The Wire with Joel

Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Energy Minister Simon Watts have announced a package of measures designed to improve the affordability of electricity in New Zealand through “new projects” and gas exploration, with little details to offer on timeline or cost. 

Employees & Manufacturers Association have called the announcement “underwhelming”, and the Major Electricity Users' Group says there is no evidence the plan will make a difference to affordability in the next decade. 
 
Defence Minister Judith Collins has announced a Defence Industry Strategy that will see further investment in order to develop advanced tech and lethal weapons for export from New Zealand. 

She says the plan will boost New Zealand’s military strength and support our local weapons and tech industries

As well, last week three New Zealanders were among hundreds of activists detained from the Freedom Flotilla, seeking to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. 

The activists will be deported on Wednesday from Israel to Jordan, but calls have been renewed for the New Zealand government to step up on its commitments to responding to the situation in Gaza. 

Wire Host Sara spoke with National MP Carl Bates about all of these topics, starting with the Electricity Plan

Today, Professor Allan Blackman joins Sara and Jasmine in the studio to commemorate Dame Jane Goodall, reveal the hidden treasures of Bearded Vulture nests, and discuss new developments in discovering 'Planet Y'.

Following the arrest of Freedom Flotilla activists last week including New Zealanders Rana Hamida, Youssef Sammour and Sam Leason, the families of these activists alongside the Green Party coleaders held a press conference yesterday where they called for the New Zealand government to fulfil its obligations to international humanitarian law and answered questions from the media.

First, Wire Host Sara shares some recordings from the press conference. 
As political leaders appear conflicted in their response to the situation in Gaza, especially in light of the attempts of citizens to put pressure on politicians as well as by-pass blockades themselves with the Freedom Flotilla, I was interested in the legal frameworks that exist for responding to this conflict.

To discuss this topic, Sara spoke with both Victoria University of Wellington legal professor Marnie Lloydd and University of Waikato law expert Alexander Gillespie about the obligations of other nations including New Zealand to act. 
Her first interview was with Marnie Lloydd.
Then, further to this topic international law expert Alexander Gillespie speaks to New Zealand’s capacity to respond to the Israel/Palestine conflict.

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 government's recent energy reforms, and about the three New Zealanders aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla who have been intercepted by Israel.

Producer Alex spoke to Doctoral Candidate at the University of Auckland Luke Bird about concerns around Sportwashing with the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States in the midst of human rights concerns under the Trump Administration.

Joel spoke to the National President of the Tertiary Education Union or TEU, Julie Douglas, about the University of Auckland, Massey University, and the Victoria University of Wellington, all announcing they will not be using software to detect AI in student’s work, and what this means heading forward.

Following their chat with Douglas, Joel also spoke to Shahper Richter, a Senior Marketing Lecturer at the University of Auckland, about using “interactive oral assessments” or IOA’s, as a way to combat AI in testing students.

Whakarongo mai!