The Wire with Caeden

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about the seizure of the Madleen freedom flotilla by Israeli Defence Forces and the greens’ calls for Sanctions on Israel, The government's new Parent Boost Visa and the unrest in Los Angeles opposing the US immigration policies and how it could impact immigration policy here in Aotearoa.

For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Sue Coutts from Zero Waste Network New Zealand about a petition calling for Aotearoa to be kept incinerator free.

And he spoke to Neal Curtis a professor in the Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland to discuss why “reclaim the wealth” is a better phrase than “tax the rich.”

Max spoke to Brigid Carroll, a professor at the University of Auckland, to talk about the traits that make an effective leader.

And he spoke to Heemi Kapa-Kingi, Co-Founder of the ‘Soften Up Bro’ movement, to talk about men’s mental health.

This week marks Men’s Mental Health Week in Aotearoa – a time to kōrero about the challenges that many men face, and to break down the stigma that still surrounds emotional well-being.

For a long time, the phrase ‘harden up’ has shaped the way men think about vulnerability, and in turn, often pushes men to bottle up emotions, instead of reaching out for help.

‘Soften Up Bro’ is a kaupapa grounded in Te Ao Maori values, encouraging men to embrace softness, honesty and connection.

To talk about men’s mental health in Aotearoa and this movement, I spoke to co-founder of ‘Soften Up Bro’, Heemi Kapa-Kingi.

These past few weeks in politics have seen various issues that we spoke about in our weekly catchup with the National Party.

First up, at the Aotearoa Music Awards, National MP Chris Bishop was heard making disdainful remarks such as “what a load of crap” during a performance by singer Stan Walker. 

Second, Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngārewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi were recently suspended from parliament for 21 days for their haka protesting the Treaty Principles Bill. The penalty is far harsher than any previous penalty for an MP, raising questions about whether it is justified or sets a dangerous precedent. 

Finally, the government recently announced a new visa for parents of migrants, allowing them to come to New Zealand for a longer period of time than traditional visitors without having to acquire residency.

Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues in our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, starting with Chris Bishop’s comments at the AMAs. 

The Hard to Find Bookshop in Auckland is set for its lease to expire in February next year. The bookshop moved into the location on Saint Benedict’s Street in 2017, however it is unclear whether they will be able to move again, especially given rising rents for businesses and increased cost pressures in recent years. There is, therefore, a strong chance that the bookstore may be forced to close. 

To discuss the future of the bookshop and the importance of secondhand bookshops in Auckland, Wire host Castor spoke to the owner of the Hard to Find Bookshop, Warwick Jordan.