The Wire with Jessica

A ban on live animal exports was introduced last year by the previous Labour government. However, the coalition government has said it would like to reverse it. 

This past week, a petition signed by over 57,000 people was handed to parliament, calling for the Government to keep its ban on live animal exports. 

Producer Sofia spoke to CEO of SAFE Aotearoa, Debra Ashton, about the petition, the importance of keeping the ban, and what reversal could look like.

The environment committee has unanimously recommended that the Hauraki Gulf Protection Bill should be passed in its entirety. 

This means that if parliament votes for this recommendation there will be 19 new protection areas in the Tīkapa Moana Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Many environmental organisations have welcomed this possibility and highlighted its importance. 

Rawan spoke with Bianca Ranson from forest and bird about what this new bill would mean, why it is important and how it incorporates local iwi and hapu values.

There are at least 150,000 children in Aotearoa living under the poverty line who come from households dependent on government assistance schemes like Working for Families. 

However, as Susan St John, associate professor in economics at the University of Auckland Business School and spokesperson for Child Poverty Action group, said in a recent newsroom article, there are barriers in accessing support schemes for low-income families not found in those aimed at Kiwis over the age of 65, such as the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. 

Oto had a chat with Susan about the state of government assistance for low-income families in New Zealand, and why she believes it’s better to be old than young if you’re poor in New Zealand.

For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about: 

• The government’s decision to boost Pharmac Funding
• The introducing of a new Sentencing Category for Young Offenders
• And the implementation of check-in requirements for those on the Jobseeker Benefit.

He also spoke to Susan St John from the University of Auckland to talk about assistance gaps in the Working for Families Scheme

And he speak to Paula Lorgelly, also from the University of Auckland, for her perspective on the government’s recent Pharmac funding announcement.

Rawan spoke to Bianca Ranson from Forest and Bird about The Hauraki gulf protection bill being recommended to parliament in its entirety.

And spoke to Aaron Hendry from Kickback about a Petition of his against the government's new Ram-raid Bill.