The Wire with Castor

After a new report from the science media centre mentions that after reviewing the evidence around puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria, the Ministry of Health is taking a more precautionary approach.

Producer Yesenia spoke to paediatric endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland Paul Hofman  about the multidisciplinary approach the ministry of health is wanting to approach with Puberty Blockers and the changes coming for those seeking gender affirming care. 

Earlier this week, the nine-day trek that was Hīkoi mō te Tiriti made it to its final destination, the grounds of Parliament. 

The hīkoi was in response to a myriad of policies from the National, ACT, and NZ First coalition government regarding Māori and te Tiriti o Waitangi, including the ACT Party’s highly controversial Treaty Principles Bill, and sought to highlight how te Tiriti unites Aotearoa through kotahitanga. 

Producer Sofia spoke to renowned Māori activist and artist, Tāme Iti, about the overall energy on the hīkoi, the support for its kaupapa, and the message he thinks it sent to the coalition. 

Wire Hosts Caeden and Castor were at the hīkoi in Te Whanganui-a-Tara on Tuesday. They spoke to Tangata Whenua, Tangata Moana, and Tangata Tiriti about why they were there, also asking protestors if they had a message for ACT leader David Seymour, who brought the Bill to Parliament.

Last Thursday the first reading of the ACT party’s controversial “Treaty Principles Bill” took place in Parliament. Members of the opposition joined in the hīkoi in response to the bill and were there to greet protestors at Parēmata. 

And yesterday was the third and final reading of the Citizenship Western Samoa Amendment Bill. The bill restores the citizenship of 3480 Samoan elders.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about hīkoi mō te Tiriti and the successful third reading of the Restoring Samoan Citizenship bill.

For State of the States this week they speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about United States commitments on free trade and climate at the APEC forum, a shift in policy on Ukraine, and recent Trump cabinet appointments. 

They speak to Kanak youth activist Viro Xulue about a new United Nations report calling the French response to pro-independence protestors “alarming.” 

And, with Tuesday Wire Host Castor, they caught up with protestors at the final leg of hīkoi mō te Tiriti in Te Whanganui-a-tara.

For City Counselling this week, Sofia speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s Draft Mayoral Proposal for Auckland Council’s Annual Plan for the year 2025-26 as well as a new space for homeless support in Auckland’s city centre

She also speaks to renowned Māori activist, Tāme Iti, about hīkoi mō te Tiriti and the support for its kaupapa.