News Briefing: 1 May 2025
BUDGET, ECONOMY
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Government not ruling out cuts to its $521 a year KiwiSaver contribution
Gordon Campbell: On Our Austerity Fixation
Chelsea Daniels (Herald): Front Page: What could be cut as Government slashes operating allowance for Budget 2025
Bernard Hickey (The Kākā): Interview: Shamubeel Eaqub on an even tighter Budget for 2025/26
Dan Brunskill (Interest): What even is austerity?
Herald Editorial: Has Nicola Willis used a scalpel or a saw? (paywalled)
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): How does reducing revenue equal a business-like approach?
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Will Nicola Willis' tight Budget go far enough?
Cameron Bagrie (BusinessDesk): There is no free lunch when it comes to austerity (paywalled)
David Hargreaves (Interest): ANZ chief economist says time will tell whether the impact of the global tariff turmoil is lasting
Ayla Yeoman (SunLive): Taxpayers’ Union debt clock hīkoi hits Tauranga
PARLIAMENT, PUBLIC SECTOR
Andrew Geddis (Spinoff): Here we go again… why voting is not a privilege to be removed as punishment
Carwyn Jones (Spinoff): Reinstating a blanket ban on prisoners voting is retrograde and harmful
Grant Duncan: Should prisoners have the right to vote?
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): Removing prisoners' voting rights backward step, says Labour, Greens
No Right Turn: National says “f*** the BORA"
Catherine McGregor (Spinoff): Prisoner-voting roll-back prompts outcry from legal experts
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Benedict Collins (1News): Chief Human Rights Commissioner: Muslim immigration a threat to Jewish communities
Bronwyn Isaacs (The Conversation): Playing politics with AI: why NZ needs rules on the use of ‘fake’ images in election campaigns
Sinead Gill (Press/Post): A measure of success: grading the new Minister for the South Island (paywalled)
Ian Powell (Scoop): The Dirtiest Of Politics And A Tale Of Two MPs Cloaked In Hypocrisy
No Right Turn: A "secret" that wasn't
Richard Pebble (Herald): Why cutting red tape is so difficult (paywalled)
Gaurav Sharma (RNZ): Ethnic MPs condemn race-based criticism of their political work
Ani O’Brien: My review of the NZ Herald's Cabinet Report Card
TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE
Bridget Doran (Greater Auckland ): On politics, professional ethics, and premature death on our roads
Phil Pennington (RNZ): NZTA defends oversight of powerful highway speed camera system
Nick James and Giles Dexter (RNZ): Rail freight will be less viable without Aratere ferry, critics say
Nick James (RNZ): Aratere, Interislander's only rail-enabled ferry to retire
1News: Cook Strait ferry Aratere to be retired ahead of Picton port upgrade
Gregor Thompson (BusinessDesk): Interislander Cook Strait ferry Aratere to be retired this year (paywalled)
John Small (Post): Market study into domestic flights not the best way to drive competition (paywalled)
Eloise Gibson (RNZ): Air New Zealand reveals less ambitious climate action forecast
John Weekes (Herald): Air NZ overhauls carbon emission targets: More sustainable fuel could power future flights (paywalled)
Roeland van den Bergh (Post): Air NZ says it’s still committed to net zero emissions by 2050 (paywalled)
Richard Davison (ODT): Advice to look to airlines in bid to cut flight costs (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): High Court action against Wellington International Airport flight path changes postponed (paywalled)
Grady Weatherley-Connell (NZ Transit Buzz): Auckland's rail bus network still needs some attention
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WATER
Tom Hunt (Post): Wellington mayoralty: Will cash be the kingmaker? (paywalled)
Tom Hunt (Post): Wellington City mulls selling land under its feet to pay for $40m office fit-out (paywalled)
Emma Rickett (Stuff): ‘My home has been Wellington’: Andrew Little says he is loyal to the capital city
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Tory gave herself a 9/10, are you kidding me?
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): Vision for Wellington hunts for the mythical lost vibe of the capital
Julie Jacobson (Post): Wellington civic precinct plans tracking for sign off (paywalled)
Krystal Gibbens (RNZ): Businesses frustrated after warnings pipe would burst ignored by Wellington Water
RNZ: Wellington central city residents without water after pipe burst
Justin Wong (Post): Hutt City committee backs part demolition of Petone wharf (paywalled)
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Merger report highlights issues with southern councils
RNZ: Aucklanders want a visitor bed tax, Wayne Brown says
Thomas Manch (Post): Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown renews plea for bed tax (paywalled)
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): It is not about being woke’ - why a city pressed pause on a rainbow crossing
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Hemi Rolleston wins Tauranga Māori ward byelection
RNZ: Tauranga's Marine Precinct sale contract settled - council
Joe Shaw (RNZ): Could Ōamaru become a national historic landmark?
Lois Williams (Local Democracy Reporting): ‘Not putting up with that sh*t': Coast councillor storms out of meeting
Chris Lynch: ECan councillors reject social media policy accused of trying to ‘gag’ elected members
HEALTH, DISABILITY
ODT Editorial: Health minister’s approach baffles (paywalled)
Ruby Shaw (ODT): ‘No intention’ of fighting move to cut a third of ICU beds (paywalled)
Isaac Davison (Herald): ‘Deep cuts’: Health NZ outlines proposed changes to IT workforce – 1850 roles affected
RNZ: Health NZ confirms a third of all IT roles will be cut
Paddy Gower (Stuff): Dear Simeon Brown, please spend $7.5 million to help our dying children
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): What you need to know about today’s health workers strike
Ruth Hill (NRZ): Senior hospital doctors strike in protest at stalled pay talks
Anna Whyte (Post): Tensions rise as senior doctors strike: ‘None of us want to do this’ (paywalled)
Catherine Hutton (Open Justice Reporting): Family carers take fight for fair pay to Supreme Court
JUSTICE, POLICE
RNZ: Majority of crime victims have low trust in justice system, new survey finds
Michael Morrah (Herald): Police Minister Mark Mitchell insists recruits who graduated without swim test return to the pool (paywalled)
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Minister 'trying to have it both ways' in ordering police to take swim test - Labour
Sam Sherwood (RNZ): 'Urgent review' needed after mental health patient commits second killing - Chief Victims Advisor
Ryan Bridge (Newstalk ZB): The ticking time bomb in Mark Mitchell's lap
Neil Sands (Law News): Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith to decide on disciplinary panel for Judge Aitken
Ric Stevens (Open Justice Reporting): Judge Ema Aitken loses bid to block recommendation to investigate conduct at NZ First function
Neil Sands (Law News): Judge Ema Aitken loses bid for judicial review after Northern Club fracas
HOUSING, BUILDING
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Axing emergency housing work will create revolving door of hardship, advocates warn
Chris Lynch: Chris Hipkins raises concerns about building consent changes and South Island investment
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): NZ's biggest bank downgrades house price forecast
Greg Ninness (Interest): ANZ economists see a lift in house prices in the second half of this year
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): When and where house sellers have made 100 percent in five years
Greg Ninness (Interest): NZ's median dwelling value increased by 0.3% in April to $819,096
Greg Ninness (Interest): Housing affordability becalmed on a sea of economic uncertainty
Miriam Bell (Post): Global uncertainty puts housing market in holding pen (paywalled)
Amy Williams (RNZ): The state home worth almost $4m - 'I reckon they should sell it'
Riria Dalton-Reedy (Te Ao Māori News): From state housing to first homes – OWN IT helps whānau turn dreams into reality
Deborah Morris (Post): New housing development for Karori’s old teachers’ campus (paywalled)
WHAKAPAPA
Adam Pearse (Herald): Whakapapa Holdings Ltd to run North Island ski field, DoC grants 10-year concession
Nick James (RNZ): Whakapapa Holding to run Mount Ruapehu skifield for 10 years
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Whakapapa sale has cleared final hurdle, but $50m costs to Govt are severe
WHĀNAU ORA
Julia Gabel (Herald): New Whānau Ora providers announced after major contract provider shake-up
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): Te Puni Kōkiri reveals new Whānau Ora commissioning agencies
Stuff: Minister reveals the four agencies taking over Whānau Ora services
ENERGY
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Too broke to pay tax? Methanex pays $70m dividend to Canadian owner
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Energy Minister warns power sector 'status quo' not good enough (paywalled)
Nona Pelletier (RNZ): Energy generators, retailers, lines companies join forces to back transition plan
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Energy sector bands together to address confusion
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE, DEFENCE
Patrick Decloitre (RNZ): Winston Peters to meet French minister in New Caledonia this week
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Winston Peters to make trip to New Caledonia
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Canada’s election miracle shows potential Trump card for Luxon
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): New Canadian PM can take chance to resolve NZ trade dispute – McClay
Spinoff: Gone By Brunchtime: The fizz and flop of Australia’s election – and its lessons for NZ
EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Year 1 school children to get a financial education from 2027
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Financial education to become compulsory in schools from 2027
1News: Money skills to be core element of curriculum, Govt announces
Thomas Manch (Post): Children to be taught financial literacy from 2026 (paywalled)
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Teens in alternative education angry their work won't count towards NCEA
Brent Edwards (NBR): Political consensus needs to lift skills training (paywalled)
INFRASTRUCTURE, RMA
Mike Tweed (Whanganui Chronicle): Prime Minister Christopher Luxon backs fast-track process during visit to Whanganui
Thomas Manch (Post): Infrastructure NZ wants projects in the pipeline for Budget 2025 (paywalled)
MĀORI-CROWN RELATIONS
Sharon Brettkelly (RNZ): The Detail: Iwi-Crown relations on the line after scathing audit
Pene Dalton (Spinoff): Ngāpuhi at a crossroads: Unity, settlement and the future of the north
BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT
BusinessDesk: British American Tobacco’s NZ profits rise 14.5% (paywalled)
RNZ: Market turmoil and trade uncertainty hit business confidence
Liam Dann (Herald): Business confidence falls 9 points as US tariff turmoil takes a toll (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Business confidence takes a knock but recovery still underway (paywalled)
Tom Raynel (Herald): KiwiSaver provider Simplicity appoints ex-FMA head Rob Everett as independent chair
Rob Stock (Post): Rob Everett to become chair of KiwiSaver provider Simplicity (paywalled)
Nicholas Pointon (NBR): Rob Everett to chair Simplicity’s board (paywalled)
Anne Gibson (Herald): Power list: BCI names NZ’s busiest commercial builders for projects started in 2024 (paywalled)
NBR: NBR Lister Rob Drury, Dame Joan Withers - Hall of Fame inductees (paywalled)
INSURANCE
Nona Pelletier (RNZ): Climate change protections will require collaborative, government-led approach - Insurance Council
Ella Somers (Interest): Natural hazard event claims halved for IAG NZ over spring and summer compared to prior year
Rob Stock (Post): Insurance study reveals country traumatised by past floods (paywalled)
BANKS, FINANCIAL SERVICES
Robert MacCulloch: NZ's Finance Minister Orders the RBNZ to Cut ANZ's Capital Reserve Requirements, Australia's Authorities Order ANZ to Increase them
RNZ: Westpac pilots mobile banking services in Southland
Mina Martin (NZA): Understanding New Zealand's shadow banking sector
OTHER
Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere (Newsroom): NZ congratulates itself on animal welfare. But it shouldn’t.
David Harvey (Listener): Are new proposals to protect kids online too much, too far? (paywalled)
Liam Rātana (Spinoff): Reviewing John Campbell’s fearless exposé of Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church
Henry McMullan (1News): Criminal activity fears as crypto ATM popularity grows in NZ
Luisa Girao (ODT): Plant closed to secure jobs (paywalled)
BusinessDesk: Chris Swasbrook appointed chair of Te Papa (paywalled)
Riria Dalton-Reedy (Te Ao Māori News): Puhirake Ihaka: A life dedicated to iwi, honoured by a nation
Michael Cugley (Te Ao Māori News): Iwi leaders honoured for services to Māori and their communities