The Wire with Sara

On Monday, The Green Party announced that a Green Government will commit to revoking any consents, or permits, handed out under the fast-track process for coal, hardrock gold, and seabed mining, if they were to be permitted under the current government. 

In their announcement, the Green’s were adamant that it was possible to have an economy that employs people without destroying the ecological basis for our existence. While expressing that they consider these forms of mining to be “deeply destructive” and unsustainable.

Also this week, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced new changes to the Clean Car Standard. In the new standards, importers will now be charged $15 per gram of CO2 for new imports, compared to the previous $67.50, a nearly 80% reduction. This has led to criticism from experts, who believe New Zealand will now become a dumping ground for high-emission vehicles.

And last week, The Green Party also condemned the Government’s decision to officially pass the Regulatory Standards Bill into law.

For our Weekly Catchup with The Green Party, Wednesday Wire Host Max spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez March about the new Clean Car Standard, as well as the Regulatory Standards Bill. But first, we discussed The Green’s commitment to revoking any mining permits handed out under the fast-track process.

The Education & Training Act Amendment Bill passed its 3rd reading in Parliament on Tuesday last week, which will see changes to “school objectives” including the removal of the requirement to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

While Minister for Vocational Education Penny Simmonds says the bill “clarifies expectations” for broad learning outcomes, the bill has been opposed by the National Iwi Chairs forum alongside a number of schools across the motu who have been reaffirming their commitment to tiriti commitments.

Fire & Emergency New Zealand has launched its biggest ever restructure in a 266 page proposal which will cut more than 140 jobs, excluding those on the frontlines.

Amidst firefighter strikes and the growing challenges presented by climate risks, the Professional Firefighters Union has said the changes will undermine the “core work” undertaken by support people within the agency.

Finally, the IPSOS New Zealand survey rating government performance has recorded the lowest public satisfaction since the survey began in 2017.

It found that 63% of kiwi believe New Zealand is on the wrong track to addressing key issues. 

Wire Host Sara spoke with MP Carl Bates about all of these topics, starting with the Education & Training Act amendment bill

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about charter schools, changes to the Education and Training Act, removing school boards’ responsibilities to adhere to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the Regulatory Standards Bill passing into law.

Producer Alex spoke to Greenpeace Campaigner Gen Toop about the passing of the Regulatory Standards Bill into an Act last week, and what it means for corporate interests over the environment in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Joel spoke to George Perry, a Professor in the School of Environment at the University of Auckland, about the recent Tongariro wildfires that have devastated the region.

And Alex spoke to Professor in Public Health at the University of Auckland, Chris Bullen, about New Zealand dropping in the Global Tobacco Interference Index rankings, and what that means for smoking policy and health in Aotearoa.

Whakarongo mai!

Last Week, the government passed the regulatory standards bill into the regulatory standards act. Long controversial, failing to pass in its first three readings and subject to enormous opposition in submissions during the process, the law is the child of David Seymour’s ACT party.

But now that this law has passed, these serious concerns are of urgency. Particularly there are loud concerns and criticisms of the primacy granted to corporate interests, in the face of te Tiriti o Waitangi and the environment.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Greenpeace Campaigner Gen Toop about the bill passing, what it means for the environment, and what should be done in the face of this policy threat.