The Wire with Sara

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about a potential trade deal with India spearheaded by the Prime Minister, the liquidation of school lunch provider Libelle, and the Labour-led Wage Theft Bill passing its third reading in Parliament.

For International Desk, they speak to Tania Sawicki Mead, Director of Communications at UNICEF Aotearoa, about the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire.

And they speak to Lisa Asher from the University of Sydney about the best ways to disrupt the supermarket duopoly in Aotearoa.

For City Counselling, Producer Sara spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about a letter from Aucklands local boards to Mayor Wayne Brown concerning the seventeen point six million dollar budget shortfall, as well as Auckland Council’s new dog shelter in response to an increase in roaming dogs

She also spoke with World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, about their latest annual Price Shocks Report, and what the New Zealand government should be doing to address global food insecurity.

World Vision has just released their annual Price Shocks Report for 2025, examining food price inflation around the world.

They found that while New-Zealand and other wealthier countries saw an improvement in food affordability, many poorer nations reported significantly worsened price to wage ratios. 

While the report highlights a clear need for adequate funding for global humanitarian aid, in 2024 only 47% of required humanitarian food assistance was funded, leaving millions without support.

As conflict, climate change and other global crises exacerbate conditions in the worst-off regions, World Vision is calling for the New Zealand government, among other wealthy nations, to contribute more to assist populations suffering from food insecurity.

Producer Sara spoke with World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice Rebekah Armstrong about this report and World Vision’s call to action for the government. Here is that interview.

The recent tariffs and protectionist policies brought by US President Donald Trump under his new administration have shaken up multilateral agreements and America’s relationship with their traditional allies.

Trump’s recent policy decisions are part of a growing movement of countries adopting protectionist domestic policies in opposition to international Tax agreements.

Craig Elliffe’, a professor of law at the University of Auckland, has referred to Trump’s new policies as being part of a “quiet revolution” reshaping international tax law.

Oto talked to Craig about his research paper detailing international tax laws and how Trump’s policies are shaping them

A breakthrough in understanding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease linked to repeated head blows, has been made at the University of Auckland.

Neuroscientists at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research examined brain tissue, primarily from former rugby players, with the research shedding new light on how specific cells respond to damage from repeated head knocks.

Producer Amani spoke with Senior Author of the research Dr Helen Murray about how the findings open the way for a deeper understanding of the causes of CTE and about what the research process involved.