The Wire with Caeden

In 2023, New Zealand enacted a world first ban on live animal exports by sea. Part of the National and ACT coalition agreement included plans to reverse the ban. However, last week, the government announced it would not go ahead with repealing the ban, with Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard saying that a consensus within cabinet could not be achieved before this year’s general election. 

Wire producer Liam spoke to Debra Ashton, Chief Executive of SAFE For Animals, about the impact of the government’s decision and the future for live exports and animal welfare.

Last week, amid negotiations between the Public Service Commission and the NZEI Te Riu Roa union over pay for primary school teachers, the government moved to offer pay rises to primary school teachers on individual agreements. The move has been criticised by the union as undermining negotiations, but the government has defended the move as simply offering those teachers what the union has already turned down.

Last week also saw the release of Phase two of the Royal Comission Inquiry into the COVID-19 response. The results were, by and large, positive towards the response, but with key points of debate still remaining.

This week, Wire Host Alex spoke to National MP Ryan Hamilton about all of these topics, beginning by discussing the pay offer for Primary School Teachers.

Last Thursday, the Employment Leave bill, which aims to replace the Holidays Act, passed its first reading in Parliament. The bill will reform annual and sick leave calculation, changing from a lump sum system, to an hourly calculation scheme.

While New Zealand workplace relations and safety Minister, Brooke van Velden claimed the bill is meant to simplify leave calculations, criticisms of the bill's other potential impacts have emerged.

Those who work irregular hours will receive less leave, it's been proposed a full day in lieu won’t be provided for people working shorter shifts on public holidays, and leave for people on ACC compensation would be cut.

In response the Public Service Association has called on MPs to sign a pledge to oppose the law change and ensure workers aren’t left worse off.

To explain this pledge and why the PSA opposes the changes in the bill, producer Thomas talked to PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.

This week on the Monday Wire...

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about the second phase of the government’s COVID 19 Inquiry, and the creation of MCERT, the ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions, and Transport. 

They also spoke to spokesperson for NZEI Te Riu Roa, the union for Primary School Teachers, Liam Rutherford, about a recent dispute between the union and the government, where individual employment agreements were offered to non-union teachers before collective bargaining finished.

And they spoke to Director of Pūtahi research Daniel Collins about a proposed data centre to be built in Southland and concerns around its potential water use. 

Producer Thomas spoke to E tū Union Director for manufacturing and food Finn O’Dwyer-Cunliffe about Heinz Watties closing FOUR of its sites across the country and what can be done to protect workers from local producers shutting down.

And he also talked to Public Service Association National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons about the PSA calling on MPs to sign a pledge which promises to stop a bill that would cut holidays for thousands of workers.