Recently, the Trump Administration has cut 90% of funding to USAID; the largest international aid organisation.
This move has received wide condemnation regarding what this will mean for those reliant on the support provided through the initiative.
At the same time, in his opinion piece on Newsroom, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland, Ritesh Shah, analyses the current international aid structure with the substantial funding cuts to USAID, and calls for international aid agencies to redirect what he says are their vested interests
News and Editorial Director, Joel, started off by asking him should other prominent aid agencies, including the New Zealand Agency for International Development, reevaluate how foreign aid is delivered.
Featuring Jazzy Vocals on Travelling Tunes with Dr Kirsten Zemke, Litia's telly review on Viewmaster, and track selections and recommendations from Cam on From The Crate thanks to Southbound Records!
Playlist
Casper Skulls - Dying in Eight Verses
Kneecap - H.O.O.D 2025 mix
Peter Matson - Melancolía (feat. Pahua)
Abigail Lapell & Great Lake Swimmers - Wait Up (Acoustic)
Tom Lark - Rock & Roll Baby
BlueMoonDisco - Bungle's Bungle
Perfume Genius - No Front Teeth (feat. Aldous Harding)
Serebii - Dime
Billy Strings - Home
The Veils - Melancholy Moon
Horsegirl - Frontrunner
CHAII - Safar
DvirNuns - Old School TB
Yamagucci & DvirNuns - First Choice
Sanoi, Boznich - Chill Bill
Judy Mowatt - Black Woman
Beyond The Wizards Sleeve - Delicious Light
Reb Fountain - He Commands You to Jump Into the Sea
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following his clash with US President, Donald Trump, has once initiated discussions to move forward a minerals deal with his US counterpart.
During the original discussions, Trump, alongside US Vice President, JD Vance, berated Zelenskyy, which resulted in the Ukrainian President walking out of the Oval Office without signing a minerals deal between the two nations, which the White House says is a precursor to peace talks.
This all comes as the US has abruptly halted US military aid to Ukraine.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the honorary academic and retired Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, Stephen Hoadley, about this clash, and his opinion that Trump will do a u-turn and start providing military aid to Ukraine, despite the US aligning closer to Russia.
They started off by asking how important this minerals deal is regarding the relationship between the US and Ukraine.
Earlier this week, an investigation was launched into the school lunch programme after baked-in plastic was found in several lunches.
However, principals say the programme has already had various issues since Associate Education Minister David Seymour switched providers as a cost-saving measure last year.
And the coalition government is set to introduce legislation that would give the option of 4 year parliamentary terms.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy LeaderCarmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.
Spacey Jane frontman Caleb Harper joins Sofia Kent on Morning Glory to chat about their latest singleHow To Kill Houseplants.
Caleb navigates failed relationships and the million dollar question of what went wrong?, ultimately landing on the leafy track described as "a 5-step program on how to destroy the things you care about".
Check out Spacey Jane's new album If That Make Sense coming out in May as they tour NZ and AUS.
Up to 1,600 University of Auckland Tertiary Education Union Members are striking today for four hours.
The Union says staff are frustrated at their “employer’s refusal to value staff.”
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Tertiary Education Union Organiser Nicole Wallace about today’s strike.
They also spoke to University of Auckland Associate Professor in Arts and Education Sean Sturm (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa) for their view on today’s strike.
The United States has frequently been in the news cycle recently for the Trump administration’s unstable foreign policy decisions.
This includes their decisions to cut 90% of USAID foreign contracts and to pause military aid to Ukraine following a fiery meeting between the leaders of both countries.
University of Otago’s Professor Richard Jackson describes President Trump’s behaviours as a threat to global order and security.
For International Desk this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to him about the instability of United States foreign policy and the global ramifications of this.
Recently, Auckland Council has re-committed $15 million in funding; which they have pledged since 2016, to restore the historic St. James Theatre in Auckland’s CBD — one part of a cross-party agreement between the Council, Central Government, and owner of the theatre.
The theatre, which has been inoperational since a fire broke out in 2007, left significant damage and resulted in the closure of the venue.
The revitalisation of St James has seen support from the public and a variety of different figures, including the co-leader of the Green Party and MP for Auckland Central, Chlöe Swarbrick, and the organisation Save the St. James Theatre Auckland.
For our weekly catchup with Auckland Council, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson, about Auckland Council's re-commitment to revitalise the St James Theatre and their goals regarding this.
We also spoke about a proposal by Council to develop half of Takapuna Golf Course into wetlands, in aims of mitigating flooding risks which the area is susceptible to.
This move has been criticised by the Golf Course, who say there are better ways to adapt the park without taking away any of the area available to golfers.
But first, they started off by asking how Shane is feeling now that we are one step closer to having the St James operational again.
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