The Wire with Manny

On the first installment of Approach the Bench, Bronwyn speaks to Dr Jane Norton from the University of Auckland Law School about charitable trusts. Historically, a group could not qualify as a charity if they had a political purpose as their main objective. However, since the “political purpose doctrine” was removed in 2014, a number of new groups have become elligble to be charities - provided they can prove their work is for a public benefit - a tricky assesment when the group is politically controversial. 

As a result of this, both Greenpeace and Family First suceeded in being granted charitable status earlier this year. It is clear how protecting the environment is a public benefit, but what about Family First who, in campaigning on the importance of the traditional family, hold some harmful views agaisnt abortion, LGBTQ rights and pro-conversion therapy?

Dr Jane Norton discusses whether, in light of these two very different decisions, we should regret the removal of the public purpose doctrine.

Today on the Wire it is our final week of election coverage and we're looking at human issues. 

Karanama looks into the inequity faced by Māori in the healthcare, justice and economic systems in Aotearoa. He speaks with the Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson and the National Party’s healthcare spokesperson Dr Shane Reti about these issues. 

Hanna talks to spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group, Janet McAllister, about whether the government’s targeted focus on child poverty has really made a difference this parliamentary term. 

Jemima talks to Māori Party co-leader John Tamihere about Oranga Tamariki and the Māori Seats in Parliament. 

To wrap up the show Jemima chats to University to Auckland politics lecturer Dr Lara Greaves about the Māori Electoral Roll and the Maori Seats and what impact they have on participation in elections. 

Welcome to Wire with your host Zoë Larsen Cumming and Aneeka Moheed. This week 95bFM's election coverage theme is Human Issues. With that in mind, on the show we have: 

Zoë's weekly chat with the Green Party co-leader James Shaw on the the minor parties leader's debate, a possible Minister For Mental Health, the wealth tax, violence against women and children and his final thoughts before the election this Saturday! 

Then, Zoë interviews Dr. Debbie Hager from the school of population health and the University of Auckland who is speaking on behalf on the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children about New Zealand's violence against women record. 

Then, Aneeka brings a report on period poverty in New Zealand and interviews Dr Terry Flemming, one of the researchers in a Youth19 survey that collected data around Period Poverty in schools, and Miranda Hitchings, the co-founder of DignityNZ. 

Finally, Zoë interviews Green MP Golriz Gharaman on how to call out countries commiting human rights abuses without exacerbating xenophobia in New Zealand. 

Last week womens groups in Aotearoa New Zealand reported to a UN watchdog that they were frustrated and disappointed how New Zealand has failed to make any meaningful progress on our widespread and enduring violence against women problem. To find out more, Zoë Larsen Cumming interview the School of Population Health at the University of Auckland's Dr. Debbie Hager, who spoke on behalf of the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic harm, call Shine on  0508 744 633 (Auckland based).