Today’s NZPD testimonial from Alejandro Ramos Cardoso, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Mexico in New Zealand, @Alex_Ramos_C

My sincere appreciation to all of those folks who make this NZ Politics Daily newsletter project possible. I can’t begin to tell you how useful this is for my work. Not only is it comprehensive, but it is also very timely and professional. I certainly hope that you are able to secure the funds that will allow you to keep doing it.”

Anyone can sign up to NZPD for free at: https://democracyproject.nz/nz-politics-daily/

Today’s content

Three Waters, local government
Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): Government failure on water reform
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Three Waters: What’s Not To Like?
ODT Editorial: So much for local democracy
Brian Fallow (Herald): Nanaia Mahuta is right on water reforms (paywalled)
David Farrar (Patreon): Three Waters reform will be taxation without representation (paywalled)
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Government has a pattern of breaking promises
Russell Palmer (RNZ): National, ACT promise to return water assets to councils
Zane Small (Newshub): National MP Nicola Willis uses councillor’s rebuke of ‘deceitful, lying’ Government to illustrate Three Waters backlash
Zane Small (Newshub): The reason Jacinda Ardern, Nanaia Mahuta think Three Waters will be a success
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Nanaia Mahuta admits Three Waters ‘not a popular set of decisions’, says ‘misinformation’ causing unnecessary fear
Magic: Mahuta grabbing assets from local councils, rushing Three Waters mandate
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Waikato-Tainui says iwi voice crucial in three waters reform
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Ngāi Tahu blast ‘retired politician’ Winston Peters for ‘ludicrous’ criticism of Three Waters reform 
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Māori co-governance and Three Waters boundaries an ‘historic’ step
1 News: Local councils, mayors divided over Three Waters reform
Justin Giovannetti  (Spinoff): Why everybody hates Three Waters
Skara Bohny (Stuff): Sparks fly over three waters, social media and misinformation
Maia Hart (Stuff): Marlborough Three Waters boundary will not split region but concerns remain
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Joel MacManus (Stuff): Wellington city councillors split retired colleague’s $100k salary among themselves
Zane Small (Newshub): Government backs down on power to delay local elections
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Government reverses proposal to allow deferral of local government elections
Logan Savory (Stuff): Southland District Mayor Gary Tong to run against Sir Tim Shadbolt at next election
Matthew Ronsenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Sir Tim welcomes Tong, for now his counterpart, as challenger
Hamish MacLean (ODT): Parker part of environment protection rule court case
Hamish MacLean (ODT): ORC debates what sort of ‘-ship’ it is in
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): WCC should sell their airport shares
Manawatū Reporter (Stuff): Horowhenua District Council chief executive resigns

Christchurch cases
Keith Lynch (Stuff): Why Christchurch can take a lockdown gamble (and Auckland couldn’t)
Juliet Speedy (Newshub): More could’ve been done to keep COVID out of South Island – Michael Baker
1 News: Christchurch lockdown triggers explained by Bloomfield
Ben Leahy (Herald): New cases yet to plunge Christchurch into lockdown
Steven Walton, Nadine Porter and Tina Law (Stuff): Christchurch cases should be enough to ‘shatter’ vaccine hesitancy 
Stuff Editorial: Relief and reminders in Christchurch’s near miss
RNZ: PM on Christchurch cases: ‘We’re always on high alert’
RNZ: Covid-19 community cases in Christchurch: More information revealed
Anna Leask and Devon Bolger (Herald): Confirmed cases in Christchurch – one infectious in community for two weeks
RNZ: Hundreds of cars line up for Covid-19 testing as Christchurch stays at level 2
Nadine Porter and Steven Walton (Stuff): ‘Something’s not right’: Bishopdale residents frustrated to have Covid-19 in their backyard
RNZ: Otago gold mine deep cleaned as contractor self isolates
1 News: Otago miner isolating after close contact with Christchurch cases
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Delta at our doorstep
David Williams (Newsroom): Christchurch suburb’s high vax rate a silver lining
Tess McClure (Guardian): New Zealand’s South Island records first Covid cases in major city in over a year
1 News: DHB limits visitors to facilities after Christchurch cases
Conan Young (RNZ): Christchurch residents confused and angry as Covid-19 re-emerges
Kaysha Brownlie (Newshub): Christchurch locals ‘worried’, ‘gutted’ over city’s new COVID cases

Govt management, Delta outbreak, cases
Matthew Hooton (Herald): The remorseless logic driving Jacinda Ardern’s decisions (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern’s conservatism starts to catch up with Government 
Rachel Smalley (NBR): New Zealanders need a leader, not a friend (paywalled)
RNZ: Covid-19 wrap: Christchurch cases, MIQ changes and vaccine mandates for travel
Helen Harvey (Stuff): Covid-19 ‘not an old person’s disease any more’ warns intensive care nurse
John Weekes (Herald): Michael Baker on Delta being at ‘peak fitness’, fears for next variant
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Covid-free parts of New Zealand prepare for the virus to arrive
Tom Hunt (Stuff): Warnings Covid is days or weeks from Wellington: to some inevitable, to others preventable
1 News: Hamilton school student tests positive for Covid-19
Chloe Blommerde (Stuff): Waikato pupil may be first bubble school case in Delta outbreak
Rachel Moore (Stuff): Officials slient on why Waikato Covid-19 cases are ‘hard to reach’
Belinda Feek (Herald): Volt Apartments Covid cases vow to vaccinate after ‘horrific’ symptoms (paywalled)

Vaccine requirements for travel
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Unvaccinated travel makes mockery of Delta misery
Amy Williams (RNZ): Trucking industry pushes back at idea of mandatory vaccines to cross regional borders
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Vaccine requirements for travel: ‘You can see the complexity’
Grant Bradley (Herald): Air New Zealand says mandatory vaccination for domestic passengers under discussion (paywalled)
Rachel Thomas (Stuff): ‘Crazy’ to allow unvaccinated people to fly out of Auckland, experts say
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Covid in Christchurch: Baker urges Air NZ to enforce vaccination(paywalled)
Lloyd Burr (Magic): It’s time for vaccines to be mandatory for domestic flights
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Why returning COVID-free New Zealanders have to isolate but Aucklanders can travel over border
Herald Editorial:  Air NZ flight cancellations an ominous sign for Christmas (paywalled)

Vaccine rollout
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): The case for a $250 payment for everyone who gets vaccinated
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): It’s only the unvaccinated who matter now
Siouxsie Wiles & Toby Morris (Spinoff): What difference does the vaccine make? Just look at this
1 News: Most Kiwis will get Covid immunity, via virus or vaccine: Jackson
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Medsafe’s vaccine safety reports misused by anti-vaxxers
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): Unvaccinated put off by inflexible booking system and lack of vaccine availability
Jane Patterson (RNZ): Speed of govt’s move towards Pzifer’s paediatric vaccines under scrutiny
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Pfizer vaccine granted provisional approval for two more years 
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Government refuses to reveal price Kiwis pay for Pfizer vaccine, fearing effect on supply
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Auditor-General sees no fault with Health Ministry over vaccine register deal
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Fake bookings hamper Tairāwhiti vaccination efforts
Alice Angeloni (Local Democracy Reporting):  Six ICU beds, three for Covid – Gisborne Hospital prepares for surge in low vaxed area
Adam Blackwell (Stuff): Minister says local impact the key to increasing Māori vaccination rates
Rachel Moore (Stuff): ‘We can’t give up’: Māori health leader optimistic about reaching 90 per cent vaccination target
1 News: ‘No upside’ for vaccinated Kiwis in current system: Sir Ian Taylor
1 News: Overseas jabs of border workers now recognised
Chris Keall (Herald): ‘I feel much safer now’ – immunocompromised Auckland woman becomes one of the first Kiwis to get third jab
Ben Leahy (Herald): Northland likely eight or more weeks from vax target
Kate Newton, Alex Lim and Felippe Rodrigues (Stuff): When will each DHB reach the 90 per cent full vaccination target?
Irra Lee (1 News): Graphs reveal how Covid-19 vaccinations are tracking in NZ
1 News: West Coast in race to boost languishing Covid vaccine rate
Nick Truebridge (RNZ): Concerns for Rotorua suburbs among lowest vaccination rates

Vaccine mandates and certificate 
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Balancing vaccination benefits and human rights
Moana Ellis (Stuff): Iwi leader warns Covid-19 push is leaving unvaccinated workers isolated and distraught
Ethan Griffiths (Herald): Whanganui union leaders say vaccine mandates a concern (paywalled)
Ben Leahy (Herald): No jab, no job policy kicks in on November 15
Jo Moir (Newsroom): Trucking bosses left to own devices on vaccine mandate
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Some Auckland local leaders still unvaccinated
Stuff: Community sport has anxious wait for vaccine certificate guidance
Daniel Dunkley (Stuff): Slow vaccine certificate progress threatens summer fun
David Long (Stuff): NRL’s decision not to mandate Covid vaccinations could damage Warriors finals hopes

MIQ, home isolation, NZ border
Andrew Geddis (Spinoff): Our MIQ system is at a legal and humanitarian tipping point
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Slowly opening the door to MIQ
Bridie Witton (Stuff): MIQ stays shortened for vaccinated travellers but Ardern says trans-Tasman bubble would be like striking matches in a wildfire
1 News: Auckland family battling with home isolation after getting Covid
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Murray Bolton: MBIE told by High Court to reconsider Kiwi rich-lister’s home isolation application
Caroline Williams (Stuff): What home isolation will look like as Auckland leaves elimination strategy behind
Siobhan Downes (Stuff): The winners and losers of the changes to MIQ
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): I wish I could praise the Government, but I can’t
Miriam Bell (Stuff): Faster action, more detail needed on border reopening
Anna Whyte (1 News): MIQ shake up: Isolation time reduced, open border to some in Pacific
Amy Wiggins (Herald): MIQ changes sensible but could have gone further, expert says
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): Halving time in MIQ ‘means little’: venture capitalist (paywalled)
Richard Harman (Politik): Opening soon (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): MIQ restrictions to be relaxed as risk from travellers reduces (paywalled)
By: Derek Cheng (Herald): Shorter MIQ stays from Nov 14; heat on Govt to tighten Auckland boundary
Torika Tokalau (Stuff): Quarantine-free travel from Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau, Vanuatu resumes on November 8 
Eva Corlett (Guardian): A catamaran and a plan: desperate to get home, New Zealanders set sail across the Tasman
Grant Bradley (Herald): What MIQ changes mean for airlines and tourism (paywalled)
John Anthony (Stuff): ‘The end of Covid is coming’: Air NZ CEO Greg Foran on the return of international travel
Jane Phare (Herald): Kiwi oil-rig diver in limbo while waiting for self-isolation approval (paywalled)
Wyatt Ryder (ODT): Daughter writes to PM to get dad home

Protests, Rules, compliance
1 News: Two arrested at anti-lockdown hīkoi at Auckland border
Mina Kerr-Lazenby (Stuff): Two arrests and more likely at anti-lockdown hīkoi 
Herald: Mercer hīkoi standoff: SH1 southbound checkpoint blocked, two arrested trying to cross border on train tracks
Herald: Dozens of protesters still camped at Auckland’s southern border, no further arrests made
Tumamao Harawira (Māori TV): Where did the huge crowds that descended on Waitangi yesterday go?
Elizabeth Binning (Herald):  ‘I’m sorry’, says host of North Shore party
Deena Coster (Stuff): Trick or treating ‘safer than the supermarket’ if done right – medical officer of health
Jake Kenny (Stuff): Restaurant staff wearing exemption lanyards instead of masks

Transport, Auckland light rail
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Government unveils latest plan for light rail costing $15b
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Govt’s two months to make a $14.6b call on light rail
1 News: Auckland city to airport light rail to cost at least $9 billion
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Auckland light rail: Govt releases new proposals for rail route to airport
Brent Melville (BusinessDesk): Auckland’s $14.6b light rail option unveiled
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Auckland light rail: Tunnelling picked as preferred option for transit to airport 
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Increase road spending, or watch road fatalities soar – officials warn(paywalled)

Health
RNZ: Chief Ombudsman highlights ‘cruel and inhuman’ conditions at forensic units in new report
Newshub: Wellington mental health unit condemned for keeping patient in seclusion for over five years
Rachel Thomas (Stuff): Serious concerns about cruel and inhuman treatment at forensic facility – Ombudsman
Nikki Preston (Herald): Waikato DHB cyberattack: Health bosses waited hours before telling public
Sapeer Mayron (Stuff): More than 3000 Auckland surgeries put off during alert level 4, DHBs say
Stuff: Construction workers two times more likely to die by suicide: Otago University study

ACC
RNZ: ACC review should focus on senior management, culture and its purpose, lawyer says
Herald: ACC launch independent review of client data management after info posted to Snapchat
RNZ: Change coming after political outcry over ACC privacy revelations

Environment, climate change, conservation
Jill Whitmore (Herald): NZ’s cop-out needs addressing ahead of COP26 (paywalled)
RNZ: Australia won’t back 30% methane cut, New Zealand ‘actively considering it’
Jamie Morton (Herald): Climate change conference 2021: Where does NZ stand? (paywalled)
Sivendra Michael (RNZ): COP26: ‘Commit to action, not words’ – Pacific climate activist
Colleen Hawkes (Stuff): Kāinga Ora social housing pilot project in spotlight at COP26 
Andrea Vance (Stuff): This Is How It Ends: Can we tear down the sanctuary fences?
Simon Wilson (Herald): Glasgow Diary – October 29 (paywalled)
Moana Ellis (Stuff): Crown and iwi appoint new ‘face and voice’ of Whanganui River
Liam Dann (Herald): Crown investment funds face new deadline for going green (paywalled)
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Crown and iwi appoint new ‘face and voice’ of Whanganui River

ANZ makes $1.92 billion profit
Cushla Norman (1 News): Calls for review of banking system after ANZ records huge profit
Rob Stock (Stuff): ANZ reports profit of nearly $2 billion despite effects of Covid-19
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): ANZ NZ profit up 44 per cent to $1.92 billion
RNZ: ANZ posts 44% increase in net profit
Gareth Vaughan (Interest): Housing lending growth of $9.3 billion helps propel ANZ NZ annual profit 44% higher
Jenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): ANZ laments high house prices amid record lending and profits (paywalled)

Economy, business, Wage subsidy
Grant Bradley (Herald): What minister was told before key meeting with travel agents (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Air New Zealand close to drawing down a third of Govt loan (paywalled)
RNZ: Air NZ to dip into govt standby fund after latest Covid-19 restrictions
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Air NZ eating deep into emergency funding by next Feb (paywalled)
Claire Trevett (Herald): ‘The desperation is real’ – Act leader David Seymour’s return to Auckland
RNZ: Smaller businesses triple investment in cyber security – survey
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): 40 per cent of Kiwis have less than $1000 in savings (paywalled)

Supermarkets
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Arm wrestle for share of $22b groceries market intensifies
RNZ: Supermarket competition hearings: New operator would provoke ‘violent’ reaction

Employment
Ben Strang (Stuff): Police headed to arbitration after final pay offer short of the mark
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): Auckland small business owner ‘cringes’ at thought of finding staff

Electricity market
Bernard Hickey (Spinoff): How one back-room power deal cost you up to $200 a year
Ian Llewelllyn (BusinessDesk): Analysts puzzled by electricity regulator’s analysis (paywalled)

Education
Kate Nicol-Wiliams (RNZ): Primary principals discuss return to school with Govt
Matthew Scott (Newsroom): Parents of special needs children at lockdown breaking point

Housing
Diana Clement (OneRoof): Revealed: Where the cost of renting is killing first home buyer dreams
Miriam Bell (Stuff): Lockdown slows Auckland rents down 
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National blames tax changes for skyrocketing public housing waitlist
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): BNZ tightens borrowing restrictions for low-income customers
Gary Hamilton-Irvine (Herald): Housing project for those ‘most in need’ riles neighbours in Mayfair(paywalled)

Parliament
Chris Trotter (Bowalley Road): The Majority Is Always Wrong
Anna Whyte (1 News): Collins and Seymour return to Auckland today
Phil Smith (RNZ): The House: Diving into Patsy

Media
Hayden Donnell (RNZ): The case for cutting the coverage of anti-vaxxers
Steven Cowan (Against the Current): Barry Soper and the crisis of late capitalism
Bryan Gould: We have failed the government

Foreign affairs
RNZ: ‘The Pacific is not a highway for nukes’ – regional watchdog
Audrey Young (Herald): China relationship: Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta sets new focus on human rights for second year in foreign affairs (paywalled)

Other
Nikki Macdonald (Stuff): Official OIA statistics are ‘close to useless’
Richard Harman (Politik): Shaking up science (paywalled)
Karl du Fresne: We stand to lose something of inestimable value
RNZ: ASB Bank’s Financial Wellbeing survey finds customers better prepared for latest lockdowns
Samantha Gee (RNZ): Talley’s wins appeal over illegal fishing conviction
AAP: Auckland is Lonely Planet’s 2022 top city, despite lockdown
Bronson Perich (Te Karere): Ex-prisoner praises Taito Phillip Field’s work with inmates
RNZ: The Detail: Why plain language is such an important skill
Marena Mane (Māori TV): Te Pūtake o te Riri – helping this nation come to terms with its history
Māori TV: Watch: Te Puutake o te Riri ki Tainui Waka
Māori TV: Green light for reo traffic signs
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Gender binary no longer a good fit for car insurance, Vero says
Tess Brunton (RNZ): Thousands of Great Walk bookings open up as Aucklanders cancel