Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27

Wayne Brown flew business to India at ratepayers' expense against official advice; Councils put infrastructure spending on hold without Govt funds for Three Waters; Cyclone costs surge; Luxon vs Orr

PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.

TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:

1. Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance from the new coalition Government about Three Waters and funding for infrastructure;

2. Indications the infrastructure damage from Cyclone Gabrielle was much heavier and more financially stressful on councils than previously forecast;

3. News the UN is likely to recommend people eat less meat to save the planet;

4. A scoop that a Rotorua housing charity paid for a five-day luxury trip to Fiji for staff;

5. Signs the new Government has a big battle to contain both consultant spending and and ‘back office’ FTEs at Te Whatu Ora;

6. News that Rio Tinto will ask the new Government for a big new subsidy to keep the Tiwai Point smelter open;

7. Detail from an outgoing executive at Auckland’s Starship Hospital about the awful level of domestic violence inflicted on children and questions about why little is being done;

8. Public health experts labelling the new Government’s decision to repeal anti-smoking moves as “vile” and “devastating”;

9. A scoop that Wayne Brown travelled to India against the advice of officials, but at the expense of ratepayers; and,

10. PM-elect Christopher Luxon batted away questions this morning about sacking RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr and Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.

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