ACT's Simon Court

This week Zazi and Brooke talk about three things: the new housing density rules, Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade, and also the fact that pregnant women and their partners do not currently get priority for MIQ spaces.

First off, the two talk about the new Resources Management Amendment Bill that the Government and National Party announced yesterday. Zazi asks Brooke about David Seymour's "hollow stunt" comment, ACT being a supposedly "libertarian party", and the Party's alternative solution to address Aotearoa's housing affordability problem. 

Next, Zazi and Brooke talk about Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade. Brooke shares her concerns, where she thinks our economy will be in the next 7-12 months, and what projects she believes were not worth the Government spending billions of dollars on.

And finally, Zazi asks Brooke about pregnant women and their partners not currently getting priority for MIQ spaces. Brooke talks about pregnant couples she has spoken to, about their experience with MIQ, and whether the support for women during this latest COVID-19 outbreak has been enough. 

For this week's chat with Brooke, Zazi asks her about the Government’s planned roadmap for Auckland and New Zealand’s new vaccination certificate.

First off, they talk about the roadmap for Auckland. Zazi begins by asking Brooke what she believes are some of the positives and negatives of the Auckland roadmap plan. 

And after that, Zazi and Brooke talk about yesterday's vaccination certificate announcement. Brooke discusses the Government's vaccination rollout in general, as well as whether she believes the Government should mandate vaccinations in areas such staff domestic travel.

This week Zazi speaks with Brooke about Auckland moving to Alert Level 3, as well as Climate Change Minister James Shaw going to COP26, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Zazi asks Brooke about Auckland's Alert Level changes. They discuss some of the positives with going down a level, local businesses staying afloat, and economic support. 

In the second half, Zazi and Brooke talk about James Shaw's decision to attend COP26. Brooke talks about ACT’s objection to him attending, as well as ACT's proposed solution of the Emission Trading Scheme.

Earlier this week, on Monday morning, the Leader of the ACT Party, David Seymour, tweeted the vaccine access code for Māori people that allows them to receive the Covid-19 vaccine at Whānau Ora locations, without needing to book in advance. 

The code was sent by Māori health provider Te Whānau o Waipareira through email, as part of a push to lift Māori vaccination rates that are less than two thirds of the non-Māori rate. 

David Seymour has been under scrutiny since tweeting this email. However, he stands by his tweet, and believes that the access code divides New Zealanders against one another. Other politicians, including those from the Māori and Green party, disagree, and say that this decision from David Seymour to tweet the access code has resulted in putting people’s lives at risk.

Zazi spoke with ACT Party’s Brooke van Velden to hear her opinion on the tweet and hear whether she believes it was harmful.

The Green Party's Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere also spoke with Zazi about Seymour's tweet in today's Wednesday Wire show. If you would like to listen to that interview as well, click the link here.