Dawn chorus: Goodfellow's 'temporary tyranny'

National President re-elected after blaming loss on 'temporary tyranny' of 'televangelist' PM at 1pm pressers; Key and Carter disagree and argue National should blame itself

TLDR: Morena. National MPs and members voted to re-elect Peter Goodfellow as party President over the weekend, but his speech to the conference is proving controversial. He said National lost because of Jacinda Ardern’s popularity and the ‘temporary tyranny’ of the 1pm pressers over Covid.

John Key and new board member David Carter disagreed and said they would not have made those comments, saying instead National needed to blame its own lack of discipline and competence.

Elsewhere, Nanaia Mahuta defended New Zealand’s new tougher pro-Five Eyes stance against China, despite its threats about ‘plucking out the eyes’ of critics of its Hong Kong policy. In America, Joe Biden will name his cabinet tomorrow night in the face of Donald Trump’s refusal to go, which has delayed meaningful action on Covid-19 and a new economic stimulus. Watch out this week for the opening of Parliament and the Reserve Bank’s Financial Stability Report.

In our political economy over the weekend and this morning

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

This is all about sticking to another one of these artificial debt limits that bond investors and ratings agencies don't care about any more. @nzherald-$$$

nzherald.co.nzAuckland Council looks set to hike rates and water bills to plug $1 billion Covid-19 hole - NZ HeraldPhil Goff will outline proposals for rates and water bills on December 9.

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

Dumb question: Why is the Govt not considering fully funding St John's in the way it fully funds public hospitals? @AndrewLittleMP says it's not being considered. Full stop. tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-z… via @1NewsNZ

tvnz.co.nzExclusive: Independent review claims St John in ‘serious financial risk’St John says it will soon have to cut staff and reduce services unless it gets $80 million extra a year in Government funding.

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

How Peter Goodfellow saw the 1pm pressers: “Daily broadcasts that became televangelistic like a gospel to the masses. Democracy gave way to a time to a form of temporary tyranny.” I was at most of them. Not how I saw them. Also, FYI below, how epidemiologists saw the pressers:

Jin Russell @DrJinRussell

A new @TheLancetPH paper describes how New Zealanders crushed COVID-19. It highlights how *excellent communication* to the public has been critical to achieving this. But what does that actually look like on the ground? I wrote this THREAD to describe it for ppl overseas /1 https://t.co/yVHxhTjd0k

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

John Key's useful advice for National: "You can underestimate Jacinda Ardern but you do so at your own peril. She'll communicate strongly. They're not going to be an easy Government to knock off its perch."

nzherald @nzherald

Sir John Key says the National Party needs to "look in the mirror" instead of blaming the media. https://t.co/xDg673uNSR https://t.co/AmKNUn8bOp

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

The political blow-back to the Govt's intensification directive is building in Christchurch & Wellington. A real test of Labour's resolve on both housing affordability & climate change. Also, a call to arms for the YIMBYs in council politics tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-z… via @1NewsNZ

tvnz.co.nzChristchurch struggling with Government’s high-density urban housing directivesThere’s mixed response from councils about the National Policy Statement on Urban Development.

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

Solid and cautious response from @NanaiaMahuta to China’s ‘we’ll poke your eyes out’ threat after NZ joined the v.strong Five Eyes statement on Hong Kong. Nice to see the ‘maturing’ Aotearoa Inc approach on China

rnz.co.nzForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta asks China to ‘reflect’The Foreign Affairs Minister is not sure if NZ has offended China, but admits a statement made by a government official about removing the eyes of those who interfere with its business is “strongly worded”.

In the global political economy over the weekend

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

Biden to name first Cabinet picks on Tuesday but Trump digs in despite election loss

reut.rsBiden to name first Cabinet picks on Tuesday, plans scaled-down inaugurationU.S. President-elect Joe Biden will announce the first of his Cabinet appointments on Tuesday and is planning for a scaled-down inauguration due to the coronavirus pandemic, aides said on Sunday, as he lays the foundation for his new administration despite President Donald...

Signs o’ the times news

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

The details here show why these sort of temporary worker visas have lost its social license and why the Govt is pushing back on employer requests. 'Islam & Ahmed's workers were paid $6/hr, were not paid for all the hours they worked or holiday pay.'

newstalkzb.co.nzMan who forced staff into ‘economic slavery’ refused paroleA man jailed for exploiting migrant workers after forcing staff in his Auckland sweet shop to work for up to 68 hours a week for a pittance has been refuse

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

A fertile place for @DavidParkerMP to look for extra revenue

stuff.co.nzNZ losing $577m a year to ‘global tax abuses’, international study estimatesMajor study based on OECD data puts the UK at the centre of the tax ‘spider web’.

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

The big five power company 'gentailers' will just keep doing it until they are broken up Telecom-style in wholesale and retail. Because, as then Telecom CEO Theresa Gattung said: 'Confusion is a marketing tool'

stuff.co.nzElectricity companies accused of using ‘confusion as a marketing tool’Industry association suggests people call their provider sporadically to ‘chat about their situation’.

My longer reads and listens over the weekend

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

Some great work being done at ESR. Every case in Aotearoa has been sequenced. Only 30% in UK. 'Overseas, a sample could take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to sequence. In New Zealand, with the pedal to the floor, it took around 10 hours.'

stuff.co.nzCovid-19: Behind the scenes of genomic sequencing in Wellington’s own backyardThe scientists at ESR knew this work would be important. Now, samples of coronavirus come from all over the country to be sequenced and traced.

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

@gilliantett is always worth reading (and subscribing for) in the FT-$$$. How Artificial intelligence is reshaping finance ft.com/content/c7d9a8… via @FinancialTimes

ft.comSubscribe to read | Financial TimesNews, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

Bernard Hickey @bernardchickey

This is beautiful writing about the still-vital art and craft of news photography.

stuff.co.nzThe disappearing art of capturing the fleeting, strange and dangerousOPINION: Images are powerful, and they’re increasingly being controlled by the wrong people.

jon “airships” kudelka @jonkudelka

Todays's @SatPaper cartoon thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/cartoo…

Coming up

Mon Nov 23 - Stats NZ releases Retail trade survey for Sept quarter

Weds Nov 25 - 2pm - Reserve Bank to publish six monthly Financial Stability Report (FSR) . Expected to warn of re-imposition of high LVR lending limits from May 1, 2021.

Weds Nov 25 - Opening of Parliament for 53rd term, including swearing in of new MPs

Thurs Nov 26 - Speech from the throne in Parliament outlining Government’s agenda

Dec 1 - Landlords must include a Healthy Homes statement with any renewed tenancy agreement after this date. Landlords have until July 2024 to comply with new rules on heating, insulation and dampness.

Weds Dec 9 - Parliament rises for the year.

Ngā mihi

Bernard

PS: Many thanks to John Gallagher via Twitter for today’s Kākā pic.

PPS: Some fun things

Phil Stasyszen @philstasyszen

What it felt like hearing that Steven Adams had been traded.

Stephen Fry @stephenfry

No but seriously, what the heck?