The Wire with Castor

Last week, the Human Rights Measurement Initiative released it's latest data on the state of Human Rights in Aotearoa. Both JustSpeak and Amnesty International Aotearoa have expressed concern over disproportionate violations of human rights against Māori communities. Human rights breeches were particularly prevalent against Māori in the judicial system, healthcare systems, and domestic and sexual violence.

Wire producer Rosetta spoke with Aphiphany Forward-Taua, executive director of JustSpeak, about what the data means for our Māori communities, particularly wihtin our prison systems, and what needs to change moving forward. 

Last week the United Nations formally adopted the international Oceans Treaty, which was agreed to in March. 

Caeden spoke to Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner Ellie Hooper about her experiences during the treaty negotiations and what the next steps are.

Caeden started by asking why the treaty is significant.

Victoria University of Wellington has proposed significant cuts to staff and several courses including secondary education and theatre.

The University is blaming the underfunding of the tertiary sector and a drop in international and domestic student enrolments. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins first spoke to Senior Lecturer of Education at Victoria University Dr Margaret Gleeson about the secondary education programme, which is set to be cut completely. 

She also spoke to Lecturer in Theatre Dr James Wenley at Victoria University. They started by discussing how the theatre programme, in particular, will be affected. 

Live music venues in Aotearoa have increasingly come under threat from growing densification in urban centres, with many now contesting noise complaints from new residential neighbors. Spike speaks to Taylor MacGregor, a representative from Save Our Venues, about how to make sure venues can survive this shift, along with how councils and the government can plan for and support a thriving music scene.