The Wire with Manny

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's latest Homelessness Insights Report shows that there has been an increase in homelessness across Aotearoa.

In particular, the report —  like other research including a report from Ihi Research last year — highlighted a disproportionate impact of homelessness on Māori and Pacific populations, as well as women and younger demographics.

Tuesday Wire Host Sara was interested in delving into the correlation between these findings about homelessness and health outcomes for the populations who face exacerbated impacts.

She spoke with both Manaaki Rangatahi spokesperson Brooke Stanley, and Māori health researcher Dr Madeline Shelling about the impact of homelessness on Māori and Pacific health.

Her first interview is with Brooke from Manaaki Rangatahi. 

She also spoke with Madeline Shelling. I started by asking her to talk about how this latest report connects to previous research on the impact of homelessness on Māori.

In a recent RNZ investigation, the investigation alleges that NZ First Party Leader, Winston Peters, has close connections to the multinational tobacco company, Philip Morris.

This has raised concerns about what impact alleged tobacco lobbying has on government policies and decisions.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Calvin Cochran, a spokesperson for the Smokefree Expert Advisory Group about RNZ’s investigation, and what needs to be done to tackle tobacco-industry lobbying in Aotearoa.

In a recent study by Dr Saira Raza Khan — a Lecturer of Marketing at the University of Auckland, published in the Journal of Advertising Research, the study looks at the advertising of health campaigns, with the need to move away from ‘scare tactics’.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to her about her study, and why we should move away from these ‘scare tactics’.

Justice Minister, Paul Goldsmith, recently announced a proposal to the Electoral Act and Constitution Act, removing the ability for an individual to enrol on election day.

Alongside this comes the proposal of halting the ability to enrol during the advanced voting period.

This move has received backlash - including from within the government. This morning, Attorney-General, Judith Collins KC, says the move goes against the Bill of Rights Act.

During the 2023 general election, over 450,000 enrolled in the 12-day period, with 110,000 enrolling on election day.

A significant proportion of those later enrolments consist of young people, and in areas of bigger Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities.

In light of this move, ACT Party Leader, David Seymour, says those who have left voting to the last minute are “drop-kicks”. As well as this, the ACT Party’s justice spokesperson, Todd Stephenson, added to this, saying “Democracy works best when voters are informed, engaged, and take the process seriously,” and that “It’s outrageous that someone completely disengaged and lazy can rock up to the voting booth, get registered there and then, and then vote to tax other people’s money away.”

For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel spoke to him about this move.