The Wire with Nicholas

A new report from Our Land and Water has found it will be extremely challenging to achieve New Zealand's water quality goals. 

First, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Ton Snelder, report lead author, and Director of Land Water People, about their findings and what they mean for New Zealand’s water quality?

She also spoke to Jenny Webster Brown, Director at Our Land and Water National Science Challenge about the water standards outlined in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020.

Producer Castor spoke to Professor of Māori Studies at the University of Auckland and chair of Te Rūnanga ā Iwi o Ngāti Kahu of the far North, Margaret Mutu, about how the new government will impact Māori and Te Tiriti. 

Former Wire host Spike interviewed the President of University of Auckland Student Justice for Palestine, Layan Khalil, about protests against Israeli-owned shipping vessels and goods entering Aotearoa.

For City Counselling, producer Beth chatted to Counsellor for Waitakere Shane Henderson about proposed congestion charges.

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins speak to Associate Professor of Journalism at Massey University in Wellington, James Hollings, about Winston Peters's false allegations of media bribery concerning the Public Interest Journalism Fund.

Castor spoke to the CEO of SAFE for Animals, Debra Ashton, about the government repealing the ban on live exports. 

Beth spoke to Professor of Education at the University of Auckland, Katie Fitzpatrick, about the government’s plan to remove relationships and sexuality education from school curriculum.

And Jessica talked to Director at Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, Jenny Webster-Brown, and Research Lead and Director of Land Water People, Ton Snelder about their new research into New Zealand’s water quality. 

Recently, we have seen members of the new coalition government be increasingly critical toward the media. 

In particular, this week we saw NZ First leader, Winston Peters falsely accuse the media of accepting government bribery in the form of the Public Interest Journalism Fund. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Associate Professor of Journalism at Massey University in Wellington, James Hollings, about the purpose of the Public Interest Journalism Fund and state-funded media, and the potential implications of some members of the incoming government’s attitudes towards media.

For our weekly catch up with the Green Party Rawan spoke with Party Co-Leader James Shaw about some of the issues they have recently voiced concerns about.

First off Rawan asked about their push for progress on protection around the Hauraki Gulf. Earlier this week the green party wrote to the incoming government, to call for the progression without delay of the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill. James also spoke about the importance of this bill and the need for ocean protection in the Hauraki gulf.

They then discussed the party’s recent petition to save the oil and gas ban, which the new government plans to lift. James spoke about the pressing need for banning oil and gas exploration and what the alternative options are.

Finally Rawan asked about the party’s stance on the new government's changes to the smoke free legislations and what this could mean for New Zealanders.