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Government’s Social Investment Fund w/ Tom Baker 19 May: 2025

Government’s Social Investment Fund w/ Tom Baker 19 May: 2025 Government’s Social Investment Fund w/ Tom Baker 19 May: 2025, 20.8 MB
Mon 19 May 2025

Last week Finance minister Nicola Willis announced a $190 million social investment fund that will invest in at least 20 social service initiatives over the next year. 

Three projects will receive initial funding: an Autism New Zealand programme providing early support to 50 families; an expansion of Emerge Aotearoa’s work with at-risk youth; and He Piringa Whare, a data-informed programme to support at-risk Māori.

Social Investment is a policy that has been seen from previous National governments, largely associated with former prime minister Bill English. 

Under English, the policy involved using data to calculate which groups of people cost the government the most over a lifetime. Interventions aimed at reducing that cost are then targeted at those people. 

However critics say this often leads to fiscal outcomes being valued over social outcomes, or profit over people. 
This time around the government claims they’ll focus on social outcomes over financial ones - but the policy’s real effects are yet to be seen. 

Producer Evie spoke to the University of Auckland’s Associate Professor in Environment Tom Baker about the fund, and how we can expect it to take effect this time around. 

The Wire w/ Caeden: 15 May, 2025

The Wire w/ Caeden: 15 May, 2025 The Wire w/ Caeden: 15 May, 2025, 112.29 MB
Thu 15 May 2025

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Labour’s Shanan Halbert about Chris Hipkins pre-budget speech at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the government’s review into the Waitangi Tribunal, and the cost of National’s FamilyBoost policy.

For International Desk, they spoke to Associate Professor in Political Science at Paris Cité University, Speranta Dumitru, about Pope Leo XIV’s views on migration and what this means for the papacy more broadly. 

For City Counselling, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson, about how much of an impact the climate crisis will have on voters heading into local elections and incorrectly recycling lithium-ion batteries.

And Tuesday Wire Host Castor spoke to PhD student in Education at the University of Auckland and primary school teacher Tom Pearce about the government's stance towards testing in schools and his concerns of over-testing.

Testing in schools and impacts on students w/ the University of Auckland’s Tom Pearce: 15th May, 2025

Testing in schools and impacts on students w/ the University of Auckland’s Tom Pearce: 15th May, 2025 Testing in schools and impacts on students w/ the University of Auckland’s Tom Pearce: 15th May, 2025, 18.6 MB
Thu 15 May 2025

This week the government announced some of its education funding allocation in advance of next week’s budget. The announcement included $100 million for expert maths teachers and new maths tests in school.  

$4 million has been allocated for a new maths test for students in their first two years of schooling. Education Minister Erica Stanford sez the test will help teachers identify students in need of additional support, with these additional needs to be met by the new team of specialist maths teachers. 

These tests join a series of other tests introduced by the current government across all levels of primary and secondary education. To discuss how tests like this work for students and teachers on the ground, Wire host Castor spoke to PhD student in Education at the University of Auckland and primary school teacher, Tom Pearce.

Petition to stop police mental health withdrawal delivered w/ Shaun Robinson: 14 May, 2025

Petition to stop police mental health withdrawal delivered w/ Shaun Robinson: 14 May, 2025 Petition to stop police mental health withdrawal delivered w/ Shaun Robinson: 14 May, 2025, 8.68 MB
Wed 14 May 2025

Yesterday, the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, delivered a petition, which was signed by more than 16,000 citizens. The petition calls on the government to stop the Police’s hasty withdrawal from mental health callouts, until an alternative service is up and running.

Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, Shaun Robinson, has said that “The Police are a critical safety net for people in distress needing urgent access to mental health support”, and that the government removing the support of the police without an alternative in place is comparable to removing the engine of a car while it is running. Robinson believes that both situations are “dangerous, and likely to lead to an accident”.

To talk about the dangers of this development, Producer Max spoke with Shaun Robinson

Is Mahia Now a Nuclear Base? w/ Valerie Morse: May 14, 2025

Is Mahia Now a Nuclear Base? w/ Valerie Morse: May 14, 2025 Is Mahia Now a Nuclear Base? w/ Valerie Morse: May 14, 2025, 17.08 MB
Wed 14 May 2025

Recently, the US military indicated that it wants to increase the number of space launches from Rocket Lab’s launchpad on the Mahia Peninsula, including launching satellites that are involved in Nuclear command-control-and-comms.

Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington, has questioned this development over the lack of transparency from the US military about what they are launching into space, and urged New Zealand to stay firm on it’s stance on Nuclear Weapons.

To talk about this, as well as what it means for New Zealand’s independence, Producer Max spoke with Valerie Morse.

Measles case highlights 'ticking time bomb’ w/ Helen Petousis-Harris from the University of Auckland: 14 May, 2025

Measles case highlights 'ticking time bomb’ w/ Helen Petousis-Harris from the University of Auckland: 14 May, 2025 Measles case highlights 'ticking time bomb’ w/ Helen Petousis-Harris from the University of Auckland: 14 May, 2025, 17.22 MB
Wed 14 May 2025

Just this week, New Zealand’s first measles case in 2 years was reported in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

The patient contracted the disease while travelling in Asia before coming back to Aotearoa and, with global measles cases on the rise, concerns have been raised about the potential for an outbreak and its impacts on New Zealand’s already overburdened healthcare system.

Oto spoke to Helen Petousis-Harris, an Associate Professor in General Practice & Primary Healthcare at the University of Auckland, to discuss the recent measles case in Aotearoa and its potential implications.

The Wire w/ Oto: 14 May, 2025

The Wire w/ Oto: 14 May, 2025 The Wire w/ Oto: 14 May, 2025, 101.42 MB
Wed 14 May 2025

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about the government’s review of the Waitangi Tribunal, funding allocation for the victims of abuse in care redress program and changes to the wildlife act.

For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Hugh Acton, a member of Climate Action Victoria University of Wellington, about a petition calling on the university to divest from fossil fuel companies.

And he spoke to Helen Petousis-Harris, an Associate Professor in General Practice & Primary Healthcare at the University of Auckland about Aotearoa’s most recent measles case and it’s implications for the health system.

Max spoke to Shaun Robinson, the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, about the recent withdrawal of the police from mental health callouts.

And he spoke to Valerie Morse, from Peace Action Wellington, to discuss the US military’s indication that they want to increase the number of space launches from Rocket Lab’s launchpad on the Mahia Peninsula.

The Wire w/ Joel: 5 May, 2025

The Wire w/ Joel: 5 May, 2025 The Wire w/ Joel: 5 May, 2025, 116.09 MB
Tue 13 May 2025

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catchup with Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to her about changes to prisoners’ voting eligibility, the party calling for more funding for Whakaata Māori in Budget 2025, and ECE recommendations.

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about David Seymour’s proposal to reduce the size of cabinet, an ACT Members Bill aimed at removing mandatory climate-related disclosures for banks, as well as last week's unprecedented senior doctor strikes.

Joel spoke to Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, about animal product imports to New Zealand, as a petition to Parliament to ensure imports are coming from country’s with animal welfare standards on par with ours.

Joel also spoke to Robert Patman, a Professor of International Relations at the University of Otago, about his article on the Conversation, discussing his concerns over the Trump Administration's proposed peace deal regarding Russia’s war on Ukraine, and how New Zealand should proceed with supporting Ukraine.

And Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in studio to discuss young people developing their political views through social media.

Whakarongo mai

India/Pakistan ceasefire and regional stability w/ Director of Global Studies at the University of Auckland Chris Ogden: 13th May, 2025

India/Pakistan ceasefire and regional stability w/ Director of Global Studies at the University of Auckland Chris Ogden: 13th May, 2025 India/Pakistan ceasefire and regional stability w/ Director of Global Studies at the University of Auckland Chris Ogden: 13th May, 2025, 7.6 MB
Tue 13 May 2025

Military confrontation between India and Pakistan has many regional and international actors concerned about stability in the region. While a ceasefire agreement has been reached, conditions are still uncertain, especially given indications that India doesn’t see it as a ceasefire. 

Wire host Castor spoke to Director of Global Studies at the University of Auckland, Chris Ogden, about the ceasefire both now and moving into the future. 

Tobacco Transparency Bill w/ University of Otago's Professor Janet Hoek

Tobacco Transparency Bill w/ University of Otago's Professor Janet Hoek Tobacco Transparency Bill w/ University of Otago's Professor Janet Hoek, 15.08 MB
Tue 13 May 2025

Producer Faith spoke with public health researcher and professor from the University of Otago Janet Hoek about the benefits of Labour's health spokesperson Dr. Ayesha Verrall's new bill.