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The effect of government policies on rising homelessness w/ community homelessness advocate Aaron Hendry: 22nd July, 2025

 The effect of government policies on rising homelessness w/ community homelessness advocate Aaron Hendry: 22nd July, 2025 The effect of government policies on rising homelessness w/ community homelessness advocate Aaron Hendry: 22nd July, 2025, 23.37 MB
Tue 22 Jul 2025

This week Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka spoke in an interview about the potential effect of changes to emergency housing on the rising number of homeless people in New Zealand.

While he proudly announced that the Government had met its target to reduce emergency housing numbers by 75%, he acknowledged that ‘many’ have reported the effect of government policies on increased numbers of people rough sleeping. 

Especially in Auckland, observations and reports of homelessness have increased substantially, with community leaders and Auckland council urging the government to deliver a more effective policy response to alleviating the issue. 

While Potaka was not willing to admit that government policies have been a main contributor to rising homelessness, there has been a clear public callout for meaningful change from the central government

Villa Maria Wines put cancer warning labels on bottles sold to Ireland w/ University of Auckland’s Karen Wright: July 22, 2025

 Villa Maria Wines put cancer warning labels on bottles sold to Ireland w/ University of Auckland’s Karen Wright: July 22, 2025 Villa Maria Wines put cancer warning labels on bottles sold to Ireland w/ University of Auckland’s Karen Wright: July 22, 2025, 16.18 MB
Tue 22 Jul 2025

Ireland is to become the first country in the world to include mandatory cancer warning labels on alcohol products. A move that has been hailed as world-leading. 

Aotearoa hasn’t followed their lead just yet, but Marlborough winery Villa Maria Estate have complied, by putting the warning on all their bottles getting sold in Ireland.

Many public health experts have praised these moves, and believe it’s time for us to address alcohol issues, here in Aotearoa. Producer Faith spoke to public health expert Dr. Karen Wright from the University of Auckland about these decisions, and what further steps we need to take.

*Correction: The banning of alcohol sold after 9 pm in Auckland off-licenses is an Auckland Council policy, not a government policy.

The government’s $231m support of breakthrough tech w/ University of Auckland’s Nicola Gaston: 22 July, 2025

 The government’s $231m support of breakthrough tech w/ University of Auckland’s Nicola Gaston: 22 July, 2025 The government’s $231m support of breakthrough tech w/ University of Auckland’s Nicola Gaston: 22 July, 2025, 19.22 MB
Tue 22 Jul 2025

The government’s $231m boost for breakthrough technology has drawn praise for being a step forward, but scientists, researchers, and academics have criticised the risks involved– and how the money was reallocated. 

Producer Faith spoke to Professor Nicola Gaston from the University of Auckland about the investment, and the potential opportunities it will create.

Calls for bi-partisan support for slavery laws w/ the Human Rights Commission's Gail Pacheco: 21 July, 2025

 Calls for bi-partisan support for slavery laws w/ the Human Rights Commission's Gail Pacheco: 21 July, 2025 Calls for bi-partisan support for slavery laws w/ the Human Rights Commission's Gail Pacheco: 21 July, 2025, 5.06 MB
Mon 21 Jul 2025

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata - The Human Rights Commission, are calling for cross-party support for slavery laws.

This follows members' bills from both sides of the House to tackle modern slavery.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner for the Commission, Professor Gail Pacheco, about these calls.

The Wire w/ Joel: 21 July, 2025

 The Wire w/ Joel: 21 July, 2025 The Wire w/ Joel: 21 July, 2025, 84.59 MB
Mon 21 Jul 2025

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about the re-establishment of 10 polytechnics that were under Te Pūkenga and Labour’s Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill.

Joel spoke to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner for the Human Right Commission, Professor Gail Pacheco, about the commission’s calls for cross-party support for effective legislation to tackle modern slavery.

Joel spoke to the Communications and Campaign Manager for Child Poverty Action Group, Isaac Gunson, about recently released research from the organisation, that families below the income floor are struggling to cover basic necessities.

Joel spoke to Carrie Leonetti — an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, about her research showing the Family Court is using ‘junk’ evidence.

Finally, Joel spoke to Jessica Haugh from the University of Auckland, about her Master’s thesis into sexual harm prevention in Aotearoa’s music industry.

Te Pūkenga and Labour's Pay Transparency Members Bill w/ ACT's Simon Court: 21 July, 2025

 Te Pūkenga and Labour's Pay Transparency Members Bill w/ ACT's Simon Court: 21 July, 2025 Te Pūkenga and Labour's Pay Transparency Members Bill w/ ACT's Simon Court: 21 July, 2025, 15.82 MB
Mon 21 Jul 2025

The government has recently announced that Te Pūkenga is set to return to ‘regional governance,’ re-establishing 10 polytechnics that were merged under the previous Labour-led government.

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about these developments with Te Pūkenga.

They also discussed Labour MP, Camilla Belich’s member’s bill — the Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill, passing its second reading.

In the government, National are in support of the bill, however, New Zealand First, and ACT, are not. We discussed why ACT are not supportive of the bill, despite their coalition partner, National, being in support.

But first, they discussed the re-establishment of the 10 polytechnics that were previously merged under Te Pūkenga.

Family Court using poor-quality evidence w/ the University of Auckland's Carrie Leonetti: 21 July, 2025

 Family Court using poor-quality evidence w/ the University of Auckland's Carrie Leonetti: 21 July, 2025 Family Court using poor-quality evidence w/ the University of Auckland's Carrie Leonetti: 21 July, 2025, 16.25 MB
Mon 21 Jul 2025

According to a new journal article by Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, Carrie Leonetti, the Family Court is using poor-quality evidence in rulings.

On Friday, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Leonetti about her findings and what implications using faulty evidence has on the children involved in these cases.

Study on low-income families below income floor w/ Child Poverty Action Group's Isaac Gunson: 21 July, 2025

 Study on low-income families below income floor w/ Child Poverty Action Group's Isaac Gunson: 21 July, 2025 Study on low-income families below income floor w/ Child Poverty Action Group's Isaac Gunson: 21 July, 2025, 5.67 MB
Mon 21 Jul 2025

In recently released research from the Child Poverty Action Group, the research shows low-income families below the Income Floor are struggling to pay for bare essentials.

Below the Income Floor refers to the minimum income needed to live and belong.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Isaac Gunson, a spokesperson from the organisation, about these findings.

Men in Aotearoa's music industry and working towards sexual harm provention w/ the University of Auckland's Jessica Haugh: 21 July, 2025

 Men in Aotearoa's music industry and working towards sexual harm provention w/ the University of Auckland's Jessica Haugh: 21 July, 2025 Men in Aotearoa's music industry and working towards sexual harm provention w/ the University of Auckland's Jessica Haugh: 21 July, 2025, 7.28 MB
Mon 21 Jul 2025

Jessica Haugh, as a part of her Master’s thesis at the University of Auckland, looked into sexual harm prevention in Aotearoa’s music industry.

For her research, she spoke to men involved in the industry on their knowledge of sexual harm and sexual harm prevention.

On Saturday, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to her about her research.

Re-establishing Polytechnics and Te Pāti Māori's Thoughts on MP Peeni Henare in Tāmaki Makaurau By-election w/ Labour's Shanon Halbert: 17 July, 2025

 Re-establishing Polytechnics and Te Pāti Māori's Thoughts on MP Peeni Henare in Tāmaki Makaurau By-election w/ Labour's Shanon Halbert: 17 July, 2025 Re-establishing Polytechnics and Te Pāti Māori's Thoughts on MP Peeni Henare in Tāmaki Makaurau By-election w/ Labour's Shanon Halbert: 17 July, 2025, 13.65 MB
Thu 17 Jul 2025

The government has announced that Te Pūkenga is set to return to ‘regional governance,’ re-establishing 10 polytechnics that were merged under the previous Labour-led government.

In 2020 under the previous Labour-led government, 16 polytechnics and nine industry training organisations were merged into the mega-institute Te Pūkenga, as a “head office”. Despite this, the polytechnics were allowed to maintain their unique images and continue operating.

Vocational Education Minister, Penny Simmonds, announced the move, to establish a vocational education system that is “locally led, regionally responsible, and future-focused”.

The move has faced backlash. The Tertiary Education Union’s national secretary, Sandra Grey, says the move would be a disaster for regional education and that the sector is being treated as a “political football”.

For our weekly catchup with the Labour Party, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with MP Shanon Halbert, about this move from the government.

They also discussed Te Pāti Māori members expressing concerns over Labour’s choice of running MP Peeni Henare in the upcoming Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.

Te Pāti Māori media liaison, Kiri Tamihere-Waititi, says a vote for Henare would be “wasted,” as Henare already has a seat in Parliament. She has called for people to vote for Te Pāti Māori’s candidate, Oriini Kaipara, so that there would be two Tāmaki Makaurau-based Māori MPs in Parliament.

But first, they discussed vocational education.