Republished with Permission
Author: Bryce Edwards
LOBBYING AND INFLUENCE
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Alcohol lobbyists given input on health policies, documents reveal
Danica Ludlow (Health Coalition Aotearoa): Evidence of lobbying of NZ Government officials by the alcohol industry
RNZ: Labour proposes law to restrict big tobacco lobbyists influence on government
John Lewis (ODT): Tobacco Transparency Bill ‘will benefit all’ (paywalled)
Fox Meyer (Newsroom): Dairy dominates science panel as Govt milks research for profit
PAY EQUITY, EMPLOYMENT
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): When the Government started work to limit pay equity claims, and why the public wasn’t informed earlier
Jo Moir (RNZ): National briefed its MPs two days prior to pay equity overhaul announcement
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Unions fear pay equity regime could lock out tens of billions of future claims
Katherine Ravenswood (Spinoff): The ‘muddy waters’ of pay equity
Anne Salmond (Newsroom):She won’t be right, mate
Tracy Martin (Post): Aged care sector: Why did we spend tens of thousands on deceptive pay equity processes? (paywalled)
Audrey Young (Herald): Robbing Paula to pay Paul’: Pay equity ambush will come back to bite National (paywalled)
Ani O’Brien: Amending the Equal Pay Act: anti-woman attack or sensible course correction?
Adam Pearse (Herald): Act minister, National MPs to face protests over pay equity changes
Kelly Dennett (Post): Social worker vs air traffic controller: meet the pay equity matrix (paywalled)
Phil Smith (RNZ): The House: Pay equity amendment puzzles
No Right Turn: A calculated policy of deceit
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): Opposition ramps up to government's pay equity move
RNZ: Pay equity-affected support worker challenges van Velden to do her job for one week
Emily Ireland (Local Democracy Reporting): Councillor challenges Govt to call snap election over pay equity changes
Adam Pearse (Herald): ACC backtracks on Māori/Pasifika targets after Act and National stoush
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): ACC backs down over Māori, Pasifika injury targets after ACT pressure
'Alakihihifo Vailala (PMN): Pacific unemployment surges to nearly double national rate - report
David Long (Stuff): Auckland’s job seekers struggle with country’s worst unemployment rate
BUDGET
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Bold policy moves urgently needed for NZ’s future (paywalled)
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Willis caught between the devil and her deep red sea of debt
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Post): Frontline spending a ‘priority’ for Budget 2025 (paywalled)
Sam Smith (Stuff): NZ ‘has been living beyond its means’, Luxon says in pre-Budget speech
Jo Moir (RNZ): Christopher Luxon announces boost to capital spend in pre-Budget speech
Herald: Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivers pre-Budget speech amid scrutiny on pay equity changes
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Luxon lifts capital allowance by $400 million
Simon Shepherd (NBR): Luxon: Government boosts capital spend, keeps R&D tax credit (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Government finances in better shape than forecast in December (paywalled)
Natalia Albert: Fiscal Policy in New Zealand: Austerity or Expansionary Policies are Better?
PARLIAMENT, PUBLIC SECTOR
Liam Hehir (The Blue Review): Enough of the Games, Enough of the Indulgence (paywalled)
RNZ: Regulatory Standards Bill : Claimant group wants urgent hearing before bill is taken to Cabinet
Jamie Ensor (Herald): National leads Labour in latest poll - but Chris Hipkins’ party gets big boost
RNZ: Coalition holds power, Labour regains support in Taxpayers Union Curia poll
Sam Smith (Stuff): Coalition Government’s support remains steady in latest poll
David Farrar: Party Donations in 2024
Kamahl Santamaria: But her Gmails!
Mike Smith (The Standard): Vale David Parker MP
Peter Dunne: A Government Backbencher's Lot Not Always A Happy One
Rebecca Bell: This is an anti-Māori, anti-worker, and now anti-women government
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): Echo Chamber: Winston Peters still wants to know what a woman is
Anna Whyte (Post): Objections to proposed electoral boundaries released (paywalled)
Justin Wong (Post): Objections flood in for proposed Wellington and Wairarapa electoral boundaries (paywalled)
Justin Wong (Post): Porirua council leads objections to local electorate boundary changes (paywalled)
BANKS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, INSURANCE
RNZ: Reserve Bank governor 'can't recall' all details from Willis meeting before Orr departure
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): ‘Can’t recall’: RBNZ quizzed about Willis-Orr Feb. meeting (paywalled)
Robert MacCulloch: Incriminating evidence now points to Finance Minister Willis forcing out Governor Orr to take over the Reserve Bank of NZ on behalf of the Big Banks
Neil Sands (Law News): Industry balks at moves to impose levy on AML/CFT compliance
Jamie Gray (Herald): NZ banks face $9.2b Reserve Bank repayment as Covid-era loans due (paywalled)
Martien Lubberink: Capital Progress and Prudence: Where Are New Zealand’s Banks Heading?
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): ANZ bank posts 23% first-half profit lift
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): ANZ half-year profit surges on non-cash gains (paywalled)
Jamie Gray (Herald): ANZ New Zealand result: ‘A sign of the times’ (paywalled)
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Hedging gains boost ANZ NZ interim profit as CEO sights green shoots
Rob Stock (Post): ANZ says 21% after-tax profit rise due to forex, interest rate risk management
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): ’Steady as she goes’: ANZ first half net profit up (paywalled)
Nick Houldsworth (Interest): Banks could nobble open banking competition with API fees
ABUSE IN CARE
Tim Brown (RNZ): Announcement on long-awaited abuse in care compensation scheme imminent, RNZ understands
Jimmy Ellingham (RNZ): The price of a ruined life
SOCIAL MEDIA BAN
David Harvey: Social Media Age-Restricted Users Bill
ODT Editorial: Safety, rights and practicalities (paywalled)
Brodie Stone (Northern Advocate): Proposed social media ban for under-16s gains support in Northland
Mark John (ODT): Principals support social media ban
MEDIA
Shayne Currie (Herald): NZME board battle – shareholder Osmium Partners withdraws its two nominees in further sign that compromise may be imminent (paywalled)
Jenny Ruth: Can NZME chair Barbara Chapman continue to call the shots? (paywalled)
Shayne Currie (Herald): TVNZ’s noise and interview rules as RNZ prepares to move in; Kiwi ad agencies take aim at global merger; Untimely deaths of three respected NZ editors (paywalled)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WATER
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Watercare engineer pleads guilty to $1m fraud, faces up to seven years in prison
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Who are the chosen 40? Whanganui council shields citizens’ assembly
Jonathan Leask (Local Democracy Reporting): Selwyn mayor announced state of emergency from Wellington
Maioha Panapa (Te Ao Māori News): Aucklanders sceptical of further cultural investment – landmark survey
Herald Editorial: Getting the City Rail Link approved may be John Key’s lasting Auckland legacy (paywalled)
Mary Afemata (Local Democracy Reporting): Manurewa’s first Pan-Pacific Strategy takes final step
Lois Williams (Local Democracy Reporting): Iwi defends role in West Coast consent process
Zita Campbell (Local Democracy Reporting): Gisborne votes to lift CBD alcohol restrictions, sparks debate
Ruby Shaw (ODT): DCC negligent: flood action group
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Inside new office building Tauranga City Council is paying $91.9m to lease
Laura Smith (Local Democracy Reporting): Tarawera sewerage scheme: Rotorua council seeks $3.5m more from regional council
Grant Miller (ODT): 'Absolutely disgusting': Claim Dunedin beach at risk from landfill (paywalled)
Grant Miller (ODT): ‘I don’t appreciate councillors laughing at me’ (paywalled)
Gerrard Eckhoff (ODT): Questions of independence arise if care not taken to ensure impartiality
Selva Selvarajah (ODT: Solutions for Q’town waste water woes
Te Kara Paora (Te Ao Māori News): Hemi Rolleston sworn in as Tauranga Māori ward councillor
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘Hop off your grandstand’: Emotions run high at council meeting
RNZ: Government to help pay for popular Lower Hutt footbridge replacement
Justin Wong (Post): Government to cover half the cost of new rail bridge walkway (paywalled)
Emily Ireland (Local Democracy Reporting): South Wairarapa council puts its faith in Wai+T water model
Harriet Laughton (Post): Wellington council backs change to public holiday alcohol rules (paywalled)
ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Locals oppose Northland exploratory mining permit
Mike Joy (Newsroom): Our plan for the planet can’t be the lesser of two evils
Susan Botting (Local Democracy Reporting): NZ faces $9.4b hit from invasive caulerpa, analysis shows
TRANSPORT
Nick James (RNZ): Kiwirail reveals $500 million spent on axed Cook Strait ferry project
Thomas Manch (Post): Seymour says market study not needed amid costly Air NZ fares (paywalled)
Jared McCulloch (1News): Commerce Commission declines to intervene as regional flight costs soar
John Weekes (Herald): Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran says new airline welcome to try its luck, but would likely be broke in two years
Diane McCarthy (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘We are not an airline’ - Whakatāne mayor says as airport fees waived
Justin Hu (1News): Speeding fines of $50,000 to be paid back after camera error
Shilpy Arora Gaikwad (Stuff): Row over cycleways in affluent Christchurch suburb
JUSTICE, POLICE, CRIME
Cushla Norman (1News): 'Privileged people don't tend to get wrongfully convicted' – Tim McKinnel
Alexandra Allen-Franks (The Conversation): The traffic stop, the unlawful police photo, and the man who walked free
Bill Hickman (RNZ): Police need greater financial powers to fight organised crime - Ministerial Advisory Group
RNZ: Police to hold training courses at Massey University after signing long-term lease
Kaya Selby (RNZ): NZ Police chief pledges ongoing support for Fiji and Samoa
RNZ: Two new abuse complaints against religious sect, the Two by Twos
EDUCATION
Cate Macintosh (Press/Post): David Seymour on school lunch inquiry: ‘I’d be happy to organise some taste tests’ (paywalled)
Mark John (ODT): Lack of consultation over Kahui Ako upsets principals (paywalled)
Jaime Cunningham (Herald): Tertiary staff cuts strain universities as student ratios rise
Matthew Littlewood (ODT): University arts fellowships on ‘hold’ (paywalled)
Catherine McGregor (Spinoff):Bulletin: Why AI is forcing universities to rethink the way they run exams
Greg Wallace (Post): Our apprentices deserve better: NZ trade training facilities are not up to scratch (paywalled)
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE, DEFENCE
RNZ: Luxon calls on India, Pakistan to de-escalate tensions as death toll rises
Gordon Campbell (Scoop): On Surviving Trump’s Trip To La La Land
OTHER
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): First fast-track panels established three months after applications opened
RNZ: Medical Council fears political interference over doctor shortage
Caroline Williams (Stuff): Air horn used to stop fights at Kāinga Ora housing complex
Samantha Gee (RNZ): DOC says permanent Pike River site memorial in works as feature film to premier
Caron Copek (Stuff): Pike River film to receive world premiere at Sydney Film Festival
Phil Pennington (RNZ): NZ lagging behind most comparable countries on space spend per capita
Alka Prasad (Post): Callaghan Innovation cuts: 15 roles likely to be axed after Budget day
Liam Rātana (Spinoff): Who really owns the maunga? The unfinished business of Mount Ruapehu
David Harvey: Compelled Observance: Karakia in the Public Space
Brent Melville (NBR): Govt hits ’snooze’ button on bed taxes (paywalled)
