This week, Jogai and Jess look at the University of Auckland's staff strike, and the Māori Women's Development Inc. about promoting social enterprise for Māori. Jess also catches up with Predator Free New Zealand to learn more about their partnership with the Holiday Parks Association, and bFM's news director Ximena Smith chats with the co-founder of MyBitcoinSaver Sam Blackmore about their exciting new venture. Andrew Little is also back for our weekly chat. All this and more on the Thursday Wire - check out the full podcast here.
The Government has decided to allow oil drilling in 35.5 percent of the North Island’s Maui dolphin sanctuary, as well as along the shores of picturesque Lake Te Anau and Fiordland National Park. The Green Party announced on Wednesday that this will create major risks for New Zealand’s clean, green tourism brand, as well as putting the already endangered Maui Dolphins at risk. Earlier this week, Producer Jess Smith spoke to Green Party spokesperson Gareth Hughes to find out more about the issue, and began by asking about the government’s announcement yesterday.
A controversial water treatment plant is being proposed for a section of native bush just outside of the Titirangi township. The original plan had the plant situated in Oratia, with Watercare stating 12 houses would be required to be removed. However, a successful protest from the community has stalled this proposal, with Watercare now considering an alternative site - a four hectare patch of land which barriers Exhibition Drive, Woodlands Park Road and Manuka Road. Local residents voiced their concerns in early June by placing placards on trees with words such as "Watercare, don't chop me down”. On the Green Desk yesterday, Lily Peacocke spoke with the Titirangi Residents and Ratepayers Association, Dr Mels Barton, regarding this contentious issue, but residents are saying she represents only a small section of the Titirangi community. To illuminate an alternative perspective, 95bFM reporter Adam Jacobson speaks with the Titirangi Protection Group’s president, Simon Kitson.
On The Wire for Monday the 16th of October, Joel is joined by Producers Sam, and Leonard.
Jack Marshall had a chat with Dr Benjamin Cohen About volcanic activity on Mars. Joel talked to Green Party leader James Shaw about a lack of transparency in negotiation talks.
AUT Pacific Media Centre’s Kendall Hutt will be talked to Seinafo Lava Sanele Chadwick, a political reporter from Tangata Pacifica for Southern Cross.
Producer Sam Smith made a report on the Tuhoi Terror raids which happened ten years ago.
Finally, producer Leonard caught up with Pauanesia owner Heather Gerbic to get an insight into how parking affects central Auckland businesses
Lucy Austin Speaks to Emmy Rakete from People Against Prisons Aotearoa about their protest against solitary confinement.
On the Green desk, Conor Mercer speaks with Caitlin Carew from Forest and Bird about the declining Hoiho/yellow-eyed penguin population on the Whenua Hou sanctuary Island in Foveaux Strait.
Pacific academic Scott Hamilton says New Zealand shares some of the blame for conflict on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island. Mack Smith finds out more.
Jack Marshal has a chat to landscape architect Thomas Woltz about the future of Cornwall Park and the legacy of private philanthropy.
Lastly, the Pacific nation of Palau has lost as much as half of its tourism economy cut after China imposed a ban. Mack Smith talks to an expert in Taiwan-Pacific relations to understand why.
Today, among other things, we’ve got fish chat, lego & hot water.
Firstly we hear from Producer Leonard Powell who is in the Coromandel at the moment. He has a great piece on the inclusion of parking fees at the iconic Hot Water Beach.
Reuben McLaren chats to Green MP & Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter about the National Party petitioning the government to implement various highway projects.
On the Green Desk, Conor Mercer learns about the impact marine vessel noise can have on sea life.
Reporter Mark Casson talks to Greenpeace about Norway’s decision to allow oil drilling in the Arctic
And finally, Reuben McLaren finds out why his Lego collection is growing exponentially.
Today on the Green Desk, Bronwyn had a kо̄rero with Phil Jones from the Sustainable Business Network about their GulfX project which aims to restore the mauri of the Hauraki Gulf. The recently published State of our Gulf report highlighted the increasingly dire state of the marine park. Some of the more shocking statistics of the included the occurrence of ten mass mortality events due to fish and shellfish in the gulf in the past ten years, and nine toxic algal blooms. This is due in part to the fact that 3,730 tonnes of nitrogen flow into the Firth of Thames from rivers in Hauraki each year. Crayfish are also functionally extinct in the Gulf, despite once being one of its most abundant species.
While overfishing is undeniable a serious cause of biodiversity loss, the GulfX project chose to focus on some of the lesser-known terrestrial sources of environmental degradation such as sediment, plastic and heavy metals.
Phil began by telling Bronwyn what we mean when we talk about the Hauraki Gulf:
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