The Wire with Caeden

On The Wire for Rāapa Wednesday:

Emilia speaks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the Prime Minister’s decision to rule out implementing a capital gains and wealth tax, as well as a ruling from the High Court last week which found that the Government needs to reconsider their decisions on the settings of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Andre speaks to Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Auckland Dylan Asafo about an independent review into Immigration New Zealand’s continued practice of dawn raids.

Caeden speaks to Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni about a government announcement for homeowners impacted by severe weather events.

They also speak to Campus Feminist Collective’s Lily Chen and University of Auckland Professor Bridget Conor on the Barbie Film from a feminist perspective. 

Arno speaks to Professor Elizabeth Broadbent from The University of Auckland about whether robots can help lonely people decrease their social isolation and improve their wellbeing.

And John Minto of Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa about PUMA’s complicity with Israeli racism in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Last week, Chris Hipkins announced that the Labour Party is pledging to rule out any sort of capital gains tax or wealth tax if re-elected. Hipkins has stated that it is simple mot the time for big changes to the tax system given how much Kiwis are struggling with the cost of living. The pledge has received backlash and contrasts starkly with policies of Te Pati Māori and The Green Party, leaving a potential future coalition uncertain.

Wire producer Rosetta spoke to to Child Poverty Action Group's convenor Alan Johnson about the policy, and what the decision will mean for the wealth gap and child poverty in Aotearoa.

This week on Dear Science Allan joins Rosetta and Milly in studio to talk the blockbuster Oppenheimer, as well as the World Health Organisation's recent announcement surrounding aspartame, and a novel way to store hydrogen. 

The Grocery sector has been in the spotlight since it was reported that food prices increased 12.5 percent from last year. 

This increase in food prices matched with a cost of living crisis has left many New Zealanders choosing between which of their basic needs is most important.

However, the cause of the cost of living crisis has had little effect on supermarket profits, with the two biggest supermarket retailers in New Zealand recording a combined profit of 430 million dollars last year.

In an unprecedented move, the Labour government has chosen to create a new commission to look at measures needed to regulate the supermarket industry in order to get fairer prices for ordinary Kiwis

Nicholas spoke to newly appointed grocery commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about his experience and his ideas on what needs to change in the grocery sector.