NZ Politics Daily: 3 September 2021

Government management of outbreak, expert advice, alert level changes
Matthew Hooton (Herald): NZ is united on Covid – why a blow-torch on Government is still vital(paywalled)
Henry Cooke (Stuff): The target that continues to elude Ashley Bloomfield, and will keep Auckland locked down
Derek Cheng (Herald): Hospitalisations, fatalities and lockdown – the lessons from Oz if we fail to eliminate (paywalled)
Vaughan Elder (ODT): Warning: Strategy could fail
1 News: Auckland Covid cases may take ‘weeks’ to go down: Michael Baker
RNZ: ‘Low-trust’ approach needs to be taken to workers crossing Auckland borders, Des Gorman says
Kate Gregan (RNZ): Decision to test essential workers crossing Auckland’s border described as ‘ludicrous’
RNZ: New Zealand in ‘uncharted territory’ attempting to keep Delta R number below 1 – Covid-19 modeller
Herald: Auckland alone at level 4 – but for how long?
Thomas Coughlan and RNZ (Herald): MIQ system changes, case numbers spike but experts optimistic
Newstalk ZB: Shaun Hendy: Likely to be in level 4 for 3-4 more weeks
Herald: Auckland lockdown could last ‘three to four weeks’, expert says
Tony Blakely  (Herald): How we can get off this Delta hell highway
Jamie Morton (Herald): Can NZ ever reopen the bubble with Oz? (paywalled)
Karl du Fresne: Covid-19: how New Zealand compares with the rest of the world
Zane Small (Newshub): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern fends off COVID-19 elimination strategy scrutiny, from NZ to Australia
Ben McKay (Canberra Times): Ardern bats away Australian COVID swipes
Thomas Manch (Stuff): National Party proposes points-based overhaul of MIQ system, challenges Labour to commit to vaccine target
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Dawn Chorus: Auckland faces four more weeks at level four
1 News: Bloomfield denies ‘poke’ at Chris Bishop as he confirms R rate detail on Twitter
Natasha Frost (New York Times): New Zealand’s Homegrown Hero
Daniel Dunkley (Stuff): What New Zealand can learn from Singapore’s Covid success
James Nokise (Stuff): Government’s unlikely assist from NSW’s daily disasters 
RNZ: Covid-19 outbreak day 16 – How it unfolded

MIQ, border, immigration
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Chris Hipkins needs to use his power rather than rely on kindness
Stuff Editorial: Where’s the empathy for returning Kiwis?
Herald Editorial: MIQ overhaul long overdue (paywalled)
Mandy Te and Piers Fuller (Stuff): Overseas Kiwis ‘devastated’ after extension of MIQ freeze, Hipkins’ holiday comment
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Greens join National in calling for purpose-built MIQ facilities
Zane Small (Newshub): How National’s proposal to fix ‘broken’ MIQ system compares to Government’s solution
RNZ: National want zero tolerance for MIQ bots and points based system
Andy Fyers (BusinessDesk): The shrinking of the MIQ system (paywalled)
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Almost 3000 doctors and nurses waiting to apply for skilled migrant residence
Newstalk ZB: Film Commission: Shake up of isolation rules could improve film industry
Stuff Editorial: Too many migrants feeling freezer burn
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Newstalk ZB: Deputy PM vows not to let another MIQ escape happen again
1 News: Mother of MIQ escapee, who called police on him, apologises to public
Herald: Parents of Novotel MIQ escapee reported him to police; mother apologises
1 News: Absconder’s bubble told MIQ staff man wasn’t in Auckland facility 10 hours after escape
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Government failed to alert public alleged COVID-positive escapee was in community twice
Craig Kapitan (Herald): Man with Covid escapes MIQ hotel
RNZ: Police arrest alleged MIQ escaper in Auckland
George Block (Stuff): Man who allegedly fled managed isolation was given ride home by friend
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Man who escaped quarantine livestreamed his arrest, shared anti-vax conspiracy theories
Eva Corlett (Guardian): New Zealand police surround address after Covid-positive man escapes quarantine
Anna Leask (Herald): Man escapes MIQ in middle of night, police told at 10.30am today
George Block and Catrin Owen (Stuff): Actions of Covid case who absconded from Auckland quarantine ‘utterly unacceptable’
Herald: Watch – MIQ escaper who ‘walked back to Ōtāhuhu’ recaptured by police
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Ben Strang (RNZ): Quarantine cases in Wellington can exercise, while Auckland cases can’t
Maiki Sherman (1 News): Head of MIQ sorry after Covid-positive family left for hours without food
Craig Kapitan (Herald): Family transferred after MIQ meltdown

Vaccine rollout
John Weekes (Herald): Six good reasons Auckland needs vaccines first
Hannah Martin (Stuff): 1.6 million more jabs to be done in Auckland before region is fully vaccinated
Adam Pearse (Herald): ‘Structural racism’ leads to inequitable vaccine rollout – study
Barbara Dreaver (1 News):Vaccine hesitancy worrying Pasifika health providers
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Green light for incentives to vaccinate young Māori
Craig Ashworth (Local Democracy Reporting): Māori-only clinics to bridge vaccine gap in Taranaki
RNZ: Auckland mass vaccination event becomes drive-through
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): Follow-up doses for mass vaccination event moved to drive through
Liu Chen (RNZ): MIQ worker vaccinated in China left in limbo: ‘Everyone was puzzled’
Lucy Xia (Stuff): Government not recording vaccination status of returnees, experts criticise ‘huge oversight’
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Simple question, where are the extra vaccines?
Catherine Harris (Stuff): Anti-vaxxers tried to stir up truck drivers to protest, union says
Scott Palmer (Newshub): New Zealand protestor Karen Brewer’s chilling threat as expert warns risk of anti-vaccination terrorism is real
Shannon Molloy (news.com.au): Countless anti-vaxxers and Covid-19 hoax believers dying from the virus
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Anti-conspiracy group calls for censure of New Plymouth district councillor following anti-vaxx post
John Anthony (Stuff): ‘Genuine error’ led to incorrect information in Covid-19 vaccine ad, Government says
RNZ: Call for alternative to mRNA vaccines after healthcare worker’s anaphylactic reaction
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): The type of State that would force an injection on an individual against their consent is no State to defend or support
Siouxsie Wiles & Toby Morris (Spinoff): How the world sped to the Covid vaccine summit
Ross Meurant (Daily Blog): Why won’t the government endorse the Sputnik vaccine?
Herald: DHB asks for removal of Facebook posts about walk-in vaccination

Health system
John Minto (Daily Blog): The most important lesson from the Covid 19 pandemic
RNZ: Auckland DHBs would need ICU nurses for ‘ideally a month at a time’
Danielle Clent (Stuff): Sending ICU nurses to Auckland will put pressure on other regions – union
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Southern medical staff volunteer for Aucklan
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): ‘We were all ready to put our hand up to help Auckland’ – Dunedin nurse
Stuff: Southern DHB sending back-up to Auckland
RNZ: More than 100 nurses, doctors ready to help Auckland hospitals
Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Andrew Little confident Auckland’s DHBs can tackle mounting surgery backlog
Michael Neilson (Herald): Concerns over dramatic increase in ivermectin de-wormer imports, a disproven and ‘dangerous’ Covid treatment (paywalled)
Cecile Meier (Stuff): Meningococcal deaths and hospitalisations could be prevented with free vaccines for young people
John Lewis (ODT): Pandemic led to medicine worries: study
Scott Yeoman (Stuff): Two public apologies: Bay of Plenty DHB chief says ‘no common themes’
Katie Harris (Herald): Lockdown another blow to already stretched eating disorder support in New Zealand
Paul Mitchell (Stuff): Ronald McDonald House puts families in hotels as Covid-19 restrictions impact hospital stays

Cases, demographics
Brittany Keogh and Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Covid-19: 84% of community cases were unvaccinated, 12% had one dose
Justin Latif (Local Democracy Reporting): AOG Church of Sāmoa cluster grows to 332, community braces for bad news
RNZ: Pacific health boost aims to meet urgent and sustained demand
RNZ: Pacific health, vaccination services to get $26m extra funding
Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Govt announces $26m funding boost for Pasifika vaccinations, support
Māni Dunlop (RNZ): Whānau Ora to receive $23m funding boost
1 News: Whānau Ora gets multi-million dollar funding boost for Covid-19 response
Herald: Spring Hill prison guard no longer a positive Covid case

Contact tracing, testing
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Auckland businessman says being a close contact is ‘a shambles’
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): No straight answer from Health Ministry on non-use of Bluetooth tracing 
Herald: Academics’ fears over contact tracing privacy
Dileepa Fonseka (Stuff): The issues with saliva tests, and why NZ’s rollout has been so slow

Lockdown compliance, enforcement, rules
Vicki Anderson and Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Police investigating after student flies from Auckland in third lockdown breach in five days
Kate Green and Sophie Cornish (Stuff): ‘Level 3 is not level free’: Police unimpressed by some reasons for travel as traffic doubles
Herald: 114 cars turned away at Auckland checkpoints
Keith Lynch and Kate Newton (Stuff): Lockdown movement plummeted by just as much in 2021 as 2020
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Disabled essential worker faces ‘hostility’ on Auckland buses

Employment, essential workers
Bernard Hickey (Spinoff): The case for mandatory vaccines in the workplace
Grant Bradley (Herald): Employment lawyer Jennifer Mills on companies’ plans for mandatory jabs(paywalled)
1 News: Ardern reiterates ‘be kind’ message after bus drivers attacked, abused
Taroi Black (Māori TV): ‘Pākehā customers’ abusing frontline workers
Mariné Lourens (Stuff): Letting company that underpaid staff keep liquor licences will ‘erode public confidence’
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): Retail NZ claim disputed that proposed parent-teacher leave is discriminatory

Wage subsidy, business, economy
Anuja Nadkarni (Newsroom): Shoppers report groceries more expensive in lockdown
RNZ: Credit scores remained stable in August level 4 lockdown – data
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): National calls for small business rental support package worth up to $10,000 a month
Andrea Fox (Herald): Business chamber bosses to press minister Nash for Covid support beyond wage subsidy (paywalled)
RNZ: Businesses now have to reapply for wage subsidy scheme every fortnight
Ranjana Gupta (Stuff): How ‘tax forgiveness’ could help New Zealand’s many small businesses weather Covid-19 financial woes
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): Rental support could cost ‘as little’ as $150m (paywalled)
Dan Lake (Newshub): New Zealand, Australia must ‘come to their senses’ and end COVID-19 lockdowns – Flight Centre CEO
Rob Stock (Stuff): BNZ, ANZ and Kiwibank waive contactless payment fees
Rahul Bhattarai (Herald): BNZ, Kiwibank and ANZ waive fees for contactless payment for SMEs
Tim Newman (Stuff): Big budget increases for infrastructure as supply chain issues drive up prices
Grant Bradley (Herald): Wayfare tourism company boss Stephen England-Hall on pathway out of crisis(paywalled)
Jamie Gray (Herald): Level 4 lockdown will set log export supply chain back 18 months (paywalled)
Sam Hurley (Herald): Frustration as businesses’ supply lines remain halted with split alert levels(paywalled)
John Anthony (Stuff):Tourism business owner with no revenue frustrated he can’t claim wage subsidy
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Almost $1 billion paid in wage subsidies during lockdown
Karen Coltman (Stuff): Bars and restaurants ready to open safely at level 2 and raring to go
Rob Stock (Stuff): VTNZ has postponed 26,000 WOFs and 13,000 driving tests
Nile Bijoux (Stuff): Level 4 lockdown took a hammer to monthly vehicle registrations
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): NZ Post limits parcel volumes to cope with an expected surge in demand as regions move to level 3 
Anna Leask (Herald): McWhy? Kiwis race to the drive thru as lockdown restrictions ease explained
RNZ: The Detail: Lockdowns and the lost tax dollars
Rob Stock (Stuff): Credit checks ‘south of the border’ show immediate recovery bounce

Parliament
ODT Editorial: Scrutinising our Parliament
Tara Ward (Spinoff): Politicians holding things up, ranked and reviewed

Inequality, charities
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Staying focused: Why Labour still won’t help the poor
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Salvation Army calls for rent freezes, Govt aid as demand for food and housing support skyrockets
Brittney Deguara (Stuff): Absence of free school lunches in lockdown a gap that needs filling, NGO says
Dianna Vezich (Newshub): Salvation Army sees 84 percent increase for emergency food parcels in first week of lockdown
Justin Latif (Local Democracy Reporting): Lockdown extension has South Auckland food banks bracing for increased demand
1 News: Concerns elderly people struggling physically, mentally in lockdown

Afghanistan
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Welcome Afghan refugees, then reform the UN
Matt Robson (Herald): International law and the lesson of Afghanistan (paywalled)
Stuff: Afghans trying to come to NZ have made it to Pakistan 
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Private contractors could help extract NZDF interpreters, ex-Defence Minister says
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Tampa refugees urge NZ support for Afghanistan
1 News: NZDF personnel involved in Kabul evacuation test positive for Covid
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Two Defence Force staff test positive for Covid-19 after Afghanistan mission, as Hercules leaves Middle East
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Two NZDF personnel on Afghanistan evacuation mission test positive for Covid

Education
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Devices in schools linked to lower achievement in core subjects – report
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Extra NCEA credits offered if schools are closed at least 20 days due to Covid-19
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Universities to offer rent rebates for students during lockdown
Kristy Frame (RNZ): Lack of fee waiver information disappoints students stuck in halls of residence
Herald: New Zealand universities climb in Times Higher Education world rankings

Primary industries, overseas investment
Susan Botting (Local Democracy Reporting): DoC mulls an appeal over controversial Aupōuri water consents
RNZ: Five more overseas companies approved to buy forestry or farm land
Herald:Foreign billionaire Furu Ding blamed lack of due diligence for vineyard’s failure

Local government
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Auckland water charge hike ‘absolutely unnecessary’ – ex-Watercare head
Wayne Maxwell (Kapiti News): Kāpiti Coast District Council chief executive Wayne Maxwell on the proposed Three Waters Reform
Steven Walton (Stuff): Covid-19 lockdown may cause $3.2m financial hit to Christchurch City Council
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Māori wards: ‘They’ve wasted our time’
Hamish MacLean and Molly Houseman (ODT): ORC strife: minister to talk to chairman
Emily Ireland (RNZ): Masterton civic facility: ‘Silent majority’ speak up
RNZ: Wellington City Council told to step up efforts to eradicate sexual violence
Sophie Cornish (Stuff): Wellington council plans to expand project focusing on improving safety in city centre 
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington: 153 tonnes of recycling sent to landfill during lockdown
Ben Leahy (Herald): Auckland Council again delays CV revaluation due to Covid
Simon Wilson (Herald): New plan for Queen St – closed as a through route, with bikes on the footpath(paywalled)

Greyhound racing
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Greyhound racing industry given ultimatum
Stuff: ‘Greyhound racing industry is on notice’: Grant Robertson says the sport risks closure without welfare changes
RNZ: Greyhound Racing Industry ‘on notice’ over transparency, animal welfare – Minister
1 News: Greyhound racing must demonstrate ‘decency’ of industry or ‘risk closure’
Newstalk ZB: Greyhound Welfare Manager says they’ve got a better system to be more transparent about dog death

Housing
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Kāinga Ora in the firing line over derelict, rat-infested property in South Auckland (paywalled)
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Napier businesses complain of behaviour and vandalism at outreach centre

Other
Katie Harris (Herald): Nearly 30 children have died in state care in New Zealand since 2017
Graham Adams (Democracy Project): The battle over Plunket heats up
Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): Covid-19’s impact on New Zealand’s diplomacy continues
Chris Trotter (Bowalley Road): Not On The List
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Beyond Hate
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Hate speech, social cohesion consultation ‘not authentic engagement’
Sam Mangai (ODT): Kneejerk reactions not always empowering
Brian Fallow (Herald): Plan to reform RMA leaves many unanswered questions (paywalled)
RNZ: Govt funding for gang-run meth treatment programme cleared
RNZ: Union presses case for retaining fuel tankers after Marsden Point refinery closure
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Conversion Therapy Bill: Man who underwent conversion therapy says it still very much exists in New Zealand
Jamie Gray (Herald): NZ carbon price hits record $59/tonne after strong Emissions Trading Scheme auction (paywalled)
Stuff: Government spending watchdog: $200 koha to Mongrel Mob didn’t break any rules
Nita Blake-Persen (RNZ): Number of superannuitants earning over $200k triples in a decade
Mei Heron (1 News): Govt not planning to offer WOF extensions
Marjorie Cook (ODT): Opponents prepare to fight billionaire Peter Thiel’s planned lakefront lodge plans
Andre Chumko (Stuff): Should art be a mandatory consideration for new infrastructure?
Jane Phare (Herald): Opening scene: The new boss taking New Zealand movies to the world (paywalled)
Chris Keall (Herald): Wheels within wheels: Why Chorus is tripling fibre speed at no extra cost (paywalled)
Paul Lewis (Herald): America’s Cup: Paul Lewis – Inside the distasteful plot to oust Grant Dalton from Team NZ (paywalled)
Ian Taylor (Stuff): Grant Dalton v Mark Dunphy: ‘Money alone doesn’t win America’s Cup’