The Wire with Oto

Calls have been made for New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, to either step down from his role, or be fired from his position, over accusations of Islamophobia.

These calls have been made by multiple organisations, including Justice for Palestine.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Co-convenor for Justice for Palestine, Samira Zaiton, about the controversy surrounding the Chief Human Rights Commissioner, and the organisation's calls for him to leave his position.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catchup with Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to her about the Treaty Principles Bill being voted down on it’s second reading and the party announcing they will be running candidates in general seats in the next election.

For our weekly catch up Producer Evie spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about the Treaty Principles Bill being voted down at second reading, an ACT Party Members Bill proposing the removal of university services based on race, and research finding female MPs are increasingly receiving abuse online.

Evie also spoke to Students Against Dangerous Driving’s (SADD) Donna Govorko about the government proposal to change the drivers license testing from two practical tests, to one - removing the full license test.

And Joel spoke to the Co-convenor for Justice for Palestine, Samira Zaiton, about recent controversial comments made by Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, and the organisation's calls for Rainbow to leave his position.

Whakarongo mai.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, absent Thursday Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about changing free speech rules for universities, the government’s increase in defence spending, and the impact of Trump’s tariffs.

For City Counselling this week, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about the the Western Springs Speedway Association launching a court battle against the council and councillors deciding what to do with vacant land from storm-affected housing.

For International Desk, Caeden spoke to Charles Hunt from Boise State University about United States Senator Cory Booker’s record-breaking 25-hour filibuster. 

And Caeden spoke to Lara Greaves (Ngāpuhi, Pākehā, Tararā) from the Victoria University of Wellington about research into the high levels of harassment and abuse that female MPs face.

For their weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about the Justice Committees recommendations for the treaty principles bill, the $12 billion boost to the New Zealand Defence Force and Donald Trump’s Tariffs on New Zealand

He spoke to Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington for a follow up conversation on the government’s boost to the defence budget.

And he spoke to Shaun Awatere, Kaihautū Māori Research Impact Leader at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, about the state of the environment report released by the Ministry for the environment.

Max spoke to the Director of the Otago Paleo Genetics Lab at the University of Otago, Nic Rawlence, about the supposed “de-extinction” of the Dire Wolf, and the ethics of bringing back extinct species.

For this week’s Green Desk, Producer Sara spoke to Rongoā Māori expert kuia Donna Kerridge, on her upcoming EcoFest 2025 event into understanding Māori medicine.