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Banning under-16-year-olds from social media w/ B416's Anna Curzon and the Victoria University of Wellington's Dr Alex Beattie: 12 May, 2025

 Banning under-16-year-olds from social media w/ B416's Anna Curzon and the Victoria University of Wellington's Dr Alex Beattie: 12 May, 2025 Banning under-16-year-olds from social media w/ B416's Anna Curzon and the Victoria University of Wellington's Dr Alex Beattie: 12 May, 2025, 17.45 MB
Mon 12 May 2025

Recently, National MP, Catherine Wedd, has launched a members bill, that has been supported by the wider party, to ban under-16-year-olds from social media. Since, Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has announced that Education Minister, Erica Stanford, will be “exploring options” that would be brought to Cabinet.

As such, Stanford’s education portfolio will be amended to ensure she can commission advice and direct officials to mitigate the harms of social media on under-16-year-olds.

Luxon says that he has received an "overwhelmingly positive response from mums and dads," regarding these moves. At the end of last year, in light of Australia passing a similar bill, a 1News Verian poll showed 68% were in support of New Zealand passing a similar bill, 22% were opposed, and 10% were undecided.

These moves come alongside the launch of B416, a group pushing to ban social media access to under-16-year-olds.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the co-chair of B416, Anna Curzon, about why she supports this outright ban.

Despite a lot of support, what has been proposed has also received a lot of criticism.

Many are concerned about how effective this bill, if passed into law, would be.

As mentioned previously, Australia passed a similar bill last year, which is set to go into effect at the end of this year. However, there are still hurdles in the way before the implementation of this policy in December, such as what tech will be used to ensure under-16-year-olds aren’t on social media, and whether social media platforms themselves will comply.

Here in New Zealand, what is currently being proposed has seen relatively mixed opinions. NZ First supports the move, however, ACT does not. The ACT Party previously called the member's bill hastily drafted, simplistic, and unworkable, and has instead called for a “public inquiry” before the select committee.

Joel also spoke to Dr Alex Beattie, a lecturer in Media and Communications at the Victoria University of Wellington about what has been proposed, and his concerns regarding the bill.

Selection of Pope Leo XIV w/ Theology Researcher at The University of Otago, Dr Greg Marcar: 12 May, 2024

 Selection of Pope Leo XIV w/ Theology Researcher at The University of Otago, Dr Greg Marcar: 12 May, 2024 Selection of Pope Leo XIV w/ Theology Researcher at The University of Otago, Dr Greg Marcar: 12 May, 2024, 19.41 MB
Mon 12 May 2025

The Catholic Church has a new leader — Pope Leo XIV — elected after just two days of conclave in what many are calling a quick and unified decision. He follows Pope Francis, whose time as pope was known for major reforms and a focus on social issues. Now, people are asking: will Leo continue that legacy, or take the Church in a new direction?

Some describe Leo XIV as a moderate, but we are yet to see what issues he will choose to act on. 

Producer Evie spoke to Dr Greg Marcar, a theology researcher at the University of Otago, about what we can expect from Pope Leo’s time in charge, and what it means that he’s the first American pope in history.

They also looked at why the conclave happened so quickly this time, and whether a new pope could bring changes not just for Catholics, but for the wider world.

The Wire w/ Joel: 12 May, 2025

 The Wire w/ Joel: 12 May, 2025 The Wire w/ Joel: 12 May, 2025, 111.47 MB
Mon 12 May 2025

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 Pay Equity Amendment Bill being passed, as well as the draft framework for relationship and sexuality education, or RSE.

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie, speaks to Simon Court about the government passing the pay equity amendment bill under urgency, as well a National members bill proposing a social media ban for under 16’s. 

Joel spoke to Anna Curzon, the co-chair of B416; an organisation pushing to ban under 16 year olds from social media, in light of National MP Catherine Wedd’s members bill.

Joel also spoke to Dr Alex Beattie, a lecturer in Media and Communications at the Victoria University of Wellington, about his concerns with Wedd’s members bill, and what other ways we should regulate social media for young people as opposed to an outright ban.

Evie speaks to Theology Researcher at University of Otago Dr Greg Marcar about the selection of the new pope, Leo XIV.

And Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in studio for our last chat!

Whakarongo mai!

International Desk: The escalation of violence in Kashmir and the political context surrounding this w/ video essayist Rohan Davis: 8 May, 2025

 International Desk: The escalation of violence in Kashmir and the political context surrounding this w/ video essayist Rohan Davis: 8 May, 2025 International Desk: The escalation of violence in Kashmir and the political context surrounding this w/ video essayist Rohan Davis: 8 May, 2025, 19.83 MB
Thu 8 May 2025

International relations experts are fearing a major conflict between India and Pakistan after sharp, escalating tensions, following a deadly terrorist attack in militarised Kashmir that killed 26 people.

Kashmiris have a long history of oppression. In modern times, this has been as India and Pakistan fight over the region while Kashmiris fight for independence. 

Human Rights Watch reports on Kashmir reveal examples of forced displacement, sexual violence, disappearances and allegations of torture and death in custody.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Rohan Davis about the recent terrorist attack and ongoing military escalation, as well as the historical and political context of the Kashmir crisis.

Davis is a video essayist on YouTube from Kerala, India, who covers Indian history and politics.

Pay equity claims halted by the Government, new unemployment statistics, and a proposal to ban under 16s from using social media w/ Labour's Carmel Sepuloni: 8 May, 2025

 Pay equity claims halted by the Government, new unemployment statistics, and a proposal to ban under 16s from using social media w/ Labour's Carmel Sepuloni: 8 May, 2025 Pay equity claims halted by the Government, new unemployment statistics, and a proposal to ban under 16s from using social media w/ Labour's Carmel Sepuloni: 8 May, 2025, 9.17 MB
Thu 8 May 2025

The government has changed pay equality laws, halting all existing claims and reducing the number of workers who can argue for better pay based on gender discrimination.

New figures show the unemployment rate has remained unchanged from last quarter at 5.1%.

And National has put forward a member's bill proposal that would ban social media for under-16s. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke with Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about all of these topics.

The Wire w/ Caeden: 8 May, 2025

 The Wire w/ Caeden: 8 May, 2025 The Wire w/ Caeden: 8 May, 2025, 111.27 MB
Thu 8 May 2025

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni about the scrapping of existing pay equity laws, new statistics on unemployment rates, and the member's bill proposal from National that would ban social media for under 16s.

For International Desk, they spoke to video essayist Rohan Davis about the recent escalation of violence in Kashmir and the political context surrounding this.

Producer Sara spoke with two of the team members at Aspiring Materials, Dr Matt Watson and Dr Simon Reid about new research which found that treating wastewater with alkaline minerals could mitigate ocean acidification

She also discussed the Pay Equity Amendment Bill with University of Auckland’s Simon Schofield.

Lack of Public Consultation on the Pay Equity Amendment Bill w/ University of Auckland Law School teaching fellow Simon Schofield: 8 May, 2025

 Lack of Public Consultation on the Pay Equity Amendment Bill w/ University of Auckland Law School teaching fellow Simon Schofield: 8 May, 2025 Lack of Public Consultation on the Pay Equity Amendment Bill w/ University of Auckland Law School teaching fellow Simon Schofield: 8 May, 2025, 13.69 MB
Thu 8 May 2025

This week, the New Zealand government has pushed through with urgency, the introduction of a Pay Equity Amendment Bill which makes changes to the Equal Pay Act 1972, making the criteria for pay equity claims stricter, and discontinuing thirty three existing claims, which were representing thousands of workers.

While coalition party politicians say the amendment would benefit women and could save ‘billions’, opposition parties and community commentators reject these notions and have expressed disappointment and frustration at the lack of opportunity for public engagement on the issue.

Producer Sara spoke with University of Auckland teaching fellow Simon Schofield about the issue. She began the interview by asking why this bill is so problematic

Treating wastewater to store ocean carbon w/ University of Canterbury academics, Aspiring Materials team members Dr Matt Watson and Dr Simon Reid: 8 May, 2025

Treating wastewater to store ocean carbon w/ University of Canterbury academics, Aspiring Materials team members Dr Matt Watson and Dr Simon Reid: 8 May, 2025 Treating wastewater to store ocean carbon w/ University of Canterbury academics, Aspiring Materials team members Dr Matt Watson and Dr Simon Reid: 8 May, 2025 , 26.69 MB
Thu 8 May 2025

A new research paper published this week is exploring how the treatment of wastewater with alkaline minerals could reduce carbon emissions through the mitigation of ocean acidification.

The ocean plays a critical role in the Earth’s ecosystem as a ‘carbon sink’, absorbing about 30% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. 
As climate change, driven by activities like the burning of fossil fuels and acceleration of land use, has led to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, oceans are absorbing increasing amounts of CO2, increasing ocean acidification and negatively impacting marine life.

If scalable, the treatment of wastewater released into the ocean to offset acidification could be a valuable piece in the puzzle of global climate solutions. 

Producer Sara spoke with University of Canterbury academics and members of the team at New Zealand cleantech company ‘Aspiring Materials’, Dr Matt Watson, and Dr Simon Reid, about the potential for these findings, as well as how carbon sequestration can be maximised for the benefit of the environment.

Here is that interview.

Vape Stores Cluster Around Schools In New Zealand w/ Ronan Payinda: May 07, 2025

 Vape Stores Cluster Around Schools In New Zealand w/ Ronan Payinda: May 07, 2025 Vape Stores Cluster Around Schools In New Zealand w/ Ronan Payinda: May 07, 2025, 23.72 MB
Wed 7 May 2025

This week, a study was launched which looked into the location of vape stores around schools in Aotearoa. In the study it was found that 44% of schools in New Zealand have a vape store within a one-kilometer radius, and that 13% have a dedicated store within 300 meters.

This is despite a legislation being passed by the government in 2023, which banned specialist vape stores from opening within 300 meters of schools and marae, the legislation however, allowed existing vape shops to continue operating.

Ronan Payinda, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Auckland, who led the study, says that he saw the explosion of vaping while he was at school in Northland, and felt that New Zealand was failing as a society to grapple with its potentially serious health effects.

To talk about this, Producer Max spoke with Ronan Payinda.

Government move to kill pay equity process is an attack on women workers w/ E Tu’s Rachel Mackintosh: 7 May, 2025

 Government move to kill pay equity process is an attack on women workers w/ E Tu’s Rachel Mackintosh: 7 May, 2025 Government move to kill pay equity process is an attack on women workers w/ E Tu’s Rachel Mackintosh: 7 May, 2025, 15.48 MB
Wed 7 May 2025

Just yesterday, Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced a series of radical changes to New Zealand’s Pay Equity Legislation.

The changes would increase the pay equity claims of gender-discrimination from 60-70% and adjust the comparators to make sure claims met standards that Brooke Van Velden has described as “Genuine” and Sustainable for employers.

This would cause all 33 current pending claims representing thousands of workers in the care industry and health sector to be dropped.

Subsequently, a number of unions and Women’s groups have condemned the government’s changes and have vowed to protest outside parliament in opposition to them.

Oto spoke to Rachel Mackintosh, Assistant National Secretary for E tū Union, to discuss Brooke Van Velden’s changes to Pay Equity Laws and how they will impact Women Workers