The Wire with Caeden

Student-led Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been taking place at multiple Universities in the US, with encampments being set up on campus grounds.

Protesters are calling on their universities to divest investments supporting Israel, which United Nations experts and humanitarian organisations say is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. 

Videos have shown hundreds of students and faculty members being forcefully arrested, including Columbia University in New York and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), and students have been threatened with suspension if they do not vacate encampments.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, Dr Maria Armoudian about this.

The Waitangi Tribunal has urged the government not to scrap Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act, which legally requires Oranga Tamariki to adhere to Treaty principles and improve outcomes for tamariki Māori in state care, before allowing adequate time for an inquiry to review the legislation.

It warned repealing Section 7AA would diminish the rights, needs, and voices of tamariki Māori and cause a strong public reaction from communities.

The tribunal also summoned Children’s Minister Karen Chhour, who is responsible for the policy, which refused, and this request was overturned by the High Court.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Lawyer and author of ‘Understanding Te Tiriti – a handbook about Te Tiriti o Waitangi’, Roimata Smail (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, English, Scottish, Irish descent), about the importance of the tribunal as a watchdog of Crown actions which breach Te Tiriti.

Last week, the government announced its plan for the next Resource Management Act amendment bill.

The Resource Management Act seeks to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources including land, water, and air. 

As part of the first changes being made, farming, mining and other industrial regulations are being scrapped or amended. 

In response, Greenpeace has criticised the repeal of intensive winter grazing regulations and revision of Te Mana o Te Wai, highlighting concerns for the protection of freshwater and the health of rural communities. 

Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to the Head of Campaigns for Greenpeace Aotearoa, Amanda Larsson, about these changes, and the consequences they will have on our environment and access to safe drinking water in rural areas.

She started off the interview asking Larsson what the hierarchy of obligations under Te Mana o Te Wai are.

For Dear Science this week, Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about stoner stereotypes, technology for detecting illegal ivory, and the voyager-1 probe resuming useful communications. 

Wire host Castor spoke to the National Party’s James Meager about the Fast Track Approvals bill. 

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Associate Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, Carrie Leonetti, about a New York court overturning Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction.

And producer Sofia spoke to the Head of Campaigns at Greenpeace Aotearoa, Amanda Larsson, about the government’s amendments to the Resource Management Act.