Today’s content

Immigration
Michael Neilson (Herald): Immigration move to fast-track migrant residency ‘most significant in decades’
Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Kris Faafoi’s immigration fix too late for some skilled migrants feeling forced to leave
Mike Treen (Daily Blog): Pathways to residency a victory for all working people
Jem Traylen (BusinessDesk): Can Immigration NZ deliver on govt’s promise? (paywalled)
Stuff Editorial: Residence pathway a boon for stressed south
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): 2021 Resident Visa, you know it’s a good call if no one is criticising it
1 News: Migrants ‘over the moon’ about new one-off pathway to NZ residency
Gill Bonnett (RNZ): ‘It tears the family apart’: Cautious optimism over fast-track visa option for 165,000 migrants
RNZ: Government offers one-off visa to fast-track skilled migrant residency
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): Businesses welcome ‘biggest immigration change in decades’
Guy Williams (ODT): One-off migrant visa decision welcomed by leaders
ODT: Residency pathway welcomed but more help wanted
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Residency pathway ‘welcome’ for nursing workforce, but more Kiwi talent needed
Geraden Cann (Stuff): Petition started to broaden eligibility for fast-tracked 2021 resident visa
Maja Burry’This will (RNZ):  ‘This will really help a lot of our migrants’ – Farmers cheer visa plan
Dita De Boni (NBR): ‘Big smiles in cowsheds across the country’ as govt eases visa rules (paywalled)

Vaccine
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Extraordinary Lengths: Social Solidarity versus Death-Cult Capitalism
Richard Harman (Politik): The tough questions are starting (paywalled)
Bernard Hickey (Spinoff): The coming legal showdown on mandatory vaccines
1 News: Not enough vaccinated to tolerate widespread outbreak – Ardern
RNZ: Covid-19 vaccination incentives tried as numbers for first dose drop
Kethaki Masilamani (Newshub): Auckland Councillor calls for COVID-19 vaccine incentives to reach targets amid slump
Michael Reddell (Croaking Cassandra): Vaccinations by age
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Experts say only ‘a tiny group’ shouldn’t get vaccinated against COVID-19 – so who are they?
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Who are the anti-vaxxers?
Jess Berentson Shaw (Newsroom): On ‘incentives’ and the vaccine-hesitant
Daniel Rutledge (Newshub): National MP Chris Bishop apologises to NZ drum and bass community over COVID-19 vaccination joke
Cate Broughton (Stuff): Cold calls part of drive to get 90 per cent vaccinated with first dose
Aimee Milne (Stuff): When freedom of speech and public health collide over the Covid-19 vaccine
ODT Editorial: Vaccination passports needed
Ella Stewart (RNZ):  Vaccine passports ‘effective’ for fans at events but gyms worried over staff abuse
Anna Rawhiti-Connell (The Spinoff): Sorry Sir John, but we’re going to need more than vaccine vouchers
RNZ: Medsafe believes Pfizer vaccine not factor in death of teen
Elizabeth Binning (Herald): Death of teen after vaccination could be linked to other medication
Kim Moodie (RNZ):  Many disabled people being failed by vaccine rollout, supporters say
Riley Kennedy (ODT): All wharf workers in South jabbed
Ethan Griffiths (Herald): Vaccinations – Concerns rural Rangitīkei being left behind

Govt Covid response
Matthew Hooton (Herald): National and Act give Jacinda Ardern a shot of urgency (paywalled)
Dan Satherley (Newshub): Auckland move back to level 4 ‘very unlikely’ despite warning of ‘hospitalisations and deaths around Christmas’
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Bloomfield: Level 1 freedoms a thing of the past
Michael Morrah (Newshub): Why the Government isn’t willing to let Aucklanders leave city even at COVID-19 alert level 2
Nicholas Jones (Herald): ‘Red alert’ hospital plans for uncontrolled Covid-19 revealed (paywalled)
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Auckland Hospital rapidly preparing for border reopening
1 News: ‘Extremely risky’ to move Auckland to Level 2 – Covid modeller
Michael Neilson (Herald): Vaccination, testing call as ‘risky’ Auckland alert-level decision nears
1 News: Auckland shouldn’t be hasty moving to Level 2, Covid modeller says
Herald: On the Tiles: Epidemiologist Michael Baker on the Government’s plan to reopen borders
Rawiri Taonui (Waatea): Māori pay hefty price as Government loses control of Delta OutBreak
RNZ: Govt still has ‘broad control’ of Auckland outbreak – PM Jacinda Ardern
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Auckland boundary will remain even if move to level 2 goes ahead
RNZ: Auckland boundary likely to remain even if alert level drops
Ben Leahy (Herald): Auckland boundary to remain in place next week
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Government proposes new Covid-19 powers in preparation for future pandemic restrictions
Keith Rankin (Evening Report): Covid Immunity Calculus
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Covid’s risky business (paywalled)
Herald: Chris Hipkins, Mike Hosking clash over NZ’s return to zero cases
Brent Edwards (NBR): Honest debate needed on trade-offs for relaxing Covid-19 restrictions (paywalled)
The Spinoff: The 10 hottest takes from the Gone By Lunchtime Covid plan 

National, Act, John Key’s Covid plans
Gordon Campbell: National’s Covid re-opening plan
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Key a one-man Opposition on Covid
Mike Hosking (NewstalkZB):  There’s plenty of Covid policy out there
1 News: ACT, National say elimination has to go for borders to reopen
RNZ: ‘We cannot continue locking New Zealand up’ – Collins on National’s Covid-19 strategy
Spinoff: The 10 hottest takes from the Gone By Lunchtime Covid plan
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): With new virus plans, National and ACT diverge on strategy

Border, MIQ
Katie Todd (RNZ): MIQ taking toll on returnees’ mental health – psychologists
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Pressure on Govt to guarantee pensioners stranded in Australia don’t lose income
James Nokise (Stuff): For those of us overseas, MIQ stands for Mentally Infuriating Queueing

Self-isolation trial
Kristin Hall (1 News): Businesses vying to take part in self-isolation pilot hoping it’ll become new normal
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): MBIE yet to finalise how to check on compliance

Inequality
Marama Davidson (Stuff): Covid-19 in Aotearoa has been a tale of the haves and have-nots
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Lessons to be learnt from Covid-19 hitting Auckland’s most vulnerable – experts

Alert level rules, compliance, enforcement
Sam Hurley (Herald): Business leader calls for ‘expanded criteria’ to Auckland’s Covid-19 borders(paywalled)
Magic Talk: Chris Hipkins: “Undoubtedly” Rulebreakers among those in yesterdays 45 community cases
RNZ: Man who fled Covid-19 border stopped by road spikes 50km away
Anna Leask (Herald): Man charged after fleeing police at Auckland’s southern border to attend ‘gang funeral’ in Thames
RNZ: Wellington NPC captain apologises for “dumb” lockdown breach
Rosemary McLeod (Stuff): Beware false prophets peddling Covid nonsense

Cases, demographics, testing
Amy Wiggins (Herald): Positive cases and hospitalisations largely unvaccinated, Ministry of Health data shows
1 News: Spike in Covid cases puts pressure on South Auckland health providers
Eleisha Foon (RNZ):  Pasifika youth wellbeing affected by lockdown
Stephen Forbes (Local Democracy Reporting): Only 7% getting tested in Auckland’s suburbs of interest
Rowan Quinn (RNZ):  Covid-19 team helps Auckland families frightened of being tested
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Two new exposures at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital, 66 patients close contacts 
Stuff: Patients the most at risk in Middlemore Hospital Covid scare, chief says
RNZ: Covid-19 exposure risk at Middlemore Hospital after two patients test positive
1 News: Middlemore classify 66 patients as close contacts of two visiting Covid cases
1 News: Third student in upper Hauraki’s Mangatangi School tests Covid-positive

Polls, Parliament
Peter Dunne: The days of the Covid19 political dividend are over
Michael Bassett: Sliding in the Polls
Thomas Manch (Stuff): ‘Gimme more’: ACT Party leader David Seymour celebrates Britney Spears freedom from father’s grasp
Zane Small (Newshub): David Seymour decries Labour MP Deborah Russell’s ‘disgraceful’ tweet voicing frustration after sex self-ID submission
Sam Sherwood (Stuff): Former MP turned chauffeur Denis O’Rourke charged over fatal wedding day crash

Business, economy, employment, wage subsidy
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): Bad publicity enough to keep some companies away from wage subsidy
Morgane Solignac (Stuff): Accommodation providers hanging on by a wing and a prayer
RNZ: Business confidence improves despite extended Covid restrictions
Herald: Small business growing dissatisfied with Government – MYOB poll
RNZ: No holiday visitors for Auckland leaves struggling businesses disappointed
Herald: Three days before commercial rent relief shock, Retail NZ believed its concerns had been ‘dismissed’ (paywalled)
Zane Small (Newshub): Rent relief pressure builds on Finance Minister Grant Robertson
Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): Tenants ‘often better off than landlords’, Property Council says
1 News: Govt’s commercial rent relief proposals criticised by tenants, landlords
Andrea Fox (Herald): Dire straits: Lockdowns, shipping woes forcing NZ manufacturers to look offshore(paywalled)
Chris Marshall (Stuff): ‘Bring back the backpackers’ screams the hospitality sector looking for staff
Emily Brookes (Stuff):‘I have zero people’: Napier restaurant forced to close for two weeks over staff shortages
Tess Brunton, (RNZ):  South Island tourism operators relying on Auckland bookings await level update
Mark Knoff-Thomas (Herald): Small business ‘being squeezed like a stress ball’ (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Business closure rates ‘were already increasing before lockdown’
Chris Tobin (Stuff): Call for South Island bubble as South Canterbury hospitality operators fight to survive
RNZ: No holiday visitors for Auckland leaves struggling businesses disappointed
Herald: $3.1 million payout after lawmaker error sees March lockdown
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): Claim Aussie vehicle parts giant Bapcor is underpaying NZ staff under Covid
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Rob Stock (Stuff): Should banks be forced by law to supply cash to customers? 
The Detail (RNZ):  What we don’t know about Amazon’s NZ plans
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Who will pay the price for the $54 billion spent on quantitative easing?
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Dawn Chorus: Stagflation fear growing (paywalled)
Rob Stock (Stuff): Reserve Bank digital dollars could help defend New Zealand dollar
RNZ: Taxi company fined $150,000 for price fixing
Daniel Smith (Stuff): Ride-share customers feeling ripped off by surprise surcharges
Sam Hurley (Herald): Markets watchdog FMA has ‘less tolerance’ for anti-money laundering breaches as it ramps up enforcement
RNZ: FMA taking harder line on anti-money laundering rule breaches
Zoe George (Stuff): Sports ‘need to do better’ as research shows gender and ethnic pay gaps
Uma Ahmed (Stuff): Great South’s space operations business becomes a subsidiary 
Anne Gibson (Herald): Surprise move: Billionaire Graeme Hart buying up big properties in South Auckland(paywalled)

Housing, property investment, tenancy rules
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Dawn Chorus: A moment of housing truth (paywalled)
Brian Fallow (Herald): Nightmarish times for first-home dream (paywalled)
Miriam Bell (Stuff): Housing market momentum continues to wane
Carmen Hall (Herald): Bay of Plenty landlords selling up as tax rules bite: ‘Fewer good reasons to be a landlord’ (paywalled)
Tess McClure and  Cody Ellingham (Guardian): ‘Haves and have-nots’: how the housing crisis is creating two New Zealands – a photo essay
Greg Ninness (Interest): Average residential property values up more than $13,000 in September
Greg Ninness (Interest): New dwelling consents surge in August, particularly in Auckland and Canterbury
Timothy Welch (The Conversation): Using valuable inner-city land for car parking? In a housing crisis, that just doesn’t add up
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Consents for houses hit record high
RNZ: House price growth slows for fifth consecutive month – CoreLogic

Welfare reform, Oranga Tamariki 
Stuff Editorial: Can a ‘rotten system’ be repaired? 
Sarah Robson (RNZ): Govt progress on welfare overhaul frustratingly slow – advocates
Sarah Robson (RNZ): Advocates welcome ‘less intrusive’ approach from MSD but say more needs to be done
Aaron Smale (Guardian): In its latest cut-and-paste child welfare report, New Zealand fails Māori again
Child Poverty Action Group: CPAG commends removal of the Subsequent Child Policy, says it’s the right thing for our kids
Michael Neilson (Herald): Fiery debate as Parliament passes bill repealing National’s subsequent child policy legislation
RNZ: Law reversing subsequent child policy passes third reading

Water reforms
Cherie Sivignon (Stuff): Water reforms part of ‘dramatic shift’ to centralised decision-making
Steven Walton (Stuff): Explainer: The spat between councils and Government over the future of water
Brent Edwards (NBR): National frets over ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to water infrastructure (paywalled)
RNZ: Wellington councillors discuss alternative to Three Waters reform
Diane McCarthy (Local Democracy Reporting): More time, consultation needed for Three Waters reform – Whakatāne District Council
Local Democracy Reporting: Three Waters: Independent analysis raises concerns on proposed reforms
Adam Blackwell (Stuff): Horowhenua council concerned with lack of clarity in Three Waters reforms
Chris Marshall (Stuff): Taupō joins growing chorus criticising three waters
Matthew Rosenberg (Stuff): ‘It’s just a bloody nuisance’: Southland Mayor on Three Waters email bombardment 
Leanne Warr (Hawkes Bay Today/Herald): Dannevirke identity: Three Waters figures verging on ‘scaremongering’ (paywalled)

Local government
Logan Savory (Stuff): Tim Shadbolt’s request for information rejected by his own council
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Govt sneaking law change through to allow it to delay local body elections
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland Transport withheld the wrong information for 16 months
Piers Fuller (Stuff): Building small roundabout has cost twice as much as an average house 
Steven Walton (Stuff): ‘Very positive’: $93 million profit for companies owned by Christchurch ratepayers
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Land at Kuriwao maybe sold
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Rates error to be squared up next year
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Councillors want collaboration clarified
Andrew Marshall (ODT): ‘Win-win’ the goal for George St
Rebecca Ryan (ODT): Satisfaction with council declines
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Six months after eviction day, one man remains in Matatā’s red zone

Foreign affairs, trade
Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): Expo 2020 Dubai – will New Zealand’s investment pay off?
Ashleigh Stewart (Stuff): NZ unveils pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai: ‘If we weren’t here, we would miss out’
Anneke Smith (RNZ):  Soldier charged with espionage also accused of being member of far-right groups

Environment, climate change, conservation
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Big fuel shake up has some call for more green ambition, and others urge Government to drop
Bruce Munro (ODT): Global Insight: NZ well positioned to respond to help halt climate change
David Williams (Newsroom): ACC lends $90m to huge irrigation scheme
Herald: Air New Zealand sets ambitious green fuel goals, now time for some Government action(paywalled)

Seabed mining
Laurel Stowell (Herald): Supreme Court rules against Trans-Tasman Resources seabed mining plan
Alexa Cook (Newshub): Conservationists, iwi applaud Supreme Court decision stopping Taranaki seabed mining consents
Tara Shaskey (Stuff): Both sides claim victory in Supreme Court ruling quashing South Taranaki seabed mining consents
1 News: Plan to mine iron sand from Taranaki coast quashed by Supreme Court
Robin Martin and Craig Ashworth (RNZ): Taranaki ironsands mining appeal fails at Supreme Court

Health
Rachel Thomas (Stuff): Sick baby denied surgery as more than 81,000 people face delayed healthcare 
Anusha Bradley (RNZ):  ACC admits backlog is delaying tens of thousands of client cases
Kyle MacDonald (Herald):  The pandemic and our collective grief
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Meth users add pressure to busy emergency departments during lockdown
Bryan Betty (Herald):  We’d all live longer with more general practitioners (paywalled)
Karl du Fresne: Mental health gets the standard Labour treatment
Sela Jane Hopgood (RNZ): New multimedia segment for Pasifika on mental health
Will Trafford (Māori TV): DHBs demand booze law changes
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Extent of aged care nurse shortage revealed
Karen Pasco (ODT): Shared vision’ for health
RNZ: Rua Bioscience gets green light to produce medicinal cannabis products

Disability
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Calls for ‘transformative’ disability law change to make Aotearoa accessible
Paula Tesoriero (Stuff): The unnoticed epidemic of violence and abuse against disabled people
Henrietta Bollinger (Spinoff): Lena Zhang Harrap, bone-deep grief, and disabled lives

Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill
Anna Whyte (1 News): MP speaks of own house raid during counter terrorism law change
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Parliament passes counter-terrorism laws, criminalising terror planning and expanding warrantless search powers
RNZ: Counter-terrorism bill passes third reading
Audrey Young (Herald): Parliament passes bill to disrupt planning and preparation by terrorists

Justice
Naomi Arnold (RNZ): Media frustrated with ‘impossible’ court document hold-ups
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): A terrible decision by the Judicial Conduct Commissioner
Kirsty Johnston (Stuff): ‘Bullying, excessive, partisan and demeaning’: Supreme Court justice slams judge’s treatment of abuse victim

Transport
Joel MacManus (Stuff):  Wellington City Council will borrow more for walking and cycling projects after transport agency funding falls short
Amber Allott (Stuff):Bids for free buses for Christchurch, cheaper fares for students both shot down

Education
RNZ: Educators ‘not surprised’ by drop in NCEA pass marks
John Gerritsen (RNZ):  Auckland secondary school principals worried by teacher shortage

Primary and extractive industries
Catherine Harris (Stuff): The future of farming: What will NZ’s agri sector look like in 20 years? 
Gareth Kiernan (Stuff): Don’t be complacent about agriculture’s ability to rescue us
RNZ: ‘End of an era’: Ohai locals recall life, friendships in a once bustling mining town

Other
Henry Cooke (Stuff): Secretive facial recognition trial at Wellington Airport went against Privacy Commissioner’s advice
Peter McKenzie (Listener/Herald): The day Gaddafi’s son came to party in Queenstown (paywalled)
Kate Green (Stuff): Matariki Public Holiday Bill has first reading in Parliament
RNZ: New Matariki holiday bill passes first Parliament test
Liz McDonald (Stuff): EQC settlement cap and levies to rise next year
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): EQC to provide homeowners with twice as much insurance cover than at present, as Govt lifts cap to $300k
ODT: Son of Saudi billionaire makes good on donation promise
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Graham Bell stands by Police Ten 7, new research say show isn’t representative
David Hargreaves (Interest): Reserve Bank says an NZ Central Bank Digital Currency would be a ‘useful development’
David Hargreaves (Interest): RBNZ sees both opportunities and threats emerging in the monetary system