Thursday's Early Bird: Top News; Scoops; Deep-Dives; My Picks n' Mixes; Front Pages & Cartoons
Willis touts rate hike as sign of success, with two more expected before Nov 7; Strait of Hormuz ceasefire 'over,' says Trump; Labour's solar offer bigger than National's; Shocking ED wait death
Here’s my curation of the day’s top news, analysis, commentary, charts and cartoons from around Aotearoa and elsewhere about our political economy around housing, climate and poverty. This is only published in full for paying subscribers. Briefly, in summary:
Nicola Willis argued yesterday’s rate hike was a sign of economic confidence from the Reserve Bank. Another two rate hikes are expected before the election, which some doubt will inspire voter confidence1.
Iran and the United States traded military strikes overnight, while Donald Trump said talks to re-open the Strait of Hormuz were “over.2” Oil prices rose as much as 8.9% early this morning, with Brent crude briefly topping US$80/barrel.
Labour yesterday pledged $160 million worth of subsidies and grants if elected to encourage household and community adoption of solar panels and batteries, which was more than National’s proposals costing $7 million. The Greens proposed the pre-Election legislation of the Ratepayers Assistance Scheme (RAS) policy that both National and Labour agree on3.
This story is a shocking example of the health infrastructure and staffing crises crippling many of our hospitals ahead of the election. Jimmy Ellingham reported for RNZ4 last night about a mother of five who was told she had to wait 25 hours to be seen at Palmerston North’s Hospital, so she decided to drive to Hastings. She died in the car seat next to her daughter, who was driving her there.
Earth Sciences NZ research5 published by Te Waihanga-Infrastructure Commission this morning estimates annual flood damage to infrastructure and coastal property due to climate change could increase 80% to $765 million a year by 2075.
The Government is considering forcing the Waikato Regional Council to drop its Plan Change One requirements for farmers to seek resource consents, Charlotte Graham reports this morning on the front page of the The Waikato Times6.
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