The Wire with Oto

For their regular catch-up, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, speaks to ACT’s Simon Court about rates increases facing home-owners across the country and investment in public transport infrastructure.

She also speaks to Jewish New Zealander and Co-Founder of Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation, Justine Sachs, about Winston Peters comments comparing co-governance in Aotearoa to Nazi Germany. 

And she speaks to The Future is Rail Spokesperson, Suraya Sidhu Singh, about their opposition to the government’s plans for transport.

Earlier this month, the government outlined its plans for transport, including scrapping free public transport for children and half-price fares for young people under 25 by the end of next month.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to advocacy group, The Future is Rail Spokesperson, Suraya Sidhu Singh, about their opposition to this, as well as a collective protest action happening tomorrow, calling on the government to centre transport in planning and funding.

She started off the interview asking Singh for their thoughts on the government’s transport plans.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Caeden speaks to Labour spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinneti.

For City Counselling they speak to Auckland Councillor Lotu Fuli about feminist cities.

And they also speak to E Tū negotiation specialist Michael Wood about the job losses at TVNZ.

Jessica spoke to World Vision New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, about their report on the rising cost of basic food items in Aotearoa.

And Jasmine speaks to Dr. Hayden McRobbie from Te Whatu Ora and Sharon Pihema from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation about Youth Vaping Culture in Aotearoa and the efficacy of current prevention initiatives.

The population of Aotearoa is growing rapidly, increasing by more than 100,000 people annually, with the largest recent growth happening in the years after COVID-19. In order to accommodate for this increase, Aotearoa needs to ensure that there is robust investment going into its public infrastructure so that the growing population has adequate access to services such as medical care and public transport. 

Currently, the coalition government seems to be ensuring the opposite of that, cutting around $2.4 billion in expenditure across the public sector to fund tax cuts as part of their commitment to what they call “fiscal responsibility”. As a result, it is speculated that already limited and struggling public services in Aotearoa will become more scarce and inaccessible to both Kiwis and the growing population. 

Oto spoke to Craig Renney, the economist and director of policy at the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, who wrote a report titled “Investing in a growing population” that specifically details the problem and impacts of public spending cuts on the growing population here in Aotearoa.