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China FTA Upgrade w/ Dr Bill Rosenburg; 6 November 2019

 China FTA Upgrade w/ Dr Bill Rosenburg; 6 November 2019 China FTA Upgrade w/ Dr Bill Rosenburg; 6 November 2019, 8.67 MB
Fri 6 Sep 2019

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker announced a conclusion to negotiations with China to upgrade our existing free trade agreement. The original agreement was entered in 2008 and included various improvements for trade between New Zealand and China, including elimination of tariffs, better access to high quality goods and a clearer process for investor state dispute settlements*. The upgrade should include a higher limit to Chinese investment, environmental protection measures and a preference for China over wood and paper for the next ten years. Some applaud the upgrade, like International Business Forum head Stephen Jacobi, who stated that such an agreement is “ideal” considering recent global trends towards heavier protectionism. There are some however that are worried about issues still present in the FTA as well as the government’s avoidance on releasing the official text containing the full details of the agreement. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions released a statement regarding reduced oversight of Chinese investment, as the new limit would increase the likelihood of poor quality investments. They also expressed worry over the ability of China-based investors to sue the government via dispute settlements. William Boyd spoke with CTU Economist Dr Bill Rosenburg about the China FTA and their problems with the agreement. William started off by summarising the original 2008 FTA and asking him what where the initial issues with that agreement.

*an investor state dispute (or ISDS) is a mechanism included in many trade agreements that allows an investor of a state to make a claim against another state that is the host of the investment, if that state has breached the agreement. The investor-state dispute provision included in the TPPA was one of the major sources of controversy for that agreement.

Internal Affairs Funding Anti-Abortion Charities: September 5, 2019

 Internal Affairs Funding Anti-Abortion Charities: September 5, 2019 Internal Affairs Funding Anti-Abortion Charities: September 5, 2019, 12.49 MB
Thu 5 Sep 2019

Yesterday RNZ released a report detailing findings that Internal Affairs has been providing funding to anti-abortion charities’ counselling services for the last 15 years through their Community Organisations Grants scheme. Despite providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to these groups, the provision of funding actually appears to go against their rules for Community Organisation Grants.

Deb speaks with Terry Bellamak, National President of ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa, who begins by describing the organisations Internal Affairs has been funding.

On Weed and Referendums: I/V w/ Patrick Gower & Ross Bell

 On Weed and Referendums: I/V w/ Patrick Gower & Ross Bell On Weed and Referendums: I/V w/ Patrick Gower & Ross Bell, 12.99 MB
Thu 5 Sep 2019

With a non-binding referendum on legalising cannabis approaching, Patrick Gower has explored its place in New Zealand in a new documentary. He spoke to Mary-Margaret about the need for debate, and what is standing in the way. Mary-Margaret also asked the Drug Foundation's Ross Bell about public hesitations, and the presence of misinformation.

Justin's International Desk: September 5, 2018

 Justin's International Desk: September 5, 2018 Justin's International Desk: September 5, 2018, 12.17 MB
Thu 5 Sep 2019

Justin recaps a turbulent week in British politics, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prorogued Parliament last Friday, rouge government MPs forcing through a bill blocking no-deal Brexit and Johnson failing to push for a general election in October.

Judith Collins - KiwiBuild reset a 'farce': September 5, 2019

 Judith Collins - KiwiBuild reset a 'farce': September 5, 2019 Judith Collins - KiwiBuild reset a 'farce': September 5, 2019, 8.68 MB
Thu 5 Sep 2019

The government’s KiwiBuild housing programme was officially reset yesterday, by new Housing Minister Megan Woods. The target of 100,000 houses over a decade is gone - replaced with a target to simply build as many houses as possible, as quickly as possible. Buyers of KiwiBuild studios and one-bedrooms now only having to commit to living in the house for one year rather than three, before they can sell it. And, there’s a commitment of 400-million dollars to a progressive home ownership scheme - something which was in the Green Party's confidence and supply agreement, but which we don’t have a lot of information on just yet. 

National’s Housing Spokesperson Judith Collins has been very critical of the policy since its inception. Host Stewart Sowman-Lund spoke with her this morning to get her reaction to the reset… and started by asking her if she feels any better about KiwiBuild after the reset.

 

The Wire with Stewart: September 5, 2019

 The Wire with Stewart: September 5, 2019 The Wire with Stewart: September 5, 2019, 103.69 MB
Thu 5 Sep 2019

It's a packed Thursday Wire this week! Host Stewart Sowman-Lund is joined in studio by Deb, Mary-Margaret and Justin. This week:

  • Newshub’s Patrick Gower has a new doco coming out… all about weed. He talks to Mary-Margaret first up.  
  • Then, staying on the topic… Ross Bell from the Drug Foundation is here. 
  • After that, National’s Judith Collins breaks down the KiwiBuild reset from an Opposition perspective.
  • Then, Internal Affairs has been providing funding to anti-abortion charities’ counselling services through their Community Organisations Grants scheme. Deb chats to Terry Bellamak, National President of ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa. 
  • Plus - Brexit is crumbling… even more than thought possible. Justin explains what is happening in the UK.
  • And finally… Neighbourhood Watch catches us up on Aussie news from the last week.

All that plus another Poll Position and texter feedback. It's The Thursday Wire and it's wired!

I/V w/ Helen Clark on voting YES: September 4, 2019

 I/V w/ Helen Clark on voting YES: September 4, 2019 I/V w/ Helen Clark on voting YES: September 4, 2019, 5.24 MB
Wed 4 Sep 2019

Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, has given her support to a YES vote in the upcoming cannabis referendum. Today, the Helen Clark Foundation has released a report outlining the reasons for legalising and decriminalising cannabis. The Foundation is an independent, non-partisan, public policy think tank from Aotearoa and aims to contribute to policy debates on how to achieve a more inclusive, sustainable and peaceful society. The report’s release comes in the lead up to the referendum set for next year on whether to decriminalise cannabis and Clark has spoken about the need for informed debate around this issue. Lillian Hanly spoke with her and started by asking her to explain the findings of the report.

Chronic Under-funding: How Philanthropic funding is picking up the Government's bill: September 4, 2019

 Chronic Under-funding: How Philanthropic funding is picking up the Government's bill: September 4, 2019 Chronic Under-funding: How Philanthropic funding is picking up the Government's bill: September 4, 2019, 14.8 MB
Wed 4 Sep 2019

Tuwhenuaroa speaks to Philanthropy NZ Chief Executive Sue McCabe about severe government underfunding of essential social services.

Political Donations w/ Dr Lara Greaves: September 4, 2019

 Political Donations w/ Dr Lara Greaves: September 4, 2019 Political Donations w/ Dr Lara Greaves: September 4, 2019, 11.39 MB
Wed 4 Sep 2019

Recent scrutiny surrounding foreign political donations have flared after revelations that the National party received one hundred and fifty thousand dollars as a gift from Chinese Billionaire Lang Lin. Lin is an prominent figure in the Chinese horse racing industry and mad the donation through the Inner Mongolian Ride Horse Industry Group. This large sum has lead to fears over foreign influence on New Zealand’s political system. While the cap for overseas donations are supposedly set at fifteen hundred dollars, Lin managed to skirt these laws by donating through a New Zealand based company. Some, such as Victoria University's Dr Simon Chapple have called for an outright ban on foreign donations, as well as a cap on domestic ones. William Boyd spoke with Dr Lara Greaves from the Politics department at the University of Auckland about the laws on donating and the unequal amount gifted to right-leaning parties. William started off by asking Dr Greaves to clarify what the current laws are over foreign donation.

The Wire with Lillian: September 4, 2019

 The Wire with Lillian: September 4, 2019 The Wire with Lillian: September 4, 2019, 42.18 MB
Wed 4 Sep 2019

On the wire for the 4th of September we talked with AUT’s Allan Blackman on Dear Science about a controversial study linking fluoride to a lower IQ, as well as Pluto potentially becoming a planet once again!

Helen Clark spoke to us about the report released by the Helen Clark Foundation today around the decriminalisation of cannabis and voting yes in the 2020 referendum.

William Boyd spoke to Dr Lara Greaves about recent scrutiny on foreign political donations.

And finally Tu spoke to Philanthropy NZ Chief Exec Sue McCabe about severe government underfunding of essential social services.