The Wire with Castor

Justin spoke to Health Minister Andrew Little on low Māori vaccination rates at Taranaki and Tairāwhiti, dedicated MIQ spots for health workers, and his thoughts on National's reopening plan. 

This week Zazi and Brooke talk about three things: the new housing density rules, Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade, and also the fact that pregnant women and their partners do not currently get priority for MIQ spaces.

First off, the two talk about the new Resources Management Amendment Bill that the Government and National Party announced yesterday. Zazi asks Brooke about David Seymour's "hollow stunt" comment, ACT being a supposedly "libertarian party", and the Party's alternative solution to address Aotearoa's housing affordability problem. 

Next, Zazi and Brooke talk about Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade. Brooke shares her concerns, where she thinks our economy will be in the next 7-12 months, and what projects she believes were not worth the Government spending billions of dollars on.

And finally, Zazi asks Brooke about pregnant women and their partners not currently getting priority for MIQ spaces. Brooke talks about pregnant couples she has spoken to, about their experience with MIQ, and whether the support for women during this latest COVID-19 outbreak has been enough. 

This week on the Wednesday Wire, Zazi Hewlett hosts the show and Frances Wright produces remotely from her home in Wellington!

The show kicks off with Frances speaking with Social scientist and The Workshop co-director, Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw, about having hard vaccine conversations with family and friends.

Zazi then speaks to Associate Minister of Housing, Peeni Henare, about iwi-led housing solutions and the programme Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga.  

Frances has her regular segment Dear Science with AUT Professor Marcus Jones. They speak on COVID Super-Immunity; talk about revealing solar system origins on Jupiter; and discuss learning via screen versus on paper.

Finally, Zazi has her regular catch-up with ACT's Brooke van Velden. They talk about three things: the new housing density rules, Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade, and also the fact that pregnant women and their partners do not currently get priority for MIQ spaces.

Last week it was reported that over 8500 people had become beneficiaries since the beginning of the Delta outbreak. Nevertheless, the government is yet to provide any additional support for people on benefits. Auckland Action Against Poverty, an advocacy group on wellfare and poverty, is calling for government support for beneficiaries to help people get through lockdown but also address generations of government neglect for vulnerable communities. 

News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston talks to AAAP's coordinator Brooke Pao Stanley about how lockdown has impacted beneficiaries, what AAAP's response was to the government’s Level 3 extension announcement yesterday and what work the group has been doing in the community during the Delta outbreak.