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Changes to the Fast Track Bill w/ Greenpeace Aotearoa’s Programme Director, Niamh O’Flynn: 29th August, 2024

Changes to the Fast Track Bill w/ Greenpeace Aotearoa’s Programme Director, Niamh O’Flynn: 29th August, 2024 Changes to the Fast Track Bill w/ Greenpeace Aotearoa’s Programme Director, Niamh O’Flynn: 29th August, 2024, 10.45 MB
Thu 29 Aug 2024

On Sunday, the government announced changes to the Fast Track Bill. 

Of the most notable of the changes, the Bill will no longer give three ministers sign-off powers, having now delegated that responsibility to a panel of independent experts.

This comes after widespread public protest and submissions against the Bill. 

Although these changes mean less power will be concentrated in the hands of three ministers than had been previously proposed, environmental groups continue to criticise the bill, saying these changes are not enough. 

Producer Sofia spoke to Greenpeace Aotearoa’s Programme Director, Niamh O’Flynn, about these changes and Greenpeace’s response.

Active Bystanders on Auckland's Public Transport w/ Doctoral candidate from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Auckland, Kirsten Tilleman: 28 August, 2024

Active Bystanders on Auckland's Public Transport w/ Kirsten Tilleman: 28 August, 2024 Active Bystanders on Auckland's Public Transport w/ Kirsten Tilleman: 28 August, 2024, 19.37 MB
Wed 28 Aug 2024

A recent study involving commuters in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, found that women and people of intersectional identities were more likely to avoid using public transport out of fear of harassment. 

Anti-harassment strategies proposed in that study promoted the idea of encouraging members of the public to become “active bystanders” during situations of harassment, where they could intervene by helping to de-escalate situations, reporting harassment incidents to transport staff and directly confronting perpetrators as a last minute resort.

Oto spoke to Doctoral candidate Kirsten Tilleman from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Auckland, to discuss what active bystanders are and the role they could play in preventing harassment on Auckland’s public transport

The Wire w/ Oto: 28 August, 2024

The Wire w/ Oto: 28 August, 2024 The Wire w/ Oto: 28 August, 2024, 118.78 MB
Wed 28 Aug 2024

For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the recent changes to the fast track approvals bill, as well as the government’s plans to remove natural gas import barriers and the contamination of the Ohinemuri river.

He spoke to Kirsten Tilleman from the University of Auckland to talk about active bystanders and the role they play in reducing harassment on Auckland’s public transport.

He spoke to Nicola Owen from Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa to talk about austerity measures affecting the disabled community.

And he spoke to Dr Joel Rindelaub from the University of Auckland to talk about microplastics in human brain tissue.

Sasha spoke to Samantha Marsh from the University of Auckland to discuss worsening language skills in preschoolers.

He also spoke to Bill Kay Blake from NZ Institute of Economic Research about the rise of forestry farming over livestock farming

Fast-Track Approval Changes, Natural Gas Imports and River Poisoning w/ The Green Party's Ricardo Menendez-March: 28 August, 2024

Fast-Track Approval Changes, Natural Gas Imports and River Poisoning w/ The Green Party's Ricardo Menendez-March: 28 August, 2024 Fast-Track Approval Changes, Natural Gas Imports and River Poisoning w/ The Green Party's Ricardo Menendez-March: 28 August, 2024, 19.94 MB
Wed 28 Aug 2024

Last Sunday, the Cabinet proposed five changes they would make to the Fast-Track Approvals bill, which they recommended to the Environment select committee. 


Some of the changes included shifting the final say on fast-tracked projects from ministers to an expert panel, requiring an iwi authority representative to be present on the panel alongside experts in Māori development and the environment, and extending the timeframe for comments on fast-tracked projects.

However, despite Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones saying the changes were based off feedback from submitters to make the fast-tracking process more inclusive, many advocates and experts say the bill still poses a threat to the environment and that it still prioritises development over conservation. 

For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March about the party’s take on the changes to the fast-track approvals bill. 

They also talked about the government's plans to remove natural gas import barriers, and arsenic contamination of the Ohinemuri river caused by mining

Replacing farms with Forests, what’s driving the trend w/ Bill Kaye Blake, Head Researcher at New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Inc

Replacing farms with Forests, what’s driving the trend w/ Bill Kaye Blake, Head Researcher at New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Inc Replacing farms with Forests, what’s driving the trend w/ Bill Kaye Blake, Head Researcher at New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Inc, 13.55 MB
Wed 28 Aug 2024

In a recent research paper funded by Our Land and Water National, the country will continue to see a significant shift away from livestock into pine forestry.

 

The implications this will have will not only be seen in nature, but also in the communities that rely on yearly income to support their families, rather than income that comes every twenty-five years. This paper also highlights the environmental issues that come with this transition, however neither are great for the environment.

 

Sasha spoke to Bill Kaye Blake, leading author of this paper on what’s driving the trend of replacing livestock farms with pine forestry.

Low speaking skills in five year-olds w/ Professional Research Fellow at The University of Auckland, Samantha Marsh

Low speaking skills in five year-olds w/ Samantha Marsh, Professional Research Fellow at The University of Auckland Low speaking skills in five year-olds w/ Samantha Marsh, Professional Research Fellow at The University of Auckland, 19.32 MB
Wed 28 Aug 2024

A recent report from the education review office (ERO) and the New Zealand Medical Journal (NZMJ) has found that early childhood teachers are seeing more children than ever with poor language skills. This, in part due to Covid-19 and increasingly prevalent screen and device usage.

Low language and speaking skills can have further implications down the line as children become older, this is quite jarring as New Zealand is a first world country with high access to healthcare and childcare.

Sasha spoke to professional research fellow in the department of General Practice and Primary Care, Samantha Marsh, about the implications of early childhood screen use and impacts of Covid-19 on children.

Microplastics in Human Brain Tissue w/ Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland, Dr Joel Rindelaub: 28 August, 2024

Microplastics in Human Brain Tissue w/ Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland, Dr Joel Rindelaub: 28 August, 2024 Microplastics in Human Brain Tissue w/ Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland, Dr Joel Rindelaub: 28 August, 2024, 22.63 MB
Wed 28 Aug 2024

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of New Mexico in the United states revealed a high concentration of microplastics located in the brain tissue of a number of test subjects, as well as many other organs in the body.

While experts are still evaluating the exact physiological impacts of microplastic contamination, higher concentrations of these substances have been found in the brain tissue of subjects suffering from conditions such as early onset-dementia.

Oto spoke to Dr Joel Rindelaub, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland, to discuss the presence of microplastics in human brain tissue and their potential impacts.

If you'd like to catch Joel's science-comedy show “Science Is No Joke”, you can get your tickets here:

Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa’s Nicola Owen: August 28, 2024

Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa’s Nicola Owen: August 28, 2024 Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa’s Nicola Owen: August 28, 2024, 22.63 MB
Wed 28 Aug 2024

Amongst the numerous austerity measures the government implemented since coming into office are a variety of cuts that have impacted organisations and services for the disabled community of Aotearoa.

Some of these measures include the scrapping of a programme that would pay disabled workers the minimum wage, the restructuring of Whaikaha, the ministry for disabled people, and general austerity cuts likely to have an impact on the disabled community such as public transport fare increases and minimum wage stagnation. 

Oto spoke to Nicola Owen from Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa, who have been leading a number of rallies and campaigns across the motu advocating for the disabled community of Aotearoa and protesting against the austerity measures that directly impact them.

If you're interested in following Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa and keeping up to date with their rallies and campaigns, you can follow their Facebook page here: 

The New Zealand Defence Force’s contract with BAE Systems w/ Peace Action Wellington Representative, Valerie Morse: 27th August

The New Zealand Defence Force’s contract with BAE Systems w/ Peace Action Wellington Representative, Valerie Morse 27th August The New Zealand Defence Force’s contract with BAE Systems w/ Peace Action Wellington Representative, Valerie Morse 27th August, 12.7 MB
Tue 27 Aug 2024

Last week, the New Zealand Defence Force, the NZDF, awarded a contract to defence company BAE Systems, to upgrade its VBS4 whole-earth virtual desktop trainer.

BAE Systems has previously been found guilty of conspiring to defraud the United States and making false statements about its compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The British company is currently under investigation in India for criminal conspiracy in the procurement and licensing of advanced jet trainers.

Furthermore, BAE Systems has been the subject of criticism for its production of weapons components sold to Israel for its war in Gaza.

The contract has drawn criticism from activist groups in New Zealand who say that the Defence Force should have more established standards regarding which companies it chooses to award contracts to.

Producer Josef spoke to a representative from Peace Action Wellington, Valerie Morse, about the contract, and what it means in the wider context of the morality of the NZDF’s operations.

Changes to the Fast Track Bill and the Marine and Coastal Area Act w/ the National Party’s Katie Nimon: 27th August, 2024

Changes to the Fast Track Bill and the Marine and Coastal Area Act w/ the National Party’s Katie Nimon: 27th August, 2024 Changes to the Fast Track Bill and the Marine and Coastal Area Act w/ the National Party’s Katie Nimon: 27th August, 2024, 12.77 MB
Tue 27 Aug 2024

Changes were recently announced to the Fast Track Approvals Bill - most notably removing the controversial ministerial override that would allow ministers to go past expert advice. These changes follow public protests and submissions regarding the bill, one of this government’s most discussed. Wire host Castor spoke to Katie Nimon about the changes to the bill, and some of the criticisms that remain.

We also spoke about the potential amendment of Section 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area Act. The amendment would require Māori to prove continuous, uninterrupted occupation of a coastal area in order to make a claim to it. The Waitangi Tribunal recently filed an urgent claim to discuss the amendment, particularly criticised for its impact on coastal iwi with fewer land claims. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor asked MP Katie Nimon about each of these issues, starting off with changes to the Fast Track Approvals Bill.