Earlier this week, Aotearoa Justice Watch released a report detailing numerous testimonies of abuse, discrimination and alleged violations of human rights within New Zealand’s criminal justice system.
Of the 62 submissions made between June 2022 and March 2024, 36 testimonies related to prisons, 20 to policing and 6 to both policing and prisons.
Aotearoa Justice Watch is made up of People Against Prisons Aotearoa, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, JustSpeak and the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties.
Producer Sofia spoke to Senior Campaigner at Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, David Vega, about the report and identifying areas for improvement in our criminal justice system.
Wire host Caeden speaks to Labour’s Shanan Halbert about Labour’s new policy to sanction Israel and the Ngāpuhi led protests against 7AA repeal this week.
State of the States makes a return! They speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about the newly announced Harris/Walz ticket this election campaign.
And they speak to Dr Kevin Trenberth from the University of Auckland on the record levels of carbon in our atmosphere.
Producer Sofia speaks to Councillor Shane Henderson about rates in Auckland and Council investing $47 million in parks and community facilities over the next three years.
She also speaks to Senior Campaigner at Amnesty International Aotearoa, David Vega, about a recent report from Aotearoa Justice Watch.
The Labour Party has announced a new policy of sanctions against Israel following a recent ICJ ruling. The ruling states Israeli has breached international law with their long-term illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.
This week Ngāpuhi also led a protest to Parliament in response to the repeal of section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The section is primarily intended to give practical effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the act.
It measures and reduces disparities for Māori, creates partnership with iwi, delegates function of the Act to Māori organisations and ensures cultural competency of staff. It is not concerned with decision-making to individual children.
National Iwi Chairs Forum Spokesperson Rahui Papa told MPs, “with the scrapping of 7AA we believe more harm will come to our mokopuna.”
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about both of these topics.
States of the States is back for 95bFM’s coverage of the 2024 United States election.
Wire host Caeden speaks to former 95bFM Host, Student at Yale University, and contributor for the Yale Daily News Andre Fa’aoso about the election campaign from a student perspective.
This week we discuss Harris replacing Biden as the Democratic Presidential candidate, and the recent appointment of Tim Walz as her running mate.
The mantra of the current government is to ‘get the country back on track’, but Honorary Associate professor Avril Bell says the current government is looking at safeguarding Pakeha privilege at the expense of Maori. The removal of section 7aa, repealing the Maori Health Authority are some of the actions the government had taken which Avril claims are exclusively ‘anti-Maori’. Sasha spoke to Avril Bell from the University of Auckland about why what’s good for Maori is good for everyone.
Following the government’s decision to halve the excise tax from tobacco products, lung and vaping research expert Kelly Burrowes and her team have been investigating the effects of vaping on the body. She will be heading to Wellington to present her findings today on the effects on airflow, blood flow and lung function. Sasha spoke to Kelly Burrowes from the University of Auckland on her findings to prevent a ‘potential vape epidemic’
For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the government’s decision to dismiss 8 of the recommendations made into the Christchurch terrorist attack inquiry, the impact of Oranga Tamariki cuts on frontline services and the open letter to the Green Party of Germany.
He spoke to Dr Neal Curtis from the University of Auckland to discuss the recent riots in the UK and the rise of the far right.
And he spoke to Associate Professor Carrie Leonetti to discuss the family violence act reforms and coercive control.
Sasha spoke to associate professor Avril Bell about the impact of the government’s policies towards Māori since coming into power.
He also spoke to Kelly Burrowes from the University of Auckland to discuss her findings on a potential vape epidemic in Aotearoa.
Following the 2019 terrorist attacks on a number of Mosques in Christchurch that left 51 worshippers killed, A Royal Commission of Inquiry was launched to measure agencies responses to the attack, steps needed to prevent further attacks in the future and ways to safeguard marginalised communities in Aotearoa.
The initial inquiry was released on the 8th of December in 2020 and made 44 recommendations based on its findings.
However, the government recently announced it had concluded its response to the inquiry and that it would dismiss 8 of its recommendations, particularly ones related to firearm law amendments and crackdowns on hate speech.
For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to Green Party MP Ricardo Menendez-March about the party’s take on the decision to dismiss 8 of the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terrorist attacks.
They also spoke about the impact of funding cuts to Oranga Tamariki on frontline services, as well as the open letter to the Green party of Germany.
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