Last week, the government announced the Ka Ora Ka Ako, Health School Lunches Programme, would receive $478 million dollars in funding in the government’s upcoming annual Budget, to keep the programme running for the next two years, but at a lower cost.
We also saw Transpower, Aotearoa's national grid operator, warning of possible insufficient power generation to meet households' demand on Friday.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to MP Simon Court about this as well as comments on boycotting pro-Israel businesses, and NZ First introducing a bill that would ban transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
For Transgender Awareness Week, Joel spoke to Artie Ho, who is helping to run a Trans Community Day at the Ellen Melville Centre on Saturday, the 26th of November, as well as playing music from a variety of different trans masc, femme, and non-binary artists.
As well as this, Joel spoke to RuPauls Drag Race Down Under season 4 contestant, Olivia Dreams, starting off a new segment of the show, where Joel will speak to every drag queen on the show as the season progresses!
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni about the recent cross-party delegation to the Pacific, New Zealand First’s new trans-exclusionary members' bill and Winston Peters’ threat to cut RNZ’s funding.
For International Desk, they spoke to Jane Fae, director at TransActual UK, about the UK Supreme Court decision that excludes trans women from the legal definition of a “woman.”
For City Counselling, Wire Producer Sara spoke with Auckland Councillor Julie Fairey about the intense weather of the Easter weekend, as well as latest developments in Auckland’s public transport system.
She also spoke with climate activist Adam Currie from this week’s protest at the Stockton mine which is seeking a fast-track approval for activity expansion.
Breaking Boundaries is a grassroots LGBTQI creative arts organisation doing heaps of awesome projects and initiatives for the local queer community. Coming up tomorrow is a queer open mic night down at Grid AKL Tech Cafe - the event is open for everyone, and is about encouraging young queer and trans voices to take the stage and share their experiences with the crowd (with a few performances from special guests in the mix as well!). Ximena caught up with Breaking Boundaries co-founder Joni Nelson to find out more about the event.
We speak to National MP, Jami-Lee Ross about the housing plan the government announced where they are planning to build 34,000 over the next decade. We also speak about the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement that appears to be going forward and what that means for New Zealanders.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw joins Wire host Amanda Jane Robinson to talk about the party's new parental leave policy package and the updated Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement without the United States.
On today's Wire we have journalist Rod Oram talking about the new ministerial line-up, as well as former MP Te Ururoa Flavell on Maori representation in parliament.
Lachlan speaks to Dr Jane Kelsey, from the University of Auckland's Law Faculty, about the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and we have our regular State of the States feature with Nick Sawhney.
Finally we have This Day in History, which takes us back to 1955 and the creation of the Republic of Vietnam.
Producer Conor caught up with Professor Jane Kelsey from the University of Auckland Law Department. Kelsey updated us on the recent developments in negotiations of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, and discussed possible motivations for states to pursue or reject the deal.
Shaq, Shaq & Jess joined Hunter in studio today to chat about Filth AKL. A club night that has morphed into a community centered around prioritising Queer, Trans & Non-Binary People of Colour in the local music scene. Filth AKL is set to appear at Laneway Festival at the end of the month. Hear about all this & check out what they chose below.
Sho Madjozi - John Cena
Sheneseea - Hard Drive
Gafacci - Kaala
Australia's Chief Medical Officer took part in our own Epidemic Response Committee this week, so Mary-Margaret asked Zoe if subsequent discussions about a possible trans tasman tourism bubble have been taking place across the ditch too. We also finally have some happier than usual news: Zoe tells Mary-Margaret about Thylacine, the newest DC character who is an Aboriginal woman from Pilbara.