Briefly in the news in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate:
The Lead: States of emergency were declared, red wind warnings issues, parks closed, buses, ferries and trains, cancelled, houses burned to the ground, power lines downed and picketing for today’s ‘mega-strike’ was cancelled as wild weather ravaged the motu from top to bottom in the last 48 hours. Yet in the dozens of news items broadcast, published online and printed so far, none of them mention that extreme events such as these will be more likely, more extreme and more frequent because of climate change.
I’ve searched all the articles I could see this morning on RNZ, 1News, Stuff, NZ Herald, The Post-$, The Press-$ and found no mention of the role of climate change in making such events more extreme and more frequent.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last night urged countries to install disaster warning systems to protect people against extreme weather, saying no country was safe from the effects of global warming. (Reuters)
The Sidebar: Also meanwhile, New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to the EU, Tara Deuce, has told New Zealand’s exporters that their sustainability credentials remained important if they wanted to keep trading with the EU. (The Post-$) Her comments came as the Government yesterday dramatically reduced climate reporting requirements for listed firms and funds to save money.
Scoop of the day: PM Christopher Luxon has had the council rates on his Waiheke Island holiday home revised down by $8,100 after he objected to the valuation on the Onetangi home being too high at $10.5 million. The valuation was cut to $7 million, according to NZ Herald-$’s Chris Knox this morning, citing land value records. Luxon’s property was one of 47 in Onetangi that had their valuations cut, with a total of 211 ratings valuations downgrades across all of Auckland’s 630,000 properties.
Quote of the day: “Our biggest concern is those over 65. We’re seeing a significant number of over 65s, who are on fixed incomes and can’t cope with the rise in food or power, because a lot of them are renting.” North Harbour Budgeting Services general manager Claudette Wilson via (RNZ)
Number of the Day: 44 - Changes to government funding for budgeting services meant a third - 44 - lost funding last year.
Pick of the Mix of news links elsewhere today: Louise Ternouth for RNZ: School lunch scheme ‘far from fixed’ after eight months
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Chart of the day: On track for 3 degrees by 2050
Today’s Top Pick ‘n Mix Six
Investigation of the Day: Chris Knox for NZ Herald-$: ‘We have no comment’: Luxons secure $8100 rates cut on Waiheke holiday home
Scoop of the Day: Dita De Boni for The Post-$: NZ advised to stick to sustainability in business with EU. ‘Despite uncertain EU progress on sustainability, the bloc’s citizens still pay a premium for attractive products from NZ, says this country’s woman on the spot in Paris.’
Deep-Dive of the Day: Kim Baker Wilson for RNZ: Coroner calls for WorkSafe probe into ‘avoidable’ forestry deaths
Interview of the Day: Director Duncan Sarkies interviewed by Davina Zimmer for RNZ/Newsroom’s The Detail: Pike River director: ‘Always question those in power’
Column of the day: Kirsty Johnson for RNZ: New Zealand guts the climate policy it bragged about on world stage
Op-Ed of the day: Massey Uni’s Robert McLachlan for The Conversation: The government wants tourism to drive economic growth – but how will it deal with aviation emissions?
Top Six Scoops and breaking news this morning
Andrea Vance for The Post-$: Bigger ferries, bigger risk: Cook Strait ferry route disaster warning. ‘A new report warns Tory Channel could become New Zealand’s worst transport tragedy ‒ and says moving the South Island terminal to Clifford Bay could prevent it.’
Sam Sachdeva for Newsroom Pro-$: Tighter rules may be needed to stem flow of public submissions, MP says ‘‘Coordinated, largely online campaigns’ make it harder for politicians to consider good-faith submissions on laws’
Andrew Bevin for Newsroom Pro-$: Inland Revenue probing 150 crypto investors over ‘tens of millions’ in unpaid tax ‘Confusion over tax rules for cryptocurrency investors has tax departments around the world smelling blood’
Anna Whyte for The Post-$: Mega strike: The fiery exchange that derailed secondary teachers’ talks. ‘Pay talks between the Public Service Commission and secondary teachers erupted in a war of words over a Friday night offer the union called “rushed and poorly thought out”.’
Sam Sherwood for RNZ: IPCA finishes investigation into former Deputy Police Commissioner
Rob Stock for The Post-$: Critics say proposed surcharge ban favours banks ahead of consumers. ‘A bill to ban credit card surcharges is under fire for being anti-competitive and unfair to small businesses and low-income shoppers.’
The Best of the Rest
Politics & Geopolitics
Anneke Smith for RNZ: Opposition promises to repeal marine and coastal rights law change
Anusha Bradley for RNZ: Time to consider controversial changes to pig welfare rules cut
Lloyd Burr for Stuff: Four MPs, three pies, one seafood salad, a hire car and a 523km roadie
Jamie Ensor for NZ Herald: ‘Made a mistake’: Greens co-leader sorry after her late arrival sees own bill thrown out
Deep-dive by Maddy Croad & Kate Macintosh for The Press-$: The faces behind New Zealand’s mega strike. ‘With 100,000 workers walking off the job in a historic “mega strike”, five Cantabrians tell The Press why they’re striking today.’
Column by Janet Wilson for The Post-$: Christopher Luxon is now a liability for National. ‘Leaders win or lose elections for their parties. For Christopher Luxon the increasing certainty is the latter.’
Economy, Business, Media & Tech
Analysis by Jonathan Milne for Newsroom Pro-$: Dipping the tax collector’s fingers in molasses, so fewer coins slip between ‘The failure to balance the tax package on which National was elected has left the finance minister grasping for revenue levers.’
Explainer by Nik Dirga for RNZ: How Fonterra’s $4b deal will change New Zealand
Lillian Hanley for RNZ: Labour wants to expand gaming subsidy
Blessen Tom for RNZ: Alarm sounded over looming shortages over drivers
Column by David Hargreaves for Interest: I think there is unquestionably room for debate about just how we target inflation. Maybe an arbitrary number doesn’t work any more.
David Chaston for Interest: BNZ sets its fixed mortgage rates at the bottom of the range
Housing, Transport, Poverty, Health, Living Costs, Income & Climate
Raphael Franks for NZ Herald: A house for $100? New investment platform allows investors to buy shares in homes
Amy Williams for RNZ: At breaking point: Budgeting service reports rising financial, emotional distress
Greg Ninness for Interest: The rental housing market continues to move in tenants’ favour with the supply of homes for rent increasing while asking rents decline.
Op-Ed Sue Parkes and Tina Williams for The Spinoff: Home economics is about nourishing a nation. So why is it being scrapped? ‘The latest subject to be cut from the curriculum empowers people to question misinformation, make informed decisions and demand fair access to healthy food.’
Good news by Liz McDonald for The Press-$: Developer plans 100-plus homes for Smiths City founding site. ‘Smiths City is in liquidation and closed its central Christchurch store earlier this year. Now, developer Wolfbrook has bought the land to build a new, $80 to $90m housing complex, Quill Lane.’
Cartoons of the day
Timeline-cleansing nature pic
Ka kite ano
Bernard
PS: Here’s the PDF of my presentation used in the Dawn Chorus above.
