The Wire with Caeden

Auckland Council's recent planning committee meeting took place last night. 

The focus was on mass housing reforms, which could see rates of housing re-intensification rise across Tamaki Makaurau. 

To learn more about the decisions made, Trishil took over the segment from Liam this week and spoke with councillor Shane Henderson on our regular City Counselling segment. The conversation touched on the pay rise for bus drivers in Auckland in a measure to combat staff shortages.

Rejoice! While fuel prices have yet to return to pre 2022 levels, it has freefallen down to an average of $2.70 a litre at the pumps in Auckland. 

For example, yesterday afternoon saw prices fluctuate across the country with Waitomo on Tinakori Road in Wellington charging $2.59 a litre; Caltex on Newton Road in Auckland charging $2.65; and in Christchurch, Waitomo on Fitzgerald Avenue charging $2.47.

Further drops are expected on the horizon, in part due to the crude oil stock price falling from 110USD to around 96 USD over the past week. Another factor could be the fuel tax excise, which has been extended to January.

To learn more, Trishil spoke to Economics Professor Basil Sharp about the trends and contributing factors to the fall in prices.

Welcome to the Thursday Wire! This week on the show…

Tuva’a has his weekly catch up with Andrew Little. Stella speaks to the head writer of Shortland Street, Jessica Joy Wood, about Shortland Street’s creative involvement with the campaign to recruit nurses.

Frances brings us Greendesk, speaking with Gabrielle Feather, a PhD student at the University of Tasmania about climate anxiety.

Stella speaks to Dr Nick Cradock-Henry from Manaaki Whenua about the government’s National Adaptation Plan. Stella speaks to Joe Rich, chief executive of the Burnett Foundation, about their call to the government for vulnerable populations to be vaccinated against monkeypox.

The New Zealand border opened to all overseas visitors yesterday, after an extended closer due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Tourism industry experts have welcomed the re-opening of New Zealand’s border, but are not expecting an largue immediate influx of visitors.

Casper spoke to the Tourism Industry Aotearoa communications manager Anne-Marie Johnson about the border re-opening, what it means for the tourism industry and what challenges might arise from here

He first asked how much of an increase to visitors we are likely to see presently.