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What is the next step in a sustainable society? w/ the University of Auckland's Phil Shane: 17 July, 2025

What is the next step in a sustainable society? w/ the University of Auckland's Phil Shane: 17 July, 2025 What is the next step in a sustainable society? w/ the University of Auckland's Phil Shane: 17 July, 2025 , 12.16 MB
Thu 17 Jul 2025

As the climate and sustainability crises continue to worsen and corporations and governments refuse to act the question must be asked, do we need to rethink our entire society? From one built on resource extraction for profit, to one built around sustainable local living.

Producer Sam spoke to Professor of geology at the University of Auckland, Phil Shane, about the sustainability of our society.

The Wire w/ Joel: 17 July, 2025

The Wire w/ Joel: 17 July, 2025 The Wire w/ Joel: 17 July, 2025, 88.41 MB
Thu 17 Jul 2025

This week on the Thursday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to MP Shanon Halbert about the re-establishment on TEN polytechnics that were previously merged under Te Pūkenga, and Te Pāti Māori members accusing the party of being ‘greedy’ for running MP Peeni Henare in the upcoming Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.

For this week’s City Counselling, Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about her recent biking accident and her hopes for road safety in Auckland, as well as the recently released State of the City report.

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Natasha Lindstaedt from the University of Essex on the backslide of democracy in Georgia, particularly due to Russian influence, and the public response.

Joel spoke to Tom Wilkinson, a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Auckland, about Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, nominating US President, Donald Trump, for a Nobel Peace Prize.

And on Monday, Producer Sam spoke to Peter Adams, a Professor in the School of Population Health at the University of Auckland, about the government’s alcohol levy, in light of recent lobbying by the alcohol industry.

Whakarongo mai!

Road safety in light of Julie Fairey’s recent close call & Auckland’s State of the City report shows we’re “falling behind” w/ Councillor Julie Fairey: 17 July, 2025

Road safety in light of Julie Fairey’s recent close call & Auckland’s State of the City report shows we’re “falling behind” w/ Councillor Julie Fairey: 17 July, 2025 Road safety in light of Julie Fairey’s recent close call & Auckland’s State of the City report shows we’re “falling behind” w/ Councillor Julie Fairey: 17 July, 2025, 34.04 MB
Thu 17 Jul 2025

On the 25th of June, our regular City Counselling guest Julie Fairey was involved in a road collision while she was biking in her local area. Fairey wrote about the close call, which she says could have been a lot worse, in a piece published in the Spinoff, as a reinvigoration of her previous advocacy around the need for road safety measures that improve how safely and efficiently Aucklanders can get around the city.

As well, this week we’ve seen the release of the State of the City report, which compares Auckland on metrics including opportunity and prosperity, culture and experience, place and connectivity, innovation and knowledge, and resilience and sustainability.
The report found that we are ‘falling behind’ other cities, with the biggest emphasis placed on our poor economic productivity in comparison with similar locations.

Producer Sara spoke with Julie Fairey about both of these topics, firstly by asking her what motivated her to write about her recent collision.

Alcohol Levy & Alcohol Industry Lobbying w/ University of Auckland Professor of Population Health Peter Adams: 17 July, 2025

Alcohol Levy & Alcohol Industry Lobbying w/ University of Auckland Professor of Population Health Peter Adams: 17 July, 2025 Alcohol Levy & Alcohol Industry Lobbying w/ University of Auckland Professor of Population Health Peter Adams: 17 July, 2025, 30.6 MB
Thu 17 Jul 2025

A number of experts have raised concerns recently regarding the “way too friendly” relationship between alcohol industry lobbyists and policy makers responsible for alcohol restrictions and laws in New Zealand.

While we have had an alcohol harm-reduction levy in place for over forty years, some experts including University of Auckland School of Population Health Professor Peter Adams, believe that this levy isn’t as positive as it seems.

As alcohol lobbyists have been granted input and influence in the development of alcohol policies, Adams says that the levy is actually a smokescreen that allows the industry to profit from alcohol consumption without tangibly addressing its harms to the population.

On Monday, Producer Sam spoke with Professor Peter Adams about this topic. 

International Desk: The Erosion of Democracy in Georgia w/ University of Essex’s Natasha Lindstaedt: 17 July, 2025

International Desk: The Erosion of Democracy in Georgia w/ University of Essex’s Natasha Lindstaedt: 17 July, 2025 International Desk: The Erosion of Democracy in Georgia w/ University of Essex’s Natasha Lindstaedt: 17 July, 2025, 17.5 MB
Thu 17 Jul 2025

Once a beacon of democratic progress, Georgia is at risk of sliding into authoritarianism, particularly due to Russian influence. 

Six opposition leaders face criminal charges, and the major opposition parties have been banned, while “Georgia Dream”, the political party in power, faces allegations of corruption and voter fraud.

However, the party faces increasing opposition within Georgia, including mass protests over their pro-Russia laws. 

82% of Georgians feel their country is in crisis, with 78% directly citing the Georgian Dream political party as the cause. 

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Essex, about Georgia’s anti-democratic crackdowns and public response.

Netanyahu nominating Trump for Nobel Peace Prize w/ the University of Auckland's Tom Wilkinson: 17 July, 2025

Netanyahu nominating Trump for Nobel Peace Prize w/ the University of Auckland's Tom Wilkinson: 17 July, 2025 Netanyahu nominating Trump for Nobel Peace Prize w/ the University of Auckland's Tom Wilkinson: 17 July, 2025, 8.32 MB
Thu 17 Jul 2025

Towards the start of this month, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, nominated US President, Donald Trump, for a Nobel Peace Prize.

News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to Tom Wilkinson, a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Auckland, about Netanyahu’s nomination, the Nobel Peace Prize in general, and his belief that there is an ulterior motive to the Israeli Prime Minister’s nomination.

Re-establishing Polytechnics and Te Pāti Māori's Thoughts on MP Peeni Henare in Tāmaki Makaurau By-election w/ Labour's Shanon Halbert: 17 July, 2025

Re-establishing Polytechnics and Te Pāti Māori's Thoughts on MP Peeni Henare in Tāmaki Makaurau By-election w/ Labour's Shanon Halbert: 17 July, 2025 Re-establishing Polytechnics and Te Pāti Māori's Thoughts on MP Peeni Henare in Tāmaki Makaurau By-election w/ Labour's Shanon Halbert: 17 July, 2025, 13.65 MB
Thu 17 Jul 2025

The government has announced that Te Pūkenga is set to return to ‘regional governance,’ re-establishing 10 polytechnics that were merged under the previous Labour-led government.

In 2020 under the previous Labour-led government, 16 polytechnics and nine industry training organisations were merged into the mega-institute Te Pūkenga, as a “head office”. Despite this, the polytechnics were allowed to maintain their unique images and continue operating.

Vocational Education Minister, Penny Simmonds, announced the move, to establish a vocational education system that is “locally led, regionally responsible, and future-focused”.

The move has faced backlash. The Tertiary Education Union’s national secretary, Sandra Grey, says the move would be a disaster for regional education and that the sector is being treated as a “political football”.

For our weekly catchup with the Labour Party, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with MP Shanon Halbert, about this move from the government.

They also discussed Te Pāti Māori members expressing concerns over Labour’s choice of running MP Peeni Henare in the upcoming Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.

Te Pāti Māori media liaison, Kiri Tamihere-Waititi, says a vote for Henare would be “wasted,” as Henare already has a seat in Parliament. She has called for people to vote for Te Pāti Māori’s candidate, Oriini Kaipara, so that there would be two Tāmaki Makaurau-based Māori MPs in Parliament.

But first, they discussed vocational education.

De-Extinction Of The Moa w/ Nic Rawlence: July 16, 2025

De-Extinction Of The Moa w/ Nic Rawlence: July 16, 2025 De-Extinction Of The Moa w/ Nic Rawlence: July 16, 2025, 24.38 MB
Wed 16 Jul 2025

Back in April, American company Colossal Biosciences had announced a successful project, from their point of view, to de-extinct the Dire Wolf. Now, the company has teamed up with Sir Peter Jackson, Canterbury Museum and the Ngai Tahu Research Centre, to begin the de-extinction of the South Island Giant Moa.

In April, we conducted an interview with Associate Professor and Director of the Paleogenetics Lab at the University of Otago, Nic Rawlence, who was displeased with the American company’s attempts at the Dire Wolf.

Now, to talk about the recent news of Colossal Biosciences' attempts to de-extinct the Moa, Producer Max spoke to Rawlence once again.

Action Is Vital To Prepare For More Floods w/ Dr. Iresh Jayawardena: July 16, 2025

Action Is Vital To Prepare For More Floods w/ Dr. Iresh Jayawardena: July 16, 2025 Iresh Jayawardena: July 16, 2025, 21 MB
Wed 16 Jul 2025

Extreme weather events such as the recent Tasman floods, are becoming more common in New Zealand. With that, the risk of severe flooding is only increasing.

The question is: how prepared is Aotearoa for the next severe flood and what action is needed to prepare for it? 

Producer Max spoke to Dr. Iresh Jayawardena, a lecturer in Urban Planning at the University of Auckland, to talk about New Zealand’s lack of awareness when it comes to floods and why short term planning has left many areas vulnerable to severe weather.

Service Cuts at Tōtara Hospice w/ Ed Boswell-Correa from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation: 16 July, 2025

Service Cuts at Tōtara Hospice w/ Ed Boswell-Correa from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation: 16 July, 2025 Service Cuts at Tōtara Hospice w/ Ed Boswell-Correa from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation: 16 July, 2025, 5.45 MB
Wed 16 Jul 2025

Recently, Tōtara hospice in South Auckland announced they would be reducing their patient intake and services by almost a third due to funding gaps.

This announcement follows a hiring freeze the hospice had to put in place last month.

The Hospice helps provide end-of-life care at no direct cost to patients, and is the subject of an upcoming documentary series called ‘Hospice Heroes’.

While Minister of Health, Simeon Brown, has said that funding to the sector increased by 3% this year, representatives of the hospice have said that those figures weren’t nearly enough to cover the costs of their services and that other palliative care centres across the motu were experiencing similar pressures.

News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with Ed Boswell-Correa from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation about the service cuts at Tōtara hospice and how the sector at large is being affected.