The Wire with Oto

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about Rātana and Pacific representation in government.

They also spoke to University of Auckland Lecturer Dr Treasa Dunworth and Palestine Solidairty Network’s John Minto about New Zealand’s obligation following the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel-Palestine.

Castor spoke to Lucette Hindin, a Lead Connector for Neighbours Aotearoa, about their yearly community initiative.

He also spoke to Professor Janet Hoek from the University of Otago about the influence of the tobacco industry on New Zealand politics.

‘Understanding Te Tiriti – a handbook about Te Tiriti o Waitangi’ is a new guide created by lawyer Roimata Smail (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, English, Scottish, Irish descent).

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Smail about the handbook and what she hopes people take away from it.

She started off by asking Smail about her background as a legal counsel in the Waitangi Tribunal and in creating educational resources about Te Tiriti.

News and editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Amnesty International Aotearoa Senior Campaigner, David Vega about their opposition to recent executions in the US state of Alabama.

Lawyer Roimata Smail (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, English, Scottish, Irish descent) about her new educational resource, ‘Understanding Te Tiriti – a handbook about Te Tiriti o Waitangi’. 

She chatted to the co-founders of Petitions for Peace, a platform that allows people to sign multiple petitions at once, urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

For Get Action! she interviewed community organiser and advocate in healthcare, education, and social work, and founder of Paid Placements Aotearoa, Bex Howells about her calls to address long-term workforce shortages by funding student placements.

And she spoke to Head of Operations at PD Pet Insurance Sheryl Atkins about pet oral health and how pet owners can save money.

New ESR data has shown cases of meningococcal disease in Kiwi teens and young adults has increased by 88% compared to last year.

The data also shows Maori and Pasifika toddlers, as well as Maori youth, make up the majority of the increased numbers.

The Wire producer Sofia spoke to the Head nurse of Havelock North High School Caryn Williams about the growing concerns of meningitis in Aotearoa and the accessibility of vaccines.