The Wire with Caeden

As Auckland remains at step one of alert level 3 people are continuing to decide who they meet up with outside. Some tricky conversations are beginning to arise, as those who are vaccinated decide whether they will meet up with those who are not. While vaccine rates are slowly rising, especially after Saturday’s ‘Vaxathon’, half a million eligible people still remain unvaccinated. It poses a tricky decision, especially for those who are immuno-compromised and have close family and friends who are not vaccinated. On the Wire this Wednesday, Frances Wright spoke with Social Scientist Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw. She is co-director of The Workshop, a research organisation in Aoteaora, and she works with decision making and social challenges. She spoke to Frances about how to have productive conversations around the COVID vaccine with friends and family.

Today, applications open for the programme Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga, a $730 million dollar Māori Housing Supply and infrastructure investment that will provide support for Māori to determine their own housing solutions, across the entire housing continuum, and deliver affordable rentals. The $730m fund combines investment from Budget 2021 ($380M), and the Māori Infrastructure Fund ($350m), the largest investment seen in Māori Housing.

Zazi spoke to Associate Minister of Housing, Hon Peeni Henare, about this fund in more detail, to hear more about what he has to say about Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga, and why it is an important programme.

This week Zazi and Brooke talk about three things: the new housing density rules, Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade, and also the fact that pregnant women and their partners do not currently get priority for MIQ spaces.

First off, the two talk about the new Resources Management Amendment Bill that the Government and National Party announced yesterday. Zazi asks Brooke about David Seymour's "hollow stunt" comment, ACT being a supposedly "libertarian party", and the Party's alternative solution to address Aotearoa's housing affordability problem. 

Next, Zazi and Brooke talk about Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade. Brooke shares her concerns, where she thinks our economy will be in the next 7-12 months, and what projects she believes were not worth the Government spending billions of dollars on.

And finally, Zazi asks Brooke about pregnant women and their partners not currently getting priority for MIQ spaces. Brooke talks about pregnant couples she has spoken to, about their experience with MIQ, and whether the support for women during this latest COVID-19 outbreak has been enough. 

This week is all about cybersecurity and staying safe online. CERT New Zealand has launched their Cyber Smart Week initiative which looks at how we can stay safe and protect ourselves from harmful viruses and malware, as well as how we can uphold our privacy and combat the growing threat of cyberattacks. Joe talks to Rob Pope, the Director of CERT New Zealand about how Aotearoa can ‘Cyber Up’ and do their part to keep themselves safe online.