The main issues in NZ politics today are Nelson Mandela, paid parental leave, TPP, and the Census. [Read more below]
Today’s links
Mandela
Rosemary McLeod (Stuff): Mandela and the power of protest
Mark Sainsbury (Stuff): Learn a lesson from Mandela
Andrea Vance (Stuff): MPs on Mandela trip rub shoulders with stars
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Former PM farewells Mandela
Adam Bennett (Herald): John Key: International mystery man
David Cunliffe (Daily Blog): David Cunliffe’s reflections on Mandela’s funeral (part 1)
Stuff: Key's forgettable moment at Mandela event
Nelson Mail: Chance missed for wider symbol of unity
Imran Ali (Herald): Taxpayers pay for Harawira's trip to Mandela service
Toby Manhire (Listener): HBO presents: The Commonwealth
Simon Wong (TV3): PM an 'unidentified guest' at Mandela service
Radio NZ: Cunliffe sees Mandela's work as unfinished
Paid parental leave
Isaac Davison (Herald): Door open for more paid parental leave
Adam Bennett (Herald): National softens stance on paid parental leave bill
Laura McQuillan (Newstalk ZB): Govt u-turns on parental leave, claims Labour
Simon Wong (TV3): Govt to reconsider paid parental leave
No Right Turn: Winning the argument on paid parental leave?
Stuff: Labour hopeful over parental leave bill
TVNZ: Paid parental leave extension back on table – Labour
Newswire: Parental leave extension bid gets breather
Radio NZ: Paid parental bill delayed
TPP
Vernon Small (Stuff): TPP talks fail to reach agreement
Simon Terry (Herald): Govt must resist foreign tribunal demands in TPP
Audrey Young (Herald): TPP negotiations close, but 'progress' made – Groser
No Right Turn: TPP negotiations close, but 'progress' made – Groser
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Goff on TPP
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): What is Labour’s real position on free trade?
Census
Timaru Herald: Editorial: How accurate the census?
Radio NZ: Congregations falling since 70s, says academic
Herald: Philip Burdon: Born a Kiwi - still seen as a foreigner
Eric Crampton (Offsetting Behaviour): Jedi Truth
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): NZ by ethnicity
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): NZ by religion
Max Coyle vs. Judith Collins
Laura McQuillan (Newstalk ZB): Former Green Party candidate defends Collins tweet
Pete George (Your NZ): Max Coyle: where’s the proof?
The Standard: Judith Collins: The obnoxious right
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): It is never ok to wish someone dead
Cameron Slater (Wahleoil): Max Dillon Coyle continues to call for execution of National Party members
Digital archive project
Vernon Small (Stuff): IT project delayed, blown out by millions
Simon Wong (TV3): Archive project cost set to double
Radio NZ: Digital archive money 'not well spent'
Brook Sabin (TV3): Leaked report embarrasses Internal Affairs
Chorus
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Chorus plans budget cuts
Hamish Fletcher (Herald): NZ reputation 'severely tarnished' – Chorus
Paul McBeth (NBR): Chorus warns of more earnings pain from latest review on copper lines
Radio NZ: Chorus may be able to increase copper pricing – analyst
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Funding shortfall threatens Gigatown campaign
Child poverty and inequality
Herald: Editorial: Child poverty figure needs more clarity to target relief
Ashleigh Stewart (Stuff): 'Not typical' client seeks food parcels
Pete George (Your NZ): Exaggerating child ‘poverty’ is counter-productive
The Standard: A more equitable society
Asset sales
James Weir (Stuff): MIghty River freezes prices until 2015
Radio NZ: State power agency still wanted by Labour
Radio NZ: Referendum postal deadline
The Standard: Last day to vote
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Mighty River to hold prices for 15 months
Housing
Dominion Post: Editorial: Commission review panders to business
Newswire: Special housing areas extended
Catherine Harris (Stuff): Call for no GST on new home builds
Dan Satherley (TV3): Smith: Reserve Bank's lending changes' 'logical'
Liz McDonald (Stuff): Subdivision all go under new plan
Wellington ‘living wage’
Katie Chapman and Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Living wage voted in despite criticism
Rachel Parkin (TV3): Wellington adopts living wage for council workers
Radio NZ: Wellington council staff to get 'living wage'
No Right Turn: A living wage for Wellington
John Banks and a new right-wing party
TVNZ: John Banks pleads not guilty
Frances Cook (Newstalk ZB): ACT Party still right behind Banks
3 News Online Staff (TV3): Banks trial date set
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): “Putting the Neo back in Neo-Liberal”: Matthew Hooton goes in search of a new Bob Jones.
Kim Dotcom and the GCSB
Stuff: Dotcom 'still being spied on'
David Fisher (Herald): Kim Dotcom still being spied on – judge
Newswire: Dotcom spied on after arrest, judge says
Rebstock report
Patrick Gower (TV3): Top bureaucrat in Govt leak inquiry
Stuff: Rebstock report set to shake up MFAT
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): MFAT Inquiry Led By Rebstock Due Thursday
Botulism scare
Newswire: Inquiry reassuring - infant formula makers
Adam Bennett (Herald): Botulism scare report calls for better tracking of products
Newswire: Govt food safety cleared in botulism scare
TVNZ: Report into botulism scare backs food safety systems
Maori politics
Radio NZ: Maori Council replies to Govt about its legislation
Radio NZ: Maori Council to stay the way it is
Radio NZ: Sharples takes advice from public on Maori Council
Tom Peters (WSW): New Zealand: Mana Party seeks unity with right-wing Maori Party
Adam Bennett (Herald): From back office to front bench
‘Roast busters’
Talia Shadwell (Stuff): Top cop fronts over Roast Busters case
Isaac Davison (Herald): Roast Busters: Marshall admits police failings
Isaac Davison and Anna Leask (Herald): Police Commissioner grilled over Roast Busters
Parliament
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Insults and jokes end Parliament
Newswire: Parliament's busy year
Peter Wilson (Newswire): Parliament holds its last debate of 2013
Latest polls
The Standard: Latest Roy Morgan Poll
Frank Macskasy (Daily Blog): Latest Roy Morgan Poll: next govt too close to call?
Vernon Small (Stuff): This time next year we will have a new government.
Parliamentary priviledge
Newswire: Supreme Court ruling prompts law change
Andrew Geddes (Pundit): The Parliamentary Privilege Bill: the empire finally strikes back
Len Brown
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Len Brown affair: Hotel hold-up
Fran O'Sullivan (Herald): Review of Len Brown under watch
