The Wire with Caeden

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party Oto spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March about the recently published inflation statistics, The Greens call to lower the voting age to 16 and The most recent unemployment statistics on beneficiaries.

For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke with Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab from Thyme for Action about a petition of hers calling for the Palmerston North City Council to adopt a ceasefire motion and ethical investment policy in response to Israel’s war in Gaza.

And he spoke with Marnie Prickett from the University of Otago in Wellington and the Public Health Association about the Public Health Association’s freshwater policy statement.

News and Editorial Director Joel, spoke to Richard Jackson — a Professor in Peace Studies at the University of Otago, about the government’s potential overhaul of the Terrorism Suppression Act, and how this could potentially impact free speech and political participation.

This week Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka spoke in an interview about the potential effect of changes to emergency housing on the rising number of homeless people in New Zealand.

While he proudly announced that the Government had met its target to reduce emergency housing numbers by 75%, he acknowledged that ‘many’ have reported the effect of government policies on increased numbers of people rough sleeping. 

Especially in Auckland, observations and reports of homelessness have increased substantially, with community leaders and Auckland council urging the government to deliver a more effective policy response to alleviating the issue. 

While Potaka was not willing to admit that government policies have been a main contributor to rising homelessness, there has been a clear public callout for meaningful change from the central government

The government’s $231m boost for breakthrough technology has drawn praise for being a step forward, but scientists, researchers, and academics have criticised the risks involved– and how the money was reallocated. 

Producer Faith spoke to Professor Nicola Gaston from the University of Auckland about the investment, and the potential opportunities it will create.

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Daniel Thomas, chats with us about snake and spider venom, saber-toothed tiger extinction, and penguin travel patterns, thanks to MOTAT.

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire Host Sara asks about the government’s recent $6billion infrastructure announcement.

Sara also speaks to youth homelessness advocate Aaron Hendry about the rise of homelessness in light of Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka’s most recent interview.

Producer Faith spoke to the University of Auckland’s Nicola Gaston about the government’s $231m support of breakthrough technology, and whether there are any concerns about AI and synthetic biology.

Faith also spoke to the University of Otago’s Dr. Karen Wright about Villa Maria Estate’s recent decision to put cancer warnings on their wines sold in Ireland.