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The Wire w/ Caeden: 12 February, 2026

 The Wire w/ Caeden: 12 February, 2026 The Wire w/ Caeden: 12 February, 2026, 83.69 MB
Thu 12 Feb 2026

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about this year’s Waitangi Day, seabed mining in Taranaki, and Labour and National’s joint Modern Slavery members' bill.

And for International Desk, they spoke to Dr Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Sports History at Macquarie University, about the controversy surrounding security at the Winter Olympics. 

For City Counselling this week, News Director Castor spoke to Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about Auckland Museum, a potential merger of Kaipara and Rodney district councils, and the opening of the Auckland International Convention Centre. 

They also spoke to Communications and Advocacy manager at the Burnett Foundation, Kirk Serpes, about the decision to allow politicians to speak on the mainstage of Big Gay Out this weekend.

Protests Against ICE at the Winter Olympics w/ Macquarie University’s Dr Keith Rathbone: 12 February, 2026

 Protests Against ICE at the Winter Olympics w/ Macquarie University’s Dr Keith Rathbone: 12 February, 2026 Protests Against ICE at the Winter Olympics w/ Macquarie University’s Dr Keith Rathbone: 12 February, 2026, 10.3 MB
Thu 12 Feb 2026

Thousands of locals have protested the Winter Olympics in Milan, citing issues like cost of living and the environmental impact of the games, as well as the presence of law enforcement officers from the United States.

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Sports History at Macquarie University, about these protests in Milan, and their broader context within Olympic history.

Waitangi Day, Seabed Mining, and Modern Slavery Members Bill w/ Labour’s Shanan Halbert: 12 February, 2026

 Waitangi Day, Seabed Mining, and Modern Slavery Members Bill w/ Labour’s Shanan Halbert: 12 February, 2026 Waitangi Day, Seabed Mining, and Modern Slavery Members Bill w/ Labour’s Shanan Halbert: 12 February, 2026, 10.11 MB
Thu 12 Feb 2026

Last Friday was Waitangi Day, with over 35,000 people visiting the Waitangi grounds on the day.

The fast-track approvals panel has turned down a bid from Trans-Tasman Resources to mine the Taranaki seabed.

And Labour’s Camilla Belich has lodged a joint members' bill with National MP Greg Fleming to combat modern slavery. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked MP Shanan Halbert about all of these topics.

Protests Against ICE at the Winter Olympics w/ Macquarie University’s Dr Keith Rathbone: 12 February, 2026

 Protests Against ICE at the Winter Olympics w/ Macquarie University’s Dr Keith Rathbone: 12 February, 2026 Protests Against ICE at the Winter Olympics w/ Macquarie University’s Dr Keith Rathbone: 12 February, 2026, 10.3 MB
Thu 12 Feb 2026

Thousands of locals have protested the Winter Olympics in Milan, citing issues like cost of living and the environmental impact of the games, as well as the presence of law enforcement officers from the United States.

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Sports History at Macquarie University, about these protests in Milan, and their broader context within Olympic history.

The first unconscionable conduct cases pursued by the Commerce Commission w/ Professor of Law Dr Jodi Gardner: 11th February, 2026

 The first unconscionable conduct cases pursued by the Commerce Commission w/ Professor of Law Dr Jodi Gardner: 11th February, 2026 The first unconscionable conduct cases pursued by the Commerce Commission w/ Professor of Law Dr Jodi Gardner: 11th February, 2026, 22.99 MB
Wed 11 Feb 2026

The Commerce Commission, responsible for regulating competition and fair trading in Aotearoa New Zealand, recently took two businesses to court over their ‘unconscionable conduct’.

Among other behaviour, the businesses were found to have misled and exploited consumers, and targeted particularly vulnerable customers.

This is the first time that the Commerce Commission have pursued cases under this prohibition, with ‘unconscionable conduct’ being added to the Fair Trading Act back in 2022.

To understand exactly what ‘unconscionable conduct’ entails, and how future cases may play out, Producer Theo spoke to Professor of Law at the University of Auckland Dr Jodi Gardner.

Fast-Track to Where? w/ Forest and Bird's Elvisa Van Der Leden

 Fast-Track to Where? w/ Forest and Bird's Elvisa Van Der Leden Fast-Track to Where? w/ Forest and Bird's Elvisa Van Der Leden, 16.77 MB
Wed 11 Feb 2026

Last week we saw the release of a draft decision to decline sea bed mining in the Taranaki bite, a move celebrated by a number of local and environmental groups.

One of the voices opposing the project was Forest and Bird. They are now appealing a fast-track gold mine consent in Waihi North. 

Following reforms to the fast-track approvals scheme pushed through last year which cut them and other community groups out of the process, the Waihi mine is the final project which Forest and Bird is invited to input on.

Wednesday Wire host Manny spoke to the Waikato and Taranaki regional conservation manager for Forest and Bird, Elvisa Van Der Leden, about the draft decision to decline seabed mining in Taranaki, Forest and Bird's appeal of the Waihi North Goldmine application, and the reforms to the fast-track approvals scheme.

The Wednesday Wire: 11 February, 2026

 The Wednesday Wire: 11 February, 2026 The Wednesday Wire: 11 February, 2026, 71.87 MB
Wed 11 Feb 2026

This week on the Wednesday Wire...

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the National Party's idea of a rates cap, local governments infrastructure crisis and the decision to decline a seabed mining project in Taranaki.

They then spoke to Elvisa van der Leden, Waikato and Taranaki regional conservation manager for Forest and Bird about the draft decision to decline the sea bed mining project in Taranaki, their appeal of the Waihi north Goldmine application, and the reforms to the fast track approvals scheme which is cutting them and other community groups out of the process.

Finally producer Theo spoke to Law Professor Jodi Gardner on the first two cases pursued by the commerce commission under its unconscionable conduct prohibition.

The Trump Administration’s Targeting of Political Opponents w/ Associate Professor Maria Armoudian: 10 February 2026

 The Trump Administration’s Targeting of Political Opponents w/ Associate Professor Maria Armoudian: 10 February 2026 The Trump Administration’s Targeting of Political Opponents w/ Associate Professor Maria Armoudian: 10 February 2026, 21.49 MB
Tue 10 Feb 2026

Over the past year, the Trump administration has taken a series of actions targeting political opponents. Under Trump’s second term, the polarisation of American politics has seemingly reached unprecedented levels, with members of the administration accusing a variety of peaceful individuals and groups of ‘domestic terrorism.’

Dr. Maria Armoudian is a professor of politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, who has written books on international human rights and the role that the media plays in shaping the future.

She is also a dual citizen, having been born and raised in the United States, and this year she hopes to visit her home country. But she’s worried that some of her viewpoints may land her in hot water when she arrives.

The Wire w/ Sara: 10 February 2026

 The Wire w/ Sara: 10 February 2026 The Wire w/ Sara: 10 February 2026, 136.49 MB
Tue 10 Feb 2026

For Dear Science this week our expert, Professor Allan Blackman chats with us about snow, ice, and “freezing-point depression” 
For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamlilton about Waitangi Day & National Party views on some of the recent environmental legislation
For Green World, Sara spoke to Professor Carl Rhodes from the University of Technology in Sydney, about the influence of billionaires on global climate progress
Producer Toby spoke to Associate Professor Maria Armoudian, from the University of Auckland, about the Trump administration’s targeting of political opponents in the United States

The myth of the ‘heroic billionaire’ in global politics w/ Sydney-based Professor of Business & Society, Carl Rhodes: 10 February 2026

 The myth of the ‘heroic billionaire’ in global politics w/ Sydney-based Professor of Business & Society, Carl Rhodes: 10 February 2026 The myth of the ‘heroic billionaire’ in global politics w/ Sydney-based Professor of Business & Society, Carl Rhodes: 10 February 2026, 37.16 MB
Tue 10 Feb 2026

Earlier this year, an Oxfam report revealed that once again, billionaire wealth increased in 2025 — three times faster than the previous five-year average.

In January, Oxfam also proclaimed ‘Pollutocrat Day’ on the 10th of January, on which the richest 1% have already exhausted their annual carbon budget.

Professor of Business & Society at the University of Technology in Sydney Carl Rhodes has delved into the ‘myth of the heroic billionaire’ and the problems generated for political processes and global inequality.

Wire Host Sara spoke to Rhodes about the influence of billionaires, in particular with regard to climate action, starting by asking what the myth of the heroic billionaire is, and how it is perpetuated.