The Wire with Caeden

On Thursday last week, the coalition government passed legislation to reverse the ban on oil and gas exploration — a ban which had been initiated by the previous government in 2018.

Minister Shane Jones who drove the reversal, highlighted the impact of the ban on economic growth and energy supply in New Zealand. Opposition parties have voiced concerns about the impact of this decision for New Zealand’s climate commitments.

As well, yesterday Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford announced an overhaul of the NCEA system, to be replaced with qualifications that they say will be better to understand, and more aligned with international standards.

Finally, as the United States places 15% tariffs on NZ exports, the Labour party have said the government needs to do more to strengthen our trade relationships to avoid a rise in the cost of living for kiwis.

Host Sara spoke with National MP Carl Bates about all these topics. Sara started by asking him to explain the government’s decision to reverse the ban on oil and gas exploration in New Zealand.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about the FBI opening up an office in Wellington, and multiple countries announcing their plans to formally recognise Palestinian statehood, and whether we plan to here, in Aotearoa.

Producer Alex spoke to the Co-Director of the Geothermal Institute at the University of Auckland, Dr John O’Sullivan, about the Government’s recent Draft strategy for geothermal energy, and what geothermal energy means for Aotearoa.

Joel spoke to Professor George Laking from Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupu Centre for Cancer Research at the University of Auckland, about new research, showing hospitalisations of cardiovascular diseases increasing following tropical cyclones.

And Alex spoke to Workers First Union Organiser Jas Giri about Foodstuffs North Island’s promise that the workers displaced by the Victoria Park New World Fire would be rehired at the new Point Chevalier store, which has not fully come to fruition.

Whakarongo mai!

Following the fire at the Victoria Park New World, Foodstuffs North Island promised to hire displaced workers at the soon to open New World Point Chevalier.

However, with the opening of the Point Chevalier store on the 19th of August, a significant number of displaced employees remain out of work, with 40% without job offers, as their paycheques come to an end.

Producer Alex spoke to Workers First Union Organiser Jas Giri about Foodstuffs’ promise, the current rehiring situation, and what the Union would like to see in the near future from Foodstuffs.

Recent findings from 6 countries, including New Zealand, of over 6.5 million cardiovascular disease hospitalisations, show a correlation between hospitalisations and the aftermath following a tropical cyclone.

The research looked into the hospitalisations of six different cardiovascular diseases, and showed that hospitalisations increased two months following a tropical cyclone and continued for six months after.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Professor George Laking from Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupu Centre for Cancer Research at the University of Auckland about this study, and a similar study he helped conduct following Cyclone Gabrielle - ‘Te Weu me Te Wai’