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Cancellation of the Smithsonian Asian American Literary Festival w/ Chris Tse and Saraid de Silva

 Cancellation of the Smithsonian Asian American Literary Festival w/ Chris Tse and Saraid de Silva Cancellation of the Smithsonian Asian American Literary Festival w/ Chris Tse and Saraid de Silva, 29.5 MB
Tue 18 Jul 2023

Last week, the Smithsonian abruptly cancelled the Asian American Literary Festival, which writers from around the world were set to attend. A delegation of writers from Australia and New Zealand were preparing to travel and had spent public funding on the event, when they received an announcement the festival had been cancelled. No reasoning or plans for postponement have been given, and members of the Australia/New Zealand delegation are left outraged. 

Wire producer Rosetta spoke to New Zealand writers Chris Tse and Saraid de Silva, who were set to attend the festival in the United States, about their plans for the festival and what the cancellation means.

Labour Party ruling out wealth tax w/ Child Poverty Action Group's Alan Johnson: 18 July, 2023

 Labour Party ruling out wealth tax w/ Child Poverty Action Group's Alan Johnson: 18 July, 2023 Labour Party ruling out wealth tax w/ Child Poverty Action Group's Alan Johnson: 18 July, 2023, 21.39 MB
Tue 18 Jul 2023

Last week, Chris Hipkins announced that the Labour Party is pledging to rule out any sort of capital gains tax or wealth tax if re-elected. Hipkins has stated that it is simple mot the time for big changes to the tax system given how much Kiwis are struggling with the cost of living. The pledge has received backlash and contrasts starkly with policies of Te Pati Māori and The Green Party, leaving a potential future coalition uncertain.

Wire producer Rosetta spoke to to Child Poverty Action Group's convenor Alan Johnson about the policy, and what the decision will mean for the wealth gap and child poverty in Aotearoa.

Pothole Repair Fund and Healthcare Statistics w/ Dr Shane Reti: 18 July, 2023

 Pothole Repair Fund and Healthcare Statistics w/ Dr Shane Reti: 18 July, 2023 Pothole Repair Fund and Healthcare Statistics w/ Dr Shane Reti: 18 July, 2023, 19.35 MB
Tue 18 Jul 2023

In her weekly catchup with Dr Shane Reti, Milly speaks to Dr Shane Reti surrounding the Pothole repair fund which is sitting at a proposed 500 million dollars. as well as Te Whatu Ora's incorrect and insuffcient data reporting. 

The Wire w/ Spike: July 17, 2023

 The Wire w/ Spike: July 17, 2023 The Wire w/ Spike: July 17, 2023, 116.73 MB
Mon 17 Jul 2023

On The Wire for Rāhina Monday:

- Spike speaks to ACT MP Simon Court about ACT's youth justice policy announcements, and water researcher Marnie Prickett about Auckland Council's flood mitigation plan, along with new nitrate readings from South Auckland.

- Rawan speaks to Ben Schmidt from the Tertiary Education Union about voluntary redundancies at Massey University, and Auckland University Professor of Physics Richard Easther about the recent discovery of gravitational waves for Tomorrow's World.

- and Nicholas speaks to the newly appointed Grocery Commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about the role, and his focuses going in. 

 

New Grocery Commissioner Pierre Van Heerden; 17 July, 2023

 New Grocery Commissioner Pierre Van Heerden; 17 July, 2023 New Grocery Commissioner Pierre Van Heerden; 17 July, 2023, 16.17 MB
Mon 17 Jul 2023

The Grocery sector has been in the spotlight since it was reported that food prices increased 12.5 percent from last year. 

This increase in food prices matched with a cost of living crisis has left many New Zealanders choosing between which of their basic needs is most important.

However, the cause of the cost of living crisis has had little effect on supermarket profits, with the two biggest supermarket retailers in New Zealand recording a combined profit of 430 million dollars last year.

In an unprecedented move, the Labour government has chosen to create a new commission to look at measures needed to regulate the supermarket industry in order to get fairer prices for ordinary Kiwis

Nicholas spoke to newly appointed grocery commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about his experience and his ideas on what needs to change in the grocery sector.

 

Matariki Public Holiday w Dan Hikuroa : 13 July, 2023

Matariki Public Holiday w Dan Hikuroa : 13 July, 2023 Matariki Public Holiday w Dan Hikuroa : 13 July, 2023 , 8.55 MB
Thu 13 Jul 2023

This week on the Thursday Wire, Milly spoke to Dan Hikuroa from the University of Auckland about the very exciting first Matariki public holiday that will take place on the 14th July 2023. 

The Wire w/ Milly: 13 July, 2023

 The Wire w/ Milly: 13 July, 2023 The Wire w/ Milly: 13 July, 2023, 108.58 MB
Thu 13 Jul 2023

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins speaks to Labour's Andrew Little about the government's response to recent dawn raids and their announcement that they would not introduce a wealth tax after the election. 

She also speaks to Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp (Ngāti Rau-kawa and Ngāti Pare-rau-kawa) about the government ruling out taxing the super-rich. 

And she chats to undergraduate student at the University of Auckland Vaitoa Mallon about Kiribati language week.

Host Milly Smyth speaks with Daniel Hikuroa from the University of Auckland about Matariki.

Producer Rawan Saadi speaks with University of Auckland Doctoral candidate Ashlea Gibbons about the 250,000 dollar grant she has received to continue her research on the impact of fat bias on Maori in healthcare.

She also speaks to Australian-Jewish author and independent journalist Antony Lowenstein about his new book "The Palestinian Laboratory" which exposes and discusses how the Israeli occupation has been testing technology and military equipment on Palestinians.

Wealth Tax w/ Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp: 13 July, 2023

 Wealth Tax w/ Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp: 13 July, 2023 Wealth Tax w/ Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp: 13 July, 2023, 7.98 MB
Thu 13 Jul 2023

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has ruled out introducing a wealth or capital gains tax if Labour is re-elected this year. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Pareraukawa, about why they believe a wealth tax and capital  is needed in Aotearoa. 

She started off their interview asking about their reaction to the Prime Minister's decision. 

Te Taetae ni Kiribati — Kiribati Language Week w/ University of Auckland Student Vaitoa Mallon: 13 July, 2023

 Te Taetae ni Kiribati — Kiribati Language Week w/ University of Auckland Student Vaitoa Mallon: 13 July, 2023 Te Taetae ni Kiribati — Kiribati Language Week w/ University of Auckland Student Vaitoa Mallon: 13 July, 2023, 7.54 MB
Thu 13 Jul 2023

This week is Te Taetae ni Kiribati Te Taetae ni Kiribati — Kiribati language week.

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to undergraduate student at the University of Auckland Vaitoa Mallon about connecting with his Kiribati heritage growing up in Aotearoa.

Here is that interview…

World Vision modern-day slavery policy demands w/ Morgan Theakston: 12 July, 2023

World Vision modern-day slavery policy demands w/ Morgan Theakston: 12 July, 2023 World Vision modern-day slavery policy demands w/ Morgan Theakston: 12 July, 2023 , 20.29 MB
Wed 12 Jul 2023

This week, humanitarian agencies in New Zealand released an open letter to the government calling for legislation on ending modern-day slavery. World Vision and Tearfund are calling for the government to roll out legislation that requires businesses to assess where modern-day slavery may be used in their supply chains domestically and globally. 

It is estimated by World Vision that around fifty million people are in modern-day slavery with around 27 million experiencing forced labour, with a large number in the Asia-Pacific. Consumer goods imported into New Zealand are often direct products of modern-day slavery. 

To talk more about the policy recommendations that World Vision is pushing for, and the broader issue of modern-day slavery in New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific, host Andre Fa'aoso spoke to Morgan Theakston, Advocacy, Campaigns and Communications Manager at World Vision.