The Wire with Caeden

Facial recognition has been on the rise within technology, and so has our dependency on said technology. However, concerns have been raised with such risks regarding this.

Producer Yesenia spoke to Professor in the Department of Commercial Law at the University of Auckland, Alex Sims, on the concerns facial recognition has posed for today's technology, and the various alternatives people can use with dealing with sensitive information online.

The Australian government has announced plans to implement legislation that would ban under 16 year olds from social media, with Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, saying the bill will be introduced to Parliament within the next few weeks.

This move has been criticised, including by the The Australian Child Rights Taskforce; an organisation made up of 100 academics and 20 civil society organisations, which have written to the Australian government opposing the bill, rather calling for the government to impose “safety standards” on social media.

However, Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, Dr Samantha Marsh, supports Australia’s move, and is calling for New Zealand to implement similar restrictions. 

News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to her about Australia’s move, and why she supports it.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about the joint press release from Labour, the Greens, and Te Paati Maaori against the Treaty Principles Bill and the formal apology to survivors of abuse in state care.

For State of the States this week they speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about the republicans winning the house of representatives and Donald Trump’s cabinet appointments.

For State of the States they also speak to political commentator and former Radioactive political host Tom Unger about the mood on the ground in Washington D.C. and the Democrat’s response to losing the election.

For City Counselling this week, Sofia speaks to Councillor Shane Henderson about Hīkoi mō te Tiriti passing through Tāmaki Makaurau yesterday and Auckland Council’s Christmas tree spending. 

She also speaks to Distinguished Scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the United States and honorary academic at the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland, Dr Kevin Trenberth, about the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly known as COP29, which started this week.

Needing a gift for Christmas? MOTAT has launched an ‘adopt a tram,’ initiative for their iconic trams.

News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at MOTAT, Katie Brundle, about this initiative, and what it means exactly, to adopt a tram?

You can adopt a tram by heading to the MOTAT website.