The Wire with Caeden

Public transport has been particularly strained in Auckland recently, with the proposed budget looking to limit services to their current levels, and reducing total bus trips overall. Spike speaks to urban planning researcher Dr. Tim Welch about the current state of public transit, and the cuts proposed by the Council. 

Kia ora, and welcome to The Wire for Rāpare Thursday!

Today on the show, Spike speaks to:

- Dr. Tim Welch on the proposed Auckland Transport budget cuts

- and Elyssia Wilson-Heti about Stop the Cuts' new survey of the arts and culture sector and their view of the proposed cuts

And Simon speaks to:

- Counsellor Shane Henderson for City Counselling on the community response to the budget, and how submissions to Council budgets work

- Public Service Assocation National Secretary Duane Leo about the importance of libraries and their proposed cuts

- and Ruth Buchanan from Artspace about the importance of council funding for artists and galleries

If you want to submit to the Auckland Council budget consulation, you can do so here.

Thanks for listening!

On The Wire for Rāapa Wednesday...

Emilia Sullivan interviewed Green Party co-leader James Shaw about a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shows we only have a small window remaining to avoid the planet warming 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

For their monthly catch-up News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Auckland University Students Association (AUSA) President Alan Shaker about how Auckland Transport disruptions are affecting students and more for their monthly catch-up.

And National Coordinator of Gender Minorities Aotearoa, Ahi Wi-Hongi, discussed anti-trans campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, aka Posie Parker, being allowed to enter Aotearoa to hold a transphobic event in Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend.

Alex Bonham spoke to Cleve Cameron from Big Street Bikers about avoiding congestion by embracing cycling.

Andre Andre Fa'aoso talked to Doug Wilson from the University of Auckland about wireless charging roads.

Arno spoke to doctoral researcher Abdullah Kalantan from the University of Auckland about a new smoking cessation project during the month of Ramadan. 

And University of Auckland astrophysicist Richard Easther discussed light pollution from Starlink and other satellites.

Congestion in the city centre last night held up vehicle traffic and delayed buses for up to an hour. This morning a number of organisations paid for a front page wrap around ad in the Herald promoting cycling.

Alex talked to Big Street Bikers' Cleve Cameron about how enabling cycling in the city might unclog the streets so everyone can get around quickly, cheaply and efficiently.