The Wire with Oto

For their weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, Wire host Sofia speaks to ACT MP Laura Trask about public sector job cuts, military-style academies for youth offenders, and the Māori wards bill. 

She also speaks to Dr Ella Cullen, the Director of Wellbeing System Leadership at Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, about recent data on the state of youth mental wellbeing in Aotearoa

She also speaks to Professor Michael Baker from the University of Otago about forming a global pandemic agreement and New Zealand’s current COVID response system. 

And she speaks to the Chair of the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children, Leonie Morris, about the government introducing a bill to make stalking illegal in Aotearoa. 

For this week’s Get Action! producer Oto speaks to Dinithi Bowatte from Massey University about a petition of hers calling for the university to divest it’s investments from the State of Israel.

He also speaks to Rachel Mackintosh from E Tu Union to discuss the nationwide rallies for care and support workers this week.

Whakarongo mai!

The Palestine Solidarity Network has issued a letter of demand to the government for complicity in Israel’s siege on Gaza.

It comes as the death toll in Gaza reaches nearly 38,000 including 15,000 children. At least 10 countries, including Spain, Mexico and Ireland, have joined South Africa in their case against Israel for committing what they call a Genocide. 

Wire Host Caeden speaks to PSN’s John Minto about how the Government’s been complicit, and what their impact could be on the international stage.

Eczema is a health issue that affects large groups of people across the country. The Eczema Association New Zealand, or EANZ, is a group that attempts to understand and address the impacts of eczema on both those who have it and those around them, such as families and friends. 

Producer Castor spoke to spokesperson from EANZ, Vanessa Jenkins, about the impacts of eczema and what more the government can do to support those who are affected by it.

The environment committee has unanimously recommended that the Hauraki Gulf Protection Bill should be passed in its entirety. 

This means that if parliament votes for this recommendation there will be 19 new protection areas in the Tīkapa Moana Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Many environmental organisations have welcomed this possibility and highlighted its importance. 

Rawan spoke with Bianca Ranson from forest and bird about what this new bill would mean, why it is important and how it incorporates local iwi and hapu values.