The Wire with Caeden

For Dear Science this week our expert, Professor Allan Blackman chats with us about snow, ice, and “freezing-point depression” 
For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamlilton about Waitangi Day & National Party views on some of the recent environmental legislation
For Green World, Sara spoke to Professor Carl Rhodes from the University of Technology in Sydney, about the influence of billionaires on global climate progress
Producer Toby spoke to Associate Professor Maria Armoudian, from the University of Auckland, about the Trump administration’s targeting of political opponents in the United States

Over the past year, the Trump administration has taken a series of actions targeting political opponents. Under Trump’s second term, the polarisation of American politics has seemingly reached unprecedented levels, with members of the administration accusing a variety of peaceful individuals and groups of ‘domestic terrorism.’

Dr. Maria Armoudian is a professor of politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, who has written books on international human rights and the role that the media plays in shaping the future.

She is also a dual citizen, having been born and raised in the United States, and this year she hopes to visit her home country. But she’s worried that some of her viewpoints may land her in hot water when she arrives.

Earlier this year, an Oxfam report revealed that once again, billionaire wealth increased in 2025 — three times faster than the previous five-year average.

In January, Oxfam also proclaimed ‘Pollutocrat Day’ on the 10th of January, on which the richest 1% have already exhausted their annual carbon budget.

Professor of Business & Society at the University of Technology in Sydney Carl Rhodes has delved into the ‘myth of the heroic billionaire’ and the problems generated for political processes and global inequality.

Wire Host Sara spoke to Rhodes about the influence of billionaires, in particular with regard to climate action, starting by asking what the myth of the heroic billionaire is, and how it is perpetuated.

This past week saw multiple polls on public support for Te Tiriti o Waitangi in lawmaking. In RNZ’s Reid Research poll, while 38.1% thought Te Tiriti had too much influence, 34.1% thought it was just right and 16.6% called for more. 

The complex array of approaches to Te Tiriti were on full display this weekend, with politicians and MPs talking about what it means to them. Some of the narratives shared, especially by the act party, framed Te Tiriti’s role in politics as taking rights away from Pākehā and favouring Māori. 

To discuss all of these, News Director Castor spoke to senior lecturer of sociology at the University of Auckland, Avril Bell. 

You can find the article by Avril Bell here and more information on Matike Mai here.