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The Wire with Oto

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Benefit Sanctions and Laws Passed Under Urgency w/ Carmel Sepuloni: February 29, 2024

 Benefit Sanctions and Laws Passed Under Urgency w/ Carmel Sepuloni: February 29, 2024 Benefit Sanctions and Laws Passed Under Urgency w/ Carmel Sepuloni: February 29, 2024, 10.15 MB
Thu 29 Feb 2024

This week for our regular catch-up with Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni, Caeden asks about the Ministry of Social Development’s questioning on benefit sanctions by members of the Social Services and Community Select Committee and the laws the Government has passed under urgency over the past week.

Response to Government's Urgent Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority: February 29, 2024

 Response to Government's Urgent Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority February 29, 2024 Response to Government's Urgent Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority February 29, 2024, 5.69 MB
Thu 29 Feb 2024

Producer Jasmine reports on response to the government's urgent disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority:

 

This week there has been widespread criticism shared over the government’s decision to axe the Māori Health Authority, Te Aka Whai Ora. Many public health experts, human rights organisations and fellow politicians have expressed concerns over what this move signals for Māori communities, social and political inequities, human rights, and Aotearoa’s democratic processes more broadly.

The Pae Ora Amendment Bill (that is seeing the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority) passed its third reading yesterday after being introduced to Parliament under urgency on Tuesday. This move has meant that the Waitangi Tribunal claim set to challenge the disestablishment bill was not able to be heard before the decision to axe Te Aka Whai Ora was passed. The Waitangi Tribunal claim was also called under urgency and was originally scheduled to take place today. However, an inquiry can now only go ahead after the disestablishment bill has been passed into law, preventing any consideration of recommendations that would’ve been made by claimants Lady Tureiti Moxon and Janice Kuka.

Alongside the immediate and ongoing concerns around what the removal of the Māori Health Authority signals for Māori healthcare and health outcomes, predominant outcries today centre around political implications of this unconstitutional course of government action.

Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū for Aotearoa’s Public Service Association, emphasised that "for such an important Constitutional issue it is vital that Parliamentary processes are used to allow proper public scrutiny and debate rather than to lock out people with dissenting voices." She and the organisation state they are “deeply disappointed in this government’s lack of respect and regard to their Te Tiriti partner.”

Earlier this week, organisation ActionStation hosted a petition to Minister of Health Shane Reti, calling to protect The Māori Health Authority. The petition has now reached almost 14,000 signatures over a three day period, meaning it has now surpassed the threshold needed to warrant a formal response from government.

The coalition is yet to announce any new formal or proposed plans that will fill the gap left behind by Te Aka Whai Ora’s removal.

Review of the Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme w/ John Crocker: February 28, 2024

 Review of the Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme w John Crocker: February 28, 2024 Review of the Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme w John Crocker: February 28, 2024, 13.4 MB
Wed 28 Feb 2024

The public service commission recently conducted a review into the Accredited Employer Work Visa, a visa scheme given to foreign workers with job offers from New Zealand-based employers. The review was conducted following a number of incidents, where migrant workers in Aotearoa were found to have been exploited by their employers, with some paying upwards of SIXTEEN-THOUSAND New Zealand dollars to receive visas for non-existent jobs.
The review found that the visa scheme reduced the number of checks Immigration officers were required to perform on employers, which was done to reduce processing times so more workers could be brought into Aotearoa, which ultimately led to the exploitation of workers across the country. 

Oto spoke to John Crocker from Unite Union, a union that advocates for migrant workers amongst a number of groups, who said that there was more to the scheme than what was found in the review.

Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Amy Chan on new research into vaccine hesitancy: February 20, 2024

 Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Amy Chan on new research into vaccine hesitancy: February 20, 2024 Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Amy Chan on new research into vaccine hesitancy: February 20, 2024, 10.16 MB
Wed 28 Feb 2024

New research looking into vaccination hesitancy in Aotearoa has been released from the University of Auckland.

The research was prompted by lower rates of vaccination following the covid-19 pandemic. The research aimed to uncover what was most important to Kiwi’s considerations around vaccination.

Nicholas spoke to lead investigator Associate Professor Amy Chan, about the study’s findings.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw on the passing of Fa'anānā Efeso Collins: February 28, 2024

Green Party co-leader James Shaw on the passing of Fa'anānā Efeso Collins February 28, 2024 Green Party co-leader James Shaw on the passing of Fa'anānā Efeso Collins February 28, 2024, 15.79 MB
Wed 28 Feb 2024

On Wednesday the 21st of February New Zealand was shocked to learn of the sudden passing of Greens MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.

Efeso began his career as a youth worker before joining the Auckland Council as a councillor for the Manukau ward. 

He later ran for Mayor with the endorsement of both Labour and the Greens, before campaigning for the Green party in last year's election.

In his maiden speech Collins highlighted his wish to be a champion for underserved and underprivileged members of our society;

"The government cannot be a bystander to people suffering confusion and disenfranchisement. New Zealand must close the divide between those who have and those who have not, because the reality for my community is that those who have more money often wield more power, more health, more housing, more justice, more access, more canopy cover, more lobbyists with swipe cards, and more time,"

Nicholas spoke to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the passing of his friend and colleague Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.

Protesting 101 w John Minto: 28 February, 2024

 Protesting 101 w John Minto: 28 February, 2024 Protesting 101 w John Minto: 28 February, 2024, 27.03 MB
Wed 28 Feb 2024

As a new batch of freshers begin university, we return to the basic fundamentals of protests.

Sofia spoke to veteran activist and Head Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa John Minto about the hows, whys, and whens of protesting, narrowing in on the current Palestine protests occuring across the country.

They discuss historic legislation born out of protesting and how to get involved in protests if you haven't before!

Head to the PSNA website for resources in solidarity with Palestine.

The Wire w/ Nicholas: February 28, 2024

 The Wire w/ Nicholas: February 28, 2024 The Wire w/ Nicholas: February 28, 2024, 112.26 MB
Wed 28 Feb 2024

Nicholas speaks up with the Green Party's Dr Shane Reti about the passing of Greens MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.

Nicholas also spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Amy Chan on new research into vaccine hesitancy. 

Sofia spoke to veteran activist and Head Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa John Minto about the hows, whys, and whens of protesting, narrowing in on the current Palestine protests occuring across the country.

Oto spoke to John Crocker from Unite Union, a union that advocates for migrant workers amongst a number of groups, who said that there was more to the scheme than what was found in the review.

Nicholasalso speaks to AUSA president Alan Shaker about devolpements in the association.

 

Campus watch w/ AUSA President: Alan Shaker February 28, 2024

 Campus watch w/ AUSA President: Alan Shaker February 28, 2024 Campus watch w/ AUSA President: Alan Shaker February 28, 2024, 18.29 MB
Wed 28 Feb 2024

AUSA President Alan Shaker joins the Wednesday Wire team in the studio to discuss; 

O-Week 2024, the merger between AUSA and PGSA, constitutional reform and the opening of the rec centre

 

The Wire w/ Jessica: 27 February, 2024.

The Wire w/ Jessica: 27 February, 2024. , 93.87 MB
Tue 27 Feb 2024

For Dear Science this week, Dr Cushla McGoverin chatted with news and editorial director Jessica Hopkins about Northern Patagonian rock art, an inchworm-inspired robot with enhanced transport capabilities, and the FDA approving the first medication to treat severe frostbite. 

Producer Castor spoke to National’s James Meager about gang patch legislation and the clean car discount repeal.

And producer Sofia spoke to co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, Lisa Te Morenga, about the repeal of the Smoke-Free legislation and current legal requirements for public policy-making transparency in New Zealand. 

Gang Patches and Clean Car Discount w/ National’s James Meager: 27 February, 2024.

 Gang Patches and Clean Car Discount w/ National’s James Meager: 27 February, 2024 Gang Patches and Clean Car Discount w/ National’s James Meager: 27 February, 2024, 20.27 MB
Tue 27 Feb 2024

In our weekly interview with National’s James Meager, producer Castor began with National’s promised ban on wearing gang patches in public. The ban is due to come later this year as part of a bundle of legislation aimed at reducing gang presence in communities. 

A similar law was passed by the Whanganui District Council in 2009, which was later reviewed by the High Court and found to be unlawful and in violation of the Bill of Rights. 

Castor then briefly discussed Labour’s clean car discount, which was repealed by the National government on the 31st of December last year. Ministry of Transport data shows that registrations of new electric vehicles have decreased from 1 in 4 in 2023 to 1 in 26 in January this year.