The Wire with Caeden

On Friday morning, the United Nations announced the beginning of a project to see the minimization of plastic pollution throughout the planet. 

The next few months will see negotiations made about how we can regulate plastic pollution and what the next steps are to combat the Climate Crisis.

GreenPeace has been campaigning for changes to be made for years, and many within the organisation calling this a historical moment. Liam spoke to Plastic Spokesperson for GreenPeace Aotearoa, Juressa Lee about the treaty.

A report was released by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton which revealed startling gaps in how New Zealand monitors and records hazardous chemicals in the environment.The report found that New Zealand’s regulations can often overlook environmental effects and recommends that a common framework be developed to assess and track chemicals and their environmental impacts. Casper spoke with Nick Kim, a Senior Lecturer in applied environmental chemistry at Massey University about the significance of the findings of the report, and its recommendations.

The Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill states that it aims to provide independent monitoring and complaints oversight for Oranga Tamariki, and greater advocacy for children's and young people's issues generally through the creation of a new Children and Young People's Commission.

Jessica Hopkins had a kōrero with Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Chief Executive Karen Orsborn and VOYCE Whakarongo Mai National Care Experience Lead Tupua Urlich about their concerns with the bill. 

On their website, VOYCE says that the bill ignores reports on what independent and effective monitoring of the Oranga Tamariki system should look like. 

Today the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released a report looking at how we monitor chemicals in the environment and interpret their impact on living things. The report looked at neonicotinoid insecticides, antibiotics, and the trace metal zinc as case studies, as well as how our own regulations may not address the issue. Joe speaks to Dr Jennifer Gadd, an aquatic chemist from NIWA on the matter.