The Wire with Max

Today on the Wire Jemima spoke to co-leader of the Green Party, Marama Davidson, about the Green Party AGM. The Southern Cross is back with their regular update on Asia Pacific news. Lillian talked to Minister of Eduction, Chris Hipkins, about the teachers strike last week. Bailley spoke to chief legal advisor to the Human Rights Commission, Janet Anderson-Bidois about people held in aged care facilities without their consent. Damian asked Geoff Simmons about his new position as leader of The Opportunities Party. Finally, Bailley talks to Minister of Immigration, Iain Lees-Galloway about Christchurch becoming a settling city for refugees. 

Christchurch will welcome refugees for settlement for the first time since the Christchurch Earthquake. Bailley speaks to Immigration Minister Ian Lees-Galloway on how the Government plans to ensure that refugees can succeed in New Zealand.

On the wire today: we speak with Te Roopu Nahinara National Party MP Amy Adams, on Simon Bridges expense leaks and the assisted dying bill that is being debated in parliament now. 

Next, Producer, Stewart Sowman-Lund speaks with Ian Magan from the New Zealand Promoters Association, following the news that the Commerce Commission will be taking Viagogo to court over ticket resales.

Following that, we cross to Rachel McDonald to find out what is happening in Australian news, as a Senotor's maiden speach has been condemned by other politicians for being too racist. 

After that, Laura Kvigstad speaks with senior lecturer, Bruce Cohen and dean of the faculty of arts, Robert Greenberg about course deletions in the school of social sciences at Auckland Uni. 

And finally, Kelly Enright comes back to speak with Kitty Lin about the chinese vegan valentine's dinner and what it means to eat sustainably.

On Wednesday, the Commerce Commission announced it will be taking ticket resale site Viagogo to court, saying it breached the Fair Trading Act.

Since the start of last year, the Commission has received more than 400 complaints about the Switzerland-based website, primarily concerned with the selling of fake tickets. However, is Viagogo the only source of problems for promoters, performers and consumers in the entertainment industry? 

Ian Magan is a member of the New Zealand Promoters Association. Stewart Sowman-Lund spoke with him following the Commerce Commission’s announcement, and started by asking him how good the news is.