Last week the Green Party unanimously agreed to use the Waka Jumping legislation to remove former Green MP Darleen Tana from parliament.
The party has historically been against the legislation, with a long-standing history of opposing waka-jumping laws and their use.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, Producer Evie asked what the ACT party’s views on this decision were, considering the ACT Party was the last to use the legislation in 2003, removing Donna Awatere Huata who was accused of fraud.
They also discuss Gore district council’s plan to designate the entire region as a site of cultural significance, which the ACT party strongly opposes, calling it a ‘land grab.’
And finally, they talk about the University of Auckland introducing a compulsory course focused around Te Tiriti o Waitangi for all students - which the ACT party has been vocally opposing.
Trans Tasman Resource Limited is an Australian Mining company who have been looking to acquire consents for a seabed mining project in the Taranaki bight for more than a decade.
The Taranaki bight is home to a biodiverse ecosystem and a crucial spot for local fishers, and so fierce opposition from locals has been able to thwart attempts by Trans Transsman Resource to gain consents for the project.
However, with the introduction of fast-track legislation, there are concerns that the company may be able to bypass local opposition and environmental experts to gain consents and begin deep sea mining in the Taranaki Bight.
For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Charlotte Melser, a district councillor in Whanganui, about her petition to the local government to continue blocking attempts by Trans Tasman Resources to gain consents to mine in the Taranaki bight.
The National party has rolled a series of new proposals aimed at dealing with violent gangs, if they were to win the 2020 election. They’ve said they want to take a much stronger stance than the current government, promising new laws ranging from banning gang patches to revoking parole for those associated with gangs to the setting up of a new task force, modelled after a prolific New South Wales unit called “Strike Force Raptor”. This is apparently only the beginning of a broader “gang action plan” that National has promised to release by next year. Meanwhile Corrections minister Kelvin Davis called the document a "mishmash of reheated ideas", stating that the focus should be on anyone who breaks the law rather than specific groups. University of Auckland Criminologist Dr Ron Kramer said the proposals were "transparently pathetic", "overblown propaganda", and that they provide no substantive impact on crime. William Boyd spoke with Manukau ward councillor Efeso Collins, who has been outspoken in the past about opening up conversation with gangs as opposed to cracking down on them. William started off by asking him for his input on the new proposals.
Gang Of Four Show live-to-air from Verona on Karangahape Rd, Auckland; 7-11pm. First 90 minutes w/ (in order) Renee, The Professor, & Phil A. (30 mins set each). Podcast then unfortunately cut-off before Pat did his first set.
The Far North District Council has changed its Māori name to Te Hiku o te Ika ahead of Waitangi Day.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Far North Mayor Moko Tepania about this decision, and the significance of the name change to him and the Far North community.
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