The Wire with Joel

It was announced this week that Auckland’s rail network is undergoing a rebuild, which will see major rail lines temporarily close. Buses are expected to replace these services, but AT and other transport agencies are urging Immigration and Transport Minister Michael Wood to allow bus driver shortages to be filled by overseas workers. News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Auckland Transport Metro Services Manager Derek Koper.  

Tāmaki Makurau's rail network is undergoing a major rebuild, which will see rail lines across the city temporarily close over the coming years. 

These services are expected to be replaced by buses. 

Three regional transport agencies, including Auckland Transport are calling on immigration minister Michael Wood to urgently review immigration settings to address the country's bus driver shortage. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Louisa Jones from First Union who is concerned that failure to address existing conditions for bus drivers could discourage people from using public transport.

This week on The Wire for Rāapa Wednesday:

Casper speaks to David Seymour in our weekly chat with the ACT Party, this week, they chat about the ACT party's calls to reduce or scrap mandatory covid isolation periods, as well as their party fundraiser for Ukraine.

Emilia chats to Dr Sean Sturm from the Tertiary Education Union about their decision to strike for better pay.

She also chats with our European correspondent Cameron Adams in this week's installation of Eurovision 

And News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins speaks to Louisa Jones from First Union about bus driver shortages across Aotearoa. 

That's us for the Wednesday Wire! See you next week.

This week, the Wire with Christina kicked off with a Dear Science Nobel Prize special with Joel Rindelaub.

Christina also spoke to Dr Shane Reti from the National Party for their weekly segment, where they discussed meningitis and a bill to reduce alcohol harm

In the wake of last week’s poll results on whether Aotearoa should become a republic, Christina spoke with the New Zealand Republic campaign chair Lewis Holden.

She also spoke to Dr Roshini Peiris-John about her study on the impacts of skin tone on racial discrimination.

And earlier on Breakfast, the b farewelled Auckland Mayor Phil Goff as he prepares to retire from politics. Jess takes us all the way back to the outgoing mayor's very first bFM Breakfast interview with Mikey Havoc in 2017.