National’s Denise Lee joins Laura Kvigstad for their weekly chat. This week they chat about National MP David Bennet's comments concerning covid 19 and the criticism the party has had from New Zealand's leading microbiologist, Souxsie Wiles. Then they chat about the National Party's calls for a tax cut for middle-income earners to address economic concerns around the coronavirus. Finally, they chat about the protests at National's 22nd Bluegreen conference...
Then, producer, Louis Laws speaks with Emilie Rakete from People Against Prisons Aotearoa on the Arms down Coalition & the national day of action against the police...
And finally, Sam Denne, speak with Terry Bellamak from Abortion Law Reform Association NZ about the Abortion Legislation Bill that has just passed it’s second reading. They talk about the ways in which the public conversation around law reform puts extra demands onto pregnant people to speak about highly emotional experiences they have when accessing reproductive healthcare.
At the beginning of the week the government extended its wage subsidy scheme as part of its response to the new Covid-19 outbreak in the Community. Jemima Huston talks to Barnaby Locke, an Associate at Dundas Street Employment Lawyers about how the wage subsidy scheme works in relations to Aotearoa's employment law and what issues employees and employers are having when actioning the scheme at their place of work.
Proposed changes to New Zealand's hate speech laws have created controversy and debate throughout the political world over the past week. While the government argues the changes will stop individuals inciting violence against other groups, National and the ACT Party claim the proposals infringe on freedom of speech.
Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Professor Paul Spoonley who has written extensively on hate speech and terrorism. They discussed what the proposals change to the current system, the relationship between hate speech and free speech, and whether New Zealand can regulate extreme content online.
The SPCA is calling for a reform on cat laws. Charlie spoke to Debra Ashton, CEO of SAFE NZ, about how the reofrm could effect our cats for better or worse. Jessi Morgan, CEO of Predator Free NZ, also discussed the issue, focusing on the environmental impacts of the reform and how this could help cat population.
A new study from The Children's Hospital Westmead in Sydney has identified that babies who pass away from SIDS have a significantly lower level of a specific enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) that is imperative in the brain’s arousal pathways.
Stella speaks with Fay Selby-Law, General manager of the National SUDI Prevention Coordination Service about the implications of this research on the picture of SIDS in Aotearoa.
After years of campaigning by community groups to table better protection against hate speech, the government has announced that law reform will be postponed and referred to the Law Commission. While some claim this move better recognises the right to freedom of expression, others argue the right should be balanced against other rights, such as the right to freedom from discrimination.
Hanna spoke to Lisa Woods, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand's Campaigns Director, about Aotearoa's hate speech laws, why reform is urgently needed, and what can be done in the interim.
Concerns have been raised that Aotearoa’s social welfare system has problematic aspects that contribute to hardship, such as the continuation of repayable grants that are taken from people’s benefit, which advocates say are already too low.
Olivia spoke to Auckland Law School’s Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Equity, Hanna Wilberg, about the issues with our current system and where people can go for help.
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission recently released a fact sheet explaining the connection between human rights, te Tiriti o Waitangi and co-governance.
Professor of Law at the University of Auckland Claire Charters says that ‘the fact sheet helps to unpack co-governance arrangements in Aotearoa New Zealand and how they are consistent with a modern, liberal democracy.’
Beth spoke with Professor Charters about the relationship between co-governance, te Tiriti o Waitangi and human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, and how our co-governance arrangement could better reflect te Tiriti and the rights of indigenous peoples. She began by asking about the importance of co-governance.
An independent panel was appointed by the Minister of Justice in May to lead a review of Aotearoa’s electoral law.
The independent electoral review will look at election rules such as the voting age and overseas voting funding of political parties.
The panel is looking for people to share their thoughts on what could make our electoral system better before it makes its final recommendations to the Government at the end of 2023.
Host, Jessica spoke to Victoria University student and disability advocate Alice Mander, about what the panel is expected to discuss and who they want to hear from.
Following the largest turnout at Waitangi commemorations in modern history, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Professional Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland Law School, Eru Kapa-Kingi (Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi, Waikato-Tainui, and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), about his impression of what went down and how members of government were received.