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Study Finds the Accommodation Supplement is Failing to Ease Housing Stress for Renters w/ the University of Auckland's Edward Yiu: 15 April 2025

 Study Finds the Accommodation Supplement is Failing to Ease Housing Stress for Renters w/ the University of Auckland's Edward Yiu: 15 April 2025 Study Finds the Accommodation Supplement is Failing to Ease Housing Stress for Renters w/ the University of Auckland's Edward Yiu: 15 April 2025, 15.85 MB
Tue 15 Apr 2025

The Accommodation Supplement is one of Aotearoa’s primary social housing support programmes.

It provides weekly financial assistance to lower-income households struggling with housing costs.

A recent study by University of Auckland has revealed that the supplement is failing to ease housing stress, with renters receiving the subsidy spending more of their income on rent than those who don’t, across all income brackets.

Producer Amani spoke to University of Auckland Associate Property Professor Edward Yiu to find out more about this research and to see what advice he has for student renters.

Calls for Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, to leave his role w/ Justice for Palestine’s Samira Zaiton: 14 April, 2025

 Calls for Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, to leave his role w/ Justice for Palestine’s Samira Zaiton: 14 April, 2025 Calls for Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, to leave his role w/ Justice for Palestine’s Samira Zaiton: 14 April, 2025, 8.39 MB
Mon 14 Apr 2025

Calls have been made for New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, to either step down from his role, or be fired from his position, over accusations of Islamophobia.

These calls have been made by multiple organisations, including Justice for Palestine.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Co-convenor for Justice for Palestine, Samira Zaiton, about the controversy surrounding the Chief Human Rights Commissioner, and the organisation's calls for him to leave his position.

Proposed Drivers Licence Testing Changes w/ SADD’s Donna Govorko: 14 April, 2025

 Proposed Drivers Licence Testing Changes w/ SADD’s Donna Govorko: 14 April, 2025 Proposed Drivers Licence Testing Changes w/ SADD’s Donna Govorko: 14 April, 2025, 21.62 MB
Mon 14 Apr 2025

Yesterday the government announced a proposal to change the requirements when it comes to drivers licence testing. 

The announcement by Transport Minister Chris Bishop revealed the axing of the full license test, meaning drivers on their restricted licence would automatically gain their full license after 18 months. Bishop says these changes would make it ‘more efficient, accessible and affordable’ for drivers to get their licence. 

The changes come with new safety measures such as drivers needing a completely clear record for 18 months before gaining their full licence, lowering the number of available demerit points for restricted drivers from 100 to 50, as well as introducing a zero alcohol limit for all drivers on their learners and restricted, not just those under 20. 

The AA is welcoming some of these changes, but says more safety measures could be taken with New Zealand already having one of the worst rates of fatal crashes in the OECD.

Producer Evie spoke to General Manager for Students Against Dangerous Driving, Donna Govorko about the proposal, and how the group feels about the potential changes.

The Wire w/ Joel: 14 April, 2025

 The Wire w/ Joel: 14 April, 2025 The Wire w/ Joel: 14 April, 2025, 106.12 MB
Mon 14 Apr 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 the Treaty Principles Bill being voted down on it’s second reading and the party announcing they will be running candidates in general seats in the next election.

For our weekly catch up Producer Evie spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about the Treaty Principles Bill being voted down at second reading, an ACT Party Members Bill proposing the removal of university services based on race, and research finding female MPs are increasingly receiving abuse online.

Evie also spoke to Students Against Dangerous Driving’s (SADD) Donna Govorko about the government proposal to change the drivers license testing from two practical tests, to one - removing the full license test.

And Joel spoke to the Co-convenor for Justice for Palestine, Samira Zaiton, about recent controversial comments made by Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, and the organisation's calls for Rainbow to leave his position.

Whakarongo mai.

Report highlighting abuse female politicians face in Aotearoa w/ the Victoria University of Wellington's Lara Greaves: 10 April, 2025

 Report highlighting abuse female politicians face in Aotearoa w/ the Victoria University of Wellington's Lara Greaves: 10 April, 2025 Report highlighting abuse female politicians face in Aotearoa w/ the Victoria University of Wellington's Lara Greaves: 10 April, 2025, 6.67 MB
Thu 10 Apr 2025

A new report led by the University of Otago Wellington has found high rates of abuse and harassment against female members of parliament in Aotearoa. 

Eleven MPs from across the political spectrum participated in the study which found they were regularly harassed, threatened with rape and even death threats.

The study is led by Dr Rhiannon Watson and Dr Lucy Hammans and builds on previous research into harassment of MPs. 

Thursday Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Lara Greaves (Ngāpuhi, Pākehā, Tararā), associate professor in politics at Victoria University, about the study and its broader context in Aotearoa and global politics.

Caeden started by asking if she could explain the key findings of the study.

The Wire w/ Caeden: 10 April, 2025

 The Wire w/ Caeden: 10 April, 2025 The Wire w/ Caeden: 10 April, 2025, 96.33 MB
Thu 10 Apr 2025

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, absent Thursday Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about changing free speech rules for universities, the government’s increase in defence spending, and the impact of Trump’s tariffs.

For City Counselling this week, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about the the Western Springs Speedway Association launching a court battle against the council and councillors deciding what to do with vacant land from storm-affected housing.

For International Desk, Caeden spoke to Charles Hunt from Boise State University about United States Senator Cory Booker’s record-breaking 25-hour filibuster. 

And Caeden spoke to Lara Greaves (Ngāpuhi, Pākehā, Tararā) from the Victoria University of Wellington about research into the high levels of harassment and abuse that female MPs face.

The New Zealand Defense Force Defence Boost w/ Peace Action Welington's Valerie Morse: 9 April, 2025

 The New Zealand Defense Force Defence Boost w/ Peace Action Welington's Valerie Morse: 9 April, 2025 The New Zealand Defense Force Defence Boost w/ Peace Action Welington's Valerie Morse: 9 April, 2025, 16.04 MB
Wed 9 Apr 2025

Wednesday Wire Host Oto spoke to Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington for their take on the government’s $12 Billion dollar boost to defence spending.

Peace Action have referred to the defence boost as a “shocking waste” that would have been better spent on our infrastructure and medical system and that The Defence Capability Plan ties NZ to America’s territorial ambitions against China.

The ethics of bringing back the Dire Wolf and other extinct species w/ The University of Otago's Nic Rawlence: 9 April, 2025

 The ethics of bringing back the Dire Wolf and other extinct species w/ The University of Otago's Nic Rawlence: 9 April, 2025 The ethics of bringing back the Dire Wolf and other extinct species w/ The University of Otago's Nic Rawlence: 9 April, 2025, 17.1 MB
Wed 9 Apr 2025

American company 'Colossal Biosciences' claim to have brought back the Dire Wolf using genetic engineering and preserved DBA, despite the species having been extinct for over 10,000 years.

Producer Max spoke with the Director of the Otago Paleo Genetics Lab at the University of Otago, Nic Rawlence, about the supposed "de-extinction" of the Dire Wolf, as well as the ethics of bringing back extinct species.

The Wire w/ Oto: 9 April, 2025

 The Wire w/ Oto: 9 April, 2025 The Wire w/ Oto: 9 April, 2025, 113.35 MB
Wed 9 Apr 2025

For their weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about the Justice Committees recommendations for the treaty principles bill, the $12 billion boost to the New Zealand Defence Force and Donald Trump’s Tariffs on New Zealand

He spoke to Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington for a follow up conversation on the government’s boost to the defence budget.

And he spoke to Shaun Awatere, Kaihautū Māori Research Impact Leader at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, about the state of the environment report released by the Ministry for the environment.

Max spoke to the Director of the Otago Paleo Genetics Lab at the University of Otago, Nic Rawlence, about the supposed “de-extinction” of the Dire Wolf, and the ethics of bringing back extinct species.

For this week’s Green Desk, Producer Sara spoke to Rongoā Māori expert kuia Donna Kerridge, on her upcoming EcoFest 2025 event into understanding Māori medicine.

The State of the Environment Report w/ Manaaki Whenua’s Shaun Awatere: 9 April, 2025

 The State of the Environment Report w/ Manaaki Whenua’s Shaun Awatere: 9 April, 2025 The State of the Environment Report w/ Manaaki Whenua’s Shaun Awatere: 9 April, 2025, 24.44 MB
Wed 9 Apr 2025

Just Yesterday, the Ministry for the Environment released their Our environment 2025 report, highlighting the impacts of land use on the ecosystem of Aotearoa.

The report revealed that between 75-95% of Taonga birds, reptiles, frogs and freshwater fish species were at risk of extinction or being threatened and that a significant proportion of groundwater had accumulated excess nitrate due to activities such as intensive farming, logging and urbanisation.

These findings also paint a grave picture for te iwi Māori and tangata whenua, whose livelihoods and mana whenua are also threatened by the extinction of native species and degradation of land.

Oto spoke to Shaun Awatere, a Kaihautū Māori Research Impact Leader and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, about the findings from the Ministry for the Environment’s recent report and the initiatives led by Iwi and Hapu to address it.