Rawinia Higgins is the Deputy Vice Chancellor Maori at Victoria University and the newly appointed Chair of Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori - the Maori language commission. Jennifer-Rose Tamati spoke to her about the state of Te Reo in the country and what role the commission has in 2018. She first asked how she was feeling about her new role.
Will fills in hosting duties on todays show as Lillian heads off to Europe. Despite the lack of mature leadership the show still continues on with AUT's Allan Blackman joining us for Dear Science. We talk flouride, smart New Caledonian crows and scorching hot nights. Jennifer-Rose talks to the newly appointed chair of the Maori Language Commission about the future of Te Reo. Darashpreet talks to Louise Green from the New Zealand Educational Institute about planned primary school teacher strikes. And finally, Lisa talks to Barrister Catriona MacLennan about MSD debt recovery.
The High Court ruled against the Ministry of Social Development in a case of wrongful debt recovery.
The MSD was asking a solo mother of two to repay more than a $100,000 of perceived benefit, after finding out the mom had contracted loans and used a credit card.
The High Court's jugement, which should have lasting effects, reminded the MSD that loans, which constitute debt, cannot be classified as income.
Our producer Lisa Boudet speaks with barrister Catriona MacLennan about the implications of this ruling and the current mind frame of the MSD.
Music and politics have always had a strong relationship going back to the days of the Civil Rights Movement, the anti-war movement, and campaigns to combat racism. These days, artists such as Childish Gambino are pushing the boundaries visually and musically when it comes to using their art as a political vehicle. Sam Smith spoke with Patrycja Rozbickya about the intersection between music and politics.
Sam Smith talks to a politics lecturer from Aston University about an article she wrote on Childish Gambino’s poignant video ‘This Is America’. Mary-Margaret asks the Council of Trade Unions Vice-President about how the gender pay principles announced by the government last night will impact pay equity. In his international segment this week, Conor Knell does some myth busting about farm attacks in South Africa. Laura Kvigstad learns about a new alcohol interlock sentence initiated by the government due to the prevalence of drink driving. Our greendesk friend Jack Marshall learns about new research into how Australian moths use magnetic fields to migrate.
In international news this week, a new study has been released saying that farm murders are down in South Africa, contrary to the rhetoric spread by conservative and far right commentators overseas. Conor looks into this and other problems surrounding South Africa's violent crime rate to work out what's true and what is simply ideological dogma
The government last night announced five principles that are crucial in New Zealand for achieving pay equity. They are: freedom from bias and discrimination, transparency and accessibility, acknowledging the relationship between paid and unpaid work, sustainability, and participation and engagement. Mary-Margaret spoke to the Council of Trade Unions vice-president Rachel Mackintosh about how this will help to close the gender pay gap. She started by asking her to explain some of the more specific principles.
From July 1st, anyone convicted of two or more drink-driving offences within five years, or any first time offenders caught driving more than 3 point 2 times the legal alcohol limit will be subject to an alcohol interlock sentence. This is a device that prevents people who are intoxicated from driving. Laura Kvigstad spoke with The CEO of No One Ever Stands Alone, Leah Abrams, on the matter, asking what her thoughts were on the recent change.
The United Nations has recently revealed a new report that shows the growing certainty that two degrees of warming will have a servere impact for humanity. Producer Damian Rowe spoke to Dr Alex Macmillan about its implications to New Zealand and the changes that will need to be made on the Zero Carbon Bill.