The Wire with Joel

Liz Truss has resigned after just six weeks as UK prime minister, following her failed economic policy. 

The Conservative Party, which holds a big majority in parliament will now elect a new leader by October 28.

First News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative, a public policy think tank in Wellington, Dr Oliver Hartwich about Truss’ 45 tumultuous days as Prime Minister and what happens now. 

Next, she spoke to Associate Professor of Media and Communication at the University of Auckland, Dr Neal Curtis about the current state of UK politics. 

Happy Tuesday! On today's Wire with Christina and Casper. Allan Blackman joined the team live on air to talk Black Plague, mozzies and the DART mission for Dear Science.

Casper spoke to Dr Shane Reti from the National Party for their weekly segment about their proposed social investment fund. He also had a kōrero with Rosemary Penwarden from Restore Passenger Rail about their campaign and recent protest activity on Wellington highways.

Christina spoke to Dr Stephen Noakes, a senior politics lecturer from the University of Auckland, about the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th National Congress and Xi Jinping's continued grasp on power. She also reported on Rishi Sunak, who is set to become UK's next Prime Minister in the wake of Liz Truss' resignation last week.

With the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party wrapping up, President Xi Jinping has been handed a third term in power. It breaks the unofficial precedent established since Mao Zedong’s death in 1976, where presidents have traditionally ruled for just two terms.

For more on this monumental event in recent Chinese history, Christina spoke to Dr Stephen Noakes, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations from the University of Auckland.

Forest and Bird’s annual Bird of the Year competition, Te Manu Rongo-nui o te Tau, is underway, with 71 candidates vying to be 2022’s top bird.

News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Ellen Rykers from Forest and Bird about why Bird of the Year is so important for raising awareness about Aotearoa’s diverse bird species, 80% of which are facing extinction.  

And to help you make your decision, Jessica spoke to several campaign managers about why their bird should get your vote, and why Bird of the Year is important to them.