The Wire with Spike

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT MP Karen Chhour about the National Party joining ACT in opposing government policy to increase housing density in major cities and calls to protect mining by big overseas companies on Aotearoa’s conservation land. 

Nicholas talked to Anu Kaloti from Migrant Workers Association New Zealand about their petition to grant amnesty to all migrant workers who have overstayed their visa regardless of their country of origin.

And Leilani is the new host of Tomorrow's World — the segment that explores how science affects people and our future on planet Earth. For her first piece, she spoke to Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau, a Doctoral Candidate Population Health at the University of Auckland and Lisa Te Morenga, an Associate Professor in Nutrition and Māori Health about how 7 out of 10 Type 2 diabetes cases globally are related to poor diet, and how Aotearoa fits into that statistic.                                 

Yesterday, nurses on ward 5 at Gisborne hospital walked off the job for an hour to protest their working conditions. Earlier in the week, Te Whatu Ora went to the employment court to try and stop the strike, but failed. Christine Warrander is a nurse on ward 5 at the hospital, and Simon began by asking her how yesterday’s strike went.

Spike speaks to Professor of Conservation Biology James Russell about the kiwi Paora in Miami Zoo, and the right and wrong conditions for kiwi in captivity. 

E tū Union members working at the New Zealand Steel mill in Glenbrook have welcomed the Government’s offer to contribute funding for new electric furnaces to halve coal use at the site. The $140 million dollar investment will require upskilling for workers to use. 

Arno spoke with Joe Gallagher of E tū about the challenges involved in the transition, the benefits, and what workers would need to do to. 

Arno started by asking for an overview of E tū Union.