News Briefing: 14 May 2025
PAY EQUITY, BUDGET
Laura Walters and Fox Meyer (Newsroom): Ministers set to take big pay rises, right after wiping 33 pay equity claims
Jo Moir (RNZ): FamilyBoost policy: $14m of $62m spent on administration costs
Dan Satherley (RNZ): Pay equity claims: What they are and how they're changing
Gemma Piercy, Bill Cochrane, Suzette Dyer (The Conversation): The pay equity puzzle: can we compare effort, skill and risk between different industries?
Lloyd Burr (Stuff): Pay equity law - when is a pay cut not a pay cut?
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): In Labour’s world, who would pay to balance the Budget?
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Budget 2025: Chris Hipkins accuses Government of ‘gaslighting all Kiwi women’
Jo Moir (RNZ): National, Labour clash over who's lying about pay equity changes
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Christopher Luxon accuses Labour of ‘lies’ in pay equity debate, Chris Hipkins claims Prime Minister ‘taking money out of women’s pay packets’
Thomas Manch (Post): ‘Lying’ Labour or ‘gaslighting’ National? Pay equity debate heats up (paywalled)
RNZ: Labour's Chris Hipkins takes aim at pay equity changes, government's 'austerity' and 'division' in speech
Luke Malpass (Post): The pre-Budget battle of two speeches (paywalled)
Mike Houlahan (ODT): Tamping down expectations (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): Budget 2025: Willis flags KiwiSaver, social investment changes in Budget (paywalled)
Gyles Beckford (RNZ): 100m boost to government's venture capital fund announced
Dan Brunskill (Interest): 'Awesome but underwhelming': $100 million in budget for venture capital funds
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Finance Minister announces $100m to elevate Elevate (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Elevate to get another $100m, Finance Minister says (paywalled)
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): ANZ economist criticises Labour’s ‘debt-funded spending spree’ in previous Budgets (paywalled)
Greg Presland (The Standard): The worst Finance Minister ever?
PARLIAMENT, REGULATORY STANDARDS BILL, PUBLIC SECTOR
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): A ‘wonk’ waves goodbye
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): David Parker on going ‘a bit far’ on landlord tax and calling an MP a ‘tosser’ (paywalled)
Aaron Smale (Listener): All haka, no mahi: Aaron Smale on why Te Pāti Māori risks being all song and dance (paywalled)
Julia Gabel (Herald): Urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing: Concerns David Seymour’s new legislation is akin to Treaty Principles Bill
Joel Maxwell (Stuff): What you need to know about ACT's latest ‘principles’ bill
Mike McRoberts (NBR): Treaty clash erupts over Seymour’s Regulatory Bill (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): No clear link between SOE performance and chief executive pay (paywalled)
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Business of Government: Pay equity, Budget pains, KiwiRail, double standards and more (paywalled)
ABUSE IN STATE CARE
Mobeena Hills (Post): Latest ‘redress’ for abuse in care survivors has failed them again (paywalled)
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): State abuse compensation 'band-aids for bullet wounds', government told
Steve Goodlass (Spinoff): ‘Soul-destroying’: A survivor’s response to the latest in abuse in care redress
Adam Pearse (Herald): Abuse in state care: PM Christopher Luxon defends no new redress system, emotional Hipkins slams Govt ‘injustice
Sam Olley (1News): New Kōnae site empowers those formerly abused in state care
SOCIAL MEDIA
Gordon Campbell: On The Parental Panic Over Young Kids Online
Kerry Gibson, Sarah Hetrick and Terryann Clark (Newsroom): Social media not the bogeyman of all kids’ ills
RNZ: Social media restrictions will need to be policed by government - expert
Serena Solomon (RNZ): How would banning New Zealand teenagers from social media work?
Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): The social media ban will not happen
Alex Casey (Spinoff): Don’t just ban social media for under 16s – ban it for everyone
Raphael Franks (Herald): Spark’s new mobile phone plan for kids: Social media age-restriction lobby group B416 says good move
POLICE, CRIME, FIREARMS REGISTRY
Adam Pearse (Herald): Police Minister Mark Mitchell accepts Jevon McSkimming resignation could impact public confidence
RNZ: Minister Mark Mitchell defends police amidst Jevon McSkimming's pornography scandal
Herald: Jevon McSkimming: Former Police Minister Stuart Nash surprised by porn allegations against resigned deputy commissioner
Natasha Gordon (Herald): Jevon McSkimming resignation: Police Commissioner accepts it ‘raises questions’
Katie Ham (Stuff): ‘Objectionable material’ allegedly found on top cop Jevon McSkimming’s work computer
1News: Govt concedes it'll likely miss November target for 500 new police
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Coalition concedes it will miss police recruitment target
RNZ: Winston Peters concedes government will be late to hitting police recruitment targets
RNZ: Firearms registry is keeping NZers safe - external review
Jared Savage (Herald): Drugs and gangs: New survey reveals gangs control meth sales in some regions more than others (paywalled)
Keiller MacDuff (RNZ): Drug trends survey paints clearer picture of gangs' place in the market
RNZ: Hundreds of millions of dollars lost to online security threats
HEALTH
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Warnings about serious risks to over surgery outsourcing blanked out by minister
Simon Wilson (Herald): Shaun Hendy’s warning: The Covid lessons we’re still to learn (paywalled)
Craig Ashworth (Local Democracy Reporting): Government axes vulnerable patient helpers
Chelsea Daniels (Herald): Front Page: NZ child immunisation rates climb, Govt urged to address community disparities - The Front Page
Teuila Fuatai, Susana Suisuiki (RNZ): Pacific health expert says Auckland measles case is a 'red flag'
Nicholas Jones (Stuff): ‘We couldn’t believe it’: Trail-blazing professor’s ‘stunning’ comeback from cancer
Megan Wilson (Rotorua Daily Post): Mental health shortages: Rotorua youth specialist services cut
Paula Penfold (Stuff): Minister 'disappointed' in ACC over latest admission of failing
Shannon Pitman (Open Justice Reporting): Northland’s ‘Gandalf’ charged with cannabis oil supply, risks 14-year jail term
TAX
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Inland Revenue taking tougher line on student loan debtors
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): We need to get serious about ensuring people pay back their student loans
Dita De Boni (Post): Proposed tax shift puts small incorporated societies at risk (paywalled)
WAITANGI TRIBUNAL REVIEW, TREATY SETTLEMENTS
Pokere Paewai (RNZ): Waitangi Tribunal already doing exactly what it was originally intended to do, Treaty law experts say (paywalled)
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): A quick guide to the who, how and why of the Waitangi Tribunal review
Roimata Smail (Post): Waitangi Tribunal’s role as important as ever
Local Democracy Reporting: Ngāti Hāua treaty settlement begins journey through Parliament
ENERGY
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Gentailers increase dominance with $70m Flick Electric takeover
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): What went wrong for Flick?
John MacDonald (Newstalk ZB): I've got a solution for the power bill problem
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Flick not profitable before $70m sale to Meridian
Rob Stock (Post): Meridian Energy to pay $70m for Z Energy and Flick retail operations
Ryan Bridge (Newstalk ZB): Flick Electric on its last legs is a sign winter's coming
Tom Hunt (Post): ‘There is no by-pass’: More than half of Wellington at unacceptable power risk (paywalled)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WATER
Andrea Vance (Post): Secret vote to throw more cash at stalled mall development (paywalled)
Brent Edwards (NBR): Wellington’s reputation for not being business friendly (paywalled)
Tom Hunt (Post): Would-be bar owner claims Wellington council 'adversary' to business (paywalled)
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Watercare spends $11m on consultants for delayed Huia treatment plant project
Karyn Scherer (NBR): Growing pains: the challenges facing Auckland’s mercurial mayor (paywalled)
Natasha Gordon (Herald): Auckland Transport criticised by Deputy Auditor-General for not telling passengers about delays
Lucy Xia (RNZ): Auckland Transport urged to do better in managing unplanned transport disruptions
1News: More asbestos detected at Auckland Museum, reopening date unknown
Jessica Hopkins (RNZ): Controversial helipad faces stiff opposition on second day of Auckland hearing
David Long (Stuff): Neighbour denies accepting car and money to support Ali Williams, Anna Mowbray’s helipad
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Helipad saves Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray 15-minute drive to heliport, says neighbour
Brent Melville (NBR): Tanks, but no tanks, as council goers back to DC drawing board (paywalled)
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Auckland port sails past profit target, sees ongoing lifts
Alisha Evans (Local Democracy Reporting): Tauranga rates hike criticised; calls at council hearings to ‘rein in spending’
Michael Bassett: Make your local elections meaningful
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Bluff gorse stoush: Ex-councillor 'ignores' council bill
Max Frethey (Local Democracy Reporting): Te Matatini risks alienating regions – Māori ward councillor
DEFENCE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Any military help to US space activities must not aid nuclear systems - NZ officials
Herald: Front Page: Inside the India-Pakistan conflict and what it means for New Zealand’s trade aspirations
Talaia Mika (Cook Istands News): No movement on Cook Islands-China deals months after signing
David Fisher (Herald): Travel industry staffer detained at US airports says think twice before going there (paywalled)
EDUCATION
Herald: Budget 2025: David Seymour reveals $140m boost to lift school attendance, plans for new nationwide service
RNZ: David Seymour announces $140 million school attendance service to tackle truancy
Yolisa Tswanya (Northern Advocate): Ministry of Education reimburses schools $76k for late, poor-quality lunches
Kate Nicol-Williams (1News): Govt's $100m school maths push: Where are the teachers?
ODT Editorial: Testing regime needs to add up (paywalled)
Paula Penfold (Stuff): How NZ spies hunting a communist uncovered a ‘sadistic’ teacher
HOUSING
RNZ: Kāinga Ora appears not to care about mistreated dogs - neighbour
Harriet Laughton (Post): Council proposes Wellington public transport levy for developers (paywalled)
Deborah Morris (Post): Wellington's unused office space could become new homes (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Lull in property values present home buyers 'rare opportunity'
Miriam Bell (Post): Are rich Americans hitting NZ’s high-end rental market? (paywalled)
CLIMATE CHANGE, NATURAL DISASTERS
Ilan Noy and Belinda Storey (The Conversation): As insurance gets harder to buy, NZ has 3 choices for disaster recovery – and we keep choosing the worst one
Jonathan Killick (Sunday Star Times): ‘Appalling’: Govt debt collectors brought in to chase flood victims (paywalled)
Shanti Mathias (Spinoff): Lessons from a very wet day in Christchurch
Eloise Gibson (RNZ): Auckland prepares for climate change realities
HERALD’S CAPITAL MARKETS REPORT
Richard Harman (Herald): Capital Markets: Budget cuts and surplus targets clash with long-term deficit warnings (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Capital Markets: Fast-track ‘real game-changer’ for mining (paywalled)
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Capital Markets: Prime Minister on the hunt for Kiwi expats for Invest New Zealand
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Capital Markets: ‘Big picture’ group advising on Invest New Zealand (paywalled)
Barbara Edmonds (Herald): Capital Markets: Foreign investment requires adequate public safeguards (paywalled)
Liam Dann (Herald): Capital Markets: Is it time for a Reserve Bank reset after Adrian Orr’s departure? (paywalled)
Oliver Hartwich (Herald): Capital Markets: The missing piece in New Zealand’s growth puzzle
Mark Peterson (Herald): Capital Markets: Why councils should embrace asset recycling for growth (paywalled)
Graham Skellern (Herald): Capital Markets: Government considers KiwiSaver boost for infrastructure funding (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Capital Markets: New Zealand pushes for renewable investment amid high demand, setbacks (paywalled)
Grant Bradley (Herald): Capital Markets: New Zealand space race rockets ahead (paywalled)
Tim McCready (Herald): Capital Markets: WNT Ventures launches fourth fund, targets deep tech growth (paywalled)
Tim McCready (Herald): Capital Markets: AI levelling the investment field (paywalled)
Jamie Gray (Herald): Capital Markets: Will reforms revitalise New Zealand’s capital markets?
BUSINESS
Jenny Ruth: Surprising developments at NZME and Contact Energy’s Manawa takeover bid (paywalled)
Alka Prasad (Post): Right to repair bill: Retailers need ComCom to deal with manufacturer ‘stonewalling’ (paywalled)
John Lewis (ODT): Studio referred into fast-track process
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Biggest bank bottom of customer rankings
Anthony Brien (The Conversation): A looming workforce crisis in NZ tourism and hospitality threatens industry growth plans
Tom Raynel (Herald): Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, tourism industry leaders push to get more Chinese visitors back to NZ (paywalled)
Miriam Bell (Post): Five things we learnt at TRENZ 2025 (paywalled)
Samantha Gee (RNZ): Minecraft recreates NZ's most popular tourism destinations
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): On The Money: Browns, beards, big cheeses, and more (paywalled)
Elaine Linnell (Post): If we want to host the world, we badly need an events strategy (paywalled)
MEDIA
Kamahl Santamaria: What happens when you call a female MP a ‘c….' (part 2)
Gavin Ellis: Steven Joyce may be just what NZME needs
Robert MacCulloch: DownToEarth.Kiwi Closing Due to Threats from National & Labour Parties & Big Business NZ Incorporated
Shayne Currie (Herald): Media Insider: Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls to join TVNZ as business correspondent, replacing Katie Bradford (paywalled)
ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION
Richard Harman (Politik): Environmental conference debates the economy
Rob Stock (Post): Fed Farmers won’t be able to strip our charitable status, says Greenpeace (paywalled)
David Williams (Newsroom): Council asks court to set aside ‘remarkable’ correspondence
Te Rina Ruka-Triponel (Spinoff): Waipiro Bay is not your marina
Kate Green (RNZ): Move to protect Fiordland elk draws ire of Forest and Bird
John Lewis (ODT): Environment changes at heart of deaths, penguin trust says (paywalled)
EMPLOYMENT
Krystal Gibbens (RNZ): Mayor, community back Resene workers' battle for Living Wage
Shilpy Arora Gaikwad (Stuff): Mum denied paid parental leave after extremely premature birth
David Fisher (Herald): One NZ manager made redundant while on maternity leave says company wrong to sack her (paywalled)
David Burton (Post): Big payout over pregnancy discrimination a timely reminder of why rights matter (paywalled)
Dylan Smith (ODT): Backlash over property developer's public holiday posts
OTHER
Danyl McLauchlan (Listener): His, her, heresy: The bitter debate over who can claim to be female (paywalled)
Gordon Campbell: On The New Pope, And The Israeli Attack On Peter Davis
Janet Wilson (Post): The time to tackle the superannuation behemoth is now (paywalled)
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): NZ Super debate: Political games hinder vital reform (paywalled)
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Former Supreme Court judge Sir William Young refuses to engage ‘in debate’ over controversial Hong Kong court role
Justin Wong (Post): NZ judge would not have accepted Hong Kong court appointment ‘unless proper’ (paywalled)
Amy Williams (RNZ): Former members of secretive sect Two by Twos claim leaders receive gifts of cash
Tony Alexander (One Roof): Reasons to be cheerful - but don’t expect a boom anytime soon
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Why don't RBNZ monetary policy reviews align with CPI releases?
Louise Ternouth (RNZ): Funding dries up for two Auckland charities as demand increases
Herald: Business of Tech: Labour’s new spokesman for tech Reuben Davidson on ‘crisis that’s been created’