Big end of town goes rogue on anti-gen testing / A ragged covid response / Mahuta pushes ahead with Three Waters / More trouble ahead on local government reform / LVR discomfort grows as DTIs loom / Tax exemptions for new builds and build-to-rent / White heron poised to strike

Hard lockdowns still supported / National’s agony of leadership continues / China tries to lever NZ away from Australia and US / Three Waters in troubled waters / The Covid ate our climate plan / NZTA funding tools in limbo ahead of climate plan / Rate hikes still on track

Curve bending the right way / Looking for extra doses, or fewer bookings / Three waters reforms in trouble? / Robertson eyes more support for SMEs / Auld Mug in Auckland? Don’t dream it’s over / RBNZ tightens lending for homeowners / ‘Make vaccination mandatory in more workplaces’

“Mentally prepare for weeks” / ‘We only get one chance’ / Political highwire all the higher this time around / Budget robust for resumption of supports / Transpower in the firing line over blackouts / Pressure on big emissions cut plan for Glasgow / CEO Retreat 2021 – reschedule to Oct 7-9

Ministers ask for advice on improving SME lending / A bridge to nowhere for cyclists and walkers / The man with a plan to reopen / Seymour shines through ‘winter of discontent’ polls / First home buyers in RBNZ firing line again / OCR seen hitting 1.0% by November / Some stranded migrants set for residency reprieve

Bubble suspended for two months / Hydrogen blowtorch applied to Rio Tinto / The taniwha pokes the dragon / Building and shipping costs escalate / Local inflation fear runs hot as global worry fades / Three Waters reform - ‘make us do it’ / FMA’s damning report on insurance culture

Sydney outbreak challenging elimination strategy / Beehive’s patience running out over nasal swab go-slow / First steps in ‘reconnecting NZ’ strategy next week / RBNZ faces local calls to hike much earlier than others / Collins’ popularity sagging into danger zone / R&D tax incentive set for tweaks / Treasury quietly trials new budgeting approach

Three Waters running rough / National’s scrambled eggs / Backpacker trade a factor in UK-NZ FTA / Labour’s ‘double-cab ute tax’ problem / Treasury eyes using debt to fix long-term issues / Rate hike by Feb? / Robertson reluctantly gives Orr a DTI tool

Coherence needed on 100% renewable electricity policy / Climate change rubber meets road / Test of relevance for business’ thinktank / Debate looms over frills in social insurance / Tradeoff between road costs and housing supply / Pressure on costs and prices as inflation debate rages / Chorus growing for Goodfellow to go

Gas market intervention averted / Unemployment insurance rush is on / Budget 2022 - working families the next target / What a review of Govt’s financing rules might look like / RBNZ projects it will be the first central bank to hike / China issues continue to heat up