Auckland Council has proposed a change from weekly to fortnightly rubbish collections in its Waste Management Plan 2024.
Ezra spoke to the General Manager of Waste Management at Auckland Council, Parul Sood about how the proposal will affect Aucklanders, particularly those with large households.
For their regular catch-up, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, speaks to ACT’s Simon Court about rates increases facing home-owners across the country and investment in public transport infrastructure.
She also speaks to Jewish New Zealander and Co-Founder of Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation, Justine Sachs, about Winston Peters comments comparing co-governance in Aotearoa to Nazi Germany.
And she speaks to The Future is Rail Spokesperson, Suraya Sidhu Singh, about their opposition to the government’s plans for transport.
Homeowners across the motu are facing an average rates rise of 15 percent in the next year.
Councils say they need to balance the need for investment with affordable rates increases, but that budgetary pressures have reached a “tipping point”.
For their weekly interview, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to ACT’s Simon Court about their party’s stance on investing in local infrastructure, amid the government reducing funding for public transport.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Caeden speaks to Labour spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinneti.
For City Counselling they speak to Auckland Councillor Lotu Fuli about feminist cities.
And they also speak to E Tū negotiation specialist Michael Wood about the job losses at TVNZ.
Jessica spoke to World Vision New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, about their report on the rising cost of basic food items in Aotearoa.
And Jasmine speaks to Dr. Hayden McRobbie from Te Whatu Ora and Sharon Pihema from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation about Youth Vaping Culture in Aotearoa and the efficacy of current prevention initiatives.
The Government is introducing a new bill to Parliament today aiming to fast track consent processes for economic activities such as farming and mining.
Caeden talks about the bill with Greenpeace Spokesperson Genevieve Toop while she was outside Parliament protesting it going ahead.
Associate Education Minister and ACT Party Leader David Seymour has indicated that Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme is under review as the government puts together their new budget.
Ka Ora Ka Ako was introduced under the Labour Government in 2019. The programme currently provides lunches for 220,000 students at a cost to the Government of around $325 million a year.
Seymour has claimed that there is no hard evidence that the programme positively affects academic performance, a claim that is disputed by Health Coalition Aotearoa.
A petition has been launched by the Health Coalition Aotearoa, to advocate for the government to continue supporting the programme.
Nicholas spoke to Co-chair of the coalition Professor Lisa Te Morenga about the programme's benefits, as well as their new petition.
It’s been almost two months since the national hui at Ngāruawāhia, a unifying gathering of Maori and Iwi from across the Motu in response to policies by the coalition government, that many have said are anti-Maori. Despite widespread outrage against these policies, the government has appeared to double down and proceed with controversial moves such as disestablishing the Maori health authority and the proposal of ACT’s treaty principles bill.
In response, Ngāti Kahungunu have called for another national hui to be held in May this year at Ōmahu Marae in Heretaunga, Hastings, where a major point of discussion is expected to be centred around Kotahitanga, or the united Maori movement.
Oto spoke to Eru Kapa-Kingi, a legal academic at the University of Auckland of Te Aupouri and Ngāpuhi descent, and discussed the significance of the next national Hui.
The population of Aotearoa is growing rapidly, increasing by more than 100,000 people annually, with the largest recent growth happening in the years after COVID-19. In order to accommodate for this increase, Aotearoa needs to ensure that there is robust investment going into its public infrastructure so that the growing population has adequate access to services such as medical care and public transport.
Currently, the coalition government seems to be ensuring the opposite of that, cutting around $2.4 billion in expenditure across the public sector to fund tax cuts as part of their commitment to what they call “fiscal responsibility”. As a result, it is speculated that already limited and struggling public services in Aotearoa will become more scarce and inaccessible to both Kiwis and the growing population.
Oto spoke to Craig Renney, the economist and director of policy at the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, who wrote a report titled “Investing in a growing population” that specifically details the problem and impacts of public spending cuts on the growing population here in Aotearoa.
Last week, three unions representing care and support workers delivered an open letter with over 9,100 signatures to Te Whatu Ora demanding urgent action on their pay equity claim.
Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Public Service Association Delegate and Mental Health Support Worker, Christie Cox, about the current situation for care and support workers in Aotearoa and the significance of the letter being delivered on International Women’s Day.
In our weekly interview with National’s James Meager, wire host Castor talked about the government’s mortgage tax deduction policy and fuel excise tax. The mortgage tax reduction policy allows landlords to claim tax deductions on interest from mortgages on their properties.
Notably, these tax deductions can increase to up to 100% of the mortgage interest rate, and will not apply to those who own one home.
Additionally, a week before this interview, Transport Minister Simeon Brown unveiled the government’s transport policy. While not technically introducing a fuel tax, the government does plan to increase the excise tax on fuel, which in practical terms does mean you will be taxed more on the fuel you buy. The policy has been met with controversy, especially given promises during the election campaign to not introduce a fuel tax. Castor discussed this issue with James Meager and how the decision may be seen as hypocritical.
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