Prime Minister, you’ve got mail

A lot of it is from Auckland as business leaders and a local MP make their requests. Further south, leading academics want plans for a new airport scratched

In today’s edition: the first big howl of consequence for Auckland as the rail network upgrade rolls out; the real cost of inflation and what it's got to do with Big Macs; is Wellington at risk of a slow, painful death?; but first, the wish list for the new PM starts to grow

Chirs Hipkins inbox (as imagined by a pre-internet brain)

Chris Hipkins chose Auckland’s CEO set for his first public audience as PM. Why?

This morning on The Spinoff, Duncan Greive writes that Chris Hipkins’ first port of call as prime minister was “intentionally symbolic”. Greive recaps a round of aggrieved business owners’ comments to RNZ yesterday morning and argues they perfectly encapsulated “a more profound echo'' that goes beyond lockdowns and the pandemic response as the festering source of discontent. Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges hosted the event with the prime minister and Auckland’s business leaders, and recapped what was discussed. Top of the list? Addressing labour shortages and immigration settings.

Council of Trade Unions calling

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub has cautioned against loosening immigration settings too much in the current economy. Immigration is “not a panacea, because when people come, that also increases demand," he said. As businesses struggle to attract and retain staff, the Council of Trade Unions is calling for the minimum wage to be increased. This year's minimum wage hike, if there is one, has not yet been announced. National Party finance spokesperson Nicola Willis said it’s a "great shame" Labour had increased the minimum wage by so much, because it means they can't do it now to help low-income Kiwis make ends meet without stoking inflation. Eaqub says minimum wage rises haven’t led to mass business closures or mass inflation in the past but that he would be "very surprised" if the government opted to push through an "inflation or inflation-plus increase in minimum wages" in the current economic environment.

Auckland also calling

Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick also made a bid for the prime minister’s ear yesterday, writing to him and mayor Wayne Brown. Swarbrick said the city is facing a number of challenges. These aren’t new but instead a combination of “poor planning and underinvestment crunching with a global pandemic, international economic headwinds, and mass construction”. Swarbrick called for support from both the new prime minister and mayor in tackling three areas: to focus on Auckland’s central city and not “just the CBD”, to ensure everyone has help when they need it – and to “set the rules to let the little guy shine”.

Call to scrap plans for new international airport in Central Otago

Finally, I’ve been following this story for a while thanks to Crux’s coverage and because I grew up in Hamilton when we sort of got a new international airport and it was novel. Lining up to make themselves heard by Hipkins is a group of leading academics calling for Christchurch airport’s plans to build a new international airport at Tarras in Central Otago to be scratched. They’ve written to the new prime minister, Christchurch city council, airport leaders and Otago local authorities to argue the plans run counter to New Zealand's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and the climate emergencies declared by councils.

A request for preemptive forgiveness: it is Auckland Anniversary Day next Monday. This is unforgivably Auckland-centric, but there won’t be a Bulletin on Monday morning because I’m based in Auckland and it’s a public holiday.

Using tech to address our family violence problem

In the digital age, online activity can be a conduit for abusive behaviours. But secure digital tools can also offer a lifeline for victims. Bright Sky NZ is an app, brought to you in partnership between Te Rourou, Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation and the Ministry of Social Development, that aims to provide safe, practical and confidential information for victims of family violence, or those concerned for someone else’s safety. Learn more about Bright Sky NZ on The Spinoff now (sponsored)

This Train Don't Stop There Anymore (it’s not even running)

A slightly underrated track from Elton John gained real life resonance last night. Fans heading to his concerts at Mt Smart stadium in Auckland this weekend have been advised to drive or walk there by Auckland Transport as work on the rail network upgrade has closed the Penrose train station. One of the advantages of Mt Smart in the past has been that it’s close to that station and trains have been an effective way of getting thousands of people there and back. There are 40,000 people expected to attend Elton’s gigs and Auckland Transport has advised there are 761 car parks in the vicinity. I wouldn’t usually include an item about how to get to and from a concert but this really is the first big howl of consequence for Auckland as the rail network upgrade rolls out. The majority of the upgrade isn’t expected to be finished until the end of 2024 so this track about tracks is going to be stuck on a loop. Transport minister Michael Wood said this week that it was better “to bite the bullet” and get the upgrade done. Fans now have to bite their lips (and get up and walk). Godspeed on the yellow brick road.

Why aren’t home loan interest payments included when tracking the cost of living?

This question has been driving me crazy all week. Rent, the cost of carrots and fast food are included in the consumer price index (CPI) but home loan interest payments aren’t. The measure gives us our rate of inflation and interest payments are an increasingly big outgoing for households. Fortunately, there are two answers and both come from Newsroom's Jono Milne. Today's article points to a buried chart in the CPI spreadsheets which pushes the real cost of inflation far higher than the official headline number of 7.2% to 8.7% when interest costs are included. A 2021 piece from Milne explains why Big Macs get tracked and interest payments don’t –the answer is kind of about an infinite loop and a bit wonkish, but Milne argues it’s the higher figure that should be taken into account by some businesses and government agencies.

Is Wellington at risk of a slow, painful death?

Parts of the nation's capital have turned into a wasteland of red stickers, and 'for lease' signs. WellingtonNZ CEO John Allen has been given the challenge of breathing new life into the city's economy, businesses, and image. He talks to Bernard on the latest episode of When the Facts Change about housing and hotel shortages, sewerage on the streets, a movie industry on the brink of collapse, and all the other challenges facing Te Whanganui-a-Tara in the coming decade.

Click and collect

• This David Fisher piece on Jacinda Ardern (paywalled) is a thread through from Simon Wilson and Duncan Greives’ pieces that were included on Monday. It is reasoned, methodical and calm but unequivocal in what it is asking people to think about. Highly recommend.

• Confirmed: Speaker Adrian Rurawhe will not contest Te Tai Hauāuru seat and is going list only, Greens move early on Wellington seat

• Christchurch to lose post-quake chairs artwork as land put up for sale

• The select committee report on the public media bill, best understood as the TVNZ/RNZ merger, came back yesterday with a few tweaks –could all be moot anyway as it’s widely predicted to get the chop

• In a follow up to yesterday's piece on the Auckland mayor’s aversion to media, Tom Day, a producer on Tova O’Brien’s show on TodayFM, tweeted that the mayor had declined an interview with them this morning because he was “playing tennis then anyway”. I am not “playing tennis then anyway” and will be on O’Brien’s show just after 7.50am to discuss the week’s events.

Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.

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It’s Friday so…

This is some freaky Benjamin Button-style madness and goes against everything I believe about the merits of ageing, but Bryan Johnson, a very wealthy 45-year old, is spending a lot of money to reverse the ageing process in every single one of his organs. He has more than 30 doctors and health experts committed to helping. Johnson is their guinea pig for the most promising treatments. No doubt a great contribution to science but I did not enjoy the accompanying photos in this Bloomberg feature. The feature itself is an expository read.