The Wire with Nicholas

In the past year, New Zealanders have purchased a record number of pure electric vehicles at over 24,000, along with 88,000 hybrids, according to the Ministry of Transport. The new government has stated their intentions to scrap the Clean Car Discount along with the Ute Tax from December 31st.

Beth spoke with Volunteer at Better NZ Trust Rob Birnie about national support for the Clean Car Discount, and began asking him if he thought the Clean Car Discount had influenced people’s decision to purchase a pure electric vehicle or hybrid.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand has released a patient handbook, which includes information about patient conditions, and recommendations for COPD treatments and managements. 

Olivia spoke to Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ’s Education and Development Manager, Joanna Turner, about what COPD is, and steps people can take to prevent and mitigate it.

Antony Lowenstein is a Jewish-Australian Journalist and Author who has reported on Palestine for many years and at the beginning of this year published a book titled the Palestine Laboratory. 

The book looked at how Israel has been, for many years, testing military and surveillance equipment on Palestinians. 

Rawan spoke to him months ago about the book and today they discussed the current Israel and Palestine conflict.

Rawan started off by asking him about his time living in occupied Palestine from 2016 to 2020 and what Palestine was like before October 7th. 

They then discussed the content of his book and the way it links to the United States’ support of Israel. 

They then talked about Western mainstream media coverage of the issue as well as his view on pro-Palestine marches as someone who is part of the jewish community.

Host Rawan spoke to Green Party MP, Ricardo Menendez March, about election results, Waiheke ferry services, and their attendance at pro Palestine marches.

She also spoke with author and journalist, Antony Loewenstein, about Palestine before the current war and Israel’s connections with the west.

And she chatted to Senior Lecturer in Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland, Dr Anna Serlachius, about discrimination against diabetes patients.

Producer Olivia spoke to ActionStation’s climate spokesperson, Pania Rei (Ngāti Toa Rangatira), about climate justice and the importance of including indigenous perspectives. 

She also spoke to Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ Education and Development Manager, Joanna Turner, about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).