The Wire with Joel

The Southerner was a passenger express train in the South Island running between Christchurch and Invercargill from 1970 to 2002.

The train was eventually closed due a decline in passenger numbers and subsidies, although it was briefly revived in May this year for four days as part of a tourist experience.

Recently, a group of campaigners from Save our Trains launched a petition calling on the government to restore the Southerner train route as a more accessible form of travel for South Islanders.

Wednesday Wire Host Oto spoke with Dave Macpherson from Save Our Train - Southern, to discuss his petition and why the Southerner should be restored.

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March about the recent study showing the increased speed of Antarctic ice melt, the removal of the Proud Boys designation as a terrorist group and The government's recent Family Boost announcement.

For this week’s Get Action! Wednesday Wire host Oto spoke with Dave Macpherson from Save our Trains Southern about a petition of his calling for the restoration of the Southerner Train line.

Producer Max spoke with PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons, to talk about the historic strike that is occuring at Pharmac this week.

Oto spoke with the co-head of Maori and Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland Gordon Nanau about French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to grant New Caledonia associated statehood.

And Monday Producer Sam spoke to the Deputy Director Māori at the Centre of Brain Research Te Huinga Hinengaro, Dr Makarena Dudley, about her kauapapa to support rural Māori communities with members suffering from mate wareware, or dementia.

Hearings on the regulatory standards bill are currently underway, with around 23,000 total submissions both written and oral. Early analysis of the submissions estimated 88% percent are in opposition, while only 0.3% are in support. 

The bill has been pushed by Minister for Regulation and ACT Party leader David Seymour, who says it should support the government to reduce regulation and ensure the protection of individual rights and private property. The bill has been criticised for not including clauses around Te Tiriti o Waitangi or environmental protections. It has also been criticised for potentially undemocratic elements, placing large amounts of control in the hands of the unelected Ministry for Regulation.

In our weekly catch-up with the National party, Wire host Castor asked Tom Rutherford about the regulatory standards bill in light of the select committee hearings and new criticisms.

New research shows that two thirds of Kiwis believe there is still a stigma around medicinal cannabis usage, and that users are still subject to negative stereotypes.

Producer Faith spoke to Dr. Waseem Alzaher from Cannabis Clinic NZ about the stigma, and what steps need to be taken to normalise its usage.