The government announced its transport budget yesterday, a record 32.9 billion dollars, mostly going towards the campaign promise of ‘roads of national significance’. This focus on large highway projects has led the government to pull funding from other areas, such as public transport, walking, and cycling.
Wire host Castor spoke to Senior lecturer of Urban planning at the University of Auckland, Doctor Timothy Welch, about the government’s funding allocation and its potential impact on congestion and the environment.
In our catchup with the National party this week, Wire Host Castor asked MP Katie Nimon about several issues in the recent week of politics. Firstly, I asked about the death of Kiingi Tuheitia and the government’s response. I then asked about the potential arrival of Candace Owens, a far-right speaker from the United States who has been known for engaging in anti-semitism and holocaust denial.
Castor then asked about a recent submission by the parliamentary commissioner for the environment, Simon Upton, regarding the government’s second draft emissions reduction plan. The submission makes several critiques of the government’s attitude towards emissions reduction, particularly criticising its promotion of short term solutions which could end up offloading responsibility onto future generations.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Castor spoke to MP Katie Nimon about each of these issues, starting off with the recent passing of Kīngi Tūheitia.
Recently, the government has amended gang legislation that would allow police officers to enter private properties of repeat offenders showcasing emblems, patches, and insignia.
The New Zealand Law Society sent an open letter, sent by the society’s vice president, David Campbell, outlining their concerns for the proposal.
The concerns raised include how gang insignia is identified, which if the clause is taken literally, could be interpreted as printed reproductions of logos, which could make it illegal to own newspapers or certain books with gang insignia in it, increasing in the risk of someone to be criminally liable around someone in possession of gang memorabilia, concerns that the amendment will have detrimental effects to communities and whānau in which gang members reside in, as well as infringing on rights protected by the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the Convenor for the New Zealand Law Society’s Criminal Law Committee, Chris Macklin, about the committee’s open letter and the ethics of the amendment.
The Minister of Health has admitted that Aotearoa’s Health System is in a ‘crisis’. There are vast staff shortages, many staff raising issues of burnout, long wait times, delayed diagnoses and an increase in telehealth services.
Last week Te Whatu Ora announced voluntary redundancies for admin and advisory staff, which follows the axing of 268 roles from the organisation's commissioning team.
For our weekly catch up producer Evie spoke to the ACT party’s Simon Court about how the government is addressing the crisis the health sector faces while continuing to cut roles.
They also talked about how the government is dealing with the current energy crisis, in which shortages of power are pushing up industry prices. This includes the proposed import of liquified natural gas.
But she started off by asking him about Te Whatu Ora’s voluntary redundancies.
Samara Alofa - ILYSM
Yaeji - Booboo
L.A. Mitchell - Slow Dancing
Revulva - Beep Beep
Bailey Wiley - Lady [Amamelia in the Garage Mix]
cc(tv) - Kinnie
Elegant World - SPACE PARTY
Recitals - Champion Runner
Carb on Carb - Nicole's Express
The Linda Lindas - Yo Me Estreso
Mystery Waitress - Pt 2. Tiger
Heroes for Sale - Bouvet's Waltz
Rackets - Slave To The Hat
Swallow the Rat - Small Plates
sere - Last Smoke (Live at The Wine Cellar 15/09/18)
Sherpa - Lunar Bats
The Mint Chicks - Anti Tiger [Live at 95bFM - 2003]
NIISA - Come Away from the House of Death
Ride - Kaleidoscope
She's So Rad - Confetti
Fields* - Endless Journey
Landlords - Clover
milk - Signal Me In The Mirror [Live at Ellen Melville Centre 12/04/19]
Hasji - Maunga Kōkihi
Hirini Melbourne & Richard Nunns - Tangimokemoke A Raureka
Kraus - Waterfall Fireball
Fruju Peak - Green Rats / Karanga reprise (ferndub mix)
Calls have been made to deny the visa of far-right figure, Candace Owens, from visiting New Zealand as a part of her scheduled speaking tour at the end of the year.
Owens, who has a history of Islamophobia, homophobia, and anti-semetism, recently, on recent videos uploaded to her YouTube channel, questioned key elements of the Holocaust, such as the well-documented human experiments conducted by Nazi doctor, Josef Mengele as “bizzare propaganda,” calling the Holocaust “an ethnic cleansing that almost took place”.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to Co-Founder of Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation, Justine Sachs, on calls for far-right figure and Holocaust denier, Candice Owens.
Last week Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand announced they were offering voluntary redundancies to admin and advisory staff. This follows 268 roles already being cut from Te Whatu Ora’s commissioning team.
The organisation has said that the “majority of their expenditure is on people costs, and Health NZ needs to review its size and structure.” Adding that “they are providing the opportunity for eligible staff to consider voluntary redundancy ahead of likely formal change consultation processes over the coming months.”
However many health staff say a cut to admin will put more pressure on the already understaffed and overworked nurses, doctors and primary care workers.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation Chief Executive Paul Goulter says Te Whatu Ora did not follow the correct consultation processes before arriving at the conclusion that there should be redundancies.
He added that any reduction of staff will impact on the people who remain. Saying removal of supporting roles means that other staff must pick the work they’re doing, something he calls unacceptable.
Producer Evie spoke to Goulter about Te Whatu Ora’s voluntary redundancies and the impacts they will have on other healthcare workers.
Last week Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced that levies paid by the fishing industry will be slashed by nearly $5 million dollars.
The levies are used to manage the environmental impacts of commercial fishing. This includes monitoring fish populations, making sure observers are on boats, and researching the impacts fishing is having on the wider ocean environment.
The same day, Jones announced a bill that will extend coastal permits for marine farms by 20 years.
It was opposed by Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori due to environmental concerns. Greenpeace says that Jones is prioritising private commercial gain over the wellbeing of the oceans.
Producer Evie spoke to Greenpeace’s Ellie Hooper about the changes made by Shane Jones and the potential environmental impacts they could have on our oceans.
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