NZ Politics Daily: 1 February 2022

Housing
Benedict Collins (1 News): Three quarters of Kiwis want house prices to fall
Esther Taunton (Stuff): National average asking price for NZ homes now over $1 million
RNZ: Average asking price for New Zealand houses tops $1m
Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Omicron outbreak: Government takes different path over housing for homeless
Gordon Campbell (Werewolf): On the crisis in renting
Georgina Campbell (Herald):  Wellington’s ‘insulting’ rental market even worse this year (paywalled)
Brianna Mcilraith (Stuff): Wellington sleep-out for $220 a week illustrates ‘dire’ rental situation
1 News: Tenant ‘stoked’ with $220pw sleep-out after 55 applications
Aaron Dahmen (Herald): Inside New Zealand’s ‘cooked’ rental market (paywalled)
Sandra Conchie (Herald): Tauranga rental market in ‘crisis’, with listings of properties down by almost 30 per cent (paywalled)
andra Conchie (Herald): Rotorua rental housing market ‘in crisis’, supply drops 15 per cent (paywalled)
Georgia O’Connor-Harding (Herald): Canterbury rental housing supply drops while demand skyrockets
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): David Clark hints banks not following the rules
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Revealed: What the investigation into lending rules will examine
1 News: Details of review into tough new lending rules revealed
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): MBIE review of new lending rules to report back by April; Clark sceptical of banks’ compliance with old rules
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Quick turnaround for consumer lending review (paywalled)
Kelvin Davidson (OneRoof): Why inflation and job numbers are a bigger threat to house prices than Omicron

Charlotte Bellis, MIQ, border
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): What’s making the Jacindamaniacs so horrible? (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Why the Bell(is) should be tolled for MIQ
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): I’m embarrassed by the Charlotte Bellis situation
Muzhgan Samarqandi (Newshub): Afghanistani mother responds to pregnant Kiwi journalist’s plea – Open letter
Adam Hollingsworth (Newshub): Kiwi journalist Charlotte Bellis rejects MBIE’s offer to reapply under different emergency MIQ category
Seni Iasona (Newshub): Lawyer of stranded pregnant Kiwi journalist hits back at head of MIQ
Zane Small (Newshub): Response Minister Chris Hipkins defends MIQ amid backlash over pregnant journo Charlotte Bellis’ refused entry to New Zealand
Anna Whyte (1 News): Hipkins responds to plight of Kiwi journalist in Afghanistan
Michael Neilson (Herald): Pregnant Kiwi Charlotte Bellis hits back as Minister Chris Hipkins defends Govt’s MIQ stance
Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Charlotte Bellis: ‘Covid-19 Minister’s statement on MIQ incredibly disrespectful’
RNZ: Pregnant NZ journalist Charlotte Bellis asked to reapply for MIQ under different category
Sophie Cornish (Herald): Journalist Charlotte Bellis asked to apply for emergency MIQ under new category
Herald: Pregnant Kiwi journalist Charlotte Bellis hopes to ‘move the dial’ on MIQ
Sophie Cornish (Stuff): MBIE considered new pregnancy emergency MIQ allocation criteria, decided against making changes
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): MIQ for pregnancy: Growing calls to prioritise rooms for expectant mums
Chelsea Daniels (Newstalk ZB): MIQ system being called greatest abuse of women’s reproductive rights
The Standard: Women’s human rights and the vulnerability of pregnant women
Seni Iasona (Newshub): ACT leader David Seymour calls for MIQ to be dumped now as pregnant Kiwi journalist seeks refuge from Taliban
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): National accuses Chris Hipkins of ‘doing nothing’ for months over allocating emergency MIQ rooms to pregnant Kiwis overseas
Eva Corlett (Guardian): New Zealand defends strict Covid quarantine after pregnant journalist ‘had to turn to Taliban’ for help
Will Trafford (Maori TV): League star joins chorus of Kiwis wanting open borders
Qiuyi Tan (Herald): Grieving Kiwi granted last-minute MIQ spot to bury mother in Ireland

National Party, parliament, polling
Richard Harman (Politik): Luxon snubs his party board (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Christopher Luxon channels David Cameron – ‘we do need to change to win’(paywalled)
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Chris Luxon and National turn to British Tories in hunt for electability
Zane Small (Newshub): ‘We cannot be an old, crusty National Party’ – Christopher Luxon
Jo. Moir (Newsroom): Christopher Luxon: ‘It will make people uncomfortable’
Jo. Moir (Newsroom): Luxon’s grand plan to fix the National Party
Stuff Editorial: National leader Christopher Luxon knows the ‘what’, needs to work on the ‘how’
Zane Small (Newshub): National’s leadership make ‘expectations clear’ of MPs to ‘earn back’ public’s trust in 2022
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Judith Collins breaks silence, saying she is ‘pretty much the ultimate team player’
RNZ: Checkpoint: National Party ‘back’, Luxon tells caucus retreat
RNZ: National Party caucus retreat: MPs staying on message
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National caucus retreat: Christopher Luxon speaks in Queenstown after win in approval poll
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Christopher Luxon makes his leadership address at National Party caucus retreat
1 News: National Party to have a new focus on poverty – Luxon
Tracey Roxburgh (ODT): Luxon says phone’s on the hook
Jenna Lynch (Newshub): National leader Christopher Luxon begins campaign to become Prime Minister as caucus retreat kicks off
—————
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): It’s the virus that will be the Government’s undoing
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): New Roy Morgan Poll: National + ACT hit 50%
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Jacinda supposed leadership plunge & social media political proxification
Herald Editorial: Jacinda Ardern navigates a rough personal and political patch (paywalled)

Economy, Business, Employment
RNZ: Border delays and a crash in house prices are the main risks facing the NZ economy – OECD report
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): NZ Super age must rise from 65 in wake of Covid debt, OECD warns
RNZ: Survey sheds doubts on NZ companies’ actions on ethics
TVNZ: Seven Sharp: Supply chain issues expected until late 2022 – expert
RNZ: Retailers warn of price hikes amid ‘massive pressures’ on costs
Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Wage pressures building as unemployment is tipped to fall towards 3 per cent
Melanie Carroll (Stuff): NZ headed for a nasty cycle of higher wages and higher costs: Economists
Nona Pelletier (RNZ): NZ dollar’s fall good for exporters, but will spike costs
Tumamao Harawira (Māori TV): Māori feeling the burden of high food prices
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Labour’s new 39 per cent top tax rate nets 44,000 extra taxpayers(paywalled)
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): High earners pay tax early to escape new 39% rate (paywalled)
Terry Baucher (Interest): What’s ahead in the world of tax this year
Sam Olley (RNZ): Subdued long weekend for many Northland businesses
Charlie Gates (Stuff): Omicron red light brings drop in custom for Christchurch cafes and retail
Joey Dwyer (Newstalk ZB/Herald): Workers across country being strongly discouraged to travel between regions
Adam Jacobson (Stuff): Aucklanders to get 50,000 activity vouchers aimed at revitalising tourism sector
Liz McDonald and Vicki Anderson (Stuff): Christchurch’s tally of cancelled summer events and lost dollars mounting
Vicki Anderson (Stuff): Electric Avenue cancellation ‘devastating’, says organiser who has pulled three festivals in a week
Stuff:  Goldrush Cavalcade to Millers Flat cancelled due to Covid concerns
Verity Johnson (Stuff): Omicron settings deal cruel blow to creatives
Ric Stevens (Herald): Crowded house: Indonesian worker pays $110 a week to share a room with five others
Conor Knell (Stuff): Business owner worries for elderly and vulnerable bankers as branch goes cashless
Riley Kennedy (ODT): Firm gets permission to buy land for planned data centre
Charlotte Muru-Lanning (Spinoff): Does your workplace have a health and safety representative?
Mike Yardley (Stuff): Consumer NZ’s recent attacks confound
RNZ: Kiwi Wealth sale possibility being explored

Govt Omicron strategy, Covid
RNZ: Cabinet ministers to finalise dates for reopening borders
1 News: Health officials say Omicron now ‘dominant’ in New Zealand
Kim Moodie (RNZ): Extended Covid-19 restrictions taking toll on public sentiment – psychologist
Andrew Barnes (Herald):  When to call time and repeal emergency legislation (paywalled)
RNZ: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tests negative for Covid-19
Herald: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tests negative for the virus
1 News: Governor-General tests negative for Covid-19

High-risk communities
Rawiri Taonui (Māori TV): What’s urgently needed to keep Maori safe from Omicron
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Māori health researcher warns high-risk communities need more support to prepare for Omicron
Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Māori TV): Self-isolation not easy for whānau in Northland
Moana Ellis (Local Democracy Reporting): Iwi seeks storage for food and supplies as it prepares to fill ‘gaps in the system’

Testing, Contact Tracing
John Weekes (Herald): Rapid test plans accelerate after truckers’ group voices concerns
Siobhan Downes (Stuff): Rapid antigen tests to stay free for unvaccinated domestic travellers

Health
Matt Doocey (Herald): Youth mental health crisis is getting worse
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Avalanche of cases predicted
University of Otago: What 2022 will bring for our health system

Modelling, cases
Hanna McCallum (Stuff): When Omicron spreads ‘like wildfire’, variant won’t matter, expert says
Herald: Daily community cases could top 400 this week, says expert
RNZ: Covid-19 modeller expects shift to higher case numbers this week
Louisa Steyl (Stuff): 18,000-plus cases expected in Southern District Health Board catchment area
1 News: 91 new community Covid-19 cases on Monday
Devon Bolger (Herald): Locations of interest grow in South Island
Uma Ahmed (Stuff): Environment Southland will reopening office after negative Covid test
Todd Niall (Stuff): To bus, or not to bus? The big questions as a Covid-19 ‘close contact’

Vaccination
Jamie Morton (Herald): Can NZ boost before new variant’s peak hits? (paywalled)
Will Trafford (RNZ): Concern for addiction sufferers, mental health patients as vax rates trail general population

Climate Change, Environment
Henry Cooke (Stuff): James Shaw distances himself from agricultural emissions group proposals
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Farmers offering to pay $137m for their greenhouse pollution. Is that fair?
No Right Turn: Climate Change: End the bullshit. Make farmers pay their way
Sally Murphy (RNZ): Agricultural emissions pricing options presented to farmers at national roadshow
RNZ: Kaiapoi factory fire: Nearly 2000 litres of oil recovered from nearby rivers
Joy Reid (1 News): Native birds rescued after Kaiapoi fire creates oil spill

Education
Sophie Trigger (Herald): Auckland primary school has all teaching staff isolating, delays start date
Josephine Franks (Stuff): Omicron heaps pressure on stretched communities as school term starts
Dubby Henry (Herald): Fears back-to-school costs too high for some families, KidsCan says
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Back to school means big bills for parents
Lee Kenny (Stuff): Mask wearing ‘a bit annoying’ says student as schools return under red setting
Wyatt Ryder (ODT): A Red start to the school year
Erin Gourley and Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Students mask up in ‘new normal’ on first day back at school
RNZ: Auckland school expects return to remote learning due to staff absences
Donna-Lee Biddle (Stuff): The trouble with Fairfield College? There isn’t one – it’s parents’ perception
RNZ: Consistent lower speed limit needed outside all schools – lobby group
Susan Sandys (Star News): Is the super school in Rolleston a good idea?
RNZ: Checkpoint: Homeschooling on rise as Ministry faces application backlog
Piers Fuller (Stuff): Are devices affecting Kiwi kids’ sporting abilities?

Local government
Susan Botting (Local Democracy Reporting): Kaipara ratepayers won’t pay for rapid antigen tests used by unvaccinated councillors
Emily Ireland (Local Democracy Reporting): Council staff in Wairarapa feel pressure of surge in demand for building consents
Aaron Leaman (Stuff): Protest, planes and passion – Raglan airfield stoush gets heated
Catherine Groenestein (Stuff): Council votes unanimously to return South Taranaki land to iwi for $1
Georgina Campbell (Herald): First wahine Māori elected to Wellington City Council announces she’s not standing again
Steven Walton (Stuff): Senior manager who chose not to get vaccinated leaves city council
Justin Latif (Local Democracy Reporting): Is it time for council to throw South Auckland some shade?
Grant Miller (ODT): DCC Councillors divided over proposed rates rise
ODT Editorial: Taking advantage of a visitor levy
RNZ: Ashburton District Council aims to bolster communication deadlines
Keiller MacDuff (Stuff): Fire prompts Fairlie farmer to lodge legal action against council, lines company

Three Waters, water quality
Emily Ireland (Local Democracy Reporting): Featherston water supply at risk
Katie Todd (RNZ): Water quality issues at Auckland’s Hobson Bay may take decade to fix

Waitangi
Malcolm Mulholland (Newsroom): Waitangi week: Ranginui Walker
Michael Bassett: The Challenges of Waitangi Day

Foreign affairs
Ian Powell (Second Opinion): Behind the ‘war’ against China
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): China privacy crackdown could hit NZ businesses
Thomas Manch (Stuff): NZ Govt places travel ban on Myanmar military generals one year after coup
Andrew Ladley (Stuff): In view of history, NZ should help remind countries of UN Charter obligations
Lisette Reymer (Newshub): New Zealand showcases itself at Dubai’s World Expo

Auckland light rail, Transport
The Standard: Light Rail: The State Is Back
Tom Kitchin (RNZ): Napier-Taupō highway: Feedback sought on next steps over lower speed limits
Adam Blackwell (Stuff): Shannon businesses struggle as potential customers are sent up the road

Other
Gavin Ellis (Knightly Views): Media should be careful where they tread in 2022
University of Otago: Some forecasts for the year ahead
Kevin Trenberth (Newsroom): Denying science with opinions and fairy tales
Sasha Borissenko (Herald): Brian Tamaki’s two-year Covid run-in and journey to jail (paywalled)
Open Justice: Up to 25 foreign workers crowded into single-bathroom house
Jeremy Wilkinson (Herald): On the defence: Court told how NZDF ignored assault claims
1 News: NZDF servicewoman claims ‘lack of support’ after guilty plea
1News: Gun lobby: Firearm law reforms won’t target criminals
Katie Harris (Herald): Raft of changes to New Zealand’s gun laws recommended after mosque attack come into force today
Sally Rae (ODT): New vet group grounding animal advocacy in science
RNZ: The Detail: Getting Tonga on the line
André Chumko (Stuff): New $290m national archives facility to be built in Wellington