Auckland Council's Economic Development Agency and Regional Facilities arm Tataki Auckland Unlimited has just announced the loss of 200 full time roles after being asked by the Mayor to find budget cuts of between $27.5m and $44.5m. In 2021 the Economic Development agency attracted nearly $440m of attributable direct private sector investment across all sectors. So far this financial year the agency has attracted nearly $305m into the screen sector alone. Alex spoke to Pam Ford, Director Investment and Industry at Tataki Auckland Unlimited about what a well-functioning economic development agency means for Auckland.
For their weekly interview, News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to the ACT Party’s Karen Chhour about school teachers striking on Thursday and the Auckland Council’s budget proposal.
She also discussed the significance of Michelle Yeoh's Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards and Asian representation in the film industry with Filmmaker and Co-Founder of the Pan-Asian Screen Collective, Shuchi Kothari.
Producer Daniel Teunissen spoke to Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, Ritesh Shah, about the influence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on other humanitarian crises.
He also asked philosopher Neil Durrant about his reasons not to be a stoic and why we should instead look at the philosophy of Nietzsche.
The Loafer's Lodge fire has demanded better scrutiny around the management of New Zealand's boarding houses but problems have been going on for years and with weak regulation it is very difficult for councils to push for better standards. MP Jenny Salesa has a private member's bill in the biscuit tin that proposes a register be set up at the industry's cost that will provide better oversight of the sector. Alex Bonham talked to her about how this would work and how it would improve protections for vulnerable people and expose bad landlords.
Andrea Braakhuis is a registered dietitian and associate professor of nutrition at the University of Auckland. Arno caught up with her to find out more about Jenny Craig closing, the latest dieting trends, and to find out what works and what a healthy person looks like.
Listen in to find out more about what you can do to be more healthy, and whether weight loss is necessary to achieve this.
Arno started the interview by asking to find out a bit more about the weight loss industry.
ACT Party Leader David Seymour made a comment comparing Palestine's right to defend itself against Israel with China's treatment of Uyghurs, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
For our regular catch-up witht the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins asked Court about these comments, and why ACT has taken a stance against the Palestinian community.
ACT MP Simon Court discussed ACT’s proposal for primary industries they announced at the Fieldays agricultural event and party leader David Seymour's comments comparing Palestine to Russia and China.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins also spoke to Palestinian New Zealander and descendant of Palestinian refugees Tameem Shaltoni and John Minto from the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa about Seymour's comments.
Caeden spoke to Kay from We Back Our Kaiako about their upcoming protest in support of teachers.
They also talked to Jack from RainbowPath about the ramifications of the Human Rights Campaign's decision to declare a state of emergency for LGBTQIA+ people in the US.
And Nicholas spoke to Dr Kelly Garton from the University of Auckland about the impact of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme and the petition to extend it.
The Grocery sector has been in the spotlight since it was reported that food prices increased 12.5 percent from last year.
This increase in food prices matched with a cost of living crisis has left many New Zealanders choosing between which of their basic needs is most important.
However, the cause of the cost of living crisis has had little effect on supermarket profits, with the two biggest supermarket retailers in New Zealand recording a combined profit of 430 million dollars last year.
In an unprecedented move, the Labour government has chosen to create a new commission to look at measures needed to regulate the supermarket industry in order to get fairer prices for ordinary Kiwis
Nicholas spoke to newly appointed grocery commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about his experience and his ideas on what needs to change in the grocery sector.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, host Spike Keith spoke to Simon Court about NIWA’s El Nino forecast, and ACT’s new policy around privately built highways.
They also spoke to Auckland University urban planning researcher Dr. Tim Welch about the use of misinformation in opposition to the Great North Road cycleway project.
Rawan Saadi spoke with Lisa Woods, spokesperson for Amnesty International, about the two reports that were released by the Office of the Ombudsman concerning the state of prisons in Aotearoa
Caeden Tipler spoke to E Tū Union Director Sarah Thompson about why cleaners from several industrial cleaning companies are picketing for fairer wages and conditions.
And on Tomorrow's World, a segment that looks into issues around science, technology and the environment, Leilani Cardosa spoke with Professor Paul Glue from the University of Otago about the use of Ketamine injections to treat depression.
Spike speaks to ACT's Karen Chhour about the party's new 2 rate tax policy along with the Green Party's free dental care policy, and 95bFM's Water Reporter Marnie Prickett on the new freshwater farm policy rollout, and the pushback it's receiving from farmers and agriculture industry groups.
Hanna speaks to Te Pāti Māori candidate Takutai Kemp about the party's proposed tax reforms and policy going into October's election.
Caeden speaks to Urs Signer from Climate Justice Taranaki about their petition to stop oil and gas drilling in Taranaki.
Andre speaks to Otago professor Janet Hoak about the new WHO report on Aotearoa's "world leading" tobacco reduction policy, and the future of Smokefree 2025.
Cleaners at Auckland Airport are going on strike to protest a pay increase of zero this year.
They are also campaigning for a Fair Pay Agreement, a process where unions work with companies to ensure fair pay for union members.
E tū union is the biggest private sector union in New Zealand, representing workers from dozens of industries.
Arno spoke with director Sarah Thompson to find out more about Fair Pay Agreements and how they function.
Next, Arno spoke with FIRST Union organiser Nicholas Mayne. Last week on Friday workers at the Warehouse took strike action, protesting a low wage and dangerously low staffing levels in stores. Arno set out to find out more about the strike and what can be done going forward to improve conditions for low-paid workers.
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