The Wire with Caeden

Te Pati Maori have drawn media speculation on the strength of their leadership, which has been described as “internal chaos” and “infighting,” despite the party announcing a reset.

Academic and professor of Maori management Jason Mika from the University of Auckland’s business school likens the conflict to “an open divorce court gone bad,” and believes that a shift in focus is needed. 

Producer Faith spoke to Mika about the party’s conflicts, and how he believes they need to refocus.

Over the weekend, a Second round of ‘No Kings’ protests took place across the United States, protesting the anti-democratic actions of the second Trump Administration.

The previous protests in june saw 5 million join in, and this round had 250 planned protests across all 50 states. Officials in New York estimated crowds of around 100,000 people.

Concerns, however, remain around whether or not these protests will do something, and whether or not they matter, in the face of Trump’s authoritarian leanings and the actions of his administration.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Associate Professor of History at the University of Auckland, Jennifer Frost, about these protests, and what they say about political attitudes towards Trump in the United States.

In a recent article for Newsroom, University of Auckland climate scientist Dr Kevin E Trenberth wrote about the continued ‘existential threat’ of climate change.

He outlines the key issues of climate change, including droughts, intense rains and flooding risks and tropical storms. All leading to food and water shortages.

In the article, he also called net-zero a “pipe dream”, given the shortfalls of the Paris Agreement and other climate accords 

Thursday Wire Host Caeden spoke to Trenberth, who is a Distinguished Scholar at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research, USA, and an honorary academic at the Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, about his article, including the most urgent climate change-driven threats and what role New Zealand has to play in enacting solutions.

They started by asking what about the current moment inspired him to write his article.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the government's changes to methane targets and this week’s upcoming multi-sector strikes, which is expected to have 100,000 workers walk off the job.

Producer Alex spoke to Principal Scientist at Earth Sciences NZ Dr Nick Cradock-Henry about the Governments new National Adaption Framework for Climate Change, and what it means for policy and what holes remain.

Thursday Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Kevin E Trenberth, climate scientist and honorary academic at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Science, about the most pressing climate change-driven threats and the role of New Zealand in enacting solutions.

And Alex spoke to Associate Professor of History at the University of Auckland, Jennifer Frost, about the No Kings protests in the United States over the weekend, and what they mean politically for the country and the Trump Administration.

Whakarongo mai!