News Briefing: 23 June 2025
HEALTH
Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Nicotine lobbyists said Winston Peters was 'very powerful' and 'very industry friendly'
Steve Randerson (Spin0ff): It’s time to shut the alcohol industry out of health policy in Aotearoa
David Farrar: Smearing public servants is not integrity
Phil Pennington (RNZ): Health NZ makes hundreds of millions in savings - but says more are needed
Karanama Ruru (Stuff): What is popcorn lung, and should vape users be worried?
RNZ: New working group looks to demystify Pharmac fund
Michael Baker, Leah Grout, John Kerr, Nick Wilson (Public Health Communication Centre): Prolonged Campylobacter epidemic from chicken meat needs a strong industry and regulatory response
Herald: Why a Government change reducing ACC’s liability by $7b will not reduce levies
Krystal Gibbens (RNZ): Health Ministry issues first warning about vaping product
WAIKATO MEDICAL SCHOOL
Richard Harman (Politik): New med school won’t solve doctor shortage (paywalled)
ODT Editorial: A prescription for dismay, disbelief
Matthew Littlewood (ODT: Call for release of business case (paywalled)
Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Rural Australia celebrates new Waikato Medical School (paywalled)
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk): I'm expecting the Waikato medical school costs to blow out
Libby Kirkby-McLeod (RNZ): Rural practices will benefit from new Waikato medical school - doctors
RNZ: 'We cannot miss this moment': Waikato medical school must address health inequities - iwi
Matthew Martin (Waikato Times): Donors ‘very keen’ on Waikato medical school, uni says (paywalled)
Madeleine Powers (Waikato Times): New medical school set to attract students, families, and investment (paywalled)
Waikato Times: How we fought for your Waikato Medical School (paywalled)
PARLIAMENT, REGULATORY STANDARDS BILL
David Williams (Newsroom): Introducing the Who Benefits project – a spotlight on lobbying, influence and power
Sam Smith (Stuff): New poll paints grim picture for the coalition government
Thomas Manch (Post): Poll suggests National headed to one-term Government (paywalled)
Anna Whyte (Post): Chris Bishop finally confirms triple ministry merger being considered (paywalled)
Anna Whyte (Post): Public sector strikes brewing as tensions boil over
Grant Duncan: Lowering the Voting Age: a follow-up
Ian Llewellyn (BusinessDesk): Business of Government: The two-headed beast, mega-merger, corruption and watching the watchers (paywalled)
Sarah Ramsay (ODT): Why are we allergic to working together?
Ian Powell: David Seymour and the political left
EDUCATION, FAMILY BOOST
Thomas Manch (Post): Watch: Christopher Luxon mouths off at ‘frickin’ Chris Hipkins over cost of living policy stoush
Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Luxon snaps back at 'frickin' Chris Hipkins over National's FamilyBoost 'flop'
John Gerritsen (RNZ): School system 'fair' but we've been pretending it's 'great' - Education Ministry document
John Gerritsen (RNZ): Education Ministry says new curriculums are much clearer - but principals disagree
Cécile Meier (BusinessDesk): Govt dishes out surprise new school lunch tender (paywalled)
RNZ: What you need to know about recent changes to schools and education
Leon Benade, Alastair Wells and Chris Bradbeer (The Conversation): The end of open-plan classrooms: how school design reflects changing ideas in education
Matthew Littlewood (ODT): Viability decision questioned (paywalled)
Hanna McCallum and Cate Macintosh (Post): Ministry of Education suspends staff on strike, asks for urgent mediation (paywalled)
ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER
Thomas Manch (Post): Greens says Govt ignored risk $200m gas investment is ‘subsidy’ NZ opposes (paywalled)
Simon Wilson (Herald): Groundswell and the new scaremongering about climate action (paywalled)
Veronica Rotman (Spinoff): New Zealand isn’t just failing to act on ocean protection, it’s actively undoing progress
Andrew Bevin (Newsroom): Bloody terror at sea sparks call for camera reform
Craig Ashworth (Local Democracy Reporting): Waitangi Tribunal pushes pause on seabed mine claim
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Seabed miner told fast-track approval not a formality (paywalled)
Oliver Lewis (BusinessDesk): Ngāti Kuku takes Port of Tauranga, EPA to court over wharf extension fast-tracking (paywalled)
Ruby Shaw (ODT): Fear politics could affect Sth D action (paywalled)
Gerrit Doppenberg (ODT): Trout vandalised
Max Frethey (Local Democracy Reporting): Popular Kaiteriteri Beach water quality downgraded to poor
Kira Carrington (Local Democracy Reporting): Havelock residents relieved by drinking water U-turn
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, TRADE
Phil Pennington (RNZ): US Space Force wants partners - including NZ - to prepare for space wars
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Peters on Gaza: 'The only way forward is an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire'
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): NZ and allies condemn 'inhumane', 'horrifying' killings in Gaza and 'drip feeding' of aid
Kelly Dennett (Post): Winston Peters says Middle East ‘horror must end’ (paywalled)
RNZ: 'Gaza is not a religious issue': Advocates split on government harmony accord
Audrey Young (Herald): NZ Muslim-Jewish accord: Leaders sending powerful message says Mark Mitchell
Gordon Campbell: On New Zealand’s Peter Thiel Problem
RNZ: PayPal withholds thousands of funds from Kiwis to Palestinians
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Trade surplus disappoints, but Finance Minister says export-led recovery not over (paywalled)
David Hargreaves (Interest): NZ has fifth consecutive monthly goods trade surplus
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): ‘The next China is still China’: a counter argument to diversification
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
David Fisher (Herald): Exclusive: More explicit rumours about Tory Whanau – this time from Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson
RNZ: Finance Minister Nicola Willis says councils should stop whining, and cut costs
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): ‘A bit rich’ for Govt to castigate councils for above-inflation revenue increases
Jonathan Milne (Newsroom): Councils prepare to hike fees, under threat of rates-capping
Tina Law (Press): Christchurch faces rezoning changes to avoid widespread suburban intensification (paywalled)
Herald Editorial: Can citizens’ assemblies improve local government decision-making? (paywalled)
Dan Brunskill (Interest): Taxpayers’ Union endorses Green Party tax policy
RNZ: Wellington council creates intercom service in CBD
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): Last ditch bid to ban new helicopter pads in Auckland
Robin Martin (RNZ): New Plymouth District Council credits property owners $3.1 million to fix rates bungle
Matthew Rosenberg (Local Democracy Reporting): Former Southland mayor joins election race in surprise move
Blayne Slabbert (Press/Post): Ownership storm brews over Lyttelton port expansion (paywalled)
WILLIS-FONTERRA BUTTER MEETING
Giles Dexter (RNZ): Fonterra says meeting with Nicola Willis 'constructive'
Bridie Witton (Stuff): Willis to press Fonterra as Luxon softens tone on butter
Kelly Dennett (Post): The butter meeting heard round the country (paywalled)
Maiki Sherman (1News): Fonterra boss quizzed as concern over price of butter spreads
Tyson Beckett (Herald): Finance Minister Nicola Willis to query price of butter in meeting with Fonterra boss
RNZ: Nicola Willis to ask Fonterra about high price of butter
BUSINESS
RNZ: Supermarket pricing errors cost NZers millions a year - Consumer NZ
Tom Raynel (Herald): Consumer NZ receives 50 complaints about Noel Leeming amid charges (paywalled)
Nick Stride (Interest): After receiving a tip off, the Companies Office is asking Netflix NZ to explain its lack of reporting
MEDIA
Colin Peacock and Hayden Donnell (RNZ): Mediawatch: Another $1 deal changes the media landscape
Duncan Greive (Spinoff): Sky buys Three and ThreeNow to create New Zealand’s most muscular media empire
Lloyd Burr (Stuff): From US$20m to $1 in five years: The Three-Sky deal explained
Chris Keall (Herald): Sky TV-TV3 deal: Why Sky TV bought Three – and what’s next (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Sky TV boss stresses it’s ‘business as usual’ after buying TV3 owner for $1 (paywalled)
Anan Zaki (RNZ): Sky TV to buy Three owner Discovery NZ for $1
Stuff: Sky to buy Discovery NZ, including Three and ThreeNow, for $1
Nicholas Pointon (NBR): Discovery deal adds the missing piece for Sky TV, CEO says (paywalled)
David Harvey: Towards a Reliable Media
EMPLOYMENT
Gabi Lardies (Spinoff): New Zealanders don’t tend to talk about pay. What would happen if we did?
Krystal Gibbens (RNZ): Four-day work week reduces burnout and improves job satisfaction - study
Dana Johannsen (RNZ): Court rejects athlete union's bid to appeal employment ruling
TRANSPORT
RNZ: Value of electric vehicle imports falls nearly 60%
Gavin Shoebridge (Post): The case for EVs and why they could transform our economy (paywalled)
RNZ: The price of flying: 'Everywhere you look, costs are increasing'
Russell Palmer (RNZ): 'Great Rides' need double the money to keep running smoothly
OTHER
Jamie Ensor (Herald): Foreign buyers ban: Winston Peters says change to be announced this year, denies NZ First ‘softening’
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): ‘Teflon Man’ Neil Quigley’s next big job (paywalled)
RNZ: Financial support considered for greyhound trainers and owners when industry ends
Sam Smith (Stuff): Financial support considered for greyhound owners as 1500 dogs face re-homing
No Right Turn: National takes another step towards tyranny
Justin Wong (Post): NZ police unsure how many interviews arranged for Chinese authorities (paywalled)
Amy Williams (RNZ): Community Grocer supermarket returns profits to Salvation Army
Anne Gibson (Herald): SkyCity applies for 15-year Queenstown casino licence renewal (paywalled)
1News: Seymour’s response to UN “quite alarming” – indigenous rights advocate
RNZ: World-leading Dunedin Study tracking people through life gets renewed funding
Liu Chen (RNZ): ‘Alarming’ rates of bullying, depression among Asian New Zealanders reported
Gwen McClure (RNZ): The Detail: A never-ending visa queue for refugees
Ian Taylor (Stuff): Any doubts about Dame Jacinda’s brand power are gone
Elspeth McLean (ODT): Accepting viruses and our baking shortcomings (paywalled)
Susan Edmunds (RNZ): 'Topping up $300 a week': How much money do property investors actually make?
Riley Kennedy (BusinessDesk): NZ meat sector warning ahead of EU deforestation rules: Get on board or lose out (paywalled)