For our weekly catch-up, New and Editorial Director spoke to Te Pati Māori's Takutai Kemp about the government increasing benefit sanctions as well as the government announcing new support for Ukraine and the Prime Ministers of New Zealand, Australia, and Canada issuing a joint statement urging Israel against a military operation in Rafah.
Marc Daalder gives us some Political Commentary about Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's layout of the priority list for the following three months, as well as the budget forcasting set out for 2024. On Breakfast Food, Lucinda speaks to Masterchef NZ's Alice Taylor about Alice's new book Alice in Cakeland. We also chat to Alix Whittaker, Auckland City Manager of the upcoming 48HR film festival. Last but not least we recap your Top Ten. Whakarongo mai nei!
Last week, an independent review was conducted into Kainga Ora, homes and communities, by former Prime Minister Bill English. The review made the claim that Kainga Ora was financially unviable, and made seven recommendations to the government aimed at improving the agency’s financial performance, of which the government has agreed to implement four.
However, social housing advocates have expressed concern regarding the review and government response, saying that it would undermine the construction of social housing and give the Government the ability to sell Kainga Ora properties to private developers.
Rachel spoke to Vanessa Cole, a spokesperson for public housing, to gather her perspectives on the review of Kainga Ora, and what it means for social housing development in Aotearoa.
The New Zealand police association are calling for ACT MP, Nicole McKee, to be stripped of her responsibility in the firearms reform.
The police union’s president, Chris Cahill, in an open letter to Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, says McKee had included 17 firearms interest groups in a targeted consultation process for the review, with only 8 of the groups who many differ in views.
The police association was not included in the groups discussing the review.
For our weekly catch up I spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about Nicole Mckee, these calls for her to step down, and what this will mean for gun reform in Aotearoa.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Chris Luxon, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop, announced the government’s plans to push on with a number of infrastructure projects, worth about $6 billion dollars.
The government-funded construction plans which they say will generate thousands of jobs for NewZealanders, are expected to get underway by Christmas this year.
Politicians from both the Green Party and the Labour Party have responded with criticism to the announcement, saying that the government’s decisions and commitments around funding and public spending cuts have not been effective in uplifting the economy or increasing productivity
arlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum that made international headlines.
The speech was focused on the future of global politics in the face of a world increasingly shaped by threats and hard power, and the need for “middle power” states to cooperate.
For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Stewart Prest, Lecturer in Political Science at the University of British Columbia, about Mark Carney’s speech.
Following the US official withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has called into question New Zealand’s membership in the organisation.
With Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warning of a “rupture” in the world order, political leaders in New Zealand are holding sharper focus on how we conduct ourselves internationally, especially with the United States.
This week, Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamilton about New Zealand’s relationship with the US, and our position on the global stage.
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