This week, Ilena and Shane talk about what moving into level three means for Auckland, and in particular, how level 3 does not mean ‘level free’. They talk about varying levels of compliance and enforcement in different suburbs and how we can ‘support local’ safely during this time.
They also addressed the felling of hundreds of non-native trees at Ōtāhuhu, following up on Ilena’s previous conversation with Shirley Waru. Shane outlined the scope of Auckland Council’s influence on the matter, and gave insight into the consultation process.
Disclaimer:
After the interview with Shane, Shirley Waru, the organiser of Protect Mt Richmond/Ōtāhuhu, had some clarifications on some of Cr. Henderson's points:
Cr. Henderson implied that Auckland Council has no say in Tupuna Maunga Authority’s work. He did not mention that the Authority is a co-governance organisation. It has six iwi representatives and six Auckland Council representatives (who, under the Treaty settlement legislation are there to represent “all the people of Auckland”). The Authority is a ratepayer-funded entity. Every year, Auckland Council’s governing body considers the Authority’s annual operational plan and votes on the budget. In other words, Auckland Council does have some say on what the Authority does.
He said that the public were consulted about the tree removal in both the Authority’s 2016 integrated management plan consultations and operational plan consultations. The Authority never specifically consulted about its intentions to remove all the exotic trees from all of Auckland’s maunga. The Authority’s chairman admits this in a Māori TV interview earlier this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDrCMAhL4tk&list=PLvwPLhmfEWgk8wZyFXdCLKV871TFlO1FN&index=4. The Authority has consulted in recent years on its operational plan, but, on the whole, ignored public input.
Cr. Henderson said that only some of the exotic trees will be removed from Mt Richmond. Yes, not all exotic trees will be removed under this particular resource consent, but supporting documentation clearly shows they intend to remove all of them in time. Protect Mt Richmond/Ōtāhuhu believes they split the removal process in two so as to get a non-notified resource consent through.
Cr. Henderson also says that tens of thousands of native plants are being planted in exotic trees' places. However, this is misleading: these are mostly small plants like flaxes, grasses and shrubs and not tree species, meaning that places that previously had tree cover would look very bare, covered with small plants rather than trees.
Miss Dom gets inspired by Horn Sections, Jazzy Hip Hop, recent visitors, & Japan- Even recent Rock N Roll Visitors Guitar Wolf make a brief appearance - While Vinyl collector, & Guest Selector Johnny Dambuster goes diggin in dem Jazz Vaults, & emerges dusty, but cool.
The Panuku Development Board has prioritised 9 areas around Auckland for urban development programmes. One of these, is the carpark on Anzac St in Takapuna. The proposal is to pedestrianise the block and build a large green space for the public to hang out at and walk along towards the beach. However, there is fierce backlash from one group, ‘Save the Carpark’. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and councillors Richard Hills and Chris Darby were invited by the group to a public presentation in Takapuna on Sunday, however there was little room for them to talk and they were met with a lot of yelling. Mary-Margaret spoke to Richard Hills about the proposal and the backlash it has brought, and started by asking him where the Council’s vision for this area first came from. Submissions for the build close on Friday, so if you visit Panuku.co.nz/Takapuna you can have your say.
On Dear Science this week, AUT professor Marcus Jones talks about an Internation Space Station air leak, people wanting to put an end to daylight saving, and why it's so hard to find a good substitute for salt.
Producer Darashpreet Johal talks to Kate McIntyre from People Against Prisons Aotearoa about solitary confinement eat Whanganui prison.
A recent survey containing data on the usefulness of courses is being blocked by university, which claim the results are not trustworthy.Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira talks to Brendan Keylly, Deputy Chief Executive of Information at the Tertiary Education Commission, who defends the survey.
And for Wire Worry Week, Lisa Boudet looks at the differences between an animal right's and an animal welfare's approach to human interactions with animals, and talks to SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation)'s corporate campaigner Jennifer Dutton.
Law and Order Spokesperson for New Zealand First Darroch Ball, does not support drug checking as a harm reduction strategy and is currently blocking a clarification of the Misuse of Drugs Act that would allow the service to be implemented nationally. To find out more, Olivia Holdsworth spoke to KnowYourStuffNZ’s Managing Director, Wendy Allison and began by asking why is drug testing important?
Justin recaps a turbulent week in British politics, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prorogued Parliament last Friday, rouge government MPs forcing through a bill blocking no-deal Brexit and Johnson failing to push for a general election in October.
Sherry talks to 95bfm reporter Justin Wong, to understand the Hong Kong protests against the extradition Bill. Sherry and Steward discuss the retracting of an article from Chinese New Zealand Herald on the protests, and Newsroom recently getting blocked in China along with it's critism of Chinese New Zealand Herald's self censorship.
Today on the Friday Wire, Noah Ferguson-Dudding talks with National Party MP Christopher Luxon, for his regular catch up with the National Party. They discuss faith in politics and social policies at a government level versus a business level.
Jemima Huston speaks to Labour MP Ginny Andersen about her Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage bill, which passed it’s third reading in parliament yesterday.
Noah catches up with School Strike for Climate New Zealand and speaks to Izzy Cook about their next strike in Wellington.
Finally, Noah talks to Murat Üngör about the cargo ship blocking the Suez canal in Egypt.
On Tuesday, a 400 metre long cargo ship become stuck in Egypt's Suez Canal, blocking all other ships from getting through. The Canal is a crucial route for global trade and the blockage may have significant implications for the global economy. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Dr Murat Üngör, a professor in economics from the University of Otago about the significance of the crisis.
James reports on the private Green School in Taranaki recieving more than 10 million dollars in government funding.
Justin caught up with Justice Minister Andrew Little and talked about border testing, raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, and restrictions surrounding referendum campaigns.
On Neighbourhood Watch, Zoe updates Justin on what's happening in Australia on the terms of coronavirus, and indigenous people in Queesland blocking access to a coal mine.
International Desk reports on a coup d'etat in Mali.