The Wire with Caeden

This past week the government announced plans to reinstate the prisoner voting ban. The ban was altered in June 2020 by the Labour led coalition government in a change which allowed prisoners serving a sentence of less than three years to vote in elections. This change followed a recommendation from New Zealand’s High Court, which found a prisoner voting ban was inconsistent with New Zealand’s Bill of Rights.

In 2025, the government is now looking at repealing the bill and reinstating the ban. The National Party has argued that there are certain responsibilities that members of society must uphold, and that those who do not fulfil these responsibilities will have their rights taken away. Asked about human rights concerns and the High Court ruling on the bill, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said “I do not care what anyone else says about it.” The bill is set to join others as part of this government’s “tough on crime” approach. 

In our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about the prisoner voting ban and how the change would benefit the general public. 

A recent study from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ has shown the links between vaping, and an incurable lung disease.

Producer Faith spoke to the foundation’s chief executive Letitia Harding about these findings, and how she thinks the government should address the issue.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman chats with us about false eating reports, fluoridated water, and the Sodom comet. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about the government’s plans for prisoner voting rights. 

They also spoke to Professor James Russell from the University of Auckland about a recent case where some tuatara were potentially poisoned with rodenticides. 

Producer Faith spoke to criminology lecturer from the University of Auckland, and press spokesperson for People Against Prisons Aotearoa Dr. Emmy Rākete, about her concerns with the blanket ban on prisoner voting.

She also spoke to the chief executive from Asthma Foundation NZ Letitia Harding about a new study showing the link between vaping and a lung disease.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in London. Starmer thanked Aotearoa for its “support” for its “coalition of the willing” regarding safeguarding the potential peace deal being put forward by the Trump Administration.

However, concerns have been raised about what the administration is proposing, which could result in original Ukraine land annexed by Russia, such as Crimea in 2014, belonging to Moscow, and ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Host, Joel, spoke to Robert Patman, a Professor of International Relations at the University of Otago, about his article on the Conversation, discussing his concerns regarding this and how New Zealand should move forward in reiterating support for Ukraine.

*This caption has been edited to add "safeguarding" regarding Luxon and Starmer's meeting in London while discussing Ukraine and Russia.