The Wire with Caeden

This week on the Tuesday Wire, Auckland Action Against Poverty has called out the government for failing to act on the recommendations set by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group report, Whakamana Tangata - Restoring Dignity to Social Security. Jemima Huston speaks to AAAP coordinator Brooke Pao Stanley about their demands for the government.

Jemima also talks to Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan to provide a government response on the AAAP's call out. 

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith interviews Rose Stewart, the national nurse advisor for Family Planning, to bust some cervical cancer myths and stigmatisations.

Lyric also speaks to Tracy Klenner from The New Zealand Public Service Association about the rights for customs workers who have recently lost their jobs after failing to get the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Felix spoke to Green co-leader James Shaw about changes to the healthcare system including the merging of DHBs and the introduction of a Maori health authority, deposit protection and how it can make banking safer, and Green's calls to provide amnesty for visa overstayers.

Last Monday Wire, Jessica Hopkins talked about the The Harmful Digital Communications Amendment Bill, which would make it illegal to post an intimate visual recording online without consent. 

The Justice Committees recently called for submissions, particularly from young people to hear their thoughts on the bill.

Jessica interviewed Louisa Wall, the MP in charge of the bill, about why hearing from young people is important, and her thoughts on the current state of consent education in Aotearoa. 

Mark Lockhart, a Landscape Architect and board member of the Tree Council, recently launched a petition to save a century-old pōhutukawa tree in Mount Eden.

Lockhart says the mature tree is at risk of being felled due to the Auckland Council leaving it off the protected Tree Schedule. The Environment Court has now granted an Interim Enforcement Order. 

Lockhart, who is also involved with Mana Rakau, who rose from the Canal Road, Avondale protest, believes that some form of tree protection should be reinstated to protect what is left of our urban ngahere in Tamaki Makaurau.