Today’s content
National Party reshuffle, leadership change
Audrey Young (Herald): Luxon’s best MPs vs Ardern’s top ministers (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Stuff): National leader Christopher Luxon true to form with first political reshuffle
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Christopher Luxon’s National Party caucus reshuffle spells fixes not factions (paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National reshuffle: Biggest winners and losers in Christopher Luxon’s first shake-up
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Luxon’s front bench shake-up and some wildcards too
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Has Chris Luxon shuffled up a winning pack?
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Unpicking Christopher Luxon’s ‘hard’ reshuffle (paywalled)
1 News: Opinion: The winners and losers in National’s new line up
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Christopher Luxon’s National Party caucus reshuffle: The winners and losers
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Judith Collins and Todd McClay the losers, Chris Bishop, Erica Stanford shoot up ranks
Bridie Witton (Stuff): National ‘has work to do’ on diversity after caucus announced
RNZ: National Party leader Christopher Luxon reveals new caucus lineup
John Weekes and Claire Trevett (Herald): Rising star Erica Stanford is protege of only MP to defeat Jacinda Ardern, as rejig losers lick wounds
Anna Whyte (1 News): Christopher Luxon drops Collins to 19th place in reshuffle
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Christopher Luxon demotes Judith Collins off front bench in first reshuffle
Jaime Ensor (Newshub): National Party rankings: Compare Christopher Luxon and Judith Collins’ teams
Sandra Conchie (Herald): Former National Party leader Todd Muller will run at next election after (Listener/Herald): reshuffle
Anna Whyte (1 News): ‘Invigorated’ Todd Muller reverses retirement decision
Zane Small (Newshub): Judith Collins plunges to #19 in Christopher Luxon’s National Party reshuffle as Shane Reti, Chris Bishop keep top roles
Eva Corlett (Guardian): Judith Collins axed from frontbench after losing National party leadership
Zane Small (Newshub): Ex-National leader Judith Collins loses Pacific portfolio to her former deputy Shane Reti despite vow to take it ‘very seriously’
Sandra Conchie (Herald): Todd McClay reacts after dramatic drop in National Party caucus list from sixth to unranked
Daisy Hudson (ODT): Demotion stings for Dunedin (Listener/Herald): MP
Robyn Bristow (Star News): Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey big winner after National’s reshuffle
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): National’s new lineup
1 News: Ardern wishes Luxon well managing National’s ‘3 past leaders’
1 News: Peters says National list not based on merit, talent
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Graham Adams (Democracy Project): Chris Luxon, abortion and the gender divide
Simon Wilson (Herald): Chris Luxon, is a man on a mission but it’s not a religious thing (paywalled)
Chris Trotter (Interest): A smooth performance
Jason Walls (Newstalk ZB): How much will high-flying Luxon clip Act’s wings on his path to power?
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): A week is a long time in politics
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Chris Luxon’s social investment policy is a fantastic idea
Andrew Dickens (Newstalk ZB): Andrew Dickens: If Luxon understands the economy, he gets a nod of approval from me
Tim Dower (Newstalk ZB): Solid start for Luxon, Lord knows we need him
Bill Ralston (Listener/Herald): National is failing to harness the country’s anger (paywalled)
Political donations
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Ban of anonymous political donations among electoral law reform options
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Government consults on political donations clampdown
RNZ: Government releases proposals for changes to political donations
Govt management of Delta outbreak
Derek Cheng (Herald): ‘National disgrace’ – Govt Covid response panned at Waitangi Tribunal
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): Delta has become a Māori pandemic, Waitangi Tribunal hearing told
Jamie Tahana (RNZ): Waitangi Tribunal hearing into whether Te Tiriti breached begins
Herald Editorial: Early data on Omicron suggests rethink of border-easing plans warranted (paywalled)
1 News: NZ’s Covid spread rate at its lowest in weeks – Plank
Jamie Ensor and Caitlin Ellis (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern not expecting lockdown over summer, any restrictions would be ‘localised’
Herald: PM has no plans to lock down country over summer; expert wants Aucklanders to avoid the unvaccinated
1 News: Govt signs pre-purchase agreement for another Covid drug
RNZ: Pharmac secures Pfizer’s Covid-19 oral antiviral medication, subject to Medsafe approval – PM
Stuff Editorial: Pandemic’s pressure on public service keenly felt
Traffic light system
RNZ: Jacinda Ardern says ‘Caution has paid off’ with positive start under traffic light system
1 News: Rude customers, confusion for some under traffic light system
Adam Burns (Local Democracy Reporting): Reports of abuse at Ashburton businesses over Covid-19 rules
Marjorie Cook (ODT): Festival organisers confident in logistical plan
RNZ: South Island music festival set to rock New Year’s in orange light
Andrew Marshall (ODT): Seasonal townhall Christmas meal off
Nadine Porter (Stuff): Woman fears for wellbeing of rest home residents after frustration over visits
Regional concern over Auckland border opening
RNZ: Importance of partnership between govt, iwi shown in Te Tai Tokerau border model – Northland iwi
1 News: Ardern moves to allay fears over Auckland holidaymakers
Justin Giovannetti (Spinoff): ‘We haven’t left anything to chance’: Jacinda Ardern on whether you should travel this summer
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Influx of Aucklanders anticipated
Verity Johnson (Stuff): Auckland played its part and now we want our lives back
Mandatory vaccination, vaccine pass
John Anthony (Stuff): U-turn on vaccine mandate allows takeaway staff to be unvaccinated
Sue Teodoro (Wairarapa Times-Age): Wairarapa DHB investigating claim large group of vaccination staff paid for big night out with Prezzy cards
Philip McKibbin (Guardian): Restaurants that reject vaccine passes in favour of ‘equality’ for the unvaccinated harm us all
RNZ: Checkpoint: Some pharmacies criticised for charging to print vaccine passes
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): What’s the future of the vaccine mandate?
Nikki Preston (Herald): Vaccine mandate forces 10 per cent of community midwives to stand down, some areas feeling the pressure
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): No council vax mandate planned at present
Nadine Porter and Sam Sherwood (Stuff): New vaccine pass system receives mixed review from hospitality industry
Adam Burns (Local Democracy Reporting): Ashburton Mayor slams anti-vaccination abuse after bakery is forced to call police
Katie Harris (Herald): Gisborne cafe’s plan to get around traffic light system by hosting daily ‘events’ fails
RNZ: Public libraries in Nelson now subject to vaccine pass checks
Alison Smith (Herald):Anger ‘vented’ at Coromandel hospitality providers responding to mandate
Economy, business, government subsidies
Bernard Hickey (The Spinoff): The real impact of New Zealand’s economic response to Covid-19
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Delta illustrates why wage subsidy kept: Skyline leader
Greg Smith (Stuff): Omicron and inflation twin threats for financial markets
Dita De Boni (NBR): Economic difference between Auckland Māori employers and employees stark: BERL (paywalled)
Nicholas Pointon (RNZ): CTU backs Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr amid calls to replace him
Richard Harman (Politik): Bridges says Orr should go
Eric Crampton (Offsetting Behaviour): A politicised central bank
Mikaela Wilkes (Stuff): We need to pay $7 for a flat white if cafes are going to survive, says coffee boss
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): Freedom day like the end of World War II, says Auckland restaurateur
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): To be Frank, none of the small electricity retailers are quite what they seem (paywalled)
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Construction sector tipped to peak at $48.3 billion in 2024, driven by residential
Tina Law (Stuff): Christchurch’s popular Sparks concert will go ahead – but only for the vaccinated
Keiller MacDuff (Stuff): Mackenzie tourism operators hope for summer surge
Protests, Covid-19 restrictions breaches, Misinformation
Michelle Duff (Stuff): ‘It’s a hellscape’: The age of misinformation is here – can government close the rabbit hole?
Qiuyi Tan (Herald): Hamilton mum in denial – until she caught Covid
1 News: Holocaust comparison by Covid-19 protesters ‘false equivalence’
Jimmy Ellingham (RNZ): Women accused of breaching Covid-19 restrictions named after suppression lapses
ODT: Queenstown developer told police breach not ‘particularly serious’
Health
Lloyd Burr (Magic): Little’s $644m ICU press release, another reason why I’m cynical when it comes to politics
Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Critics blame diabetes deaths on Pharmac taking years to fund new drug
Lois Williams (Stuff): New Zealand’s goal of being smokefree by 2025 unlikely to be met
Michael Neilson (Herald): NZ secures 60,000 doses of Pfizer’s new antiviral medicine – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Michael Neilson (Herald): New Pfizer antiviral drug ‘big step forward’ in fight against outbreak
Orna McGinn (Newsroom): Why NZ needs a women’s health strategy
Lokesh Padhye (Newsroom): Time for NZ to act on ‘forever chemicals’
RNZ: New research shows extent of fast food combos’ poor nutritional value
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Stoush over after-hours GP fees discussion
Housing
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): How low can you go? Labour and Nats play game of housing limbo
Zane Small (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern ‘would be surprised’ if National seeks to change housing deal given new deputy Nicola Willis ‘was a part of discussions’
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Housing bill to be watered down
Brent Edwards (NBR): Can bi-partisan legislation on housing intensification become law by Christmas? (paywalled)
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): New home consents tipped to dip below current record highs
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Wallet squeeze: High home loan rates will mean some have to ‘cut their cloth’, Grant Robertson says (paywalled)
RNZ: 265,000 new dwellings in pipeline over next five years – MBIE report
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): ASB suggests ‘lofty’ housing confidence is set to be tested
Felix Desmarais (Stuff): Rotorua Lakes Council says ‘momentum’ building on housing
Rosie Collins (Interest): All I want for Christmas is more rentals
Kelvin Davidson (One Roof): Timeline of a housing crisis: Numbers behind NZ’s price surge
Catherine Master (One Roof): New Zealand house prices: What went wrong?
Catherine Master (One Roof): Government v the housing market: Can a minister ever win?
Catherine Master (One Roof): Nick Smith: ‘Housing was the most stressful portfolio I had’
Tony Alexander (One Roof): 52% of Kiwis blame overseas buyers for rising house prices. Why?
Jamie Wilson (One Roof): House prices in 2022: Why the property market could be very different
Jen Baird (One Roof): REINZ boss: The housing market remains strong – for now
Kelvin Davidson (One Roof): Timeline of a housing crisis: Numbers behind NZ’s price surge
Local government, Three Waters
Lois Williams (Local Democracy Reporting): Separate rules for Grey district suggested to retain SNA deals with landowners
1 News: Six of Auckland’s regional parks will be given new Māori name
Logan Savory (Stuff): Invercargill City Council invited to join 3 Waters ‘push back’ group
Gianina Schwanecke (Herald): City and regional councils revisiting co-management of Napier’s stormwater network (paywalled)
Grant Miller (ODT): Perception of ORC: ‘infighting’
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Waikato Regional Council chairman faces backlash over ‘offensive’ Māori comments
Environment, conservation, Climate Change
RNZ: Damning verdict on shellfish diversity after study – but restoration project underway
Jean Bell (RNZ): Rare Auckland native bush section may be sold to developers
Karen Rutherford (Newshub): World-famous New Chum headland safe from developers after being bought by New Zealanders
Jamie Morton (Herald): Campaigners buy part of world-famous New Chum Beach for $2.15m
Simon Coley (Herald): How business can get past the ‘blah, blah’ of the climate change debate (paywalled)
Livia Esterhazy (Herald): Saving the Bryde’s whale – the panda of the ocean (paywalled)
Helen Clark (Newsroom): Preventing devastation on the high seas – and beneath them
Melanie Reid and Cass Mason (Newsroom): Horror at new plan to excavate pristine Fiji reef
Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner (Newsroom): The Kiwi scientist and the failed surf breaks
Primary and extractive industries, Groundswell Protests
Rachael Kelly (Stuff): National and ACT call on Ardern to release Groundswell NZ briefing notes
Andrea Fox (Herald): Fonterra shareholders urged to vote with Cabinet eyes on new capital plan (paywalled)
RNZ: Hopes beneficial insects could boost farm yields
Maddisyn Jeffares (Hawkes Bay Today/Herald): $20m possum control plan to eradicate bovine TB in Hawke’s Bay over next five years (paywalled)
Immigration, NZ border, MIQ
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): Officials express ‘regret’ as residency visa applications inundate system
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Families left waiting as borders open for tourists: ‘It’s been tough’
Katie Todd (RNZ): Some Kiwis are still travelling overseas: ‘Things become desperate’
Education
RNZ: Principals, teachers more stressed and exhausted than last year – ERO survey
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Teacher wellbeing plummets and workloads rise due to pandemic
Mina Kerr-Lazenby (Stuff): South Auckland school spent nearly $9k on principal’s farewell party, $4k on gift
RNZ: Annual tertiary education enrolment numbers up 10%
Ellen O’Dwyer and Tom Hunt (Stuff): Victoria University survey shows staff have low confidence in senior leaders
Transport
Andrea Fox (Herald): NZ freight forwarders dismayed by new Maersk shipping restriction (paywalled)
Gary Hamilton-Irvine (Herald): An 80km/h speed limit? Decision on Napier-Taupō Rd set to be an early Christmas present (paywalled)
Mike Yardley (Stuff): Let’s see proof congestion charges will change behaviour
Todd Niall (Stuff): Aucklanders are seeing red, despite traffic light freedoms
Siddharth Philip (Stuff): London-Auckland in zero emissions hydrogen-powered jet? UK-backed concept design unveiled
Tina Morrison (Stuff): NZ Post uses green finance to accelerate move to electric vehicles
Family and sexual violence strategy
1 News: New strategy hopes to eliminate family and sexual violence
Kirsty Johnston (Stuff): ‘Our greatest shame’: Eliminating violence will take a generation’s work
Michael Neilson (Herald): Government launches strategy to eliminate family and sexual violence in Aotearoa
Employment
Gianina Schwanecke (Herald): The industries that need you: Hawke’s Bay’s summer of labour shortages set to hit harder than ever (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Timaru’s PrimePort workers up the strike ante (paywalled)
Foreign Affairs
RNZ: The Detail: Unrest and riots in Solomon Islands
George Block (Stuff): NZ police officers report calm in Solomon Islands amid fears of renewed violence
Other
RNZ: Targeted effort needed to reduce hardship for Māori, Pacific and disabled children – Children’s commissioner
Sasha Borissenko (Herald): When law firms value profit over people
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Government looking at more changes to KiwiSaver
Terry Baucher (Interest): Te wiki o te tāke; Latest Covid-19 development, Luxon keeps property debate in news, and Inland Revenue turns its attention to charities
RNZ: Cyber criminals becoming more sophisticated – govt watchdog
Karl du Fresne: On the Royal Society and the stifling of free speech
ODT Editorial: Protesters damage their own cause
Dylan Reeve (Spinoff): What is RealMe and why do people hate it so much?
RNZ: Demand for special meeting over America’s Cup venue dropped
Gavin Ellis (Knightly Views): New snap and crackle in breakfast radio |