The Wire with Caeden

Next week is the start of COP30, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This year it’s taking place in Brazil.

Earlier this week, the Trump Administration confirmed that no high-level Government representatives would be attending the climate talks.

Trump has previously called the climate crisis a “hoax” and “con job”.

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Matt McDonald, Professor in the School of Political Science and International Studies, at the University of Queensland, about the lack of United States presence at COP30.

Aotearoa’s progress in reducing smoking has slowed for Māori, Pacific and European adolescents, and vaping could be the reason, according to research published  in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific 

The study, conducted by researchers from the Universities of Otago, Auckland, and Sydney, along with the Daffodil Centre in Australia, analysed population-level data from almost 600,000 Year 10 students aged 14–15. The students were surveyed between 2003 and 2024 as part of the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Year 10 Survey.

They found rates of regular smoking among 14-15-year-olds declined significantly for Māori, Pacific, European, and Asian adolescents between 2003 and 2024. However, these declines in smoking slowed for Māori, Pacific, and European youth after vaping emerged in 2010.

Thursday Wire Producer Sanat spoke to the University of Auckland's Dr Lucy Hardie about these findings and what the response needs to look like from policy makers in order to mitigate the predicted harms.

Plan change 120, a new plan that seeks to allow for up to 2 million new dwellings in high density zones across mass rapid corridors throughout the city is currently up for public consultation. 

Although hotly contested during the election period, it seems as if the city is on its way to unlocking high density development and a strengthening of its urban landscape against natural hazards. 

Thursday Wire Producer Sanat talked to councilor Julie Fairey today about the consultation process, how people can get involved and what they should know about the plan change.

Sanat also talked to her about the process of going from being a candidate to actually starting a role in council, what the inauguration looks like and how the Auckland Council building feels as new Councillors settle in for their term.

Over recent weeks, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been busy touring South-East Asia, in the hopes of negotiating various trade deals and securing meetings with other world leaders.

In his returning press conference, where he recapped his trip, the Prime Minister focused on the importance of securing a 1-on-1 meeting with US President Donald Trump.

For our weekly catch up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March, Wednesday Wire Host Max spoke to him about the Prime Minister’s trip.

They also discussed the Green Party’s plans for an evidence-based cannabis regulation and whether they would campaign with that policy for next year’s election, as well as the new draft school curriculum released by the government, and the subsequent plans to shrink the teaching council.

But first, they discussed whether Luxon’s trip to South-East Asia was a success.