The Wire with Oto

Forrest and Birds’ Bird of the Century campaign went viral after British Comedian John Oliver rallied in support of the Pūteketeke.

However, behind the viral clips and passionate campaigns there is a a more serious element to the campaign that is aimed at increasing awareness about conservation efforts.

Nicholas spoke to Ellen Rykers from Forest and Bird New Zealand about how this years campaign has gone and ways that the public can help contribute to conservation efforts.

On the 5th of November in 1881, the settlement of Parihaka, where many Māori from the Taranaki region had found refuge as a result of the Land Wars, was invaded and several peaceful resistors were arrested without trial. Cultivations and livestock in the settlement were destroyed and much of the land seized. Today, Māori in Parihaka are still fighting for their rights. Climate Justice Tāranaki marked the anniversary of the event last week by implementing a peaceful blockade on The Whareroa Fonterra Dairy factory, the Kapuni Ballance fertiliser factory and the Todd Energy gas plant. Rosetta spoke to Tuhi-Ao Bailey, member of Climate Justice Tāranaki, about the relevance of climate activism today to Parihaka day. They also spoke about many pro-palestinian advocates and Te Pāti Māori’s leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer who have stated the relevance of Parihaka to the oppression of Palestinians in Gaza today.

The National Party has promised to halve child poverty by 2028, and has committed to stick to the targets outlined in the Child Poverty Reduction Act, however many are worrying that not enough policy has been outlined in order to achieve this. The party’s policy of the Independent Earner Tax Credit will start in April next year and targets the “squeezed middle”, but will provide little relief for families who rely on welfare to survive. 

Susan St John is an associate professor at the University of Auckland Business School, and has recently published an opinion piece in The Conversation, titled “If NZ’s new government wants a simple fix to improve child poverty, here’s what it should do” urging the party to do more to reduce child poverty. Rosetta spoke to her about how she believes the tax credit system needs to be altered in order to support low income families more.

On a very health-focused Wire for Rāapa Wednesday. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to NZ Drug Foundation Principal Science Advisor, Emily Hughes, about synthetic opioids being sold as other substances. 

She also spoke to Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director, Sarah Dalton, about how the incoming governments proposed tax cuts could impact investment in the health sector. 

And she spoke to senior research fellow at the University of Otago, Dr Julie Bennett, about World Ventil8 Day.

Arno spoke to Assistant National Secretary of the Public Services Association, Melissa Woolley, and care and support worker, Monique Behan-Kitto, about their pay equity settlement that has been delayed by Te Whatu Ora.

And he spoke to Bioengineer at the University of Auckland Dr Kelly Burrowes about new research on how vaping affects the lungs.