The Wire with Caeden

MethaneSAT, a global initiative to track and reduce methane emissions, is launching today. 

Although primarily funded by the US Environmental Defence Fund, the satellite is the first government funded space mission in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The US side of the project will focus on measuring and identifying methane leaks from oil and gas production, while scientists in New Zealand will use the satellite to study global emissions from agriculture. 

Producer, Sofia Roger Williams, spoke to Spacecraft Mission Operations Director at Te Pūnaha Ātea, the Space Institute at the University of Auckland, Chris Jackson, about the launch, New Zealand’s role, and how the data gathered can help us make global and local recommendations to reduce methane emissions. 

In our weekly interview with National’s James Meager, Wire host Castor began with last week’s announcement of the disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora. 

Te Aka Whai Ora, or the Māori Health Authority, was established to address several Māori health issues, including overrepresentation in the health system and underrepresentation in the workforce. Castor asked James about why it was disestablished and the replacements that the National party might offer. 

Castor and James also talked about the smokefree legislation repeal, which was also introduced in the last few weeks. The repeal has been met with backlash from opposition parties and public protests, with many arguing it follows arguments from within the tobacco industry. The two discussed the repeal and these possible links, as well as National’s continual commitment to Smokefree 2025. 

Yesterday Salient Magazine, the University of Victoria’s student magazine, released a statement discussing the revocation of Salient’s parliamentary press pass. Salient had held the press pass on behalf of the Aotearoa Student Press Association, or ASPA. 

As such, revoking this pass for Salient affects student magazines across the country, including the University of Auckland’s Craccum magazine. 

Wire host Castor spoke to one of Salient’s news co-editors, Ethan Rogacion, about the revocation and what it means for student journalism.

The government’s proposed gang patch bill has drawn significant attention as it progresses through the legislative process. If passed, the contentious policy would ban gang patches in public spaces and provide police with more powers to disperse the congregation of gang members.

Producer Ezra chatted to Associate Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, Carrie Leonetti, about the legality and enforceability of this bill and potential discriminatory implications.