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The Wire w/ Nicholas: March 7, 2024

 The Wire w/ Nicholas: March 7, 2024 The Wire w/ Nicholas: March 7, 2024, 99.55 MB

This week on the Wednesday Wire;

Oto speaks to Eru Kapa-Kingi from the University of Auckland, to talk about the next national hui in Heretaunga.

Nicholas speaks to Professor Lisa Te Moregna, co-hair of theHealth Coalition about the potential defunding of Ka Ora Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme.

Sofia speaks to Nicki Wakefield Ngā Mahinga o Ngāti Kahu o Torongare about their current petition to protect sacred Onoke Pā

Oto also spoke Craig Renney, from the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, to talk about public service cuts and their impacts on the growing population. 

The evidence behind free lunches in schools w/ Dr Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau: 7 March, 2024

 The evidence behind free lunches in schools w/ Dr Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau: 7 March, 2024 The evidence behind free lunches in schools w/ Dr Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau: 7 March, 2024, 15.73 MB

Data from the Program for International Student Achievement shows a link between hunger and negative learning outcomes. Research on this was published on Monday, as the Government announced an end to the Labour-introduced free lunches in schools programme. 

Caeden spoke to Health Coalition Aotearoa’s and Research Fellow at Te Pūkenga Dr Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau about this link and the removal of the programme.

They started by asking what the research published on Monday found.

The Government's new 36 point action plan w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 3, 2024

 The Government's new 36 point action plan w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 3, 2024 The Government's new 36 point action plan w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 3, 2024, 10.6 MB

This week the coalition government unveiled their new 36 point action plan.

The Green Party have been active critics of the new plan, with Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick calling the 36 point plan vague, immeasurable and untethered from reality and evidence.

Nicholas spoke to Greens MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Government’s action plan.

The Wire w/ Jessica: 29 April, 2024

 The Wire w/ Jessica: 29 April, 2024 The Wire w/ Jessica: 29 April, 2024, 108.44 MB

For our regular catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to MP Simon Court about Children's Minister Karen Chhour’s plans to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act.

She also spoke to PhD Candidate in New Zealand Politics at the University of Otago, Michael Derek Swanson, about the recent demotions of former Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee and Minister for Disability Issues, Penny Simmonds.

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and its impacts on tenants w/ the National Party's Sam Uffindell: 9th July, 2024

 The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and its impacts on tenants w/ the National Party's Sam Uffindell: 9th July, 2024 The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and its impacts on tenants w/ the National Party's Sam Uffindell: 9th July, 2024 , 9.05 MB

On the 3rd of July, submissions closed for the government’s Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, which would change the relationship between landlords and their tenants. The bill is aimed at addressing the current housing crisis and availability of rentals. Particularly, it does this by reintroducing the 90 day no-cause termination for periodic tenancies, which the government claims will allow landlords to take on tenants they perceive to be a risk. 

The proposed changes have been criticised by renters rights advocates, who say the changes further tip the power imbalance between landlords and tenants. Particularly, tenants could experience terminations for little to no reason, sometimes with notice of as little as six weeks. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Sam Uffindell about the bill and how it could impact tenants, especially in the currently turbulent rental market.

The Positive Impacts of 'Decarbonising' Transport w/ Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Caroline Shaw: 16 September, 2024

 The Positive Impacts of 'Decarbonising' Transport w/ Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Caroline Shaw: 16 September, 2024 The Positive Impacts of 'Decarbonising' Transport w/ Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Caroline Shaw: 16 September, 2024, 8.57 MB

A new study has shown that if transport were to be decarbonised, this would have substantial health benefits for individuals.

The research further suggests two different pathways, which had been changed in the Climate Change 2021 advice to the government.


News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago and co-author of the study, Caroline Shaw, about what these findings mean, and how these pathways could improve health statistics in Aotearoa.

NZDF Defence Boosting w/ Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington: 9 April, 2025

 NZDF Defence Boosting w/ Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington: 9 April, 2025 NZDF Defence Boosting w/ Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington: 9 April, 2025, 16.04 MB

Just yesterday, the government announced that they would be investing $12 billion dollars into the New Zealand Defence Force over the next four years.

The investment is part of the government’s Defence Capability Plan and is aimed at bringing defence spending to 2% of our GDP, about the same level that defence expenditure was in the 1990s.

Peace Action Aotearoa have referred to the defence boost as a “shocking waste” that would have been better spent on our infrastructure and medical system and that The Defence Capability Plan ties NZ to America’s territorial ambitions against China.

Oto spoke to Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington to discuss the government's Defence Capability Plan and the influence that US foreign policy has on it.

Chris Hipkins pre-budget speech, the Waitangi Tribunal review, and the cost of the government’s FamilyBoost policy w/ Labour’s Shanan Halbert: 15 May, 2025

 Chris Hipkins pre-budget speech, the Waitangi Tribunal review, and the cost of the government’s FamilyBoost policy w/ Labour’s Shanan Halbert: 15 May, 2025 Chris Hipkins pre-budget speech, the Waitangi Tribunal review, and the cost of the government’s FamilyBoost policy w/ Labour’s Shanan Halbert: 15 May, 2025, 15.02 MB

Earlier this week, Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke at an event hosted by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce ahead of the Budget next week.

The government has announced a review into the Waitangi Tribunal, part of their coalition agreement with New Zealand First. 

And nearly a quarter of the money spent on National’s FamilyBoost policy has gone towards running the scheme.

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

Access to medical gene therapies w/ Malaghan Institute’s Dr. Rob Weinkove: October 28, 2025

 Access to medical gene therapies w/ Malaghan Institute’s Dr. Rob Weinkove: October 28, 2025 Rob Weinkove: October 28, 2025, 23.93 MB

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research has stated that they support measures to simplify the approval of medical gene therapies in Aotearoa, and that the government’s gene tech bill should address the need for access to these treatments.

Producer Faith spoke to Dr. Rob Weinkove from the institute about the therapies, and whether it needs to be easier to receive approval for them in Aotearoa.

Managing a Predator Explosion w/ James Russell and Peter Morton

 Managing a Predator Explosion w/ James Russell and Peter Morton Managing a Predator Explosion w/ James Russell and Peter Morton, 38.53 MB

Every few years, Aotearoa's beech trees produce a great quantity, or mast, of fruit that feeds many of our native birds but also our pests. This coming year, models predict a huge 'mega masting' and conservation experts are gearing up to suppress what they expect will be an explosion of predator species who will turn their sights on native birds when fruit is gone.

To discuss this issue Wednesday Wire Producer Manny spoke to Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Auckland, James Russell and, after that, the Coordinator of DOC's predator control program, Peter Morton.