Today’s content
Govt Covid management
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Auckland level 3, step 2 decision spells trouble for at-risk Māori, leader says
1 News: Loosening of Covid restrictions described as ‘impending doom’
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Internal borders set to crumble in next fortnight (paywalled)
Derek Cheng (Herald): Why Jacinda Ardern is easing restrictions as cases rise – again (paywalled)
RNZ: Easing of Auckland restricions a ‘fine balancing act’ but Covid-19 modeller has warning
Herald: Experts unsure if the move to step 2 next week is the right one
Hannah Martin (Stuff): ‘Nervous’ reaction to easing of lockdown restrictions in Auckland
Seni Iasona (Newshub): Experts concerned over Government’s plan to ease restrictions in Auckland
1 News: Auckland not ready for easing of restrictions – modeller
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Covid-19 modelling shows alert level 4 in Auckland was working
Anna Whyte (1 News): Auckland moving to step 2 of L3 next week
1 News: What you can do at step 2 of Alert Level 3
1 News: Team effort needed to ensure Christmas gatherings – Ardern
Michael Neilson (Herald): Jacinda Ardern announces new freedoms for fatigued Auckland as cases rise
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Bloomfield, Ardern positive on NZ’s COVID-19 future amid vaccine impact on cases, hospital and ICU rates
Joanne Naish (Stuff): South Island could move to traffic light system before Christmas as West Coast vax rates pick up pace
RNZ: Jacinda Ardern: Covid-19 cases may peak at 200 a day this month
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expects cases to rise further, reach peak of daily infections ‘soon’
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): 1pm media conferences cut back, infection stats dropped (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: Wide review of pandemic response to learn from it needed sooner rather than later (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: Tough Covid calls every other day
RNZ: Covid-19 wrap for 1 November: Restrictions easing, cases still may peak, lockdown for Tonga
Cases, demographics
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Covid-19 NZ: Official modelling suggests 1400 cases a week by end of month, 21 hospitalisations a day
Māori TV: Māori cases will pass Pacific tomorrow – Dr Rawiri Taonui
Devon Bolger (Herald): Positive signs for Christchurch to stay at level 2
Steven Walton and Jonathan Guildford (Stuff): Unexplained east Christchurch wastewater result ‘likely’ a historical case
Denise Piper (Stuff): Northland cases ‘no surprise’, with low vaccination rates at border
David Fisher (Herald): Virus hits north of Kaitaia amid frustration health ministry is keeping location of cases too vague
Mina Kerr-Lazenby (Stuff): Positive case confirmed in the Far North’s Kaitaia
1 News: 3 North Shore Hospital workers positive for Covid-19
1 News: Second staffer at Auckland rest home contracts Covid-19
Nikki Preston (Herald):Kāwhia man who tested positive abused despite ‘doing everything right’
Nikki Preston and Vaimoana Tapaleao (Herald): Waikato resident leaves house after testing positive
Vaccine rollout
Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): Why a small group of doctors oppose vaccination
Collette Devlin (Stuff): High Court rules Ministry of Health should give Whānau Ora access to Māori vaccination data
Richard Harman (Politik): Government loses second Covid court case; “another rung on our ladder of Maori liberation” (paywalled)
Māori TV: Unvaccinated make up 80.5% of Māori cases – Dr Rawiri Taonui
Alex Cook (Newshub): DHBs struggling to get schools on board for on-site vaccination clinics
Kate MacNamara (Herald): New Zealand’s vaccine buying and the PR spend that shaped what we know (paywalled)
Herald: Auckland’s vaccination rate could be high enough to stop growing outbreak
Matt Burrows (RNZ): Community rallies around Auckland councillor Josephine Bartley after abuse by COVID-19 anti-vaxxers
RNZ: Southern mayors take vaccinators – and campaign – on the road
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Farmgate vaccination tour starts in rural Southland
Nadine Porter (Stuff): Groundswell NZ denies being anti-vax after founder shuns vaccination promo video
Helen Harvey (Stuff): Taranaki vaccination rate has ‘definitely improved’, Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare says
Deena Coster (Stuff): Iwi leader’s husband punched at mobile vax stop in South Taranaki
Adam Burns (Local Democracy Reporting): Ashburton vaccination turnaround
RNZ: Taumarunui plans to combat low Covid-19 vaccination rate
Ethan Griffiths (Herald): PM Jacinda Ardern heads to Whanganui to help vaccine rollout
Vaccine mandates and certificate
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Countdown proposing mandatory vaccination for staff
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Council consulting staff on a vaccine mandate
Anne Gibson (Herald): ‘We can’t force them’ – Real Estate Authority on Covid vaccinations for 16,000 agents, managers (paywalled)
Adam Pearse (Herald): Community housing body calls for rapid testing, vaccine mandate
Herald: Unvaccinated port staff stood down while risk assessment carried out
RNZ: All Whites’ encouraged to get Covid-19 vaccination
Hannah Brown (ODT): No jab, no trips on Port to Port
Ben Strang (Stuff): Vaccine certificate data will be legally protected, and work offline
Mike Yardley (Stuff): Vaccine certificates the critical tool for transport
Ben Kepes (Stuff): Good leadership is making hard calls, including imposing vaccine requirements
Rewa Harriman (Newshub): Tetraplegic woman reliant on carers fears ‘no jab, no job’ policy will force skilled workers out of ‘understaffed’ industry
MIQ, NZ border, Home isolation
Corazon Miller (1 News): Calls to ease path for overseas-trained health workers in NZ
Zane Small (Newshub): Christmas travel: Jacinda Ardern defends forcing overseas arrivals to quarantine but not Aucklanders
1 News: Police locate Covid-positive pair who fled Auckland MIQ
Herald: Police locate one Covid-infected man who absconded from MIQ on Saturday
Tim Hunter (NBR): Catalogue of errors in MBIE MIQ decision, says judge (paywalled)
Adam Blackwell (Stuff): Nothing wrong in ‘dirty’ managed isolation stay, Ombudsman says
Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Bookings trickle in for quarantine-free flights from Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau, Vanuatu
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Ian Taylor (Herald): What the Twitter critics get wrong about me
Riley Kennedy (ODT): US trip testing on several levels
Shannon Redstall (Newshub): Dunedin-developed rapid saliva test proves worth instantly as Kiwi entrepreneur heads to US
Jane Phare (Herald): From cowshed to clinic: Covid 19 immunity test used by Ian Taylor originally designed for cows (paywalled)
Protests, Rules, compliance
Verity Johnson (Stuff): I heard no cohesive ideology, no logical list of demands
RNZ: Man arrested over Auckland Domain gathering
1 News: Man charged over latest Auckland Domain protest
Herald: Anti-lockdown protest: Police arrest 36-year-old, further charges likely
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Man flew from Auckland to Christchurch only to be told he was not needed at court
Bernadette Basagre (Stuff): Landlord tried to kick tenant out for holding ‘party’ in alert level 4
Health system
RNZ: Parents of vulnerable children fear impact of Covid-19
Katie Harris (Herald): Concern long Covid will soon burden health system
RNZ: Covid-19 drug Ronapreve will help reduce risk of death in cases – expert
RNZ: Safety fears as supplement sales soar along with Covid cases
Kate Nicol-Williams (1 News): 1 in 5 secondary students vaping daily, survey finds
Daisy Hudson (ODT): Chinese medicine now regulated by govt
Belinda Feek (Herald): Hutt Valley DHB apologises to teen, family for failure to pick up septic arthritis
Environment, climate change, conservation
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Dodgy accounting reveals govt emissions target less ambitious than promised – lawyer
Zane Small (Newshub): Government accused of using ‘clever accounting’ to make climate target look better
Jamie Morton (Herald): What does NZ’s new pledge mean for Kiwis?
David Williams (Newsroom): NZ gets A for anti-nuke, C for climate
Simon Wilson (Herald): 6 things wrong with the climate target, 1 big thing right (paywalled)
Jack Santa Barbara (Newsroom): Why COP26 is designed to fail
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Gloomy, rainy start to world’s ‘last hope’ climate summit
RNZ: Shaw wary of climate conference, defends govt emissions plan
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): People have seemed to miss how much reducing net emissions will cost us
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Crown’s $100b investments told to go net zero by 2050
RNZ: Māori climate activist tells COP26 challenge modern ‘colonial project’ or be complicit in death
1 News: Māori climate activist calls for action at opening of COP26
Herald: Māori climate activist India Logan-Riley gives stern warning to G-20 leaders
RNZ: Pacific nations will be mostly unheard at major climate summit
Stuff Editorial: When it is truly batty to shun science
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): James Shaw forced to delay climate policies thanks to understaffing (paywalled)
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Andrea Vance (Stuff): This Is How It Ends: How producing milk turned a lake bright orange
RNZ: Morning Report: Bat steals robin’s thunder to win Bird of the Year
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): 15 hot tips for Bird of the Year 2022 (paywalled)
Ministry for Disabled People
Chris Ford (RNZ): Ministry for Disabled People: ‘Really good start’ but there are omissions
Dr Huhana Hickey (Stuff): We finally have a disability ministry, now we must work together to ensure its success
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): How an ageing population needs a Ministry for Disabled
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): New Ministry for Disabled People needs a relevant Māori lens, advocates say
Tonga case
RNZ: Tonga’s main island going into lockdown
Stuff: Tonga to go into lockdown till Sunday after first coronavirus case
Economy, business, Wage subsidy
Kate Gregan (RNZ): Auckland level 3, step 2 move brings nervous excitement for retail return
1 News: Retail therapy offered to ease growing lockdown frustrations
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): ‘Lifeline’: Auckland retailers set to reopen next week – but face a long recovery
Esther Taunton (Stuff): ‘Let us open now’: Auckland retail group calls for faster easing of level 3 restrictions
Nick Truebridge (RNZ): Checkpoint: Takapuna businesses closing after Covid-19 and roadworks
Courtney Winter (Herald): Bachcare being investigated by Commerce Commission over cancellation policy
Laura Smith (ODT): Loss of cancelled events in the millions
Nadine Porter (Stuff): Christmas wish-lists in jeopardy from Covid supply chain problems
Kushlan Sugathapala (Herald): The case for full employment (paywalled)
Todd Niall (Stuff): Fund a phantom bridge, or a bridge to the future for Māori and Pasifika?
Liam Dann (Herald): Unemployment tipped to hit new low despite lockdown (paywalled)
Grant Spencer (Listener/Herald): Inflation shock: What’s next for the NZ economy? (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): Hyper-inflation hype – why it won’t last (paywalled)
Greg Smith (Stuff): Why central banks are back in the spotlight
Supermarket inquiry
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Supermarket critics smell blood as ComCom probes separation options
RNZ: Foodstuffs, Woolworths deny holding duopoly
Kate MacNamara (Herald): The Commerce Commission weighs forcing the sale of supermarkets (paywalled)
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Four small retailers hope Commerce Commission will order supermarket sell-off
Banks
Lloyd Burr (Magic): The profits of these banks MAKES ME FURIOUS
Matevž Rašković (Newsroom): Making flush banks share responsibility in a morally bankrupt housing market
1 News: Westpac latest big bank to record whopping earnings
Rob Stock (Stuff): Westpac announces $1 billion profit
Jamie Gray (Herald): Westpac NZ boss Simon Power defends $1.01b profit (paywalled)
Rob Stock (Stuff): Is Westpac facing a costly ANZ-style lending failure?
Housing
Sarah Robson (RNZ): Covid-19 making lives of those insecure and inadequate housing more vulnerable
Nita Blake-Persen (RNZ): Checkpoint: Rising rate of children living in motels a ‘moral failure’ – National
Tina Law (Stuff): Publicly-funded $6m housing scheme being reworked for the third time
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Lawyered-up property owners threaten new housing rules, Government warned
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Labour and National’s housing plan will turn Auckland into an ugly city, says heritage group
Jade Kake (Stuff): New housing density rules should not compromise on design of build
Duncan Garner (NBR): Labour’s clueless housing policy shafts those who thought help was coming (paywalled)
Carolyn Hill (Stuff): Time to get real about our urban heritage
1 News: NZ’s average asking price for home tops $933K
Conan Young (RNZ): Christchurch housing remains affordable despite rising prices
Andrea Fox (Herald): Waikato mayor crossing fingers Sleepyhead Estate wrangle can still avoid Environment Court (paywalled)
Parliament, Government
Graham Adams (Democracy Project): Jacinda Ardern and the Ghost of David Lange
David Farrar (Patreon): How can the centre right parties close the gender gap? (paywalled)
RNZ: MPs question Parliament’s additional isolation rule
Claire Trevett (Herald): PM could soon be able to visit Auckland after Speaker’s change of heart and rules
David Clarkson (Stuff): Winston Peters’ Parliament speech back in court
Kurt Bayer (Herald): High Court judge agrees to review decision that found Winston Peters made ‘defamatory comments’ in Parliament
Three Waters, local government
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Otago Regional councillor Marian Hobbs tight-lipped over resignation
Daisy Hudson (ODT): Hobbs stands by resign pledge
Todd Niall (Stuff): The $1 billion plan to lift Māori and Pasifika prosperity in Auckland’s south and west
Luisa Girao (ODT): Possible mayoral hopefuls still mulling next moves
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘This is it’: lodge owner ready to sell up over sign stoush
Nicholas Boyack (Stuff): Can you imagine Wellington without Midland Park?
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Concern there will be less space for books in Wellington’s new library
Transport, Wellington and Auckland light rail
Grady Connell (Newshub): Calls for free public transport to help combat climate crisis
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Transport Minister Michael Wood hits back at National, says funding is secure
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Light rail, Basin Reserve traffic revamp mooted in capital transport overhaul
Georgina Campbell (Herald): The Transport Minister, a ‘massive’ test cricket fan, puts the Basin Reserve flyover to bed
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Wellington considers its transport future: Is light rail the way?
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Options for light rail and extra tunnel announced for Wellington
RNZ: Let’s Get Wellington Moving project offers four options for public transport
Grady Connell (Newshub): Is this the end of the line for Auckland’s iconic Wynyard Quarter tram?
Skara Bohny (Stuff): Mixed community reaction to transport plan
Gianina Schwanecke (Herald): State Highway 38 to Lake Waikaremoana to be New Zealand’s last stretch of unsealed highway (paywalled)
Soheil Mohseni, Alan Brent Janes Hinkley (The Conversation): Electrifying transport: why New Zealand can’t rely on battery-powered cars alone
Oliver Bruce (Stuff): Let’s unleash the ‘micro-mobility’ revolution on our streets
Kate Green (Stuff): First electric flight over Cook Strait lands at Wellington Airport
Primary industries
Richard Harman (Politik): Farmers blame Government for mental health issues (paywalled)
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declines to meet Groundswell NZ representatives
ODT: Federated Farmers rubbishes Ashburton feedlot criticism
Sally Rae (ODT): Cancelling field days ‘agonising decision’
Child welfare, education
Matai O’Connor (RNZ): New Children’s Commissioner Judge Francis Eivers welcomed into role
Bridie Witton (Stuff): New Children’s Commissioner: ‘Huge kaupapa and a marathon of a mission’
Deborah Morris (Stuff): Law change wanted to prevent children ending up in adult courts
John Gerritsen (RNZ): 2020 lockdown survey: Children in kitchen and outdoors more than usual
Dubby Henry (Herald): Growing up in New Zealand survey finds bigger lockdown bubbles linked to school satisfaction
RNZ: Pasifika legal education project launched
Other
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Mentally ill and shot in the back: The police killing of Jerrim Toms
Mihingarangi Forbes (Newshub): Friends and family fight for Tipene Halford’s release following his rejailing over minor parole violation
RNZ: The Detail: The Olympics of trade and industry
RNZ: Māori survivors of abuse in care to speak at Royal Commission hearing in March
Thomas Manch (Stuff): ‘US and UK must stop’: Chinese diplomat warns New Zealand audience of Australia’s nuclear ambitions
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Government appoints special representative for Afghanistan, as more evacuees reach New Zealand
Will Trafford (Māori TV): $115 million Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa settlement signed
Miriam Burrell (Herald): Teen accused of threatening to kill non-Muslims faces new charges
Grant Miller (ODT): Conscientious objectors commemorated
Amelia Wade (Newshub): New Zealand’s gender pay gap widens after trending down for nearly a decade
Helen Clark (Newsroom): Dame Cath – progressive, forthright and generous friend |