Common Sense - 28/02/2026
News
Main stories
The coalition government announced on Monday nationwide plans to give police the power to issue "move on" orders, forcing rough sleepers and beggars out of public spaces with the threat of a $2,000 fine or 3 months prison. The plan has been heavily criticised across the board, from the left bloc to homeless advocacy groups to the Police Association.
Government announces homeless move-on orders - for all town centres, not just Auckland - Giles Dexter (RNZ)
'We still have nowhere else to go': Rough sleepers question police's new move on powers - Amy Williams (RNZ)
Aucklanders protest government's move-on orders for rough sleepers - Jessica Hopkins (RNZ)
Homelessness is a mental health crisis, not a criminal issue - advocates say - Riria Dalton-Reedy (Te Ao Māori News)
Move-on orders will push homeless people away from support, agency fears - Lauren Crimp (RNZ)
'No doubt' new move-on orders for homeless will drain police resources - Midday Report (RNZ)
New Stats NZ reporting shows that 1 in 7 children are "living in hardship", showing a significant increase since 2022 data (an increase of almost 50,000 children). This figure included 25.1% of Māori children and 31% of Pacific children.
One in seven New Zealand children living in hardship, new data shows - Nick James, Midday Report (RNZ)
'Unacceptable': Children's Commissioner says child poverty progress has stalled - Aziz Al Sa'afin (1News)
Families making impossible decision amid child poverty crisis - Morning Report (RNZ)
Our alarming rates of child poverty are entirely avoidable - Max Rashbrooke (The Spinoff)
Chris Hipkins delivered his "State of the Nation" speech this week while still holding on many specifics, including commitment to large policies and what parties Labour might work with post-election.
Labour's Chris Hipkins to wait until after Budget 2026 to make commitments - RNZ Digital Reporters, Morning Report (RNZ)
Labour's Chris Hipkins to put 'affordability' at the heart of election year decisions - Giles Dexter (RNZ)
Chris Hipkins’ 2026 State of the Nation: No new promises as Labour focuses on delivery and discipline - Amelia Wade (The Post, paywalled)
Hipkins won't rule out working with NZ First despite 'pure racism' row - Justin Hu (1News)
A group of former women MPs have released their report on the pay equity changes, finding a lack of consultation and legal "breaches galore".
Pay equity ‘select committee’ finds ‘flagrant and significant abuse of power’ - Alice Neville (The Spinoff)
Brooke van Velden suggests new report on pay equity ‘a waste of time’, Labour cautiously endorses repeal - Henry Cooke (The Post, paywalled)
Calls for political parties to make repealing pay equity changes a ‘bottom line’ - Julia Gabel (NZH)
Parties need to spell out pay equity intentions in election year - Lianne Dalziel (Newsroom)
Round up
Government
Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and Crown sign Deed of Settlement for historical claims - Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira (RNZ)
NZ First ditches members’ bill attempt to get definitions of men and women into law - Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (The Spinoff)
Human rights protections for transgender Kiwis not a priority – Govt - Marc Daalder (Newsroom)
Ban on protests outside homes ‘unduly chilling on free speech’, Opposition says - Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom)
Mediawatch: Immigration amping up in election year - Colin Peacock (RNZ)
Government deciding whether US should get access to New Zealanders' biometric data - Keiller MacDuff (RNZ)
Government quietly ditches Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s quarterly actions plans - Jamie Ensor (NZH)
Golden visa billions will be flash in the pan – former minister - Alice Peacock (Newsroom)
Jacinda Ardern living and working in Australia after move from US - Eva Corlett (The Guardian)
Officials say English Language Bill solves non-existent problem - Henry Cooke (The Post, paywalled)
Metlink confirms fares to rise by 3.1%, off-peak discount drops again - (The Post, paywalled)
David Seymour renews call to sell Government’s Air NZ shares after half-year loss - RNZ Digital Reporters (RNZ)
Critics urge coalition to slow down on MSD law change - Anneke Smith (RNZ)
Environment
Fisheries emerges as unlikely election battleground - Andrew Bevin (Newsroom)
What Trump’s America wants from NZ’s mines - Fox Meyer (Newsroom)
Beach where Wellington mayor Andrew Little took dip now rated 'unsuitable' for swimming - (RNZ)
Anger over plans to abolish New Zealand’s dedicated environment ministry - Eva Corlett (The Guardian)
We must trade climate statements for real progress – outgoing Tower chair - Michael Stiassny (Newsroom)
Wellington sewage spill: ‘Variety of possible causes' behind Moa Point fiasco but nothing confirmed - Tom Hunt (The Post, paywalled)
The great flush: Are new sewage laws reverting to 1930s standards? - Andrea Vance (The Post, paywalled)
Seabed mining company served 'trespass' notice by activist - 1News Reporters (1News)
#national: Could Japan’s Earthquake Insurance Model Prevent Another Canterbury-Scale Claims Crisis? - Dale Husband (Waatea News)
Flood early warning systems - where are they in the Civil Defence Act overhaul? - Phil Pennington (RNZ)
New report exposes potential nitrate pollution in Southland - Anna Sargent (RNZ)
Health
Health NZ and PSA reach deal after months of negotiating and strike action - (RNZ)
Health NZ targets break even for 2026/27 amid warning of ‘substantial’ hospital pressure - Harriet Laughton (The Post, paywalled)
Hospital IT outages will continue due to Health NZ staff cuts, union warns - Ellen O'Dwyer (RNZ)
MediMap health portal hack 'a wake-up call', cyber security expert says - (1News)
Thousands of ambulance callouts for mental health non-urgent, study shows - Kate Green (RNZ)
Youth facing more psychological distress, finding it harder to get specialist help - report - (RNZ)
Patient data changed as major NZ health app MediMap hacked - (RNZ)
Health NZ's redundancy payouts a 'disgraceful waste of money' - PSA - Ellen O'Dwyer (RNZ)
Education
Primary school principals accept government pay offer - (RNZ)
Teaching Council chief executive Lesley Hoskin resigns after release of two critical reports - Lane Nichols (NZH)
Education Ministry figures reveal teacher shortage worse than previous forecast - John Gerritsen (RNZ)
Students 'cannot survive' on allowance payments, leader says - Thomas Mead (1News)
Ministry of Education report predicts secondary schools will be short of 710 teachers this year - Janhavi Gosavi (NZH)
Primary school teachers' pay talks resume after government's last offer rejected - (RNZ)
New maths, English, science resources rolled out at schools after teachers bemoan delay - (RNZ)
Foreign policy
New Zealanders in Iran urged to leave as tensions rise - Jo Moir (RNZ)
Iran blasts New Zealand after travel bans announced, says Government can’t lecture others on human rights - Jamie Ensor (NZH)
Christopher Luxon attends Coalition of the Willing meeting on 4th anniversary of Russia-Ukraine war - Soumya Bhamidipati (RNZ)
'Absolute shambles': Dual nationals on UK border change - Gill Bonnett (RNZ)
Political support for NZ-India FTA getting closer - trade minister - (RNZ)
NZ will support Britain removing Andrew from line of succession, Christopher Luxon says - RNZ Digital Reporters (RNZ)
Uncertainty likely to remain following US Supreme Court tariff ruling, Trade Minister says - RNZ Digital Reporters (RNZ)
Unions / Labour
Unions accuse Peters of being 'wilfully misleading' over Employment Relations Amendment Bill - Lillian Hanly (RNZ)
FENZ, union at odds over delayed response to college blaze - 1News Reporters (1News)
More hospitality and tourism workers report harassment, bullying at work - (RNZ)
Foreign crew on retired Interislander ferry earning below minimum wage - Samantha Gee (RNZ)
Legal / Justice
Citizens arrests, armed guards, and the power of Sunny Kaushal - Sharon Brettkelly (RNZ)
McSkimming claims Andrew Coster 'advised' him to file harassment complaint against woman - Sam Sherwood (RNZ)
Police staff leave jobs after investigations into inappropriate content - Sam Sherwood (RNZ)
Immigration officers to get increased powers to ask suspected overstayers for identification - Anneke Smith (RNZ)
Jevon McSkimming documents: Police fail to release information relating to complaints by their own deadline - Jamie Ensor (NZH)
Jevon McSkimming scandal: Advocate calls for removal of another member of police executive - Katie Ham (The Post, paywalled)
Memorial unveiled for victims of Lake Alice child and adolescent unit - Jimmy Ellingham (RNZ)
Lake Alice data breach: Minister Erica Stanford asked Sir Brian Roche to personally sign apologies to survivors - Julia Gabel (NZH)
Terror threat level to New Zealand assessed as 'possible' after language overhaul - RNZ Parliamentary reporters (RNZ)
Opinion pieces / long form
Want to fix NZ’s energy crisis? Here are four alternatives to imported LNG - Rebekah White (Newsroom)
Government parties focus on comfort food after bruising backdown - Henry Cooke (The Post, paywalled)
Paul Goldsmith tried to get rough sleepers & beggars criminalised 18 years ago - Mountain Tūī
What the surge in populist nationalism means for Winston Peters and NZ First - Toby Manhire (The Spinoff)
The road to Te Matatini 2027: Your ultimate guide to the regional competitions - Liam Rātana (The Spinoff)
Big costs, big profits: the state of the electricity sector in 2026 - Shanti Mathias (The Spinoff)
NZ First and Act now in open competition using Māori as election pawns - Lianne Dalziel (Newsroom)
Roger Fowler, a legend of the Aotearoa solidarity movement, dies at 77 - APR editor (Asia Pacific Report)
Move-on orders are a game-changer for fixing the nation’s complex problems - Hayden Donnell (The Spinoff)
The critical minerals debate is mired in confusion, duplicity and agendas - Glenn Banks, Sefton Darby (The Spinoff)
Petitions
Get people in prison the basic supplies they are legally entitled to
Gig Guide
Online
Dr. Chris Marshall - Waging Peace In A World of Violence
Time: Wednesday 11 March, 7:30pm
ASTR (Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga) in Action: Ten Years of Solidarity Webinar
Time: Saturday 14 March, 11:00am
Link: www.tinyurl.com/ASTR10
Not Just A Game - The Inclusive Politics & Potential of Women's Sports
Time: Wednesday 25 March, 7:00pm-8:30pm
Link: https://www.instagram.com/aucklandwomenscentre/p/DVPD3OQk-K9/
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
Anakbayan Aotearoa + Aotearoa Philippines Solidarity - Youth Solidarity Tour Report Back
Time: Saturday 28 February 2026 1-4pm
Location: Aaiotanga Community Space, 22 Emily Place, Auckland CBD
"Move On" to Where? Real Solutions to Homelessness: Community Hui hosted by Chlöe Swarbirck
Time: Saturday 28 February, 3:30pm
Location: St. Matthews, Auckland CBD
Toitū: Visual Sovereignty - South Asian Solidarities Special Q&A Screening
Time: Sunday 1 March
Location: Capitol Cinema, Dominion Road, Balmoral (ticketed)
Free Warm Kai
Time: Mondays weekly, 6-8pm
Location: Gemmayze St, St. Kevin's Arcade, Karangahape Road
'Women in Solidarity' Power Building Table Talk - Wāhine Collective
Time: Tuesday 3 March, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland
350 Aotearoa x Everybody Eats Auction Dinner 2026
Time: Friday 6 March, 6:30-9pm
Location: Everybody Eats, 306 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland (ticketed)
Time: Saturday 7 March, 8:30am - Sunday 8 March, 5pm
Location: Auckland University / The Taro Patch, Papatoetoe (RSVP)
UnionAID Quiz Fundraiser 2026 - Raising funds for international union partners in Asia and the Pacific
Time: Thursday 12 March, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: NZEI / NZNO offices, 101 Carlton Gore Road (ticketed)
Crushes in Conversation - Chronic Illness: A Panel Talk And Gathering For Those Who Lie With Pain
Time: Thursday 12 March, 6:30pm
Location: Crushes, 235 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD
Māori & Pasifika Women's Self Defence
Time: Saturday 14 March, 9:30am - 4:00pm
Location: 4 Warnock Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland Women's Centre
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
Anarchist Discussion Circle - An Introduction to the Ideas and Strategies of Anarchist Communism
Time: Sunday 29 March, 4:00pm
Location: Wellington Trades Hall, 124 Vivian Street
Ōtautahi (Christchurch)
Anakbayan Ōtautahi - Youth Solidarity Tour Report Back
Time: Saturday 28 February, 4pm
Location: Trade Unions Centre, 68 Langdons Road
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