For our weekly catch up with the Green Party, Rawan spoke with co-leader Marama Davidson about several topics that have been of concern recently.
The first topic was around COP28 which is currently being held in Dubai and is being attended by a few of Aotearoa’s leaders including CLimate change minister Simon Watts and Green party co-leader James Shaw. Rawan asked about what the green party hopes to achieve and represent in this year’s conference.
They then spoke about the new government's plans to review Te Tiriti o Waitangi and what this will mean for Aotearoa. Rawan also asked about the government’s plans to scrap the fair pay agreement and the impact this will have on working kiwis.
Finally they spoke about Prime minister Christopher Luxon’s statement this morning alongside Leaders form Canada and Australia which essentially called for a ceasefire in Gaza amidst the war with israel.
For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, Jess asked MP Simon Court about how ACT was received at Waitangi, after Seymour and other members of government were reportedly drowned out with booing and a protest Waiata.
At Waitangi, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said National would not support ACT’s Treaty Principles bill past its first reading. Jess asked Court about his thoughts on this.
During his State of the Nation speech in Palmerston North this weekend, Winston Peters compared co-governance in Aotearoa to Nazi Germany.
In a statement, Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation, called the Deputy Prime Minister's comments anti-Māori and anti-Semitic.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Jewish New Zealander and Dayenu Co-Founder Justine Sachs, about what she believes the consequences are of a statement like this coming from a senior politician like Peters.
Sunday, March 31st, marked international transgender day of visibility, a day meant to highlight the achievements of transgender individuals and communities around the world and highlight the many legal struggles still affecting them.
Wire host Castor talked to James about what the government has to offer our trans rangatahi, especially given policies promoted by New Zealand First Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters before the election. They also spoke about the Fast Track Approvals Bill and the possible environmental consequences.
Last week, the High Court overturned a summons by the Waitangi Tribunal to Minister for Children Karen Chhour regarding the government's plans to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act.
Section 7AA requires Oranga Tamariki by law to improve outcomes for tamariki Māori in state care and adhere to the principles of Te Tiriti.
For their weekly interview, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, asked ACT MP Simon Court about why Chhour has refused to present evidence to the tribunal.
They also discussed comments made in ACT's recent Free Press newsletter, which claimed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has “styled himself as an elite, advertising his credentials as a former corporate CEO” and described Winston Peters as having more time at the centre of Government than any other current politician and that he "becomes much more erudite once elected".
The coalition government recently introduced legislation aimed at rolling back the establishment of Maori wards in local constituencies, requiring local councils to hold a referendum if they brought in wards without first polling residents or to scrap the wards that they have.
The Waitangi tribunal consider the legislation to be a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principle prioritising, as they say the crown failed to consult with the tribunal or Maori stakeholders, and that the move will undermine the role of Maori and Iwi in local governments.
For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to the Green party’s Ricardo Menendez March to discuss the Maori Wards rollback. We also had a chat about the recent review of Kainga Ora, as well as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s speech at the national party conference.
Last month, the 2024 Indian general elections were held, leading to the third re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
To many, the re-election of Modi signals the rise of Hindu nationalism in Indian society and the country’s shift towards theocracy and authoritarianism.
Associate Professor and Director of Global Studies in the University of Auckland Faculty of Arts, Chris Ogden, talked to us about the significance of Modi’s election victory and why we should be keeping a closer eye on the world’s largest democracy.
From 2026 the government will introduce standardised testing for reading, writing and maths across all primary schools.
Year one students will be required to sit phonics tests at 20 and 40 weeks of schooling and years 3-6 will be required to take PAT and e-asTTle. Around 60% of schools already use this type of testing.
The reason for the introduction of testing is to improve education levels which are not up to standard, according to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Education minister Erica Standford stated testing is important to keep parents informed about their child’s progress. Stanford continued that the tests will allow teachers and principals with the data to track in aggregate their school’s performance.
Producer Elle spoke to Faculty of Education and Social Work PhD student Tom Pearce about the policy.
As the conflict in Gaza continues, the Palestinian death toll is surpassing 38,000.
Israel is also planning to go ahead with three illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Additionally, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon came forward yesterday to condemn Russia’s attack on a hospital in Kyiv, something that many are calling out as hypocritical amidst his silence on the bombing of hospitals in Gaza.
Producer Rawan spoke with John Minto from Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa about what these illegal settlements are and what the New Zealand government can do.
She also discussed the Palestinian solidarity rallies and their continued importance.
Wire host Caeden speaks to Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime about the beginning of boot camps for youth offenders at the end of this month and funding cuts at Oranga Tamariki.
They speak to Dr Simone Watkins from the University of Auckland about the importance of equitable approaches for Māori, Pacific, and Indian communities in our health system.
And they speak to the University of Auckland’s Liz Beddoe about the state of reproductive justice in the United States two years on from the overturning of Roe v Wade.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about flood prevention work in Māngere and Muriwai as well as increasing public safety in Auckland’s CBD.
Tuesday Wire host Castor spoke to Professor of business at the University of Auckland, Alex Sims, about the history and impact of planned obsolescence.
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