusing to take on call shifts in protest over pay, chronic understaffing
Don Wiseman (RNZ): Climate-affected health in the Pacific to be discussed at Auckland conference
RNZ: Victorian government appoints Caroline McElnay as chief health officer
ENERGY
Tim Hunter (NBR): A gentailer carve-up should be on the table (paywalled)
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Electricity market reform calls proliferating (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Labour open to cross-party talks on energy if ministers ‘dial down the rhetoric’
RNZ: Survey reveals businesses fear upsetting gentailers if they complain about high energy costs
Greg Hurrell (BusinessDesk): NZ could be sitting on abundant and cheap natural hydrogen
Brooke Black (Timaru Herald/Press): Alpine Energy chief executive cancels US conference trip (paywalled)
OCR, ECONOMY, BUSINESS
Rob Campbell (Post): Despite the politicians’ soothing words, we’re not all in this together
Rob Stock (Post): Why do so many 45 to 54 year-olds say they are 'sinking' financially? (paywalled)
RNZ: Tech entrepreneur Sir Ian Taylor remembers the day electricity came to his home
RNZ: Business confidence drops three months in a row
David Hargreaves (Interest): ANZ Business Outlook Survey - 'It's still hard going here and now'
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): How the Reserve Bank decides the OCR
Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): Economy could finally start feeling effects of OCR cuts now that pricey floating rates are falling out of fashion (paywalled)
Nick Stride (Interest): The RBNZ could leave its next move until August as Trump tariffs hang in the air
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): RBNZ tipped to cut deeper to revive economy (paywalled)
BANKS
Maiki Sherman (1News): National accused of putting needs of banks before everyday Kiwis
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Are borrowers missing out if banks don't fully pass on the official cash rate cut?
MIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP
Steve Kilgallon (Stuff): Children’s Commissioner’s concern for the Kiwi kids told they don’t belong here
Herald: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says a ‘productivity problem’ is driving skilled Kiwis offshore
RNZ: Immigration Minister Erica Stanford regrets email ‘spam’ remarks after backlash
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Luxon says Stanford 'could have expressed herself better', as she faces backlash from India
DEFENCE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Drone funding in Budget does not include 'priority' maritime models
1News: 'He was saving lives': New Zealander killed in Ukraine
Stuff: New Zealander reportedly killed in Ukraine
David Williams (Herald): Russia-Ukraine war: NZ soldier Shan-Le Kearns killed fighting in Ukraine
Melissa Nightingale (Herald): No conviction for Australian diplomat’s partner who spat in woman’s face in front of passing police
MEDIA
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Don Brash may be first to put NZME’s new board on the spot (paywalled)
Jenny Ruth: NZME approaches D-Day; will it lead to impartial reporting? (paywalled)
Shayne Currie (Herald): Tina from Turners ad - fat-shaming complaints; Kiwi town’s media stoush; PR industry’s PR response to costly PR conference (paywalled)
POLICE, CRIME
Edward Gay (Stuff): IPCA calls for new police interview training, following review of controversial tactic
RNZ: Lois Tolley case unravelled due to poor practice, inadequate oversight not interviewing method, review finds
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): More sexual assault victims making police reports, some experts credit Me Too movement
Rachel Maher (Herald): Former Police Commissioner Mike Bush’s new Victorian Police chief role at risk after citizenship questions
HOUSING, BUILDING
Cameron Smith (Herald): Cotality-Westpac report shows Kiwi first-home buyers getting older
Deborah Morris (Post): First home buyers older, wiser and finally on the ladder in Wellington (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Here's how much falling interest rates are helping first-home buyers
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Is it time to lock in a longer home loan fix?
Greg Ninness (Interest): ANZ's economists suggest fixing your mortgage for six months then re-fix for longer at the end of the year
Brent Edwards (NBR): Reserve Bank quashes talk of a potential housing boom (paywalled)
RNZ: Housing confidence hits 14 year high, ASB survey shows
Catherine Smith (One Roof): Kāinga Ora selling flood-damaged Auckland homes with huge discounts
1News: Whānau celebrates shift into new iwi-owned affordable home
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Gianina Schwanecke and Alexa Cook (RNZ): Primary sector not impressed with government's horticultural product approval targets
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Fonterra boss blames soaring butter prices on global demand
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Fonterra forecasts milk price at $10 per kg of milk solids for 2025/26
Blayne Slabbert (Press): Two $10 milk seasons tip billions into South Island economy (paywalled)
WELLINGTON
Tom Hunt (Post): Airport value jump posted after Wellington tried to sell airport shares (paywalled)
Michael Daly (Stuff): Wellington plans to fill gaps in central city CCTV network
Tom Hunt (Post): Mayoral candidate Graham Bloxham gets ‘bribery’ warning (paywalled)
Ethan Manera (Herald): Wellington mayoral candidate Graham Bloxham appears in court after arrest
Justin Wong (Post): Porirua voters to have their say on region-wide council amalgamation (paywalled)
Nick James (RNZ): Wellington Water warns Seaview stench could return during critical sewage treatment works
AUCKLAND
Jessica Hopkins (RNZ): Desley Simpson leaves right-leaning Communities and Residents group
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Mayor Brown has a better offer, turns chair over to restless deputy
Jonathan Killick (Post): Auckland council sharply raises costs for developers
RNZ: Auckland millionaires fail to attend controversial helipad hearing in person
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
David Williams (Newsroom): Tempers fray over Queenstown council’s $60m-plus conundrum
Guy Williams (ODT): CCO preferred option for Three Waters
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Two point two percent: Is this the lowest rates rise in the country?
Lois Williams (Local Democracy Reporting): Trump tariffs critique sparks councillor to jump to US President's defence
David Hill (Local Democracy Reporting): Orange ballot boxes to be placed around Canterbury district to make postal voting easier
RNZ: 'Mixed emotions': Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst not seeking re-election
Samantha Gee (RNZ): Rotorua, Taupō, Timaru or Waimakariri - which council has the best tap water?
Logan Soole (Spinoff): Why I’m retiring from politics at age 25
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Ōtūmoetai Pool saved: Tauranga City Council commits $5.71m for upgrades
OTHER
Davina Zimmer (RNZ): The Detail: Gambling law changes will open the door to more addiction, advocate says
Stephen Rainbow (Post): Cross-party support needed to give abuse in care survivors justice (paywalled)
RNZ: One in six New Zealanders experienced discrimination last year - survey
Mountain Tui: Why Is NZ Initiative Writing To Everyone*?
Liam Rātana (Spinoff): Women’s suffrage or He Whakaputanga? Holiday ideas to replace King’s Birthday
Stuff: Controversial ‘Please Walk on Me’ New Zealand flag removed by art gallery
1News: Art gallery removes controversial NZ flag artwork
RNZ: FENZ apologises to volunteer firefighter after 10 year battle
Martin Van Beynen (Press/Post): So you want your congregation to get rich (paywalled)
