The Wire with Joel

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT MP Karen Chhour about their new contractor policy, serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards children in Oranga Tamariki care, and ACT's opposition to ethnicity being one of the factors to consider for surgical waitlist prioritisation. 

She also spoke to  E tū Union Spokesperson Annie Newman about ACT’s proposal to ban contractors from challenging their employment status. 

Producer Caeden spoke to Ellie Hooper from Greenpeace about the UN Oceans Treaty. 

And Lecturer in Theatre Dr James Wenley and Senior Lecturer of Education Dr Margaret Gleeson discussed cuts to programmes and staff at Victoria University.

If in government, the ACT Party would stop contracted workers from being able to challenge their employment status. 

This comes after Uber drivers were deemed employees of the international ride-sharing service in a landmark Employment Court decision.

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to E tū Union Spokesperson Annie Newman about their opposition to ACT's policy.

This week on Tuesday 20th June, Aotearoa celebrated World Refugee Day, a world wide commemoration of the forced immigrant journey. 

On the same day the government anounced that for the fist time Aotearoa has met its refugee quota of 1500 people that was originally set in 2020 but was not reached due to covid.

This also comes at a time when NGOs and volunteers have raised concerns about the efficiency and resourcing of the ressetlement process.

Rawan Spoke with Sharon Ward, the CEO of Refugees as Survivors about both the celeberation and the recent issues in the sector. 

Live music venues in Aotearoa have increasingly come under threat from growing densification in urban centres, with many now contesting noise complaints from new residential neighbors. Spike speaks to Taylor MacGregor, a representative from Save Our Venues, about how to make sure venues can survive this shift, along with how councils and the government can plan for and support a thriving music scene.