The Wire with Alex

The Panama Papers, which were leaked 5 years ago, and revealing a shocking truth. Overseas businesses were exploiting New Zealand's tax incentives to avoid paying taxes.

Trishil Dahya took this opportunity to speak with Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark about his proposed business transparency bill, and how companies will be affected with these measures being put in place. 

Today on the Wire, Aneeka Moheed is joined in the studio by Liam Hansen.

First up, we have another episode of Tomorrow's World! This week Stella and Isla investigate the different cloning techniques used to genetically modify crops, as well as some of the questions surrounding the GMO debate. They speak to Biochemistry Masters student Tyler McCourt from the University of Otago about her research on perennial ryegrass and male sterility in flowering plants, to get a better understanding of the methods used.

Liam Hansen talks to climate science researcher, Tim Naish about an unprecedented heat wave in Eastern Antarctica. Later on, Liam interviews Tourism NZ's Ann Marie Johsnon about Aotearoa reopening its borders to internatinal tourists. 

Sam Clark has a quick interview with Lewis Ferris from MetService about the severe weather warning in Auckland and Upper North Island. 

And Charlie Parker talks to Medical Director for The Asthma & Respiratory Foundation NZ, Dr James Fingleton about concerns for asthmatic people as the omicron variant spreads through the community. 

Last week Eastern Antarctica saw an unprecedented heat wave, shocking scientists in the process. 

The area went fourty degrees celsius  above what is normal, from between minus fourty six and minus fifty one degrees to between minus eighteen and minus twelve degrees.

While this is still below freezing and does not pose any risk of melting, it sets a terrifying precedent for what’s to come.

To learn more, Liam  spoke with TIm Naish, a lead climate science and Antarctic researcher at Victoria University of Wellington about what the heat wave means for the future.

Earlier in the week the government announced the 2022 Special Ukraine Policy which will open up a fasttracked path for immigration for the family of Ukrainians in New Zealand.

This policy is expected to benefit around four thousand people and will be open for one year from now.

Green party MP and immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March put out a media release following the announcement in which he calls for this response to be a part of a broader equitable framework.

Casper spoke to Ricardo about the policy and how it might be extended as a part of New Zealand’s immigration approach.