Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has officially launched the H2 Taranaki Roadmap, a plan set to make Taranaki a leader in hydrogen production. However, Climate Justice Taranaki is concerned that the plan is a distraction that allows New Zealand to keep the fossil fuel industry afloat despite the global climate crisis. Jemima speaks to Climate Justice Taranaki Researcher, Catherine Cheung, about the new plan and whether it is good news or bad news.
Yesterday it was announced a capital gains tax would not be adopted by current government. As noted by Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, the coalition couldn't come to a consensus on this matter. Laura Kvigstad explains what this means in terms of New Zealand economic development, our relationship to investment in the housing market as well as the power dynamic between landlords to vulnerable tennants.
Last week Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the government would be canning the discussions around implementing a capital gains tax. Auckland Action Against Poverty coordinator, Ricardo Menendez March, says this is disappointing. Jemima speaks to Ricardo about how the government's decision will affect New Zealanders.
This week on the Southern Cross, Pacific Media Watch contributing editor Michael Andrew talks to Jemima about the police raids on journalists in Australia, the increased aid and funding Australia and New Zealand are pumping into the Pacific, and former Prime Minister of Papua Guinea, Peter O'Neill's resignation.
On today's Wire, we cover a range of topics, from Mangrove Mitch's Green Desk about methane emissions by living organisms. to Rahul's interview of Leo Koziol, curator of the Maoei and Pasifika short film program of the NZIFF. We also discuss short-term loan alleged bad practices, and International Desk takes us to Greece, where a new Prime Minister has been elected.
For years now, the development of Ihumātao has been a contentious topic for everyone involved. In 2014 Auckland City, using the Special Housing Areas Act, designated 32 hectares adjacent to the Ōtuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve as a 'Special Housing Area'. This decision has since divided both iwi and public opinion. Here are a few segments dedicated to this, firstly the history of Ihumātao, then the Prime Minister commenting on the issue, an excerpt from a speech made by organiser Pania Newton, and some live coverage and discussion around what was happening at the site on the morning of the 24th July - the day after Fletcher officials and NZ Police moved onto the site to serve an eviction notice.
It's The Thursday Wire with Stewart Sowman-Lund and Deb Rawson!
This week:
The Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has lashed out at coalition partner Labour, over their handling of the abortion law debate. Commentator Ben Thomas breaks down what this means for the government.
Plus, the Official Cash Rate dropped yesterday by 50 basis points… double market expectations. But what is the official cash rate? And why should we care that it’s dropped. Economist Shamubeel Eaqub explains it in language we can all, hopefully, understand.
After that, Justice Minister Andrew Little is here for his weekly catch-up. Stewart asks him whether he was blindsided by Winston Peters’ talk of a referendum on abortion use.
Then, as protests at Ihumatao continue, Deb asks what this all means from a legal perspective.
And finally - we’ll catch up with our Australian Correspondent to get all the latest news from across the ditch in Neighbourhood Watch!
Producer Bronwyn Wilde spoke to Don Carson from Forest Owners Association. This interview arose out of an earlier interview last month with a representative from 50 Shades of Green - a group of farmers who are concerned about the Billion Trees program encouraging investors to buy up prime farmland in order to plant trees and reap the carbon credits. The main takeaway from that initial interview was that 50 Shades of Green wanted those billion trees to be native, and planted on marginal land.
Don Carson heard this interview and got in contact to defend pines and forestry as the solution to sequester our carbon in the short term, and supply jobs for farmers who will be forced to change their lifestyles.
He began by telling us what he sees as the weaknesses of the 50 Shades of Green campaign.
The labour party have been subject to seven formal complaints, and up to twelve general complaints regarding a labour staffer who works around parliament. No disciplinary action was taken by the party when these complaints were looked into in March, and Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has since admitted the party did not handle the complaints as well as they could have.
Sherry spoke to University of Auckland Employment law professor Dr Bill hodge to understand where a political party falls under employment law and why investigations have been kept internally so far.
This day in history goes back to 1953 for the flight of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi from Iran amidst a coup which ousted democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
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