Political Roundup: 1 March 2023

Items of interest and importance today

ROB CAMPBELL
Luke Malpass (Stuff): Labour happy to show Rob Campbell the door as he lashes out at crabwalk away from ‘co-governance’
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Sacking of Health New Zealand chair leads to claims government overreacted
Rachel Smalley (Today FM): Rob Campbell v Sarah Fitt – the Government picks and chooses who it critiques
Richard Harman (Politik): Campbell can blame Hipkins’ reforms for his fate (paywalled)
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Rob Campbell had to be sacked
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Rob Campbell is 100% right and 100% wrong
David Farrar: Campbell sacked
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): National needs to say they’d sack Rob Campbell
Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Hipkins needs to show strong leadership and stub this banana republic vibe out
Spinoff: Ex-Act leader Richard Prebble defends Rob Campbell against ‘censorship’
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Sacked Health NZ boss Rob Campbell says he has ‘no regret’ over political comments
Thomas Manch and Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Te Whatu Ora chair Rob Campbell sacked, minister says political comments went too far
RNZ: Health NZ chairperson Rob Campbell fired over politicised comments, Health Minister says
1News: Health NZ chair sacked by Government after social media post
Jamie Ensor and Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Health NZ chair Rob Campbell sacked
Herald: Health boss Rob Campbell sacked after ‘inappropriate’ comments
Brent Edwards (NBR): Government sacks Rob Campbell over National Party criticism(paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Health NZ boss Rob Campbell’s conversation with minister about political comments second in a year – Chris Hipkins
Matt Nippert (Herald): Rob Campbell on Zen and the art of business cycle maintenance(2022 interview – paywalled)

EXTREME WEATHER, INFRASTRUCTURE, CIVIL DEFENCE
Grant Duncan: The worst that can happen and why we’re failing to prevent it
Brigitte Morten (NBR): Managed retreat: homes, people, infrastructure, climate change…(paywalled)
RNZ: ‘Let’s not penny pinch’: Large scale investment in roading needed, Bridges says
Felix Desmarais (1News): Government cyclone response not an ‘open cheque’ – Willie Jackson
Wayne Brown (Hearld): How did homes get built in such risk-prone places? (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: Cyclone Gabrielle editorial: Borrowing from past recoveries (paywalled)
Stuff: PM Chris Hipkins apologises to road workers threatened with guns
Hawke’s Bay Today: Cyclone Gabrielle: Police minister Stuart Nash told Hawke’s Bay residents are arming themselves during post-cyclone crime outbreak
Fliss Butcher (Newsroom): The case for an Environmental Defence Force
Susan Botting (Local Democracy Reporting): Cyclone spurs govt to support marae better for disaster recovery work
RNZ: Cyclone Gabrielle: Government announces $15 million for aid at marae and clean-up support
Joseph Los’e (Herald): Cyclone Gabrielle: Māori given $15 million to support a Māori-led recovery of flood-hit communities
Eric Cramptom (Newsroom): Risk-based insurance premiums would keep our homes safer
Hamish McNicol (NBR): Managed retreat debate needed now, Tower chair Stiassny says(paywalled)
Jem Traylen (BusinessDesk): Build back better – insurers call on government to seize the day (paywalled)

PARLIAMENT
Peter Dunne: Hipkins can only hope for the best
Felix Desmarais (1News): Hipkins’ practical politics on Lotto draw a gamble for votes
Jenna Lynch (Newstalk ZB): A month of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins from the Hutt
Amelia Wade (Newshub): Newshub-Reid Research poll: Do Kiwis want a snap election?
Stuff: More trust National’s leaders on the economy – Taxpayers’ Union Curia Poll
Kris Faafoi (Stuff): Politicians living in the real world will be in demand this year
Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Threats against politicians, Jacinda Ardern jump massively over past year, peaked during Parliament protest
Maria Slade (NBR): Labour may need to show sodden Mt Albert the love (paywalled)
Spinoff: Hopeful Labour candidate accused of email ‘data leak’
Shannon Redstall (Press): National candidate talks crime and safety with party faithful

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Simon Wilson (Herald): Auckland Council budget: Where’s the money coming from?(paywalled)
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland Council’s books improve but storm clouds remain
Todd Niall (Stuff): Mayor Wayne Brown’s 30 minutes of top tips for Auckland Transport
Troels Sommerville (Stuff): Auckland Transport appoints new chief executive after long, expensive search
Sam Brooks (Spinoff):
Hayden Connell (Spinoff): AT cycling seminar derailed by AT employees hating on cyclists
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Auckland council ‘deplores’ aspect of RMA reforms(paywalled)
Laura Smith (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘Done and dusted’ – controversial Rotorua representation bill formally scrapped
Craig Ashworth (Local Democracy Reporting): Taranaki council wants Royal Commission on local government reform
RNZ: Wellington rates to rise, Christchurch council proposes increase
Stephen Ward (Waikato Times): Spending cuts and higher rates considered as Hamilton councillors try to shrink 2023-24 deficit
RNZ: Christchurch water use decreases by 10 percent after excess charges introduced
Michael Fallow (Stuff): Hadley chose swift departure from city council, mayor says

THREE WATERS, CO-GOVERNANCE
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): National’s Christopher Luxon admits rates could rise under party’s alternative plan to Three Waters
RNZ: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins doubts councils can fix water under National’s plan
Jamie Gray (Herald): S&P sees winners and losers from Three Waters reform (paywalled)
Nikki Mandow (Newsroom): Co-governance means rubbing out your line in the sand

HEALTH
Ian Powell (BusinessDesk): We have a healthcare worker crisis and we’re not fixing it
Jason Gurney and Jonathan Koea (Newsroom): Breaking the inequity loop
Nathan Consedine and Alina Pavlova (Newsroom): Our health system’s compassion fatigue
Kristie Boland (Stuff): Pharmac will fund meningococcal B vaccine for babies, teens and young people
Maddy Lloyd (1News): Offer from 2 medical schools to train more students ignored by Govt
Kristie Boland (Stuff): Christchurch Hospital short by 100 nurses for a single day
Hannah Martin (Stuff): Covid-19: Why did reported cases rise 10% in the last week?
Deena Coster (Stuff): New Plymouth MP intervenes to find remedy after GP practice’s move to drop rest home residents

ECONOMY, COST OF LIVING
Rob Stock (Stuff): By the numbers: How 430,000 people got behind on their loans
RNZ: Data shows 430,000 New Zealanders behind in credit repayments in January
David Hargreaves (Interest): Arrears is the word – with about 430,000 Kiwis behind on consumer debt repayments
Cameron Smith (Herald): Mortgage arrears climbing as interest rate pressure builds(paywalled)
Maria Slade (NBR): Arrears on mortgages at highest level since start of Covid (paywalled)
RNZ: KiwiSaver queries expected to rise amid severe weather rebuild
RNZ: NZ’s economic resilience a leading concern – Productivity Commission
Brent Edwards (NBR): Productivity Commission expects more supply chain disruptions(paywalled)

BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT, COST OF LIVING
David Burton (Stuff): We need to protect all workers’ rights, not just employees
Amanda Cropp (Stuff): Over 90% of engineered stone businesses put bench top workers at risk of fatal lung disease
Nicholas Pointon (NBR): Molloy-GSH resolve dispute; Kiri Allan denies helping (paywalled)
Tina Morrison (Stuff): Finding labour ‘the hardest it has ever been’, and it’s about to get worse, report says
Liam Dann (Herald): Business confidence on mend as inflation fears start to ease
David Hargreaves (Interest): Latest ANZ Business Outlook Survey shows some further improvement in activity indicators – but inflation expectations ‘remain stuck around 6%’
Jonathan Mitchell (NBR): Cyclone rebuild set to stretch country’s resources (paywalled)
Geraden Cann (Stuff): It may be worth considering fixing home loan a little longer than usual, ANZ says
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Survey suggests those who haven’t negotiated big pay rises may have missed the boat
Rob Stock (Stuff): NZ Post posts $115 million half-year profit, but says parcel revenue has dropped as households rein in spending
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): TAB believed to be close to outsourcing deal that could cost hundreds of jobs

BANKS
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Reserve Bank would back a Commerce Commission probe into bank profits
Eric Crampton: Tilting at bank profits

HOUSING
Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Renting v owning your home: Here’s how it really stacks up now
Rob Stock (Stuff): Reverse mortgage interest rate hits 8.5% as house prices fall
Geraden Cann (Stuff): House price falls gather pace again in February quashing hope of stabilisation – CoreLogic
RNZ: Downturn in housing market continues to gather steam
Greg Ninness (Interest): Average value of NZ homes down $99k from March 2022 peak, Auckland values down $186k, Wellington values down $215k
Sinead Gill (Stuff): Years spent living in mould, but tenant still waiting for repairs
Jonathan Killick (Stuff): ‘Future slums’ coming to your neighbourhood, residents’ petition warns
Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Kāinga Ora seeks Palmerston North views on building plans

MEDIA
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): The RNZ-TVNZ merger is over. Will the Government’s other media reform work out?
Poppy Clark (Stuff): Newstalk ZB host Heather du Plessis-Allan ‘ridiculed’ teen during interview – BSA
Herald: Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan ‘ridiculed’ teenage climate activist, BSA finds

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE
1News: Japan, NZ to speed up intel sharing pact amid China concerns
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Government expands Ukraine war visa, extends until 2024
RNZ: Criteria widened for Ukrainians fleeing war who want to settle in Aotearoa
Gerhard Uus (Stuff): The dragon wakes, as China opens its borders it will need more food from New Zealand

CENSUS
RNZ: Census data important for helping in Cyclone Gabrielle rebuild – Stats NZ
Frances Chin (Stuff): Confusion as households receive two census letters

EDUCATION
Richard Prebble (Herald): For a better education, how about actually going to school?(paywalled)
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Universities want more students back in lectures as attendance remains low

OTHER
Graham Adams (The Platform): It’s open season on white men
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Patriarchy, Identity Politics and The Will To Power
Stuff: Aaron Gilmore and parents close to settling debt that risked bankrupting him