The Wire with Castor

On the 5th of November in 1881, the settlement of Parihaka, where many Māori from the Taranaki region had found refuge as a result of the Land Wars, was invaded and several peaceful resistors were arrested without trial. Cultivations and livestock in the settlement were destroyed and much of the land seized. Today, Māori in Parihaka are still fighting for their rights. Climate Justice Tāranaki marked the anniversary of the event last week by implementing a peaceful blockade on The Whareroa Fonterra Dairy factory, the Kapuni Ballance fertiliser factory and the Todd Energy gas plant. Rosetta spoke to Tuhi-Ao Bailey, member of Climate Justice Tāranaki, about the relevance of climate activism today to Parihaka day. They also spoke about many pro-palestinian advocates and Te Pāti Māori’s leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer who have stated the relevance of Parihaka to the oppression of Palestinians in Gaza today.

Care and support workers are currently in the midst of a pay equity agreement, with all three major unions undertaking work to make sure workers are paid equitably. 

The workers, predominantly women, last received a pay rise in 2017, and their wages have simply not matched the cost of living. In some cases workers, who often use their own cars to drive to clients, have to stay beyond their paid hours just to make sure the people they are caring for receive the appropriate care. 

Te Whatu Ora has delayed the pay equity settlement, despite not being directly involved in the relationship between employees and employers. This has got some union members and representatives riled up. 

Following international Care And Support day, Arno spoke to the Public Service Association assistant secretary Melissa Woolley. Arno started our interview by asking what the PSA is and what it does. 

Next, Arno spoke to a Care And Support worker named Monique Behan-Kitto. They have unique insight into the struggles faced by workers and the struggle for pay equity. Arno started our interview by asking about Monique’s role as a care and support worker.

On a very health-focused Wire for Rāapa Wednesday. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to NZ Drug Foundation Principal Science Advisor, Emily Hughes, about synthetic opioids being sold as other substances. 

She also spoke to Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director, Sarah Dalton, about how the incoming governments proposed tax cuts could impact investment in the health sector. 

And she spoke to senior research fellow at the University of Otago, Dr Julie Bennett, about World Ventil8 Day.

Arno spoke to Assistant National Secretary of the Public Services Association, Melissa Woolley, and care and support worker, Monique Behan-Kitto, about their pay equity settlement that has been delayed by Te Whatu Ora.

And he spoke to Bioengineer at the University of Auckland Dr Kelly Burrowes about new research on how vaping affects the lungs.

For  our weekly catchup with Dr Shane Reti, Nicholas decided to ask  questions regarding the on-going conflict in Israel and Palestine.

On October 7th members of Hamas’ militant wing entered Israel and killed 1,400 iIsraelis and took 240 hostages.

Israel’s response has been swift, with the Associated Press recently reporting that nine thousand Palestinian have been killed in retaliation with Al Jazeera reporting over four thousand of those deaths being Palestinian children.

New Zealand has recently voted in favour of the ceasefire, and Nicholas' questions to Dr Reti were centred around his party’s response to the violence.