The Wire with Castor

The World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference is taking place in New York later this month, hosted by Seneca Nation.

The conference was started by Ngāti Pikiao in 2016 and invites community organisations, advocates, and leaders to come together to discuss the challenges and solutions of suicide prevention for indigenous communities.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Quack Pirihi (Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai), founder of Mana Āniwaniwa, about why they’re fundraising to go to the conference.

You can tautoko their mahi on their instagrams @quackpirihi and @manaaniwaniwa

A new poll has highlighted that 82% of National voters said it was important to them to protect lakes, rivers, and drinking water. 54% cited specific concerns for nitrate contamination in water.

This is despite proposed Government rollbacks on fresh water protection, which Greenpeace claims will lead to “more polluted lakes, more unswimmable rivers, more contaminated drinking water, and more extinction.”

Caeden spoke with Greenpeace’s Will Applebe about why there is such a disconnect between what voters are saying in polls versus what the Government is actually doing.

For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the government’s recent Q3 action plan for 2024.

He spoke to Professor Bob Hancox, Medical Director for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation to discuss Australia’s new vape laws and his calls to the New Zealand government to tackle the youth vaping epidemic.

And he spoke to professor Chris Ogden, also from the University of Auckland, to discuss the recent general elections in India.

Caden spoke to Greenpeace’s Will Applebe about the government rolling back fresh water protections despite their strong public support

Castor spoke to President of the New Zealand Council for Trade Unions, Richard Wagstaff, about a new law disallowing private contractors from challenging their employment through the courts

On the night of the 21st of June, the Aratere Interislander ferry was grounded due to a steering issue. The interislander currently operates as an informal part of State Highway One, and as such is crucial to freight deliveries in the South Island.

The previous Labour government had planned investments in a further two ferries and terminals, which were cancelled under the current government, with finance minister Nicola Willis calling the proposal a search for “Ferraris” instead of using the trusty “Toyota Corolla”, in this case the grounded Aratere. The government was met with criticism for this decision, and has been called on to provide an alternative during their term. 

The government also recently increased the alcohol levy for the first time since 2009. The alcohol levy funds measures to reduce alcohol related harm, and as of the changes will sit at $16.6 million.

An independent review recommended that the fund be increased to $37 million, with a minimum increase to $21.5 Million to account for inflation. For context, this would translate to a 1.1 cent increase to an average can of beer and an 8 cent increase to the average bottle of wine. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Hamish Campbell about the future of the interislander ferry and increases to the alcohol levy.