Obviously there are some in and around Labour who are still dissatisfied with David Shearer as leader and would like to see a challenge from David Cunliffe next month.

 

The Standard is the main place to view the ongoing angst about the leadership (as satirised by Scott Yorke in his posts, Who Should We Blame For the Black Caps? and The Post I Never Posted). A surprise advocate for Cunliffe is rightwing blogger Cathy Odgers, who reckons that Shearer needs to put his leadership up to the vote once and for all, and that a Cunliffe victory would revitalise New Zealand politics generally – see: Labour Struggles With One Direction. And from within the Labour activist base, it’s always useful to read blogger Robert Winter’s view – see, for example, Labour in the New Year and Trotter on Shearer. 

 

The Labour leadership will be very pleased with news that its latest ‘Kiwibuild’ policy is very popular – see Claire Trevett’s Housing plan a winner for Labour. But some on the left are complaining that Labour are prioritising the housing needs of middle income voters over those of the poor – see The Standard blogpost, State housing vs home ownership. 

 

Once the 2013 political year properly kicks off, Gordon Campbell forecasts that Winston Peters will be the key figure of the year because of his likely role as ‘king-maker’ after the next election: ‘Peters' plans and allegiances will be the subject of endless speculation throughout this year’ – see: Peters back in the spotlight. Other parliamentary predictions are made by Fairfax political journalists in Gallery game on: who will rise and fall in 2013. 

 

Undoubtedly the asset sales will play a central part in the political year, and news that the Opposition parties have collected enough signatures to trigger a referendum have been met by criticisms from a Herald editorial – Referendum a farce: we've voted already  – and from Chris Trotter: Mandate given at last election. A counter-view is provided by Green blogger David Kennedy in Chris Trotter and the Mandate Word. 

 

Issues of ethnicity, the Treaty, and Maori politics will surely play a big role once again in New Zealand this year.

 

One reason for this is the Government’s Constitutional Review, which will soon be in full swing and will raise some very contentious issues. Some interesting critiques of the Review have recently been voiced by Elizabeth Rata – see: Treaty no longer symbol of national unity, and David Round – see: Treaty 'rights' a trap in constitution plan. Radio NZ has also broadcast an in-depth discussion of the place of the Treaty of Waitangi in a written constitution – listen to Brent Edwards’ Outspoken on the Treaty of Waitangi. Related to this is news on public spending on the Treaty lawyers – see Ben Heather’s Treaty legal aid bill hits $79m in six years. Also in the economic-Iwi sphere, see the following interesting items: Isaac Davison’s Firing up Maori economic engine and Simon Day’s 'Pa Wars' hosts fire shots over Maori job. 

 

On a more political level, New Zealand could see a resurgence this year of Treaty-based protest inspired by Canadian activism – see Kurt Bayer’s Indigenous protest movement spread to NZ. At the parliamentary level, the obituaries are being prepared for the Maori Party – Chris Trotter’s analysis is interesting: Maori Party's founding tenets starting to unravel. A key issue for the Maori Party’s survival will be the ‘succession issue’ – dealt with in Kate Chapman’s Ratana unveiling for Turia's successor?, and also aggravated by Pita Sharples decision to stay on as a co-leader – see TVNZ’s Sharples defiantly says he won't stand down. Morgan Godfery provides his analysis in Sharples vs Flavell: the leadership edition. 

 

The state of the economy as well as the high unemployment rate will be the big issues of 2013 – which are addressed in Fran O'Sullivan’s It's high time the PM got serious on youth employment. O’Sullivan’s column has surprised many with her criticisms of the Government and her call for tax increases. See also Rod Oram’s John Key's big economic challenges. 

 

New Zealand’s political year will kick off in earnest when the media return to reporting in full on the politicians. This year’s coverage will change with the introduction of TVNZ’s replacement for Close Up at 7pm on weekdays, Seven Sharp. The announcement of the trio fronting the programme – see, Andrew Koubaridis’ Mulligan to add the comic touch – has led to various predictions for the show as well as reviews before the first broadcast – see Brian Edwards’s TVNZ exchanges current-affairs for a mess of pottage at 7pm and Martyn Bradbury’s Seven Sharp already looks blunt. David Farrar has also questioned the involvement of Labour-supporter Jessie Mulligan – see: Seven Sharp. Similarly, Cameron Slater complains that TV3’s Campbell Live is becoming a political advertisement for the Labour Party – see: John Campbell comes out of the closet. There is other behind-the-scenes news for state-owned media, with two important departures – see: William Mace’s TVNZ's head of news resigns after nine months and John Drinnan’s Radio NZ boss confirms exit, apologises. 

 

Other important or interesting recent political items include:

 

• New Zealand has received yet another accolade – this time for ‘human freedom’ – see TVNZ’s NZ leads worldwide in human freedom. The most interesting reaction to the award comes from Danyl Mclauchlan (A brainfart on Freedom) who disapproves, and David Farrar (NZ most free country on earth) who celebrates and provides further details.

 

• Judith Collins is coming across decidedly liberal in her decision announced today to allow prisoners to retain compensation received for ill-treatment – see Claire Trevett’s Collins backtracks on jail compo. She’s even receiving plaudits from arch-liberal law professor Andrew Geddis – see: In praise of Judith Collins. 

 

• The country’s first spy drone has been purchased by the police, leading to concerns about privacy – see David Beatson’s Look out! The Drones are here – and we’re not ready and Toby Manhire’s NZ must act fast to control aerial spying devices. This issue comes on top of heightened public interest in state spying – see Chris Trotter’s Opening a can of worms. In addition, see No Right Turn’s Our military is spying on us. 

 

• New Zealand’s public service comes in for some international attention in Max Rashbrooke’s Guardian article, Are UK public managers doomed to fail in the land of the Hobbit? Meanwhile the Ministry of Education is being criticised for contracting out some of its core functions and also increasing the pay at the top – see Kate Chapman’s More big pay packets at Education Ministry. The Ministry of Health is also in the firing line for providing poor policy advice to the Government – see RNZ’s Health Ministry told to lift performance. 

 

• Paul Buchanan has – as always – been making interesting comments, this time about both anti-redhead prejudice (Acceptable bigotry) and the current visit by British foreign minister, William Hague (Hague's real mission: our SAS in Africa).

 

• The policing of illegal drug use is an ongoing contentious issue. New figures from the Minister of Justice have re-opened the debate about the justice and effectiveness of the rules – see Ben Heather’s Petty drug users fill New Zealand jails. Also in response to this, see Will de Cleene’s The High Cost of Cannabis Prohibition, Mathew Grocott’s MP urges new approach to drugs, and Rosemary Mcleod’s Ostracise the pot smokers, not jail them. 

 

• The taxpayer subsidies for the Hobbit film production is being questioned once again – see Kate Chapman’s Peters: Hobbit subsidy should be handed back. But New Zealander’s don’t appear to agree – see Isaac Davison’s The Hobbit: should we have paid? Gordon Campbell has also responded to the issue with a very thoughtful and nuanced blogpost, On the subsidies for The Hobbit. 

 

• Yesterday John Key described Education Minister Hekia Parata as ‘one of National's top communicators’ and said ‘she's been one of the smoothest communicators we've actually had’ – see Claire Trevett’s Parata's job safe in shuffle. Scott Yorke wonders whether the PM’s later reflection on that statement had anything to do with his subsequent fainting and hospitalisation – see: Falling over. For further details on John Key’s health – see: John Key faints at restaurant. Meanwhile, John Armstrong wonders whether the Government is now ‘stuck with a lame-duck minister’ – see: Keeping minister on a gamble for Key. 

 

• Political scientist Claire Robinson received all sorts of flack last year for her very interesting research into image bias in newspapers during the 2011 general election. She’s now responded by cataloging and responding to the criticism – see: Only now getting around to my rebuttal. 

 

• Have New Zealanders become Australia’s slave labour? Chris Trotter argues today that ‘Kiwis living in Australia’ face significant injustice, but this suits New Zealand’s ruling class – see: Facing a future as Australia's poor relations. 

 

• Whatever happened to all those alleged breaches of electoral law at the last election? The Electoral Commission referred 94 cases to the police – but apparently the police are still investigating 89 of these – see RNZ’s Scores of alleged electoral law breaches unresolved. 

 

• How big is the gap between the rich and poor in New Zealand? A new study suggests that the top 1% of earners receive 9% of the national income, but this figure is more egalitarian than for many countries – see Newswire’s The rich Down Under share more – study. 

 

• The Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Chris Finlayson, provides the public with his own evaluation of the art on display at Parliament – see Claire Trevett’s Tour Parliament's $12m art as main man turns critic. 

 

• Audrey Young is producing an interesting Q+A series on backbench MPs – so far you can read about Chris Hipkins, Eugenie Sage, Maggie Barry, Todd McClay, Te Ururoa Flavell, and Gareth Hughes.

 

• Finally, for more information on where our politicians are holidaying, see Bevan Hurley’s Politicians lying low over holidays in some favourite Kiwi spots and Michael Field’s Beaching it: The PMs' summer tradition. 

 

Bryce Edwards

NZPD Editor (bryce.edwards@nzpoliticsdaily.co.nz) 

 

Today's content:

 

Labour Party

Chris Trotter (Bowalley Road): Behind The Mask: Who's Backing David Shearer - And Why?

Danyl Mclauchlan (Dim-Post): Trotter on Shearer. (Heh.)

Robert Winter (Idle thoughts): Trotter on Shearer

Cathy Odgers (Cactus Kate): Labour Struggles With One Direction

Cathy Odgers (Cactus Kate): Labour - The Working Class Party

Scott Yorke (Imperator Fish): Who Should We Blame For the Black Caps?

Scott Yorke (Imperator Fish): The Post I Never Posted

Trevor Mallard (Red Alert): Labour’s Summer School: the place to be

The Standard: Why the February vote could be very bad for Labour

The Standard: David Shearer isn’t Jesus? No sh*t, Sherlock

The Standard:Deja vu all over again: Labour in 2014 edition

Robert Winter (Idle thoughts): Labour in the New Year

Ideologically Impure: An apology to David Shearer

Cameron Slater (Whaleoil):Opportunist Labour ignores their own history

Pete George (Your NZ): Dictating Labour democracy

 

Public service

Max Rashbrooke (Guardian): Are UK public managers doomed to fail in the land of the Hobbit?

Kate Chapman (Stuff): Ministry paid consultants to do basic tasks

No Right Turn: The cost of cuts

Kate Chapman (Stuff): More big pay packets at Education Ministry

Shane Cowlishaw and Kelsey Fletcher (Stuff): Charm school for ACC staff

Claire Trevett (Herald): Foreign services consider sharing offices to cut costs

Adam Bennett (Herald): Lips diplomatically sealed, but...

Dominion Post: Editorial – Foss needs to face pay fiasco

 

Housing

Claire Trevett (Herald): Housing plan a winner for Labour

The Standard: State housing vs home ownership

Brian Rudman (Herald): Affordable housing? It's right under your nose, guys

Mike Smith (The Standard):Labour’s popular housing policy

Danyl Mclauchlan (Dim-Post): The idiocy of ‘keeping your powder dry’

James Ihaka (Herald):When a state house was for life

Isaac Davison (Herald): Claims of state house sell-off plan 'misleading'

 

Health

RNZ: Health Ministry told to lift performance

Nicole Mathewson (Stuff): Pharmacy overrun after keeping fees low

Martin Johnston (Herald): Govt eyes cuts to elective surgery

APNZ: Govt's proposed health cuts could affect children - Labour

RNZ: Grommets targeted as Govt razor gang eyes health

Herald: Editorial – Money saved on operations a good move

Hamish Allison (Herald): $30m that could be better spent on Kiwis' health

 

Asset sales

Herald: Editorial – Referendum a farce: we've voted already

Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Asset sales petition gets its numbers

David Farrar (Kiwiblog): The parliamentary purchased referendum achieved  

Herald: Editorial – Sales stalled long enough by water case

Morgan Godfery (Maui St): Fisking the Herald

Chris Trotter (Stuff): Mandate given at last election

Pete George (Your NZ): The asset sales mandate, and how the Green Machine may steamroll Labour

Newswire: Ministers told to avoid share price talk

David Kennedy (Local bodies): Chris Trotter and the Mandate Word

 

The 2013 political year

Gordon Campbell (Stuff): Peters back in the spotlight

Stuff: Gallery game on: who will rise and fall in 2013

Chris Ford: 2013 - What the political year has in store for us!

Murial Newman (NZCPR): 2013 - Parliament, politics, people

The Standard: 2013 – the policy year

The Press: Editorial – A legal trifecta

 

Treaty and Maori politics

Kurt Bayer (APNZ): Indigenous protest movement spread to NZ

Taranaki Daily News: Editorial – Treaty protocols offer a better future for all

Morgan Godfery (Maui St): #IdleNoMore

Morgan Godfery (Maui St): Idle No More: missing the point and lessons from New Zealand

Morgan Godfery (Maui St): The best of 2012, Maori need not apply and Rangatahi Courts

Peter Calder (Herald): Tangata whenua walk different path

Ben Heather (Stuff): Treaty legal aid bill hits $79m in six years

RNZ: Opposition parties say Treaty must be protected

Karl du Fresne: Peter? Are you there?

David Round (Herald): Treaty 'rights' a trap in constitution plan

Simon Day (Stuff): 'Pa Wars' hosts fire shots over Maori job

Chris Trotter (Stuff): Maori Party's founding tenets starting to unravel

The Watercooler: Views on the Maori Party’s future

TVNZ: Sharples defiantly says he won't stand down

TV3: Sharples to stay as Maori Party co-leader

Morgan Godfery (Maui St): Sharples vs Flavell: the leadership edition

Kate Chapman (Stuff): Ratana unveiling for Turia's successor?

Isaac Davison (Herald): Firing up Maori economic engine

Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff):Iwi in negotiations over radio claim

 

Media

Andrew Koubaridis (Herald): Mulligan to add the comic touch

David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Seven Sharp

TVNZ: Seven Sharp presenters announced

Brian Edwards: TVNZ exchanges current-affairs for a mess of pottage at 7pm

John Drinnan (Herald): Seven Sharp breaks the news into 'bites'

Martyn Bradbury (Tumeke): Seven Sharp already looks blunt

William Mace (Stuff): TVNZ's head of news resigns after nine months

John Weekes (Herald): Radio Network apologises for 'dyke' slur against Alison Mau

Steven Cowan (Against the current): Loyal cheerleader

Brian Rudman (Herald): Paul Holmes really did have that golden touch

Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): John Campbell comes out of the closet, must be the week for it

Pete George (Your NZ): The impact of political blogs

Pete George (Your NZ): The political impact of Kiwiblog

Caleb Allison (NBR): Radio NZ continues to top commercial rivals

John Drinnan (Herald): Radio NZ boss confirms exit, apologises

Martyn Bradbury (Tumeke): The future of RNZ

 

Hekia Parata

Claire Trevett (Herald): Parata's job safe in shuffle

TVNZ: Key backs Parata after horror year

Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Parata safe in her job - Key

John Armstrong (Herald): Keeping minister on a gamble for Key

Danyl Mclauchlan (Dim-Post): Too big to fail

 

John Key’s health

Stuff: John Key faints at restaurant

Scott Yorke (Imperator Fish): Falling over

Pete George (Your NZ): Kicking Key while he’s down – roll of shame

 

Hobbit funding

Kate Chapman (Stuff): Peters: Hobbit subsidy should be handed back

Kate Chapman (Stuff): Key denies Hobbit job numbers made up

Isaac Davison (Herald): The Hobbit: should we have paid?

Gordon Campbell (Scoop): On the subsidies for The Hobbit

Ben Child (Guardian): Hobbit makers face call to return subsidy money 'sucked from Kiwi taxpayers'

No Right Turn: How many NZ jobs did The Hobbit create?

 

Hague visit

Rod Vaughan (NBR): McCully comes clean over Mali al Qaeda talks with Hague

Matthew Theunissen (APNZ): Hague visit: NZ and UK to confront 'growing threats' to cyber security

Rod Vaughan (NBR): Hague's real mission: our SAS in Africa

Sarah Robson (Newswire): Shearer raises visa issues with Hague

Francesca Lee and Alan Wood (Stuff): Hague plugs UK role in rebuild

Herald: Editorial – Hague visit brings old ties back in focus

 

Dotcom

David Fisher (Herald):Dotcom comes out fighting

Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Kiwis bankroll new Dotcom site

 

The Economy

Fran O'Sullivan (Herald): It's high time the PM got serious on youth employment

Rod Oram (Stuff): John Key's big economic challenges

Brian Fallow (Herald): Kiwis renewing appetite for debt

Brian Fallow (Herald): Rebuild vital catalyst for growth

Blair Cunningham (NBR): Opposition inquiry into 'manufacturing crisis'

Adam Bennett (Herald): Plenty of ways to add value: Joyce

Jason Krupp (Stuff): Poll: Kiwis glum on economic prospects

Waikato Times: Editorial – Don't bank on a gong

The Standard: I know, how about a Jobs Summit

 

Freedom survey

Eric Crampton (Offsetting behaviour): Kiwi Freedom

Crooks and Liars: The Greatest Nation On Earth Isn't Us

TVNZ: NZ leads worldwide in human freedom

Danyl Mclauchlan (Dim-Post): A brainfart on Freedom

David Farrar (Kiwiblog): NZ most free country on earth  

Russell Brown (Public Address): On Freedom

 

State spying

Chris Trotter (Stuff): Opening a can of worms

No Right Turn: Our military is spying on us

Toby Manhire (Herald): NZ must act fast to control aerial spying devices

David Beatson (Pundit): Look out! The Drones are here – and we’re not ready

Waikato Times: Editorial - Coming clean on drones

RNZ: IRD to explain to public its search powers

Imogen Crispe (TV3): GCSB focus of Waihopai base protest

 

Gay marriage

Kieran Campbell (APNZ): McCoskrie: Gay marriage a stepping-stone to legalising polygamy

Isaac Davison (Herald): MP slams polygamy claim on gay bill

Russell Brown (Public Address): The mathematics of marriage

 

Drugs

Ben Heather (Stuff): Petty drug users fill New Zealand jails

Mathew Grocott (Stuff): MP urges new approach to drugs

No Right Turn: Pure waste

Will de Cleene (Gonzo): Quotes from a drug war

Will de Cleene (Gonzo): The High Cost of Cannabis Prohibition

Rosemary Mcleod (Stuff): Ostracise the pot smokers, not jail them

 

Tobacco

Sam Sachdeva (Stuff): Tobacco firms use 'stalling' strategy

David Farrar (Kiwiblog): The OIA is for all  

No Right Turn: "Stalling tactics"

 

Helen Clark and poverty

RNZ: Criticism of UN agency for not ending poverty

Newswire: Scathing report of Helen Clark at the UN

Ele Ludemann (Homepaddock): Look at her record

 

Parliament / Backbench reviews

Bevan Hurley (Herald): Politicians lying low over holidays in some favourite Kiwi spots

Audrey Young (Herald): The backbenchers: Oiling the wheels of conservation

Audrey Young (Herald): The backbenchers: Joys of putting Hekia on the spot

Audrey Young (Herald): The backbenchers: Making views count a huge battle

Audrey Young (Herald): Maggie's way

Audrey Young (Herald): The backbenchers: MP keen to make his mark in trade

Audrey Young (Herald): The backbenchers: Small party means big workload

Richard Swainson (Stuff): Politicians' shenanigans fail to dampen festive fervour

Michael Field (Stuff): Beaching it: The PMs' summer tradition

Claire Trevett (Herald): Tour Parliament's $12m art as main man turns critic

 

Other

Claire Robinson (Spinprofessor): Only now getting around to my rebuttal

Claire Trevett (Herald): Collins backtracks on jail compo

Andrew Geddis (Pundit): In praise of Judith Collins

RNZ: Union leader supports private equity tax clampdown

The Southland Times: Editorial – The taxman cometh

Chris Trotter (Stuff): Facing a future as Australia's poor relations

Adam Bennett (Herald): Govt ignored ministry call to trim ACC levies by $477m

Rachel Glucina (Herald): Collins packing a new punch

Julie Fairey (Herald): Pay fairly and all of society wins

Herald: Editorial – PPTA charter school ads over the top

Newswire: Beneficiary numbers spike in Dec quarter

Lawrence Gullery (Hawke's Bay Today): Tremain backs rail line closure

Peter Cresswell (Not PC):“The biggest shake-up since the end of six ‘o’clock closing…”

Neville Peat (Herald): Slow economy trampling environment

Steven Cowan (Against the current): Press propaganda

Kirk Hope (Herald): Banks to play part in combating money laundering

Chris Barton (Herald): Key's stance on broadband decision gob-smacking

Fran O'Sullivan (Herald): Chinese eager to milk brand NZ

Claire Trevett (Herald): Bennett trumpets 5000 fewer on DPB

Chris Trotter (Stuff): 'Lincoln' reminds what democracy is all about

Waikato Times: Editorial - Voting rights and wrongs

Conor English (Herald): Metro area needs to grow up and not out

Herald: Thousands denied entry to NZ in 2012

CK Stead (Herald): Why judge was wrong on Bain

Amelia Wade (Herald): Cops on the wrong side of the law

TV3: Police arresting their own

Brian Easton: The Global financial crisis III

Brian Easton: The Role of the environment in history

Rodney Hide (Herald): A pity foreign experts aren't as clever as us

Kelsey Fletcher (Stuff): Dropouts victims of counting blunder

Tony Wall (Stuff): MP says money claims has left career 'in tatters'

Simon Plumb (Stuff): Key more popular than McCaw, poll finds

Jacqui Stanford (Newstalk ZB): PM scores low on Family First 'value vote'

Dan Satherley (TV3): Labour, NZ First top Family First rankings

Nicholas Jones (Herald): New Zealand great place to draw in lottery of life

Newswire: Smokers, sick and students face changes

Karl du Fresne: 2012: year of the buffoon?