The main issue in NZ politics today is obviously the Labour Party leadership contest. [Read more below]
Today’s links
Labour leadership
John Armstrong (Herald): Cunliffe's razzmatazz sets the bar
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Contenders quick to hit high notes in Political Idol
Vernon Small (Stuff): Labour leadership candidates launch campaigns
Herald: Editorial: Leadership vote virgin territory for NZ politics
Tim Watkin (Pundit): Labour leadership: 3 telling & diverse launches
Russell Brown (Public Address): Political Idol, or whatever you want to call it
Catriona MacLennan (Herald): White and male should not be Labour's way forward
Morgan Godfery (Daily Blog): Declaring for Camp Cunliffe: here’s why
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Leadership race 'pretty close' - Cunliffe
Matthew Hooton (NBR): Cunliffe just lost the plot
Dan Satherley (TV3): Labour to swing 'far-left' - Key
TVNZ: Greens 'to stay out' of Labour contest
Radio Waatea: Samuels decries factional fighting
The Standard: The union vote
Heather McCracken and Matthew Backhouse (Herald): Key: Labour leadership race will expose divisions
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Cunliffe's declaration more like a victory speech
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): Shameless- Labour using parliament to push leader contenders
Adam Roberts (Stuff): Street endorses deputy
Katie Bradford-Crozier (Newstalk ZB): Three horse race for Labour leadership
TVNZ: Labour leadership race nominations confirmed
TVNZ: Rāhina 26 Here-turi-kōkā 2013
Ele Ludemann (Homepaddock): Winning left isn’t enough
Taranaki Daily News: Cunliffe best equipped to take on Key
Richard Shaw (Stuff): Leaders do not a party make
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Who’s supporting who
Newswire: Wealthy should pay more tax – Cunliffe
Toby Manhire (Listener): Robertson and Cunliffe’s bizarre show of unity
Ben Uffindell (The Civilian): Labour ponders whether country is ready for white, male Prime Minister
Herald: Cunliffe and Robertson's identical announcements
Radio NZ: Jones the sharpest knife in Labour's drawer – Tau
Greg Presland (The Standard): David Cunliffe enters the leadership race
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): How the Labour leadership vote will work
Ele Ludemann (Homepaddock): Democracy in Labour
Matthew Backhouse (Herald): Key 'not bothered' by Labour leadership candidates
Greg Presland (The Standard): Grant Robertson announces his candidacy
The Standard: Robertson throws his hat in the ring
Greg Presland (The Standard): Shane Jones the smoko room candidate
TVNZ: Timeline: How Labour decides its new leader
Dan Satherley (TV3): Shane Jones rejects 'flag-waving' charge
Patrick Gower (TV3): Leaderless Labour already hurting National
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): Hope he keeps running those good campaigns
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): #laboursgottalent already into the nasty
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): Cunliffe announces candidacy for #laboursgottalent, complete with new slogan…or is it?
Steven Cowan (Against the Current): The contest of no new ideas
TVNZ: Analysis: Labour leadership candidates
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): Why Jones will make a brilliant leader #laboursgottalent
Dan Satherley (TV3): Labour leadership campaign begins
Ele Ludemann (Homepaddock): Could a list MP lead?
Newswire: New Labour headed further left – Key
Vernon Small (Stuff): First round to Cunliffe
Patrick Gower (TV3): Cunliffe: 'Time for a new beginning'
Tova O’Brien (TV3): Shane Jones underdog in Labour competition
Denis Welch (Opposable thumb): Chummy and Paddy
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Did Cunliffe plagiarise Robertson?
Radio NZ: 'I've learnt from mistakes' – Cunliffe
Giovanni Tiso (Bat, Bean, Beam): The leader vanishes
Peter Wilson (Newswire): Candidates will get down and dirty - Key
Claire Trevett (Herald): Labour MPs take their sides
TVNZ: Labour leadership race nominations to be confirmed
Tracy Watkins and Vernon Small (Stuff): Labour leadership hopefuls get down to business
Radio NZ: Shane Jones the full package – Tirikatene
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): Cunliffe’s great lurch left and other bombastic comments
Daily Blog: This one time I met David Cunliffe.
Superannuation
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Early retirement option unveiled
No Right Turn: Compounding disadvantage
TVNZ: Government seeks feedback on Dunne's flexi-pension plan
Radio NZ: Govt softens superannuation stance
Peter Wilson (Newswire): Dunne's Flexi Super 'not without merit' – Key
Katie Bradford-Crozier (Newstalk ZB): Key says backing Dunne's idea not GCSB related
Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Flexible pensions on table
Adam Bennett (Herald): Dunne plan: Super from age 60 at reduced rate
John Key
The Standard: Liar
The Jackal: Majority don't trust Key
GCSB
No Right Turn: Nothing to hide, nothing to fear?
Felix Marwick (Newstalk ZB): Request for PM's email data declined
Henry Enquiry
Peter Matthewson (Pundit): The Inquiry into the Inquiry into the Inquiry into the Inquiry
Stephen Franks: Dunne inquiry preciousness may stifle journalist freedoms themselves
Christchurch
Herald: Editorial: Christchurch rebuild needs more action
Kurt Bayer (Herald): Government loses landmark legal battle over red-zoned land
Radio NZ: Residents feel vindicated by red zone ruling
Glenn Conway (Stuff): Outcasts win High Court battle
Meridian Energy Sale
Dominion Post: Poor timing for Meridian float
Jason Krupp (NZ Institute): Insights
Lobbying disclosure bill
Beith Atkinson (Integrity Talking Points): Greens lobby ineffectively to control lobbyists
Waikato Times: Lobbying for transparency
Other
Southland Times: Editorial: A sticky mess and no mistake
Adam Bennett (Herald): Milk scares prompt trade experts plan
Katie Bradford-Crozier (Newstalk ZB): PM admits MFAT may need a boost
Stuff: Today in politics - Tuesday, August 27
Stacey Kirk (Stuff): More NZ police to head to PNG
Gordon Burnside (Stuff): The young and the restless of politics
Jack McDonald (Maui Street): The Green Party and Māori
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Christchurch East
Deborah Hill Cone (Herald): Invest in teachers and children will follow
Karen Goodger (Nelson Mail): A fundamental part of democracy is in jeopardy
TVNZ: John Key backs daughter over nude snaps
Spider and Me: A happy coincidence
Brian Rudman (Herald): Fast-food alley versus Silicon Valley
Karl du Fresne: The river of filth
Matthew Dallas (Manawatu Standard): Don't target the messenger
