Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Wednesday, April 2

Nelson Hospital crisis worsens; Wanaka pleads for health services to match unplanned population growth; Kāinga Ora planning to sell 900 homes, including new ones; IRD to review FBT for utes

In short this morning in our political economy:

1. The Nelson Hospital crisis revealed by 1News’ Jessica Roden dominates the political agenda today. Yet again, population growth wasn’t planned for, or funded.

2. Kāinga Ora is planning up to 900 house sales, including new ones, Jonathan Milne reports for Newsroom.

3. One of New Zealand’s biggest hotel groups laments a lack of big events to boost demand, just as the Government rejects Auckland’s plea for America’s Cup funding.

4. A report by Health Action Wanaka says over half of requests for referrals to specialists are rejected due to shortages, as population growth outpaces services.

5. The IRD has quietly launched a review of Fringe Benefits Tax, with a special focus on businesses buying and using utes personally, but not paying the tax.

6. Today’s Must Read reveals an awful feedback loop where shortages of rehab services and housing means prisoner releases are delayed, further clogging up prisons, via RNZ’s Nine to Noon.

Here’s my selection¹ of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$², The Press−$, Newsroom/$³, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, AP, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, The Guardian, Wired/$, The Atlantic/$ and The Economist-$, as of 6am on Wednesday, April 2.

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My Top Pick n’ Mix Six at 6am for Wednesday, April 2