The Wire with Alex

This past weekend saw tensions in the Middle East rising, with Israel and the United States launching strikes on Iran yesterday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by launching strikes on Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait. 

The conflict follows tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which in turn followed protests across Iran earlier this year. As the situation develops, the internal and external politics of Iran are precarious, as all parties remain interested in who could take power. 

To discuss how the events came about and will affect domestic politics in Iran, News Director Castor spoke to political scientist and activist, Samira Ghoreishi.

Ghoreishi spoke to 95bFM in an independent capacity.

The government recently announced five proposals to change transport rules in Aotearoa. The proposals include changes that would see e-scooters permitted in bike lanes, and one that would allow cyclists aged twelve and below to use footpaths. 

While four of the changes have been celebrated by Living Streets Aotearoa, the first, around allowing more bikes on footpaths, has been criticised. The organisation sez that this change could open a gateway to more bikes being permitted in pedestrian spaces, increasing risk especially for the elderly and the disabled. 

To discuss their stance on the issue, News Director Castor spoke to president of Living Streets Aotearoa, Tim Jones.

On Monday, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins gave his State of the Nation speech at the Auckland Business Chamber.

And the Government has announced it will give the Police new powers to issue 24-hour ‘move-on’ orders in town centres across the country.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about both of these topics.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about Labour Leader Chris Hipkins ‘State of the Nation’ speech and the Government’s ‘move on’ orders for people who are homeless. 

And they spoke to Matt Raskovic, International Business Professor at AUT, about Aotearoa New Zealand’s ranking in the global Corruption Perception Index, and the number of high performers who are backsliding.

For City Counselling this week, Producer Jasmine spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about move-on orders, the possibility of a measles outbreak, and the Chinese Lantern Festival.

She spoke to Oliver Christeller, Senior human rights advisor at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata / Human Rights Commission, as well as Rachel Mackintosh, National Secretary at E Tū Worker’s Union, about how the 2025 amendments to the Equal Pay Act undermine human rights to pay equity

She also spoke to Hilton Freund, Global CEO of the Twinning Project, about the debut of the football rehabilitation programme for near-release prisoners in Aotearoa