News Briefing: 11 March 2025
GOVERNMENT, PARLIAMENT, POLLING, PUBLIC SERVICE
Jenna Lynch (Stuff): The PM needs his political radar to flick on - urgently
Richard Harman (Politik): The coalition gets a wakeup call (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): A critical week or two for the PM (paywalled)
Catherine McGregor (Spinoff): Bad poll fuels flickers of doubt about Luxon’s future
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Labour passes National, Chris Hipkins pips Christopher Luxon in latest bad poll for Government
RNZ: Chris Hipkins overtakes Christopher Luxon as preferred prime minister in Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll
RNZ: Christopher Luxon plays down latest poll which puts him behind Chris Hipkins
Julia Gabel (Herald): Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks at post-Cabinet press conference after Labour overtake Nats in latest poll
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Fresh poll confirms Coalition slump
Herald Editorial: Labour has reasons to smile with the polls and a new energised line-up (paywalled)
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Health tops poll of voters’ concerns
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1News: Luxon 'relaxed' on Andrew Bayly taking leave to visit Mt Everest
Thomas Manch (Post): Luxon says embattled MP Andrew Bayly is ‘entitled’ to Everest break (paywalled)
RNZ: Embattled former minister Andrew Bayly to visit Mt Everest
Rob Campbell (Newsroom): Real politics is about persuasion and power, not centre ground consensus
Jehan Casinader (Stuff): The problem with Winston’s war on ‘woke’
ODT Editorial: The timing of the war on woke (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Craig Renney and CTU want apology from Nicola Willis over Treasury ban
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): The Government's finally doing what they were voted to do
Tom McKinlay (ODT): Signing up to the big myth
Avril Bell (Newsroom): Equality: NZ’s highest principle or socialist delusion?
Natalia Albert: The Accountability Void in New Zealand’s Public Service
INFRASTRUCTURE, FAST-TRACK, INVESTMENT SUMMIT
Herald: Front Page: What to expect from the Government’s Global Investment Summit
Simon Wilson (Herald): Chris Bishop v Chlöe Swarbrick: The Investment Summit and the politics of hope (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Government seeks investment to build Northland Expressway, one of New Zealand’s most expensive infrastructure projects
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Northland Expressway dangled to investors at big Auckland summit (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Northern Expressway funding on cards at Investment Summit (paywalled)
1News: Investors invited to look at first stage of Northland Expressway
RNZ: Government looking for partner to build and run Northland Expressway
RNZ: 'All roads lead to the deciding minister': Greens wary of government's Environment Court bypass proposal
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Owners of compulsorily acquired non-iwi land to be stripped of appeal rights
No Right Turn: Judging their own case
Catherine McGregor (Spinoff): Cash incentives offered to fast-track land acquisition for infrastructure
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): Taking away the Environment Court is a bad idea
Kerre Woodham (Newstalk ZB): Does everyone have their price?
Jessica Roden (1News): Govt to shortlist shipyards to build new Cook Strait ferries this month
RNZ: Plans to make busy Auckland road 'more productive'
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Regional airports forking out millions for new Jetstar flights
Anne Gibson (Herald): Winton Land wins fast-tracking for 4000-home Sunfield plans at Ardmore (paywalled)
WHĀNAU ORA
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Is Whānau Ora under ‘attack’? New contracts raise alarm
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira (rNZ): A 'destruction of Whānau Ora by stealth' - providers
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Whānau Ora changes not a political hit job - Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
Myjanne Jensen (Te Ao with Moana): ‘I take no responsibility’ says John Tamihere on loss of major contract and conflicts of interest
Helen Leahy (Herald): ‘Whānau Ora is a love story and it is about falling back in love with ourselves’
Ani O’Brien: Reports of the death of Whānau Ora are greatly exaggerated
Gabrielle Baker (Spinoff): What’s behind the Whānau Ora overhaul?
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Destiny Church faction successful in stripping Whanau Ora for their masters interests
Alan Perrott (NZ Doctor): Winners and losers in whānau ora contracting (paywalled)
GAMBLING
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Offshore operators poised to dominate new online gambling market
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Entain recruits more Kiwi gamblers, but writes down TAB NZ by $322m (paywalled)
Gregor Thompson (BusinessDesk): TAB operator Entain impairs $322m from NZ assets (paywalled)
Tim Hunter (NBR: TAB ads appear on podcast about ‘predatory’ betting apps (paywalled)
HEALTH
Ruth Hill (RNZ): Will Health NZ's IT workers get a reprieve from cuts?
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Mental health leaders resign in latest Health NZ departure
Ruth Hill (RNZ): Patients accuse Pharmac of 'cruelty' and lacking respect
Isaac Davison (Herald): Pharmac report shows ‘gulf’ between leadership and patients, says management lacks respect, too defensive
Mountain Tui: 5 Extraordinary Revelations From Deloitte's Health NZ Review
Ian Powell: Getting out of the current health system mess
Susana Leiataua (RNZ): Bowel cancer screening changes 'driven by ideology, not facts'
Lucy Xia (RNZ): Cancer patients left with no hot water in Auckland hospital ward
Megan Wilson (Rotorua daily Post): Rotorua Hospital: Boy waits five hours in ED with two head injuries
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE, DEFENCE
Thomas Manch (Post): Foreign Minister Winston Peters heading to Washington (paywalled)
RNZ: Winston Peters to meet US Secretary of State in Washington visit
Adam Pearse (Herald): PM Christopher Luxon reinforces India free-trade deal promise ahead of visit
1News: Luxon to meet with Narendra Modi in India next week
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Christopher Luxon announces India trip
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Luxon’s grand tour: Chasing a ‘good' but not perfect free trade deal in India (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): PM’s invite to India ‘a big deal’, he says, as trip beckons following crucial investment summit (paywalled)
Kerre Woodham (Newstalk ZB): Phil Goff stuffed up royally and paid the price
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): Winston had no option
WELLINGTON WATER
Tom Hunt (Post): Wellington Water boss shuts down talks of finding how much ratepayers overpaid (paywalled)
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): Wellington Water chair keeps his job - for now
Nick James (RNZ): Wellington Water chairperson unlikely to be forced to resign after extraordinary meeting
Alan Pollard (Post): Contractors not to blame for Wellington Water dysfunction (paywalled)
Dave Armstrong (Post): Conflicts, transparency and Karen from Accounts Payable (paywalled)
RNZ: Water restored to Wellington suburb following 'major water outage'
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Andrea Vance (Post): No regional deal for Wellington after mayors fail to apply (paywalled)
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): 'Get paid to join': 300 sign up for Whanganui citizens’ assembly
Felix Walton (RNZ): Whangārei considers cost of refusing fluoridation
David Hill (Local Democracy Reporting): AI could enhance democracy – ECan councillor
Diane McCarthy (Local Democracy Reporting):Location in doubt over Whakaari memorial
Catherine Hutton (Open Justice Reporting): Sandy Calkin’s drowning in Wellington Harbour may have been preventable
Deborah Morris (Post): Wellington council knew drowning risk for years, yet did nothing: Coroner (paywalled)
HOUSING, PROPERTY INDUSTRY, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): Emergency housing numbers plummet in Wellington, but no support for those going without
Katie Todd (RNZ): Auckland homelessness spike prompts 'please help' letter
Tom Hunt (Post): Mass call to save Wellington's Arlington development (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (Post): Govt to speed up Retirement Villages Act review after hurry-up by residents and operators (paywalled)
Nicholas Pointon (NBR): Retirement village law review could see amendments this term (paywalled)
Vanessa Pratley (Consumer NZ): How Metlifecare is ignoring the Commerce Commission’s warnings
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Land gained for 200 homes: developer (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): The suburb where the housing market downturn hit hardest
Caroline Williams (Stuff): Why a huge plot of Auckland land worth $62m has sat empty for 20 years
Miriam Bell (Post): Residential building activity hit 4-year low in tough times for construction (paywalled)
Greg Hurrell (BusinessDesk): New Branz strategy will try to turn the tide of building failures (paywalled)
John Weekes (Herald): Construction sector likely to pick up after June, economists say
ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION
Greg Presland (The Standard): Climate change?
Eloise Gibson (RNZ): Climate change: Falling insurance cover could hurt whole economy, conference warned
Shaun Eaves, Andrew Lorrey, Brian Anderson, Heather Purdie and Lauren Vargo (The Conversation): NZ’s glaciers have already lost nearly a third of their ice – as more vanishes, landscapes and lives change
RNZ: Restore Passenger Rail protester found not guilty of endangering transport
Gianina Schwanecke (RNZ): Drought conditions see groundwater and dams used for livestock run dry
Dita De Boni (Post): More businesses may step away from short-term climate goals: SBC (paywalled)
Shanti Mathias (Spinoff): Getting rid of predators is one thing. Keeping them gone is another
BANKS
RNZ: ANZ defends $2.1b profit: 'Making a fair return for our shareholders'
Rob Stock (Post): Banks deflect Parliamentary inquiry onto deregulation path (paywalled)
Rob Stock (Post): ANZ, BNZ and ASB CEOs claim loans would be cheaper if Reserve Bank rules loosened (paywalled)
Ella Somers (Interest): ANZ & BNZ bosses tell MPs reduced capital requirements could make loans cheaper
Brent Edwards (NBR): Petrol stations ‘know better than banks’ on challenges they face (paywalled)
Brent Melville (NBR): No respite: banks don’t allow stressed mortgage holders to refix (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Here's how much interest rates have fallen
Nick Truebridge (Stuff): Meet the Kiwi flagged as ‘high risk’ over a bank transaction gone wrong
TRANSPORT
Samantha Gee (RNZ): Advocacy group takes government to court over speed limit increases
RNZ: Rollout of national transport ticketing system delayed
Shayne Currie (Herald): Media Insider: AT outdoor advertising contracts - why did a $350m tender process come off the rails? (paywalled)
Roeland van den Bergh (Post): What sort of leader should replace Air NZ CEO Greg Foran? (paywalled)
Mike Cherney (Wall Street Journal): Debate Over Traffic Cones Intensifies in New Zealand (paywalled)
ENERGY
Jessica Roden (1News): Concern around power prices and supply ahead of winter
Shanti Mathias (Spinoff): Why power prices are rising – and what power companies could do to help
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Weird weather, water and energy scares: graphs tell a story (paywalled)
RESERVE BANK
David Hargreaves (Interest): Economists put their oars in on RBNZ Governor's shock resignation
Michael Reddell: On the way ahead
IMMIGRATION
Keiller MacDuff (RNZ): Ex-National MP bashes Green's visa-free Pacific travel petition, despite endorsing cause
Rachel Helyer Donaldson (RNZ): Greens say NZ visa barriers for Pacific Island nations is 'unfair', hangover 'racism'
RNZ: NZ Green Party calls for visa-free travel for 'Pacific whānau'
DESTINY CHURCH
RNZ: Police stop referring people to Destiny Church's Man Up and Legacy programmes
Isaac Davison (Herald): Destiny and Man Up double down on pride protests, despite backlash
Lauren Crimp and Rachel Helyer Donaldson (RNZ): Man Up protesters disrupt Wellington Pride parade
Eva Gallot (Stuff): Destiny Church members disrupt Wellington pride parade with haka
RNZ: Brian Tamaki says Man Up protests strategically planned 'to protect children'
Eva Gallot (Stuff): Destiny Church members disrupt Wellington pride parade with haka
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, GENDER GAP
Liz Bledsoe (Newsroom): International Women’s Day: Being a feminist in 2025
Sasha Borissenko (Herald): Gender gap persists in NZ law despite women majority (paywalled)
Donna Miles (Press/Post): The best way to mark International Women’s Day (paywalled)
Christine Kearney (Post): Why International Women’s Day makes me anxious as a female CEO (paywalled)
CYBER ATTACKS
Miriam Bell (Post): Almost 60% of NZ businesses hit by cyber attack last year (paywalled)
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Cyber regulations unwanted, ransoms paid, in Kordia Cyber report (paywalled)
MEDIA
Gavin Ellis: Canadian billionaire must explain his designs on NZME…now
Rebecca Macfie (Listener): Home truths: What an NZ journalist had to learn to write about poverty (paywalled)
OTHER
Jimmy Ellingham (RNZ): First $150,000 government redress payments made to Lake Alice survivors
RNZ: Where do Kiwis cut back when we feel the pinch?
Louise Ternouth (RNZ): School lunch failures: Provider told to show daily visual evidence of quality
Laura Walters (Newsroom): Māori make up 83% of those charged under new gang laws
1News: Gisborne bucks crime trend with offending in CBD down by 60%
Jaime Lyth (Herald): Charity tax crackdown: Who’s affected by proposed status and exemption changes (paywalled)
RNZ: International vistor levy: $3 million to be used to attract business conferences
Susan St John (Newsroom): NZ Super’s urgent reform needs to be granted (paywalled)
David Williams (Newsroom): Crown consulted Ngāi Tahu ‘as an afterthought’
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Govt green fund knocked back BlackRock involvement
Robert MacCulloch (Herald): Dilworth School abuse: Wind up this charity trust and make it a charter school (paywalled)
Chris Keall (Herald): Tech Insider: InternetNZ sees an explosion in membership as Free Speech Union angles for control - but will it be snookered by voting rules, new constitution? (paywalled)
RNZ: Greyhound dies after winning race at Christchurch raceway
Riley Chance (Newsroom): Dear Brooke van Velden, please help
Alexandra Allen-Franks and Rob Batty (The Conversation): The surprising legal rules about brand trademarks of sweary phrases
Fiona Kidman (Newsroom): Dame Fiona Kidman gives Rachel Boyack a ‘B’
Alka Prasad (Post): Māori collectives ‘driving force’ behind primary industry - report (paywalled)
Sapeer Mayron (Sunday Star Times): ration the Queen’s veges: Treaty activist’s prison time inspires show (paywalled)