The Wire with Caeden

New Zealand's revamped Covid-19 strategy would include an accelerated vaccination rollout, a new individual risk-based border, and self-isolation at home for vaccinated travellers instead of two weeks at MIQ.

Justin Wong reports.

In February las year, Consumer NZ did a survey on consumer issues that matter to them, showing that Environmental issues topped the list this year, for the second time in a row. The survey found a rise in consumers changing their shopping habits in an effort to reduce their environmental impacts. 6/10 people agreed environmental considerations were important to them and that they were looking for "greener" products. However, 72% of people also agreed that it's hard to find which products are really better for the environment. 

So today Zazi talked to the Chief Executive at Consumer NZ, Jon Duffy, and Ecostore's Group Research and Development Director Huia Iti about greenwashing, and its role behind why 72% of people find it hard knowing what products are actually better for the environment. 

To start the conversation, Zazi first spoke to Jon Duffy about what greenwashing actually is, why it has become more prominent in recent years and how it has been affecting our perception, as consumers, about what products are ethical and what products are not.

Zazi then spoke to Huia Iti, who gave insight into different types of greenwashing, why some companies choose to greenwash instead of just becoming ethical, and why it is important to ask questions about the products we are buying.

This week on the Wednesday Wire, Frances Wright has her regular Dear Science segment with Marcus Jones. They talk about an ICC report that says Human influence on global warming is 'unequivocal'; they then talk about an analysis which reveals that strange turns of phrase may indicate foul play in science; and also explain the mysterious dimming of a bright star. 

Frances then talks with Jill Ovens, co-leader of the Midwives Union, about the rolling strikes and lack of midwives in Aotearoa; Frances also speaks to Mallory Fraser, a student midwife, about entering the profession itself. 

Zazi Hewlett has her regular catch-up with ACT's Brooke van Velden, this week talking about the power outage that occurred in Waikato earlier this week and the Government's recently proposed Hate Speech laws.

Zazi also talks to the Chief Executive at Consumer NZ, Jon Duffy, and Ecostore's Group Research and Development Director, Huia Iti, about everything greenwashing, its effects on consumers and ways to to distinguish greenwashing brands from ethical ones. 

Today on the Tuesday Wire, Jemima Huston investigates Apple's new technology that will scan their US consumer’s devices for known child sex abuse images (CSAM). She speaks to Manager of the Child Exploitation Team for the New Zealand Police Detective Senior Sergeant Alex Carter, Chief Censor David Shanks and Privacy Commissioner John Edwards about some of the issues surrounding Apple's technology. Such as the CSAM situation in New Zeland, how Apple’s technology might impact New Zealand’s response to CSAM if it was rolled out here, whether Apple’s technology would breach New Zealand privacy laws and whether people even have the right to privacy when it comes to storing CSAM on their personal devices. 

Joe Wickins reportes the situation with the Line 3 oil pipeline in the United States and its impact on the environment and indigenous people. 

Jemima wraps it up with  achat with Palestinan Youth Aotearoa’s Fathi Hassneiah and Tāmaki Loves Palestine’s Robin Wilson-Whiting about their joint project to screen David Osit’s documentary Mayor this Sunday at the Capitol in Balmoral, Auckland. They discuss the situation in Palestine, the work of Palestinan Youth Aoteroa and the screening event.