The Wire with Castor

The Budget 2024 has a notable lack of funding for Māori development and cuts to Māori housing.

In response, Te Kāhui Tangata, the Human Rights Commission, has urged the government to commit to te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Tatau-Urutahi, shared leader at the Commission, Julia Whaipooti, about whether the Budget upholds te Tiriti and what it says about the government’s values.

She started the interview asking her what parts of the Budget concerned her. 

Last week the government released its budget, announcing cuts and new funding across sectors. Particularly notable were the tax cuts, promised during the campaign last year to support lower and middle-income families. The government’s calculator indicates that many will not receive a significant amount of money from these cuts, with those on high incomes benefiting the most. 

The budget also contained changes to fees free in universities, moving the free year from students’ first year to their last. 

Additionally, before the budget announcements, the government also scrapped the first home buyers grant, a policy introduced to support New Zealanders into their first homes. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Castor spoke to MP Tom Rutherford about the first home buyers bonus, public reception of the tax cuts, and the changes to fees free in universities.

This week the Thursday Wire's usual host Caeden was away, so Tuesday Wire host Castor filled in.

For City Counselling this week, Castor spoke to Shane Henderson about the draft regional land transport plan for Auckland and the council’s hopes for budget announcements later today. 

Producer Jasmine spoke with Dr. Hiran Thabrew about mental health funding following the Government’s budget announcement regarding investment in the I Am Hope Foundation.

She also spoke PSA Delegate Sian Dalaway about pay parity negotiations for NZ Blood Service workers ahead of tomorrow’s strike.  

She also spoke with Ella Sargison from the Burnett Foundation about June’s Sweat With Pride initiative.

June is the month for Sweat With Pride in Aotearoa, where Kiwis can sign up to sweat for 21 minutes everyday to raise money for services provided by the Burnett Foundation, Rainbow Youth, OutLine and InsideOut for our rainbow and Takatāpui communities. Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to the Burnett Foundation’s Ella Sarigson ahead of the initiative kicking off this Saturday!

It’s not too late to get involved - head to sweatwithpride.com to signup and support our rainbow and takatāpui communities.