Dawn chorus: Bitcoin crackdown

TLDR & TLDL: Bitcoin’s price slumped over the weekend after China’s Sichuan provincial government joined other local governments in banning and shutting down miners. (Reuters) Elsewhere in China news, a senior official known as China’s ‘Spycatcher’, is reported by Spytalk to have defected to America with information about the Wuhan laboratory some accuse of being the source of Covid-19.

Here, a shipping expert suggested yesterday the Government may need to get involved to buy or lease ships to help get New Zealand’s exports to markets as shipping lines drop New Zealand off their routes and take back containers to chase higher returns in a desperately stretched shipping industry. (Stuff)

“I would traditionally be the last person to suggest state intervention and setting up a state shipping line or anything like that, but what are some cargo owners doing? Well some of them are just going out and renting vessels.” Sea Intelligence CEO Alan Murphy.

Photo: The Kaka

In Australia, the national cabinet will hold a crisis meeting today to deal with a shortage of Pfizer vaccine supply and a growing cluster of delta variant cases around the Bondi Junction shopping mall in Sydney. Three more cases were found yesterday, taking the total to nine. Our Ministry of Health tweeted last night that anyone in New Zealand who was at Westfield Bondi Junction last weekend should be tested immediately. New Zealand’s travel bubble with New South Wales remains open, while the bubble with Victoria is still paused.

In politics here, Winston Peters made his first big speech since the election, declaring New Zealand First would return to Parliament, although a poll broadcast last night on Newshub showed 70% of voters didn’t want him back, including 37% of NZ First supporters.

Coming up this week: PM Jacinda Ardern holds a post-cabinet news conference this afternoon. Parliament resumes on Tuesday for a three-week sitting session. Wellington Council meets on Thursday to finalise its watered-down plan for more medium density housing. The Bank of England decides on its interest rates on Friday morning our time, with all eyes on what it does about rising inflation.

I’ll be working on a podcast this week for the Spinoff on how the housing market might cope with DTIs, and whether its slowing down much at all after the March 23 tax deductibility shock.

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Signs o’ the times news

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

Why is the Government rejecting so many requests from people stuck here with temporary visas to reunite with their families when there are hundreds of rooms free in MIQ?

tvnz.co.nzHigh number of temporary visa rejections for those in high-skilled category causing concernOver 300 families of temporary visa holders have been approved, around half those who applied.

henry cooke @henrycooke

Winston Peters attacked Labour, Greens, National, the media, the word "Aotearoa", cyclists, cancel culture, and climate strikers in his comeback speech:

stuff.co.nzWinston Peters attacks Labour, ‘cancel culture’, and te reo usage in comeback speechWinston Peters takes on Labour, National, feebate, ‘cancel culture’, te reo usage, and the state of the economy in his first speech since losing power.

Mediawatch @MediawatchNZ

A government agency paid $25k a month for stories about housing to a major media company - which neglected to let readers know the stories were bought and paid for

rnz.co.nzUndeclared SponCon causing political and editorial headaches<p>The Herald’s dedicated property section printed 64 articles under the banner ‘Our New Auckland’ without declaring they were sponsored by Kāinga Ora, prompting NZME to review its processes on sponsored content.</p>

Dileepa Fonseka @dileepa_fonseka

What’s ahead for NZ when it comes to shipping? Nothing good. I spoke to prominent shipping analyst Alan Murphy, who floats some extreme government interventions (suggestions even he didn’t want to make!). My story for @SundayStarTimes & @NZStuffBusiness

stuff.co.nzSubsidies and government-run shipping line should be on the table - shipping expertAn international expert is reluctant to suggest state intervention for our shipping problems, but can’t think of much else.

David Parsley @DavidParsleyPW

EXCLUSIVE: G7 summit was ‘super spreading’ event for Cornwall as cases rocket 2,450% after world leaders' meet. Calls for surge testing in G7 Covid clusters as young hospitality staff fall ill forcing the closure of dozens of businesses. inews.co.uk/news/g7-summit… @theipaper

inews.co.ukG7 was ‘super spreading’ event in Cornwall as cases go up 2,450% after Johnson summitLocals, politicians and business leaders call on Government to implement surge testing in G7 Covid clusters as young hospitality staff fall ill forcing the closure of dozens of businesses

RNZ @radionz

A gas lobby group launched today is calling on the government to form a national energy strategy to help the industry move into renewables, such as hydrogen and biogas.

rnz.co.nzSwitch to renewables: industry group seeks govt backing for energy strategyA new gas lobby group wants a national energy strategy to help the industry move into renewables, such as hydrogen and biogas.

RNZ @radionz

Plans for a new airline servicing the Pacific Islands have been abandoned by New Zealand businessman Mike Pero.

rnz.co.nzPlans for new airline for Pacific scrappedPlans for a new airline servicing the Pacific Islands have been abandoned by New Zealand businessman Mike Pero.

RNZ @radionz

A study by New Zealand and European researchers says sea-level rise will have severe consequences, and long-term property planning needs to begin urgently.

rnz.co.nzBuilding future homes by shoreline not sustainable, researcher warnsA researcher says it is time to change building habits with sea levels predicted to rise.

Unite against COVID-19 @covid19nz

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Chief Science Advisor Dr Juliet Gerrard received their first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine this afternoon at Manurewa Marae.

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Useful longer reads, listens or watches

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

Zach Carter has a characteristically fascinating article on Milton Friedman and his fading legacy. Somehow I never appreciated how Friedman started from right-wing politics, and built a reputation as a technical economist to serve that cause 1/

newrepublic.comThe End of FriedmanomicsThe famed economist’s theories were embraced by Beltway power brokers in both parties. Finally, a Democratic president is turning the page on a legacy of ruin.

Anna Fifield @annafifield

“Wuhan Wuhan” is an incredible account of life at the epicenter of the pandemic. Thank you @Docedge for bringing this documentary to Aotearoa - and for offering online viewing. If you’re looking for something to watch on this yucky day, make it this festival.docedge.nz/film/wuhan-wuh…

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Other places I’ve written or spoken

bernardchickeysubscribers @bernardchickey2

FYI I was on the @NZQandA panel this weekend with @FranOSullivan and Dr Api Talemaitoga. We talked about housing, the vaccine rollout and NZ's FTA talks with UK.

tvnz.co.nz‘A bit hit and miss’ — Disappointment at the state of NZ’s vaccine rolloutQ+A’s panel say they expected a better vaccine rollout from the Government.

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Some fun things

Buitengebieden @buitengebieden_

I’m a cat.. I can do what I want.. 😅

Ólafur Waage @olafurw

Weird way to do subtitles for the Formula 1 race.

Brent Toderian @BrentToderian

I know I’m supposed to laugh, but… HT @MattCartoonist

Stuff @NZStuff

Ram on the lam after a ding dong with walkers in New Plymouth

dlvr.itRam on the lam after a ding dong with walkers in New PlymouthDuggy escaped from a suburban garden before busting out of the city’s animal pound.