The Wire with Caeden

Voting for this year’s local body elections has begun, which is bringing increasing scrutiny to the issue of voter engagement.

Particularly for young people, Maori and Pasifika, but also for the general population, voter participation in local elections is relatively low and on the decline.

In regards to next year’s national election, the Independant Electoral Review Panel has begun seeking public input on potential changes to the electoral system that could benefit New Zealand’s democracy.

For Casper's weekly catch-up with National MP Dr Shane Reti, they discussed this topic of voter engagement as well as what might be expected from this electoral review and which changes he might believe to be useful.

Hundreds of endangered sea turtles have been caught in New Zealand’s commercial fisheries since 2002, according to a recent report released by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

At least 80% of those turtles that are caught are leatherback turtles, most likely from their western Pacific subpopulation which is considered critically endangered. The captures occur overwhelmingly in the surface longline fishery off the east coast of the North Island. 

I spoke to Ingrid O’Sullivan, a Senior Adviser of Environmental Law at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, on the matter.

The Wire for Rāhina Monday!

This week on the show Joe speaks to Ingrid O’Sullivan, a Senior Adviser in Environmental Law at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, about turtle bycatch mitigation. He also speaks to Wayne Macpherson from Massey University about how employers can improve workplace flexibility. 

Trishil speaks to Darrin Bull from ADHD New Zealand about the ADHD healthcare improvements.

And Stella and Isla speak with Rebecca Trelease about Reality TV and Audience Psychology for our regular fortnightly segment, Tomorrow's World!

That's us for the Monday Wire!

The government's decision to lift most Covid-19 public health measures has raised concerns about the risks to vulnerable communities. 

With a lack of mask restrictions and vaccination requirements in health systems, people who are immuno-compromised could be at much greater risk for having a negative reaction to Covid infection.

The Green Party in particular have been critical of the government's decision, highlighting how long covid and deaths from the disease continue to be prevalent.

To learn more, David Liwei Shi had a chat with the party's Teanau Toiono about the risks.