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Canadian-born billionaire James Grenon and NZME w/ E Tū Union's Michael Wood: 10 March, 2025

 Canadian-born billionaire James Grenon and NZME w/ E Tū Union's Michael Wood: 10 March, 2025 Canadian-born billionaire James Grenon and NZME w/ E Tū Union's Michael Wood: 10 March, 2025, 11.6 MB
Mon 10 Mar 2025

Canadian-born billionaire James Grenon, after recently purchasing a 9.3% share of NZME; the media company that owns The Herald, as well as roughly half the country's radio stations, including Newstalk ZB, has announced plans to clear the NZME board and add himself, alongside three other directors, only keeping one of the original board members in their position.

This has resulted in concerns about whether Grenon will add his own political stances into media coverage of NZME platforms, especially in light of his involvement with the alternative media site, The Centrist, that has previously criticised the news coverage of The Herald.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Director of E Tū Union; a union representing many journalists at NZME, Michael Wood, about his concerns with this move, and whether he believes there is an ulterior motive regarding these developments.

Firstly, they started off by asking him about what we know about James Grenon.

Big Life Changes w/ Global Innovator, Matt Hart: 10 March, 2025

 Big Life Changes w/ Global Innovator, Matt Hart: 10 March, 2025 Big Life Changes w/ Global Innovator, Matt Hart: 10 March, 2025, 5.47 MB
Mon 10 Mar 2025

Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, in studio to discuss big life changes facing new university students.

International Desk: The instability of United States foreign policy and what this means for global security w/ University of Otago’s Professor Richard Jackson: 6 March, 2025

 International Desk: The instability of United States foreign policy and what this means for global security w/ University of Otago’s Professor Richard Jackson: 6 March, 2025 International Desk: The instability of United States foreign policy and what this means for global security w/ University of Otago’s Professor Richard Jackson: 6 March, 2025, 14.41 MB
Thu 6 Mar 2025

The United States has frequently been in the news cycle recently for the Trump administration’s unstable foreign policy decisions.

This includes their decisions to cut 90% of USAID foreign contracts and to pause military aid to Ukraine following a fiery meeting between the leaders of both countries.

University of Otago’s Professor Richard Jackson describes President Trump’s behaviours as a threat to global order and security.

For International Desk this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to him about the instability of United States foreign policy and the global ramifications of this.

Future of US Military Aid to Ukraine w/ The University of Auckland's Stephen Hoadley: 6 March, 2025

 Future of US Military Aid to Ukraine w/ The University of Auckland's Stephen Hoadley: 6 March, 2025 Future of US Military Aid to Ukraine w/ The University of Auckland's Stephen Hoadley: 6 March, 2025, 11.39 MB
Thu 6 Mar 2025

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following his clash with US President, Donald Trump, has once initiated discussions to move forward a minerals deal with his US counterpart.

During the original discussions, Trump, alongside US Vice President, JD Vance, berated Zelenskyy, which resulted in the Ukrainian President walking out of the Oval Office without signing a minerals deal between the two nations, which the White House says is a precursor to peace talks.

This all comes as the US has abruptly halted US military aid to Ukraine.

News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the honorary academic and retired Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, Stephen Hoadley, about this clash, and his opinion that Trump will do a u-turn and start providing military aid to Ukraine, despite the US aligning closer to Russia.

They started off by asking how important this minerals deal is regarding the relationship between the US and Ukraine.

“A refusal to value staff”: Why University of Auckland staff are striking w/ Tertiary Education Union’s Nicole Wallace and University of Auckland’s Sean Sturm: 6 March, 2025

 “A refusal to value staff”: Why University of Auckland staff are striking w/ Tertiary Education Union’s Nicole Wallace and University of Auckland’s Sean Sturm: 6 March, 2025 “A refusal to value staff”: Why University of Auckland staff are striking w/ Tertiary Education Union’s Nicole Wallace and University of Auckland’s Sean Sturm: 6 March, 2025, 15.8 MB
Thu 6 Mar 2025

Up to 1,600 University of Auckland Tertiary Education Union Members are striking today for four hours.

The Union says staff are frustrated at their “employer’s refusal to value staff.”

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Tertiary Education Union Organiser Nicole Wallace about today’s strike.

They also spoke to University of Auckland Associate Professor in Arts and Education Sean Sturm (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa) for their view on today’s strike.

The Wire w/ Caeden: 6 March, 2025

 The Wire w/ Caeden: 6 March, 2025 The Wire w/ Caeden: 6 March, 2025, 113.38 MB
Thu 6 Mar 2025

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour party Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about recent issues with the school lunch programme and the introduction of legislation that would change parliamentary terms to 4 years. 

For International Desk, they speak to Professor Richard Jackson from the University of Otago about the instability of United States foreign policy.

And they speak to Nicole Wallace from the Tertiary Education Union and Sean Sturm (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa), Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, about today’s strike.

For City Counselling, News and Editorial Director, Joel, speaks to Councillor Shane Henderson about Auckland Council recommitting $15 million in funding to restore the historic St James Theatre, and plans to convert over half of Takapuna Golf Course into wetlands.

They also speak to Retired Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Auckland, Stephen Hoadley, about Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Velenskyy and US President, Donald Trump’s spat at the Oval Office, and Zelenskyy pursuing a mineral trade between the two nations.

The issue-ridden school lunch programme and 4 year parliamentary terms w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 6 March, 2025

 The issue-ridden school lunch programme and 4 year parliamentary terms w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 6 March, 2025 The issue-ridden school lunch programme and 4 year parliamentary terms w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 6 March, 2025, 7.35 MB
Thu 6 Mar 2025

Earlier this week, an investigation was launched into the school lunch programme after baked-in plastic was found in several lunches. 

However, principals say the programme has already had various issues since Associate Education Minister David Seymour switched providers as a cost-saving measure last year.

And the coalition government is set to introduce legislation that would give the option of 4 year parliamentary terms.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy LeaderCarmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.

Global Politics Issues w/ Professor Robert Patman, Politics and International Relations at the University of Otago, Dunedin

 Global Politics Issues w Professor Robert Patman, Politics and International Relations at the University of Otago, Dunedin Global Politics Issues w Professor Robert Patman, Politics and International Relations at the University of Otago, Dunedin, 19.58 MB
Wed 5 Mar 2025

Recent developments within global politics have been under great scrutiny by many journalists and political thinkers, and now the meme phrase “nothing ever happens” may not be so true.

This past month has seen the inauguration of Trump into office and his cozying up with Putin and the billionaires. He has also implemented great tariffs onto many countries meaning everything will continue to rise in price.

Sasha spoke to Professor Robert Patman from the University of Otago, Dunedin, about these recent global developments and the implications for the world. We also briefly touched on New Zealand’s response and potential implications for AUKUS

Reparations to the Marshall Islands and the Rainbow Warrior with Shiva Gounden from Greenpeace Australia Pacific: 5 March, 2025

 Reparations to the Marshall Islands and the Rainbow Warrior with Shiva Gounden from Greenpeace Australia Pacific: 5 March, 2025 Reparations to the Marshall Islands and the Rainbow Warrior with Shiva Gounden from Greenpeace Australia Pacific: 5 March, 2025, 26.45 MB
Wed 5 Mar 2025

On 1 March 1954, the Castle Bravo nuclear bomb was detonated on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands as part of a nuclear weapons test.

The bomb, which was 1,000 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, required the atolls 200 indigenous inhabitants to be relocated to the Rongerik Atoll before being allowed to return in the 1960s. 

However, has had devastating impacts on the Islands ecosystem and has created lasting health impacts that Marshall islanders face today.

As such, Greenpeace have issued a call to the US government to pay reparations to the Marshallese people for the impacts of nuclear testing and to comply with Marshallese demands for recognition and nuclear justice.

Oto spoke to Shiva Gounden from Greenpeace Australia Pacific to discuss their calls for reparations, as well as the rainbow warrior voyage, which will be travelling to the marshall islands to conduct research on the impacts of nuclear testing.

USAID and the Concerns With International Aid Organisation Models w/ The University of Auckland's Ritesh Shah: 5 March, 2025

 USAID and the Concerns With International Aid Organisation Models w/ The University of Auckland's Ritesh Shah: 5 March, 2025 USAID and the Concerns With International Aid Organisation Models w/ The University of Auckland's Ritesh Shah: 5 March, 2025, 6.42 MB
Wed 5 Mar 2025

Recently, the Trump Administration has cut 90% of funding to USAID; the largest international aid organisation.

This move has received wide condemnation regarding what this will mean for those reliant on the support provided through the initiative.

At the same time, in his opinion piece on Newsroom, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland, Ritesh Shah, analyses the current international aid structure with the substantial funding cuts to USAID, and calls for international aid agencies to redirect what he says are their vested interests

News and Editorial Director, Joel, started off by asking him should other prominent aid agencies, including the New Zealand Agency for International Development, reevaluate how foreign aid is delivered.