The End of Life Choice Referendum is a public vote on whether assisted dying under the End of Life Choice Act 2019 should become part of the law in Aotearoa. If a majority vote "yes" in the referendum, the Act will come into force and if a majority vote "no", the Act will not be able to be accessed.
Jemima Huston explores the number of social and moral issues that surround the Act and assisted dying such as the input of family in the decision, coercion, the responsibility of doctors to preserve life vs. end life, the right for a doctor to opt out and the short "cooling down" period between prescribing and administering a lethal dose.
ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden and University of Auckland Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Ethics Phillipa Malpas provide an insight into these issues and help breakdown what exactly we are voting for in the End of Life Choice Referendum.
Data released by the Real Estate of New Zealand appeared to show the Auckland housing market cooled off slightly last month. After years of skyrocketing prices, relief may be in sight for would-be Auckland homeowners. Is this the beginning of a long-awaited price correction, or just a temporary blip in an otherwise bouyant market? Producer Ben Goldson speaks with CEO of the Real Estate Institute, Bindi Norwell.
Reporters Sam Smith and Mack Smith look into the possibility of Qatari news network Al Jazeera closing in the wake of the ongoing Gulf states diplomatic crisis.
On Dear Science this week, AUT’s Allan Blackman discusses a 600 year old interstellar mystery involving light explosions over Korea which has recently been solved, new nanomachine technology which might hold the key to curing cancer and claims by a conspiracy theorist that the end of the world is nigh as a mysterious planet is about to collide with Earth.
Producer Conor Mercer talks to Chris Farelly of the Auckland City Mission about the five ambitions they have for ending homelessness, and what he thinks the government sitting in Parliament after the weekend will need to do to help.
This week Jemima speaks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the upcoming second reading of the End of Life Choice Bill. The divisive bill will be supported by the whole Green Party despite concern that it does not align with the party's disability policy. Jemima asks James about these issues.
This week, News and Editorial Director Jess asked Brooke about the ACT party’s opposition to introducing new hate speech laws, which the government is set to propose soon.
They also discussed the End of Life Choice Act, as this week marks one year since it became law.
For City Counselling this week, Wire host Caeden spoke with Counsellor Lotu Fuli about the early morning vandalisation of the Rainbow Crossing on Karangahape Road.
They also ask about the end of half-price fares for under 25s, and the relationship Wayne Brown, as well as Auckland Council more generally, has with Auckland Transport.
Weekly Palestine protests have taken place in Britomart since last October, and an action in support of Palestine with several hundred students took place at the University of Auckland last night.
For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden asked Councillor Shane Henderson for his stance on the Palestine protests, as well as Council’s view more generally.
They also ask about the community impacts of half priced public transport for under 25s, which ended on May 1st.