The Wire with Caeden

Earlier this week the Government announced that it would introduce the controversial Treaty Principles Bill today, over a week earlier than its original date for introduction on November 18th. 

The Bill has received much criticism, with a nationwide hīkoi in protest planned for next week to coincide with its introduction.

Producer Sofia spoke to Te Tiriti o Waitangi expert, Professor Margaret Mutu (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whātua), from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Arts, as well as lecturer at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Law and spokesperson for and organiser of Toitū te Tiriti, Eru Kapa Kingi (Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi, Waikato-Tainui, and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), about the Bill and the nationwide hīkoi that coincides with it. 

Commonwealth countries have recently adopted the Apia Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future, which calls for an importance to restore and preserve all amenities of the ocean for future generations.

The declaration was signed last week in Samoa, and includes fifty-six independent sovereign states. Addressing the ocean through a declaration is inherently important, but due to the wide scope and similar previous declarations, experts question whether it will lead to real action.

Sasha spoke to Professor of the Marine Institute from the University of Auckland, Simon Thrush, about the recent commonwealth ocean declaration and potential implications.

The United States General Elections are officially being held today, and thousands of American citizens are rushing to polling stations to cast their vote for the next leader of the world’s largest superpower.

The two prospective candidates, Donald J. Trump of the Republican party, and Kamala Harris of the Democrats, are expected to be neck and neck in the polls, with the final outcome of the election to be won only by a slim margin.

However, a number of experts have purported that, in the possible event of his election loss, Donald Trump may denounce the results and accuse the US electoral college of fraud, a call that may lead to widespread uproar from his devoted supporters.

Oto spoke to Dr Timothy Fadgen, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland on Donald Trump’s possible reaction to the results of the US General Elections in the event that he loses, and the potential of him decrying the US electoral college.

Several protests are taking place on the 5th of November and the rest of the week outside branches of the bank ASB across the country.

These protests are being organised as part of Justice for Palestine’s  ‘Don’t Bank on Apartheid’ campaign who oppose the companies investment practices which, they say, are financing Israel’s actions in the Westbank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

The campaign is calling for ASB to end their investments in the communications company Motorola Solutions Incorporated and say that if ASB does not divest from Motorola Solutions, then a number of their customers will switch banks.

Producer Josef spoke to Nadia Abu-Shanab, a member of Justice for Palestine and a Campaign Organiser for 'Don’t Bank on Apartheid,' about the protests, boycotting, and why ASB specifically is being targeted by the protests.