The Wire with Caeden

Despite the government imposing regulations that restrict the advertisement of vaping, international campaigns are still reaching young New Zealanders through influencer marketing and sponsorship of popular overseas sporting events. 

In a recently published paper, University of Auckland School of Population Health Research Fellow Dr Lucy Hardie examined how e-cigarette companies can target young New Zealanders through social media marketing and legal loopholes. 

95bFM Intern Zanoor spoke with Hardie about this research and her concerns about the harm these campaigns can cause.

Last week, the government passed a New Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection act. The Act includes a new organisation of marine protected areas, and new rules for fishing, in the hopes that they will address environmental issues in the gulf. Concerns, however, remain over the wellbeing of marine life, both now and going forward, and particularly that of larger marine life like whales and dolphins.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Professor of Marine Ecology and Conservation Biology at the University of Auckland, Rochelle Constantine, about the welfare of these larger marine animals, how this bill will help them, and what work there remains to be done.

Recently the Government announced a new policy that would means test the Jobseeker benefit for 18-19 year olds. 

This new means testing would disqualify those 18-19 year olds who have a combined parental income above $65,000. 

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaking directly to those young people receiving a benefit said that “I make no apologies, if you want a job, you go to where jobs are” 

The official unemployment rate is 5.2% with 158,000 people unemployed. In June, young people from 15-24 years olds had an unemployment rate of 12.9% with Maori and Pasifika young people more acutely affected. 

According to experts there are very few pathways left that actively support young people to get employment in our current job market. Current cost of living payments from Studylink amount to $9.50 per hour of full time study. 

Aaron Hendry, founder of youth organisation Kick Back says that this change would increase the risk of homelessness for young people and put some of our most vulnerable young people in potentially dangerous situations.

Furthermore hundreds of teenagers with disabilities and chronic health issues, who currently live in a state of poverty, would be disqualified from accessing this benefit as well. 

Thursday Wire Producer Sanat spoke to Sarita Divis, Executive Officer at the Child Poverty Action Group, about the implications of these changes.

New Zealanders Rana Hamida, Youseff Sammour and Sam Leason have been deported from Israel after being taken and detained from the Freedom Flotilla.

Another New Zealander, Will Alexander and his partner, German Citizen Ava Mulla, have also been detained from the second wave of Flotilla boats.

The activists are attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and carry humanitarian aid. 

Flotilla activists who have been detained and then deported from Israel have been mistreated by the Israeli military, including being abused and denied food and water.

Wire Host Caeden spoke with Acacia O’Connor, an actor and spokesperson for the Global Movement to Gaza, about the Freedom Flotilla and the experiences of detained activists.