Republished with Permission
Author: Bryce Edwards
ENERGY
Brianna McIlraith (Stuff): What is behind our super high electricity prices?
No Right Turn: Reaping what they sowed
Richard Harman (Politik): Jones runs rings around the coalition (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Energy crisis: Simeon Brown says power shortage the problem despite gouging claim (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Power regulator warns of unacceptable risk of power cuts, without action (paywalled)
RNZ: Power price spikes: Government calls for energy data
RNZ: Vector calls for energy sector plan as Shane Jones threatens intervention
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Energy Crisis: Government weighs up electricity market intervention (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Power price warning for households as major users feel the crunch
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Drums beat for govt intervention as energy prices soar (paywalled)
Madison Reidy (Herald): Power problems: How electricity companies are handling high prices
Jamie Gray (Herald): Pan Pac mill shuts as power prices spike, Electricity Authority weighs in (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Fonterra: 'significant cost' from high energy prices (paywalled)
THREE WATERS
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): The big questions that hang over Three Waters (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Post): How much will water cost? The question now falls to councils
Jonathan Milne and Laura Walters (Newsroom): New council waterworks to borrow 5 times what they earn
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Water services plan 'doesn't solve the fundamental problem' - Labour
Grant Miller and Brendon McMahon (ODT): 3 Waters move panned (paywalled)
Michelle McCormick (Post): New water plan adds the critical missing piece of the puzzle (paywalled)
Ray Deacon (Post): A lifeline for New Zealand’s failing infrastructure (paywalled)
David Hill (Local Democracy Reporting): Three Canterbury councils unite for water plan
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): New council water companies to access cheap borrowing for Three Waters fix (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Stuff): This is what will replace Three Waters: Government unveils the new water plan
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Government's water reforms enable council-controlled entities to borrow through LGFA and grant Commerce Commission extensive regulatory powers
Nicholas Boyack and Thomas Manch (Post): Three Waters changes laid out to councils (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (Post): Government puts new plan for water reforms to councils (paywalled)
RNZ: New details of Three Waters replacement revealed
Brent Edwards (NBR): Government unveils its plan to fix water infrastructure crisis (paywalled)
Nicholas Boyack (Post): What the ‘Three Waters’ changes mean for greater Wellington ratepayers (paywalled)
Georgina Campbell and Ethan Manera (Herald): Wellington Water chief executive Tonia Haskell abruptly quits
RNZ: Wellington Water chief executive Tonia Haskell steps down
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Wellington Water boss Tonia Haskell resigns
Nicholas Boyack (Post): How much water has Wellington Water saved? (paywalled)
Chris Tobin (Stuff): Meridian silent on Ngāi Tahu Waitaki River consent payment
GOVERNMENT, PARLIAMENT
Peter Dunne: Vested Interests Do not Make for Good Policy Outcomes
Matthew Hooton (Herald): Why Nicola Willis must prioritise social investment now (paywalled)
Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): The Greens need to decide if they want a more conformist Parliament
Newsroom: Raw Politics: Politicians need a treaty on the Treaty
RNZ: Job cuts for the Environmental Protection Authority and Ministry of Justice
Benjamin Plummer (Herald): Public sector cuts: Ministry of Justice to cut 186 roles in cost-saving restructure
Mountain Tui: A Suite Of Politics: Why is Luxon so Clueless? Karen Chhour Recovers. And The Police Minister Is Warned.
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): National Party chose candidate named in domestic violence case
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MĀORI WARDS
Natasha Gordon (Herald): Māori Wards: Act blasts Palmerston North City Council move to keep Māori seats without referendum
RNZ: Iwi spokesperson questions if councillors ute was shot at over Māori wards
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Wooing Auckland voters begins – for 2026
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Mayor Wayne Brown’s plan to dethrone Auckland Transport in council-controlled organisation shake-up
Kerre Woodham (Newstalk ZB): Restricting alcohol sale is the way to go
Jordan Dunn (Herald): Auckland Council seeks to liquidate Gulf Harbour Country Club owner over unpaid rates
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Wellington councillors walk out of meeting, refuse to vote on controversial project
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Failed transport hub: Tauranga council appeals High Court decision over costs
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Making a city deal 'offer' the government can't refuse, Infrastructure NZ reports back on UK tour
Nick Brook (ODT): Spotlight on representation
Grant Miller (ODT): DCC told to face deficit (paywalled)
Laura Smith (Local Democracy Reporting): Judge makes decision on Rotorua council’s bid for injunction
Julie Ashser (ODT): Rates feedback to be sought - Central Otago
MEDIA
Layla Bailey-McDowell (RNZ): Māori Journalists' Association call on NZME to review its advertising standards
Shilo Kino (Te Ao Māori News): Hobson’s Pledge front page ad is propaganda disguised as news
Isaac Gunson and Muriwai Hei (Whakaata Māori): ‘Appalling’ - NZ Herald faces backlash for selling front page to Hobson’s Pledge ‘ad’
Shayne Currie (Herald): Media Insider: TVNZ removes Casketeers episode; RNZ radio ratings languish; Big challenge facing Stuff-Warner Bros Discovery’s 6pm TV3 news; Herald reviews AI policies (paywalled)
HEALTH
Tova O’Brien (Stuff): ‘You're not an expert’ - new health boss fires back over whether delayed patients at risk
Tova O’Brien (Stuff): Health Commissioner hits back at doctors’ claims patients’ lives at risk
Ruth Hill (RNZ): 'Thoughtless cost-cutting': 100 patients' care put in doubt by Health NZ plan
Kate Green (RNZ): Health service cuts: 'New Zealanders are waiting too long'
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Dunedin Hospital under 'active consideration', no main works contract in place (paywalled)
Susan Edmonds (RNZ): Insurance companies pay out millions as more cancer patients go private
David Menkes, Barbara Mintzes and Joel Lexchin(The Conversation): Most high-income countries ban direct advertising of prescription drugs – why does NZ still allow it?
RNZ: 'Unfair criteria' shutting mental health groups out of government funding - Labour
Kate Green (RNZ): Part-time GPs working full-time hours to get through workload, study finds
Guyon Espiner (Listener): Are we over-diagnosing mental health issues in an era of awareness? (paywalled)
RNZ: Martin Phillipps remembered as a champion for hepatitis C sufferers
ORANGA TAMARIKI, BOOT CAMPS, ABUSE IN CARE
Ryan Boswell (1News): Church institutions still not accountable for abuse — campaigners
RNZ: Minister hands Oranga Tamariki five new instructions
1News: Oranga Tamariki: Chhour pushes back at criticism of provider changes
Robin Martin (RBZ): Ex-youth offender sceptical new boot camps will help
Adam Pearse (Herald): No safety concerns as boot camp pilot welcomed as a ‘success’ by Oranga Tamariki
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): Is a boot camp military-style if the military aren't there?
TE REO MĀORI
Heather du Plessis-Allan (NewstalkZB): The Government doesn't need a petty issue around race relations
Audrey Young (Herald): Chris Hipkins’ political radar way off with petty, outdated questions (paywalled)
Felix Desmarais (1News): Aus Minister: I know what Aotearoa is, learned it from Split Enz
Felix Desmarais (1News): Aussie PM reacts to Luxon's 'pays to be incredibly simple' remark
Adam Pearse (Herald): Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese responds to Luxon’s ‘simple’ sledge
Layla Bailey-McDowell (RNZ): Ngāti Kahungunu to host thousands in celebration of te reo Māori
ENVIRONMENT
Greg Harrell (BusinessDesk): Time to sort out NZ's freshwater modelling chaos: Simon Upton (paywalled)
Robert MacCulloch: NZ's Biggest Hypocrite? (Former) Green Party Leader James Shaw, who sits on Air NZ's "Sustainability Panel", Greenwashes the airline, as its Emissions Targets are Dumped into the atmosphere.
Emma Ricketts (RNZ): Companies likely to follow Air NZ in dropping climate targets - experts
Herald Editorial: Air New Zealand backtracks on climate targets a blow to airline (paywalled)
Kirsten Patterson (Newsroom): The directors’ dilemma: when bold climate goals meet harsh realities
Maia Hart (Local Democracy Reporting): Ex-councillor wins legal battle against council over pines
RNZ: Eight million and still counting - tree replanting programme celebrates success
HOUSING
RNZ: A history of New Zealand housing affordability
One Roof: PM wants $945,000 for his Auckland investment property
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Retirement villages scorn Commerce Commission crackdown
Miriam Bell (Post): Retirement village residents campaign misleading, operators say (paywalled)
Keith Scott (ODT): Whither the Windle as the state builds houses
ECONOMY
David Hargreaves (Interest): Inflation expectations all decrease markedly and converge on the RBNZ's explicit 2% target
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Employment data weakens the case for interest rate cuts as job growth continues
Tony Alexander (One Roof): Why interest rate cuts won’t solve NZ’s economic mess
1News: Another major bank cuts mortgage rates ahead of OCR decision
David Chaston (Interest): Westpac & SBS Bank chime in with further mortgage rate reductions
Alka Prasad (Post): ‘No-one is willing to hire us’: Youth employment prospects crunched (paywalled)
EDUCATION
Lisa Darragh (Newsroom): A maths lesson we should have learnt
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Documents reveal 'widespread non-compliance' over asbestos in schools
Ben Leahy (Herald): Chief Ombudsman rebukes Auckland’s St Peter’s College, Christchurch’s Cashmere High School
Azaria Howell (Herald): Te Pūkenga boss: Polytech merger to keep cutting costs over next six months
RNZ: Concerns raised about new teacher maths requirement
ODT Editorial: Making it count (paywalled)
Mark John (ODT): Dismay over PM's music musings (paywalled)
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Hipkins, Maths, the PM, Health NZ & the Polls (paywalled)
SUPERMARKETS, FOOD PRICES
Anne Gibson (Herald): Foodstuffs North Island fined $3.25m for anti-competitive land covenants
1News: Foodstuffs North Island fined $3.25m for anti-competition breaches
RNZ: Foodstuffs North Island fined $3.25 million for hindering competition
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Foodstuffs to pay penalty of $3.25m for anti-competitive covenants, High Court rules
Gregor Thompson (BusinessDesk): Foodstuffs North Island fined $3.25m in covenants case (paywalled)
Ernie Newman (Herald): Foodstuffs merger debate: Why the Govt should tighten, not loosen NZ competition law (paywalled)
Felix Walton (RNZ): Cost of a nutritious diet increased by 35 percent between 2018 and 2023 - study
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE
Caleb Fotheringham (RNZ): 'Our neighbourhood is important to us', Winston Peters says ahead of Pacific tour
Gaurav Sharma (RNZ): Indian president calls for deeper education ties with New Zealand
Marnie Lloydd (The Conversation): A new report lays out NZ’s humanitarian duties under the laws of war – now it needs an action plan
Brent Edwards (NBR): Todd McClay’s visit to India focuses on agriculture and forestry (paywalled)
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Kate McVicar (NBR): Shane Jones addresses fisheries sector, aspires to reduce costs (paywalled)
Kate McVicar (NBR): MFAT implores seafood exporters to tick FTA boxes (paywalled)
BUSINESS
Miriam Bell (Post): Construction industry should be performing better - report (paywalled)
Tim Hunter (NBR): Absolutely fabulous fees (paywalled)
TRANSPORT
Tom Hunt and Justin Wong (Stuff): Repairs on Aratere to continue overnight after berthing accident
RNZ: Interislander ferry Aratere damaged berthing into Wellington harbour
1News: Aratere ferry damaged while docking in Wellington
Tom Hunt (Post): Wellington cycleway war rumbles into wealthy Wadestown (paywalled)
OTHER
Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): Nicola Willis open to making Reserve Bank ease bank capital rules; also gets advice on de facto bank tax (paywalled)
Charlie Mitchell (Press/Post): Government funded anti-extremism hui cancelled over protest fears (paywalled)
Georgia Campbell (Herald): Te Papa’s collection of 860,000 specimens could be disposed of without new storage facility
Keiller MacDuff (Press): Vape shops selling industrial size nitrous oxide canisters (paywalled)
John Lewis (ODT): Grant Robertson to MC Martin Phillipps’ funeral service
Davina Zimmer (RNZ): The Detail: Privacy protection and data challenges
Jo Crib (Newsroom): AI can play chess – surely it can play fair too
Andrew Coleman (Interest): Death, taxes, and wealth inequality
Hamish McNicol (NBR): Commerce Minister not buying incorporated society concerns (paywalled)
Jem Traylen (BusinessDesk): Export opportunities stifled by ‘absurd’ labelling rules, says natural health industry (paywalled)
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Excessive workloads risk law-drafters’ health and safety
Emma Hatton (Newsroom): Plumbers warn lead-free rules easily flouted by cheap import companies
RNZ: Hopes for New Zealand to host more sport events - Chris Bishop
Cartoons
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