ElectionAndrea Vance (Stuff): When these are the options, this is why I don’t voteClaire Trevett (Herald): Behind the leaders – the National and Labour campaign players and tricks (paywalled)Luke Malpass (Stuff): Labour lines up ducks to win bigHeather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): Labour’s policies sink other parties (paywalled)Josh Van Veen (Democracy Project): Can we trust the polls?Ben Thomas (Herald): Move to the political centre masked by fiddling with the fringe (paywalled)Francesca Rudkin (Newstalk ZB): Labour and National seem afraid to rock the boatPeter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: Ardern’s Matariki masterstrokeBrent Edwards (NBR): Fact or Fiction: Holidays, tax and spending and those televised debates (paywalled)1News: Campaign battle underway for politicians vying for Maori electorate seats1News: Jacinda Ardern twice as likely to evoke feelings of hope than Judith Collins among adults – surveyCaitlin Ellis (Newshub): Survey: Jacinda Ardern makes voters feel more ‘hopeful’ than Judith CollinsPaul McBeth (BusinessDesk): ‘Don’t stuff the country’ – minor leaders make their pitch (paywalled)1News: Ping pong and tractors: Hitting the campaign trail with NZ’s politiciansSteven Cowan: Andrea Vance: Rejecting lesser evil politicsHerald Editorial: Lowering the voting age – the case for and against (paywalled)Bernard Orsman (Herald): The employment lawyer and pragmatist hoping to win Auckland Central for LabourJoel MacManus (Dominion Post): MP Paul Eagle rules out Wellington mayoral run as Rongotai candidates clash over commitmentPaul Mitchell (Manawatu Standard): Theft of campaign hoardings costly distraction for Rangit?kei candidatesVita Molyneux and Emma Stanford (Newshub): Police investigating after New Conservative member ‘slashed’ with knife in west AucklandIndian Newslink: Researchers tell us how politicians use social mediaPaul Brislen (Herald): Show us your tech policiesFelix Desmarais (RNZ): Stakes are high in rainbow policy debateThomas Coughlan (Stuff): Governor-General signs writ, triggering next step on road to electionElection adsScott Palmer (Newshub): Judith Collins releases National’s first TV ad to combat Labour’sThomas Coughlan (Stuff): Judith Collins fronts National’s first TV ad1News: National Party releases first TV advertisement ahead of next month’s election—————Jason Walls (Herald): Labour Party’s new TV ad features a lot of Jacinda Ardern and not much elseThomas Couglan (Stuff): Spotlight on Jacinda Ardern in Labour’s first big election ad1News: Labour releases first TV ad ahead of electionJamie Ensor (Newshub): Jacinda Ardern, COVID-19 fight at centre of Labour’s first television adLabourJohn Armstrong (1News): Labour’s tax policy is just tinkering around the edgesJack Tame (Herald): We need bravery from our PM1News: Q+A: Labour’s tax promise ‘politically timid’ – Fran O’SullivanMark Quinlivan (Newshub): ‘Soft, soft’ approach to increasing taxes – Economist Shamubeel Eaqub on Labour’s tax policyDan Satherley (Newshub Nation): Labour rules out free dental care for adults, citing ‘current economic environment’Dan Satherley (Newshub): ‘Vote for someone else’ if you don’t like our tax policy – Labour MP David ParkerMike Houlahan (ODT): ‘I am anything but complacent’: ArdernTom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Labour’s 2030 ‘100 per cent renewables’ goal is realistic if Lake Onslow scheme stacks upNewstalk ZB: Greenpeace unimpressed by Labour’s renewable energy policyNewstalk ZB: New Zealand Initiative criticises Labour’s renewable energy policyCPAG: Labour’s welfare policies welcome but silence on children disappointingAmelia Wade (Herald): Labour unveils $1b plan for the welfare systemThomas Coughlan (Stuff): Beneficiaries to keep more income under $1b Labour welfare overhaul1News: Labour policy would see beneficiaries keeping more income from part-time workBen Leahy (Herald): Solo mums welcome $1b govt support for uni studies and workRNZ: Labour welfare plan would reinstate training incentive allowanceCrystal Wu and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Labour promises to bring back Training Incentive AllowanceAmelia Wade (Herald): Labour promises living wage for government’s cleaners, caterers and security guards1News: Labour promises Living Wages to more low-paid public service workersDan Satherley (Newshub): Labour promises living wage for all public service contractorsThomas Coughlan and Caroline Williams (Stuff): Labour promises living wage to all government contractorsRNZ: Labour Party’s economic plan promises Living Wage to government contractorsAAP: Analysis: Ardern shuts down talk of Jacindamania 2.0, but devoted fans followBrittney Deguara (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern starts on the election trail with mum and dad making breakfast, babysittingBusinessDesk: My Net Worth – Grant Robertson, MPNationalRNZ: The Elevator Pitch: ‘We believe in people’ – Judith CollinsVictoria Young (BusinessDesk): National candidate’s questionable exit from tech firm (paywalled)Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Feebates vanish but Labour still has the more ambitious policy on car emissionsThomas Coughlan (Stuff): National wants electric cars in bus lanes as part of push to electrify fleets Anna Whyte (1News): National to allow EVs in bus lanes, no road user charges for two years if electedZane Small and Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): National would free electric vehicles of road user charges until 2023, let them use bus lanesDaisy Hudson (ODT): Pledge to support rail linkMaori TV: National repeats claim transparency on Ihum?tao dispute a must before electionGreens Audrey Young (Herald): James Shaw sends wrong message about Greens to potential saviours (paywalled)Catherine Delahunty (E-Tangata): The soul of the Green Party is at stakeHeather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Did the Greens just count themselves out?Newstalk ZB: James Shaw: Greens set to play hardball after the electionThomas Coughlan (Stuff): Greens want to clean up agriculture with $300m fund for farms – but there’s a catchRNZ: Growers relish in Green Party’s agriculture policy, but National opposesAnna Whyte (1News): Greens pledge $297m for sustainable farming, promise to tackle nitrogen pollutionRNZ: Greens promise $300M for climate friendly farmingIreland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick gets COVID-19 test after developing ‘sniffle’Mikaela Wilkes (Stuff): The most expensive thing Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick owns is her couchNZ First1News: New Zealand First again commits to fully funding St John Ambulance, if electedDan Satherley (Newshub): NZ First promises to fully fund ambulance charity St JohnAmelia Wade (Herald): NZ First leader Winston Peters promises to increase ambulance fundingRahul Bhattarai (Stuff): Winston ‘Regions’ Peters tells Marlborough to vote in a ‘decent’ Housing MinisterSteve Braunias (Herald): The secret diary of … Winston Peters (ft. Jack ‘James’ Tame) (paywalled)Maori PartyMichael Neilson (Herald): Maori Party launch mokopuna policy, take care of Maori babies awayDenise Piper (Stuff): Maori Party wants new entity to stop uplift of Maori childrenRNZ: Maori Party announces plan for entity to take over responsibility for Maori children in state careDan Satherley (Newshub): Maori Party proposes new independent child agency, says Oranga Tamariki staff ‘do not care’ about Maori babiesMaori TV: ‘Mokopuna M?ori are our greatest taonga’, Maori Party announces new policaAdvance NZDavid Fisher (Herald): Comment: A night with Billy TK – and his conspiracy theories (paywalled)David Farrier: The red-pilling of Billy TK JnrAlert levelsVita Molyneux (Newshub): New Zealand not ready for COVID-19 alert level drop – modelling expert Shaun HendyRNZ: Auckland alert level: ‘Run of zero days’ needed for change, expert saysRNZ: Should Auckland stay at alert level 2.5?Hamish Cardwell (RNZ): Ready or too soon? Aucklanders divided on moving levelsThomas Coughlan (Stuff): A cautious Jacinda Ardern will make alert level decision today, as campaign resumes for another weekDerek Cheng (Herald): Why gym classes and ongoing uncertainty are stifling chances of level 1 freedom (paywalled)Derek Cheng (Herald): Health case doesn’t mean level 3 again for Auckland — but neither is level 1 any closer for rest of NZDerek Cheng (Herald): Time for South Island to go to level 1, Winston Peters saysNZ’s coronavirus responseIan Powell: Perspective Is Critical: Assessing And Improving NZ’s Covid-19 PerformanceGeoffrey Miller (1News): Government was ‘way too slow’ in using NZDF to assist with Covid-19, ex-Defence Minister saysHerald: We were discriminated against says Mt Roskill church leaderJenny Ruth (BusinessDesk): NZ covid policy better for small businesses after initial shockKate MacNamara (Herald):Can we put a cost on a human life? (paywalled)Dan Satherley (Newshub): Labour MP David Parker expects COVID-19 vaccine by JuneDan Satherley (Newshub Nation): National backs not putting all the eggs in one COVID-19 vaccine basketBridie Witton (Stuff): High risk’ Covid-19 hotels should be ditched, replaced with purpose-built facilities – experts1News: Megan Woods confident of ‘robust systems’ after quarantine nurse confirmed as Covid-19 caseKatie Todd (RNZ): Police right to not stop anti-lockdown protesters – science denial expertRNZ: Advance Party and crowd rallies against Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns1News: Tightly packed crowds of people descend on Auckland CBD for anti-lockdown protest1News: Woman jailed for isolation hotel escape to join Advance NZ leadMelanie Earley (Stuff): More than a thousand turn out for anti-lockdown rally in AucklandBorder policies, immigrationKeith Woodford (Interest): New Zealand’s current coronavirus border policies fail to reflect the Northern Hemisphere surge in cases and consequent enhanced risks to NZGill Bonnett (RNZ): Immigration changes: Landscape shifts for workers, visitors and employersTova O’Brien (Newshub): Borders creaking open after seven-month shut-down as Labour plans to woo overseas investorsMatt Burrows (Newshub): Labour will relax COVID-19 border rules to allow more skilled workers in if re-electedAnna Whyte (1News): Labour promise to set aside 10 per cent of managed isolation spots for critical overseas workers Herald: Labour would allocate 10 per cent of MIQ spots to foreignersThomas Manch (Stuff): Labour promises 10 per cent quota at border facilities for critical workersRNZ: Border exception change comes into placeZane Small (Newshub): Judith Collins thinks Labour was ‘cynical and political’ to say National wanted borders openedRNZ: Fears for harvest as seasonal workers locked out due to Covid-19Bonnie Flaws (Stuff): ‘This just cannot happen’: $9.5 billion at risk as horticulture sector struggles to fill $25-an-hour jobsGill Bonnett (RNZ): Govt to help stranded immigrants fly home1News: Immigration NZ to help migrants in extreme hardship fly homeTracy Neal (RNZ): German backpacker upset petition has fallen on deaf earsDanielle Clent (Stuff): Auckland woman with disability wins years-long immigration battle1News: Covid-19 ‘brain gain’ sees more than 50,000 Kiwis return home amid pandemic—————Lachlan Waugh (Herald): Sanzaar and NZR bosses respond to Jacinda Ardern’s claims of politics in Rugby Championship decision1News: Jacinda Ardern: ‘SANZAAR politics’ to blame if Australia hosts Rugby ChampionshipRNZ: NZ quarantine rules ‘critical’ to losing Rugby Championship bidRNZ: Queenstown needed business from missed Rugby Championship, mayor saysRichard Knowles (Stuff): Aussies get last laugh as NZ Rugby denied chance to host Rugby ChampionshipGregor Paul (Herald): How self-destructive Government cost NZ Rugby Championship (paywalled)Paul Lewis (Herald): New Zealand Government miss badly in Rugby Championship bungle (paywalled)Herald: Wallabies coach Dave Rennie slams New Zealand Government’s quarantine rules for Bledisloe CupEconomyLuke Malpass (Stuff): PREFU doesn’t matter if all the parties agree anywayLiam Dann (Herald): First recession in 11 years a reminder of the opportunity wasted (paywalled)Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): What would’ve happened to the bond market had the RBNZ not done QE?Cameron Bagrie (BusinessDesk): Govt accounts will up ante on tax debate (paywalled)BusinessRNZ: Checkpoint: Mowbray slams big profitable companies taking wage subsidyAnuja Nadkarni and John Weekes (Stuff): Ardern: Govt borrowing has ‘cushioned the blow’ for economyZane Small (Newshub): Accusation of ‘mind-blowing stupidness’ as political parties pitch their economic visionsDita De Boni (NBR): Political leaders try to woo business audience (paywalled)Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): It is all about seizing opportunity (paywalled)Dominic Harris (Stuff): New Government must save economy and enable growth, businesses leaders sayRNZ: Businesses seek ‘economic resilience’ in government’s Covid-19 responseMaxine Jacobs (Manawatu Standard): Manawat? environmental volunteers concerned their region will miss out on Covid recovery schemeDebrin Foxcroft (Stuff): The Warehouse workers rally for one final push against restructure plansRNZ: Auckland, Southland report sharp falls in manufacturing activityJacob McSweeny (ODT): PMI hit by Covid restraintsTourismAmanda Cropp (Stuff): Lifeline or lottery? Questions of fairness over $400m tourism rescue schemeHamish MacLean (ODT): Unions feel excluded from railways agendaRNZ: Travellers out of pocket after Airbnb refuses full refundUnemploymentHarry Lock (RNZ): Benefit rate ‘far too low’ as more people expected to apply for jobseeker supportSusan Edmunds (Stuff): Four weeks, 6000 job losses: Those on Covid-19 payment face ‘second shock’Cannabis and euthanasia referendumsDamien Grant (Stuff): Why you don’t have the moral right to prevent an adult from smoking cannabis1News: Maori more supportive of cannabis ‘yes’ vote than general public, new poll showsStuff Editorial: The legal toke and the tax takeDominic Harris (Stuff): Criminals ‘may target children’ if cannabis is legalised – National candidateBrent Melville (BusinessDesk): Business case for legal cannabis not cut and dried (paywalled)Anuja Nadkarni (Stuff): Legalisation could make NZ a cannabis tourism destinationAndrew Bevin (NBR): Fishing quota seen as model for cannabis market structure (paywalled)—————1News: Q+A debate: David Seymour and Alfred Ngaro on legalising assisted dyingBen Gray (Public Health Expert): Is Euthanasia a health priority for New Zealand at present?1News: GP sets out practicalities of End of Life Choice Act, if voted for in referendum1News: Terminally ill New Zealanders set out their view on assisted dying1News: Sir Michael Cullen’s cancer responding well to chemo as he backs assisted dying billLibby Smales (Stuff): ‘Limits’ to palliative care part of case for assisted dying optionHealthBryce Edwards (Democracy Project): Political Roundup – The missing election policy on free dental visitsRhys Jones (E-Tangata): Inequity is not a bug in the system — it’s a featureVanessa Selak, Rod Jackson and Matire Harwood (E-Tangata): Racism in the academic editorial processAlice Wilkin (Newshub): Pharmac petition calling for better bowel disease medication reaches over 25k signaturesChristine Rovoi (RNZ): Pasifika frontliners ‘risking life and limb’ on the jobTeresa Wasilewska (ODT): Those forming the fence at the top of the cliff deserve fairnessDan Satherley (Newshub): Kiwis losing trust in safety of vaccines, less educated more likely to not have shots – studyRNZ: Countdown to limit sales of paracetamol after coroner’s reportEducationLiz Gordon (Daily Blog): Welfare and EducationDavid Pomeroy, Kay-Lee Jones, Mahdis Azarmandi, Sara Tolbert (The Conversation): Could academic streaming in New Zealand schools be on the way out? The evidence suggests it should beRNZ: Teachers want answers on $11.7M private Green School fundPania Te Maro and Brian Tweed (Stuff): Coronavirus and education: what the lockdown taught usCrystal Wu (Newshub): Maori doctors urge Otago Uni to protect the Maori Entry Pathway to med schoolJulia Gabel (Herald): Thousands use Twitter hashtag to show impact of indigenous scholarLive exports, Gulf Livestock 1RNZ: MPI launches independent review into livestock shipments after Gulf Livestock 1 tragedyRNZ: Lifestock ship tragedy was bound to happen – marinerRNZ: Gulf Livestock 1: New Zealand looks to join search for ship’s black boxJamie Ensor (Newshub): Gulf Livestock 1: New Zealand investigating viability of searching for missing ship’s black boxRNZ: Gulf Livestock 1: Family says expanded search should be top priorityMolly Houseman (ODT): Window for rescue still open: familyEnvironmentLois Williams (RNZ): Freshwater rules not fixed and final, O’Connor saysBruce Munro (ODT): Loads of rubbishRNZ: DOC to introduce new fines for those who break conservation rulesHousingStephanie Arthur-Worsop (Rotorua Daily Post): Revealed: How much Government paid Tauranga motels for emergency housing during lockdown (paywalled)Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Government rental rules leaves cash-strapped Wellington City Council with $18m billHarry Lock (RNZ): Heritage or habitabilty: Wellington’s proposed building regulation changes spur debateDiana Clement (Interest): Landlord v tenant: how our new laws will play outAndrew Gunn (Stuff): How much do you really want that heat pump?Emma Hatton (RNZ): Housing market since lockdown ‘astonishing’: Eight regions have record pricesDan Satherley and Lisette Reymer (Newshub): ‘Like it never happened’: House prices ignore economic crisis, post biggest gains in yearsLiz McDonald (Stuff): Building on the rise in Christchurch as almost $1 billion of new homes approvedChild welfareRNZ: Sunday Morning: Hungry kids at the top of Kiwis’ list of concerns, survey showsIrra Lee (1News): ‘Six promises for 6000’ – Youth-led petition calls on MPs to increase quality of state careForeign affairs and tradeJamie Ensor (Newshub): New Zealand must be ‘proactive, not provocative’ in face of ‘delicate, dangerous’ situation with China – Simon BridgesSimon Draper (Stuff): Warnings of China using trade as a weapon ring hollowLocal governmentMandy Te and Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Calls for pause ahead of crucial vote on Shelly Bay development, with councillor claiming information had been withheldGeorgina Campbell (Herald): Wellington City Council paying millions in rent after buildings closeRNZ: Local government income drops amid Covid-19Ellen O’Dwyer (Stuff): Sleepyhead development might run ‘out of options’ if rezoning not grantedTe Wiki o te Reo Maori 1News: Te Wiki o te Reo Maori kicks off today, with nationwide event at middayMeriana Johnsen (RNZ): Morena Aotearoa: Ko te Te Wiki o Te Reo MaoriJoel Maxwell (Stuff): Boom or bust? No hard numbers, but lots of new-old students for te reo MaoriThomas Coughlan (Stuff): Shane Jones calls for sackings after controversial video receives public fundingNational LibraryEva Corlett (RNZ): National Library in middle of first major cull of international booksMediaRNZ: Mediawatch: A closer look at a ‘good news’ surveyHayden Donnell (RNZ): A call for less newsPrimary and extractive industriesRNZ: OceanaGold’s Macraes Mine extended for seven yearsRobin Martin (RNZ): Plant opponents kick up stink over hearing chargeRNZ: NZ Dairy Industry awards review completePublic holidaysChris Trotter: Matariki: A Time To Begin AgainLana Hart (Stuff): Let’s rearrange the holidays we’ve got to modernise our calendarAlister Browne (Stuff): If we’re to have a new public holiday, why not mark our history?OtherSam Stubbs (Stuff): We’d all be better off if ‘open banking’ wasn’t stymied by the banksJohn Anthony (Stuff): Air NZ’s cash crunch: Shane Jones accuses airline board of delaying raising fundsSasha Borissenko (Herald): Should Peter Ellis appeal be heard from beyond his grave? (paywalled)Susan Edmunds (Stuff): House demolished, borrower homeless but lender chasing loanRob Stock (Stuff): Depressed man wins $173,000 battle with insurer AIAVita Molyneux (Newshub): Consumer NZ lays complaint with Commerce Commission over supermarket discountsRNZ: Auckland water rethink, despite low levels in storageVirginia Fallon (Stuff): ‘We’ve been kind to racists for far too long’: Khylee QuinceJosephine Franks (Stuff): Ban on sex workers advertising on Trade Me, Seek ‘perpetuates shame’Joel MacManus (Stuff): ‘So, so thrilled’: Bus drivers celebrate milestone pay dealRNZ: ‘Insidious’ threat: ‘Organised criminal groups gaining greater access’1News: Number of firearms seized by police has risen steadily over last decadeLana Andelane (Newshub): New Zealand gangs: Seizing assets crucial to removing gang appeal – Police Minister Stuart NashRNZ: Former Cook Islands PM hailed as a hero at state memorialMaori TV: Marine transport facility halfway between Tauranga and Gisborne receives government backing1News: Funding of $45 million allocated for new shipping facility near East CapeRNZ: Rio Tinto CEO, execs quit over blasting of Aboriginal sitesTe Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): ‘Massive legacy’: Maori Battalion veteran Epineha Ratapu dies aged 98 Related General Any content that has been made publicly available is attributed to general as an author. 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