News Briefing: 18 June 2025
PARLIAMENT, PUBLIC SECTOR
Alice Neville (Spinoff): The secretive Tory donor with the golden visa – and the ear of the Beehive
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Heavily criticised SFO to lead drive against public service corruption
Neil Sands (Law News): Serious Fraud Office asks government to overhaul its 30-year-old legislation
Richard Prebble (Herald): Labour needs new leader, economic reforms to regain trust (paywalled)
Simon Wilson (Herald): Chlöe Swarbrick and Green economics - the lost Monopoly lessons (paywalled)
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Green Party model estimates NZ could sustain 122% net debt
Adam Pearse (Herald): Labour MPs apologise for swearing at acting PM David Seymour
Giles Dexter (RNZ): MPs caught swearing as David Seymour faces questions on regulatory reviews
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Watch: MP caught swearing as David Seymour fronts up for scrutiny hearing
Brent Edwards (NBR): FFS: David Seymour rejects criticism of Ministry for Regulation (paywalled)
Melanie Nelson: Democracy or Oligarchy? Chloe Swarbrick on the Regulatory Standards Bill
No Right Turn: Dismantling the state
Stephen Franks: Parliament trumps the lawyer/clerics – blow against ‘heritage blight’
Adam Pearse (Herald): PM’s deep dive into Michael Forbes scandal to release findings in August
RNZ: Press secretary sex scandal: Investigation to conclude in August
Layla Bailey-McDowell (RNZ): Why tā moko should never be dismissed as 'scribbles' - Māori academic
Sanjana Hattotuwa: Institutional collapse: How 10,000 public sector job cuts threaten New Zealand’s national, and human security
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, TRADE
Robert Patman (The Conversation): As Luxon heads to China, his government’s pivot toward the US is a stumbling block
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Foreign policy critics shouting 'impotently at clouds', Winston Peters says
Maiki Sherman (1News): Christopher Luxon gears up for meeting with China's Xi
Laura Walters (Newsroom): PM fears ‘miscalculation’ could lead to conflict in NZ’s region
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Luxon arrives in China intent on building on positives amid global conflicts
Thomas Manch (Post): Chinese officials and state media welcome Luxon to Shanghai (paywalled)
David Mahon (Interest): China's government has lost trust in their fair weather trading partner
Liu Chen (RNZ): Christopher Luxon urged to widen focus of China visit beyond trade
RNZ: Survey highlights significance of China in New Zealand’s future
Phil Pennington (RNZ): 'China's vision of its future is not as a new overlord' - researcher
Rob Campbell (Newsroom): NZ’s attitude to militarisation is stir-crazy
Lachlan Colquhoun (NBR): Trumpian uncertainty deepens Australias Aukus dilemma (paywalled)
RNZ: US travel ban: Countries have the right to decide who can cross their borders, Peters says
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): MFAT providing 'extremely vague' advice for Kiwis trapped in Iran
RNZ: Foreign Minister Winston Peters won't be taking sides in Israel-Iran conflict
Gordon Campbell: On The West’s War Against Iran
Steven Cowan: Israel’s attack on Iran is illegal, so why doesn’t the New Zealand media say so?
RNZ: Todd McClay unveils two-way forestry trade missions with India
Justin Wong (Post): Tough protectionism still in the way of NZ-India trade deal (paywalled)
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Ukraine's New Zealand envoy: China must use Russia leverage to end war
Paula Penfold (Stuff): An ordinary assault, or a foreign power suppressing protest in NZ? Or neither?
HOUSING, RMA
Maddy Croad (Press): More than half a million Kiwis are living in overcrowded homes ‒ Census (paywalled)
RNZ: Housing Minister Chris Bishop releases more detail on RMA housing rule shake-up
Eye of the Fish: Gordon Goneburger?
Mary Argue (RNZ): Derelict Wellington building allowed to exist for 'far too long' - minister
Ethan Manera (Herald): Gordon Wilson Flats: Heritage advocates opposed to demolition of derelict Wellington building
1News: 'Eyesore' Wellington flats to lose heritage status
Harriet Laughton (Post): Dixon St Flats off table despite heritage law loosening
Joel MacManus (Spinoff): Windbag: The little decisions that make a big impact
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Associate Housing Minister tells officials domestic violence victims get emergency accommodation
Tayler Mutton (Press): Church opens up car park to homeless, officials launch inquiry (paywalled)
EMPLOYMENT
Audrey Young (Herald): Behind the pay equity dispute over comparators (paywalled)
Nona Pelletier (RNZ): Employment Relations Act amendments aimed to boost labour market flexibility
RNZ: Current sick leave entitlements 'manifestly unfair' - Business owner
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): I don't agree with ACT's new employment bill
Louise Ternouth (RNZ): Careers expo attracts thousands amid record unemployment
HEALTH
Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Contracts leaked as minister intervenes in Health NZ’s spat with mental health providers
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Mental health advocate speaks to Stuff about suicide prevention plan
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Govt pumps $36 million into suicide prevention and support
RNZ: Government launches Suicide Prevention Action Plan
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): I'm fundraising to cover tax': Cancer patient questions GST on drugs
RNZ: Immunisation rates improve, fewer people waiting six hours in A&E latest figures show
Pokere Paewai (RNZ): 'The inequities aren't closing' - Māori still a long way from Smokefree 2025 goal
Herald Editorial: New Zealand has the tools to tackle vaping (paywalled)
Jonathan Killick (Post): Ministry of Health investigates vape retailer skirting new rules (paywalled)
Anusha Bradley (RNZ): MSD criticised by Family Court Judge for legal appeal ‘distraction’
Samantha Gee (RNZ): ‘Beyond capacity’: Three-bedroom house used as ambulance station
EDUCATION
John Gerritsen and Jazlyn Whales (RNZ): Review of early childhood education funding announced
Hanna McCallum (Stuff): New ministerial advisory group will review ECE funding
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Schools not ready to grade reports against new curriculums
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Vocational Education Penny Simmonds says staff to student ratios at polytechnics abysmal
Alice Peacock (Newsroom): Future of trades training ‘similar if not worse’ than pre-Pūkenga – Treasury
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, CONSERVATION
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Big fish Shane Jones puts ‘cancel culture’ under scrutiny
RNZ: 'Unacceptable': Forest & Bird demands action after hundreds of native seabirds killed in trawler catch
TREATY SETTLEMENTS
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Govt decision-less as court approves more coastline titles to Māori applicants
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira (RNZ): Goldsmith answers questions on progress of Ngāpuhi and other settlements
TRANSPORT
Nick James (RNZ): Nationwide public transport ticketing system 'not on track', minister says
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Transport Minister Chris Bishop ‘worried’, ‘frustrated’ by national ticketing system rollout (paywalled)
Connor Sharp (Greater Auckland): Revealed: 2021 draft Cabinet paper shows Labour's last minute light rail switch
Madeleine Powers (Waikato Times): Electric bus mandate could cost ratepayers up to $330 million (paywalled)
Krystal Gibbens (RNZ): Wellington's Green Party council candidates promote transport proposals
Virginia Fallon (Sunday Star Times): Bilingual road signs: Ministers dodge questions over abandoned plans (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): ‘Smooth seas don’t make a good sailor’: The future of coastal shipping in New Zealand (paywalled)
INEQUALITY, COST OF LIVING
Hanna McCallum (Post): New Zealanders’ right to food and work worsens to 'very bad': survey (paywalled)
John Braddock (World Socialists): New Zealand Rich List exceeds $100 billion amid cost-of-living crisis
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): Should Kiwis pay the high price for NZ dairy that overseas buyers will?
David Hargreaves (Interest): Food prices rise by 4.4% - most since 2023
RNZ: Annual food inflation highest since late 2023
ECONOMY, BUDGET, SUPER
Brent Edwards (NBR): Opposition, Government argue over lower growth forecasts (paywalled)
David Hargreaves (Post): BNZ head of research Stephen Toplis says the current inflationary noise 'will intensify the RBNZ’s headache'
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Hotter inflation fuels case for RBNZ to stay on hold in July (paywalled)
Raphael Franks (Herald): South Island regions dominate ASB economic rankings, Auckland 10th
1News: Q+A: Ruth Richardson calls for super age hike, warns of fiscal 'crisis'
Jenny Ruth: How do we make NZ national super sustainable and affordable (paywalled)
BUSINESS, TAX
James Craig (Post): Will tinkering with the Grocery Code and voluntary compliance really fix NZ's supermarket problem? (paywalled)
Eric Crampton (Post): The obstacles in place for any new supermarket player (paywalled)
RNZ: Wholesale grocery prices driving up food costs
Terry Baucher (Interest): Why the Govt backed away from charities tax reform, the latest rich list re-ignites the wealth tax debate
Cameron Smith (Herald): Women bucking gender pay gap trend in New Zealand’s private sector boardrooms (paywalled)
Dita De Boni (Post): Five big Kiwi companies that failed to read the winds of change (paywalled)
Dileepa Fonseka (BusinessDesk): Businesses hope for boom and more productivity but brace for surge in costs, 2degrees survey (paywalled)
Rowan Quinn (RNZ): Du Val directors Kenyon and Charlotte Clarke want assets unfrozen and passports back
INSURANCE
Rob Stock (Post): IAG survey shows majority think insurers should be able to say no risky homes
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): IAG says New Zealand at climate crossroads
RNZ: Scott Forestry cleared to appeal exclusion from Port Hills wildfire claims
POLICE, CRIME
RNZ: Former ACT Party president Tim Jago appeals sexual abuse conviction and sentence
Edward Gay (Stuff): Survivor forgives former ACT Party president, despite appeal
Russell Palmer and Giles Dexter (RNZ): 'Kids in sport stay out of court' - Sport NZ to help curb youth offending
Richard Larsen (RNZ): 30 with Guyon Espiner: Top detective Scott Beard's stark warning to parents: 'Don't put your kids online'
Talaia Mika (Cook Islands News): Gang members from New Zealand with Cook Islands heritage causing serious concerns
MEDIA
RNZ: RNZ calls for voluntary redundancies after Budget funding cut
Sam Smith (Stuff): RNZ seeking voluntary redundancies weeks after having budget cut
Shayne Currie (Herald): RNZ seeks voluntary redundancies, following $18m budget cut over next four years (paywalled)
Chris Lynch: RNZ staff frustrated as HR pushes wellness sessions amid looming job cuts
Post: ‘We won’t be able to do everything we do now’: RNZ seeks voluntary redundancies
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WATER
Campbell Barry (Post): The local government funding model is broken ‒ but can be fixed (paywalled)
RNZ: Queenstown Council ordered to pay almost quarter million over Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant Issues
Peter Newport (Crux): QLDC's trust solution: bring in the consultants
Simon Arcus (Post): Fresh winds of change for the better in Wellington (paywalled)
Stephen Ward (Waikato Times): Audit NZ says it’s Hamilton City Council’s choice over showing big waters assets valuation rise (paywalled)
Tina Law (Press): ‘Time to reclaim the square’: Councillors want cathedral fence moved (paywalled)
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