The End of Life Choice Referendum is a public vote on whether assisted dying under the End of Life Choice Act 2019 should become part of the law in Aotearoa. If a majority vote "yes" in the referendum, the Act will come into force and if a majority vote "no", the Act will not be able to be accessed.
Jemima Huston explores the number of social and moral issues that surround the Act and assisted dying such as the input of family in the decision, coercion, the responsibility of doctors to preserve life vs. end life, the right for a doctor to opt out and the short "cooling down" period between prescribing and administering a lethal dose.
ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden and University of Auckland Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Ethics Phillipa Malpas provide an insight into these issues and help breakdown what exactly we are voting for in the End of Life Choice Referendum.
On the first installment of Approach the Bench, Bronwyn speaks to Dr Jane Norton from the University of Auckland Law School about charitable trusts. Historically, a group could not qualify as a charity if they had a political purpose as their main objective. However, since the “political purpose doctrine” was removed in 2014, a number of new groups have become elligble to be charities - provided they can prove their work is for a public benefit - a tricky assesment when the group is politically controversial.
As a result of this, both Greenpeace and Family First suceeded in being granted charitable status earlier this year. It is clear how protecting the environment is a public benefit, but what about Family First who, in campaigning on the importance of the traditional family, hold some harmful views agaisnt abortion, LGBTQ rights and pro-conversion therapy?
Dr Jane Norton discusses whether, in light of these two very different decisions, we should regret the removal of the public purpose doctrine.
With the borders still closed to the rest of thr world, only a small number of people are bring allowed into New Zealand. Justin Sibion, a post graduate law student at the university of Auckland, has been here alone for almost a year as his wife is stuck in Switzerland. Justin talks to James about his struggles so far and what he wants to see happen.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Jemima speaks to Tania Sawicki Mead from Just Speak about the preliminary cannabis referendum results and what the next government must do to reform our drug laws.
Jemima chats live to new Green MP, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, who talks about what she will bring to parliament.
Rainbow Youth Executive Director, Frances Arns talks about the announcement yesterday that the 2023 Census will include sex at birth, gender identity and sexual orientation questions.
Elizabeth Hague from the Department of Conservation speaks to Jemima about a new citizen scientist app that helps with the tracking of blockages in freshwater fish passageways.
Finally, Aska Burge from the New Zealand Blood Service explains the change in criteria for plasma donation and how people can get involved.
Bronwyn speaks to spoke to Act Deputy Leader Brooke Van Velden about the preliminary results of the End of Life Choice referendum. They then speak about Act's recent call to abolish the Human Rights Commission calling it a “hard-left organisation masquerading as a government department”. The Act party cites policies such as a living wage, raising benefits, an extra public holiday and hate speech laws as examples of the Commission’s left-leaning tendencies. Bronwyn asks Brooke whether the opposition is really to the Commission itself, or just the politicisation of the role.
You can listen to last week's interview where producer Jessica Hopkins asked Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Paul Hunt to respond to the Act party’s claim, here.
On Dear Science with Allan we’re talking about water, rats, and diamonds!
Felix spoke to deputy leader of the Act party - Brooke Van Velden about the party’s feelings around the living wage and the three strikes law.
Karanama spoke to Tai Tupou, from the I AM HOPE foundation, about their new children's book ‘TR and Mack the Hopeful Black Dog’, and it’s attempt to change the way we look at and deal with bullying and mental health among our rangatahi
Felix spoke to AAAP Co-ordinator Brooke Stanley Pao about what Labour has and hasn’t done for people in poverty.
Felix also spoke to The Green Party’s Corrections and Human Rights Spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman about human rights abuses in NZ prisons.
While Māori representation in Parliament is guaranteed by the Māori seats, no similar guarantee exists at the level of local government. In fact, the Local Electoral Act 2001 requires proposed Māori wards be put to referendum if 5% of local voters request it. General wards are not subject to such a clause.
ActionStation and Te Rōpū Tautoko Māori are calling on the government to amend this provision, making the law governing Māori wards equal to that which governs general wards.
Hanna spoke to Toni Boynton from Te Rōpū Tautoko Māori about the group's mahi, and what Māori representation means for local government policy, partnership under the Treaty of Waitangi, and democracy itself.
With Australian goverment to debate law this week, Facebook and Alphabet, Google's parent company, could soon have to be paying for news to be on their platforms. With heavy oppoistion from the two companies, James discusses with Richard Pamatatau, a journalism lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, a range of possiblities that could stem from this situation.
This week in studio it is just James and Jade, who bring you a range of different stories to finish off the week.
James starts off with a piece about alcohol consumption with Cath Edmonson from the Health Promotion Agency.
James then also talks to Minister of Conservation, Kiri Allan, about a new type of biodegradable rat trap.
Jade talks to Doctor Richard Stein and Mayor of lower Hutt, Campbell Barry, about their support for the 'I Can't Wait' campain which advocates for people with Crohn's disease and other urgent needs for the bathroom.
Jade then also talks ot Ayesha Waja about her campaign 'Not For You' where they discuss harrassment and discrimination in the music industry.
James talks to Auckland Univeristy of Techonology journalism lecturer, Richard Pamatau, abour Australia's potential independent journalism laws.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons officially became international law today, aiming towards nuclear disarmament and limiting further adoption of nuclear weapons. Hanna spoke to Lucy Stewart, coordinator of the Disarmament and Security Centre in Christchurch, discussing the Treaty and its scope, possible concerns about compliance, and the growing apathy around disarmament.
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