The Wire with Max

Recently, a lot of conversation has been had about the curriculum, with the government planning to roll out yet another new and expanded curriculum. This expanded curriculum, beginning in term one of next year, will seek to provide the tools for teachers to educate and assist students with ‘high and complex needs,’ who were otherwise ignored in the existing curriculum, or so the government claims. This comes against the background of this government’s push for effective teaching and learning, based in ‘science’.

However, concerns remain about this curriculum. For starters, this curriculum exists separately from the rest of Aotearoa’s student body; we seem to be getting one curriculum for those with complex needs, and one for those without, dividing our youth. This has led to questions about the role of inclusion in our education, and what it means that the government has not attempted to create one curriculum that can work for all students.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland, Dr Jude MacArthur, about this separate curriculum, what it means for these students, and how it might affect their learning and inclusion.

Recently, the government has announced it will be halting new prescriptions for puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria pending a clinical trial in the UK, with the outcome of this trial set for 2031.

Health Minister, Simeon Brown, says this move is a “precautionary” measure, as he says the evidence regarding puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria remains unclear.

Despite this, puberty blockers will still be available for young people with conditions such as endometriosis and precocious puberty.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Dr Elizabeth McElrea, the Vice President of PATHA, the Professional Association of Transgender Health Aotearoa and GP specialist in gender-affirming care, about the government's temporary ban of puberty blocker prescriptions for transgender youth, and what this will mean for young people with gender dysphoria.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about ACT MP Laura McClure’s members bill, proposing the disestablishment of the BSA, or Broadcasting Standards Authority, and the government's move to halt new puberty blocker prescriptions for young transgender people.

Following on from their chat with Simon, Joel spoke to the Vice President of PATHA, the Professional Association of Transgender Health Aotearoa, and GP specialist in gender-affirming care, Dr Elizabeth McElrea, more about puberty blockers, and how this temporary ban will affect transgender young people.

Producer Alex spoke to Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland, Dr Jude MacArthur, about the Government’s plans to introduce an ‘expanded’ new curriculum for students with ‘high and complex needs’, and what it might mean for their learning.

And Joel spoke to the Co-Chair of Auckland Pride, Bhenjamin Goodsir, about the organisation's challenge to the High Court, following the removal of transgender guidelines for the participation in community sports.

Whakarongo mai!

The supreme court has made a final ruling on the four-year long court battle between four Kiwi Uber drivers and the Uber corporation. The case signals a huge win for acknowledging employment rights for drivers, amidst the exploitative pitfalls of contractor classifications. The result coincides with the current Employment Relations Bill that has passed its first reading, a piece of legislation that would only allow selected workers access to the Court or Authority to seek declaration of their employment status and secure any minimum rights. The bill was drafted in part, by Uber.

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Anita Rosentreter, Deputy Secretary of Workers First Union, who supported the worker’s case, about what this means for Aotearoa’s employment law and protecting the rights of our workers.