The Wire with Caeden

For the last few weeks, News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston has been following the calls made by people working in the arts and culture sector for more consistent and reliable government support to get people through the red setting. Last week, the government announced that $121 million of Covid relief funding for the sector had been made available and Jemima spoke to Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni about this. The Minister said that workers should be able to take comfort in the fact that the funding announced for Arts and Culture in 2020 had not yet been spent and that the government is taking any calls for help seriously. 

This week Jemima wanted to know what the industry reaction to the latest funding announcement has been. She caught up with promoter representative and freelance tour manager Sarin Moddle to ask what her thoughts were on the $121 million fund. Sarin says she has had mixed feelings about the fund but has settled on a belief that the government has simply "tinkered around the edges of what was already there" and have not made funding avenues that fit the purpose of providing direct financial support to industry workers. 

Sarin spoke with Jemima last week about what little help there is out there for people working in the arts, music and events industry. To listen to that podcast and find more coverage on this issue, click here. 

Today on the Wire, Emily Bell speaks to University of Auckland Māori Studies Professor Margaret Mutu about the significance of Waitangi Day.

Jemima Huston talks to Professor Michael Plank about why Australia has opened its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers, when New Zealand has decided to reopen gradually with a five-step process. 

Emily interviews the CEO of the Bus and Coaches Association NZ Ben McFadgen about how the pandemic has impacted the bus and coach industry.

Jemima catches up with with promoter rep and freelance tour manager Sarin Moddel about her feelings on the government's $121 million covid relief funding announcement for the arts and culture sector. 

Finally, Jemima speaks to Dr Roshini Peiris-John, Associate Professor at the School of Population Health in Auckland, about her study into the Youth19 health survey and the finding that young Asian people who experience discrimination and racism are more likely to forgo healthcare. 

New Zealand has several misconceptions surrounding Autistic people and their lives, especially when it comes to the Criminal Justice System.

A recent University of Otago study looked into the misconceptions with the support of Autism New Zealand. First, Liam spoke to Nick Bowden, an Otago Uni Research Fellow about the study and it’s findings.

Liam then spoke to Autism New Zealande chief executive Dane Dougan, who helped support the study, on the social implications we could see in the future.

At least two groups of Afghan nationals who have visas for New Zealand are still stuck in Afghanistan after the Ministry of Foregin Affairs and Trade refuse to provide them with critical safe travel assistance.

Sue Moroney is the chief executive for Community Law Centres o Aotearoa, who is acting on behalf of the Afghans.  She spoke to Justin Wong.