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International Desk: The escalation of violence in Kashmir and the political context surrounding this w/ video essayist Rohan Davis: 8 May, 2025

International Desk: The escalation of violence in Kashmir and the political context surrounding this w/ video essayist Rohan Davis: 8 May, 2025 International Desk: The escalation of violence in Kashmir and the political context surrounding this w/ video essayist Rohan Davis: 8 May, 2025, 19.83 MB
Thu 8 May 2025

International relations experts are fearing a major conflict between India and Pakistan after sharp, escalating tensions, following a deadly terrorist attack in militarised Kashmir that killed 26 people.

Kashmiris have a long history of oppression. In modern times, this has been as India and Pakistan fight over the region while Kashmiris fight for independence. 

Human Rights Watch reports on Kashmir reveal examples of forced displacement, sexual violence, disappearances and allegations of torture and death in custody.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Rohan Davis about the recent terrorist attack and ongoing military escalation, as well as the historical and political context of the Kashmir crisis.

Davis is a video essayist on YouTube from Kerala, India, who covers Indian history and politics.

Pay equity claims halted by the Government, new unemployment statistics, and a proposal to ban under 16s from using social media w/ Labour's Carmel Sepuloni: 8 May, 2025

Pay equity claims halted by the Government, new unemployment statistics, and a proposal to ban under 16s from using social media w/ Labour's Carmel Sepuloni: 8 May, 2025 Pay equity claims halted by the Government, new unemployment statistics, and a proposal to ban under 16s from using social media w/ Labour's Carmel Sepuloni: 8 May, 2025, 9.17 MB
Thu 8 May 2025

The government has changed pay equality laws, halting all existing claims and reducing the number of workers who can argue for better pay based on gender discrimination.

New figures show the unemployment rate has remained unchanged from last quarter at 5.1%.

And National has put forward a member's bill proposal that would ban social media for under-16s. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke with Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about all of these topics.

The Wire w/ Oto: 7 March, 2025

The Wire w/ Oto: 7 March, 2025 The Wire w/ Oto: 7 March, 2025, 110.49 MB
Wed 7 May 2025

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about The $2 billion boost for naval helicopters, the voting ban for prisoners and the party’s new members bill to ensure that imported products meet animal welfare regulations.

For this week’s Get Action! He spoke to Tara Forde from Aotearoa Covid Action to discuss a petition of hers calling for improvements to the air quality in schools.

And he spoke to Rachel Mackintosh from E Tu Union to discuss Brooke Van Velden’s changes to pay equity claims

Max spoke to National Co-chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, John Minto, about the attack on the ‘Conscience’, a Freedom Flotilla boat which was loaded with life-saving humanitarian aid for Gaza, before being disabled off the coast of Malta.

And he spoke to Ronan Payinda, a student at the University of Auckland, who led a study which looked into the location and frequency of Vape stores, around schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Attack On Life-Saving Aid Boat Proves The Reach Of Israel's Genocide Is Now Global W/ John Minto: May 07, 2025

Attack On Life-Saving Aid Boat Proves The Reach Of Israel's Genocide Is Now Global W/ John Minto: May 07, 2025 Attack On Life-Saving Aid Boat Proves The Reach Of Israel's Genocide Is Now Global W/ John Minto: May 07, 2025, 20.86 MB
Wed 7 May 2025

This week, an attack on the Freedom Flotilla boat, The ‘Conscience’, was launched while it was off the coast of Malta. The ‘Conscience’ was loaded with life-saving humanitarian aid for Gaza before being disabled.

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, has said that the attack, which happened in international waters, was a thoroughly predictable war crime committed by an “out-of-control” Israel, and shows that Israel’s genocide strategy has now gone global.

To talk about this, as well as how the New Zealand government should respond, Producer Max spoke with John Minto, National Co-Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

Vape Stores Cluster Around Schools In New Zealand w/ Ronan Payinda: May 07, 2025

Vape Stores Cluster Around Schools In New Zealand w/ Ronan Payinda: May 07, 2025 Vape Stores Cluster Around Schools In New Zealand w/ Ronan Payinda: May 07, 2025, 23.72 MB
Wed 7 May 2025

This week, a study was launched which looked into the location of vape stores around schools in Aotearoa. In the study it was found that 44% of schools in New Zealand have a vape store within a one-kilometer radius, and that 13% have a dedicated store within 300 meters.

This is despite a legislation being passed by the government in 2023, which banned specialist vape stores from opening within 300 meters of schools and marae, the legislation however, allowed existing vape shops to continue operating.

Ronan Payinda, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Auckland, who led the study, says that he saw the explosion of vaping while he was at school in Northland, and felt that New Zealand was failing as a society to grapple with its potentially serious health effects.

To talk about this, Producer Max spoke with Ronan Payinda.

Government move to kill pay equity process is an attack on women workers w/ E Tu’s Rachel Mackintosh: 7 May, 2025

Government move to kill pay equity process is an attack on women workers w/ E Tu’s Rachel Mackintosh: 7 May, 2025 Government move to kill pay equity process is an attack on women workers w/ E Tu’s Rachel Mackintosh: 7 May, 2025, 15.48 MB
Wed 7 May 2025

Just yesterday, Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced a series of radical changes to New Zealand’s Pay Equity Legislation.

The changes would increase the pay equity claims of gender-discrimination from 60-70% and adjust the comparators to make sure claims met standards that Brooke Van Velden has described as “Genuine” and Sustainable for employers.

This would cause all 33 current pending claims representing thousands of workers in the care industry and health sector to be dropped.

Subsequently, a number of unions and Women’s groups have condemned the government’s changes and have vowed to protest outside parliament in opposition to them.

Oto spoke to Rachel Mackintosh, Assistant National Secretary for E tū Union, to discuss Brooke Van Velden’s changes to Pay Equity Laws and how they will impact Women Workers

Prisoner voting ban w/ People Against Prisons Aotearoa's Emmy Rākete: 6 May, 2025

Prisoner voting ban w/ People Against Prisons Aotearoa's Emmy Rākete: 6 May, 2025 Prisoner voting ban w/ People Against Prisons Aotearoa's Emmy Rākete: 6 May, 2025, 7.51 MB
Tue 6 May 2025

In light of the government’s announcement to reinstate the prisoner’s voting ban, the decision has received significant criticism.

Such criticisms include the ban being described as a violation of fundamental rights, and a weak incentive for criminals

Producer Faith spoke to criminology lecturer from the University of Auckland, and press spokesperson for People Against Prisons Aotearoa Dr. Emmy Rākete, and how she feels about the move.

New study shows link between vaping and incurable lung disease w/ Asthma Foundation NZ's Letitia Harding

New study shows link between vaping and incurable lung disease w/ Asthma Foundation NZ's Letitia Harding New study shows link between vaping and incurable lung disease w/ Asthma Foundation NZ's Letitia Harding, 10.57 MB
Tue 6 May 2025

A recent study from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ has shown the links between vaping, and an incurable lung disease.

Producer Faith spoke to the foundation’s chief executive Letitia Harding about these findings, and how she thinks the government should address the issue.

Northwest transport upgrades and teachers registration fees w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 6th May, 2025

Northwest transport upgrades and teachers registration fees w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 6th May, 2025 Northwest transport upgrades and teachers registration fees w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 6th May, 2025, 21.67 MB
Tue 6 May 2025

This past week the government announced plans to reinstate the prisoner voting ban. The ban was altered in June 2020 by the Labour led coalition government in a change which allowed prisoners serving a sentence of less than three years to vote in elections. This change followed a recommendation from New Zealand’s High Court, which found a prisoner voting ban was inconsistent with New Zealand’s Bill of Rights.

In 2025, the government is now looking at repealing the bill and reinstating the ban. The National Party has argued that there are certain responsibilities that members of society must uphold, and that those who do not fulfil these responsibilities will have their rights taken away. Asked about human rights concerns and the High Court ruling on the bill, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said “I do not care what anyone else says about it.” The bill is set to join others as part of this government’s “tough on crime” approach. 

In our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about the prisoner voting ban and how the change would benefit the general public. 

Risks of pesticides to native wildlife w/ the University of Auckland’s Professor James Russell: 6th May, 2025

Risks of pesticides to native wildlife w/ the University of Auckland’s Professor James Russell: 6th May, 2025 Risks of pesticides to native wildlife w/ the University of Auckland’s Professor James Russell: 6th May, 2025, 16.02 MB
Tue 6 May 2025

New research published in the New Zealand veterinary journal has found that tuatara may be at risk from rat poison. The case has raised questions about pesticide and rodenticide use in Aotearoa, and weighing the risks to native wildlife against the benefits of pest eradication. 

To discuss the poisoning and its wider ramifications for conservation in Aotearoa, Wire host Castor spoke to the University of Auckland’s Professor James Russell.