The Wire with Justin Wong

On Friday 3 September, a terrorist attack took place at a LynMall supermarket in New Lynn, Auckland. The attacker stabbed six people and injured one before being shot and killed by Police. It was quickly revealed that the person was a known supporter of the Islamic State and was under long-term Police surveillance. Following the event, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that she wants the Government's Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill, which was brought in following the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks, to be passed no later than by the end of the month. 

As part of an ongoing investigation into New Zealand’s counter-terrorism strategy, News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston wanted to look into some of the issues that have been raised about the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill. She spoke to Professor Richard Jackson, Director of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago, about some of the problems he says the Bill has. Professor Jackson, along with other experts on terrorism, are concerned that the Bill is being passed too quickly and that more research and time is needed to properly address terrorism in New Zealand's legislation. 

Jemima and Professor Jackson touch on the restrictions terrorism legislation places on human rights, the difficulty to determine a person's intention, protecting minority groups against the deep racial biases that exist in New Zealand society, and whether it is possible to appropriately define terrorism.

Ultimately, Professor Jackson is concerned that the Bill is being rushed through the legislation process. He says that in times of public distress, the Government moves quickly to make laws as a way to show that the state cares about its people and has done something to address the issue at hand. However, Professor Jackson warns that rushed legislation doesn't consider all the evidence and runs the risk of negatively impacting certain minority communities and increasing grievance amongst those most likley to turn to extremism. 

A ban on abortions from six weeks, with no excpetions has taken affect in Texas, after it was signed off by the Supreme Court. This is the first US state to allow a ban to go into effect since Roe v. Wade.

This move has been condemned by human rights activists and medical experts, who say this approach is not based on science and will put women at severe risk. 

Jessica spoke to Terry Bellamak of Abortion Law Reform New Zealand, who says that anti-abortion lawmakers in Texas want to incentivize anyone in the US who opposes abortion to sue providers or individuals who help patients get care.

They started off our interview discussing the restrictions put in place by conservative judges, which many have called out for being unconstitutional. 

Ilena spoke to Councillor Pippa Coom for an update on Auckland Council’s Covid-19 response as we look forward to another two weeks of lockdown. We also discussed the flooding that happened earlier this week in parts of Auckland due to a period of intense rain and storms, and how emergency services responded to those affected under level 4 restrictions. She also mentioned resources available on the Council website for those looking to stay healthy physically and mentally during lockdown, as well as getting rid of Auckland library overdue fines.

Ilena talked to the National Party spokesperson for social development, Luise Upston, about the government rejecting advice to fund Whānau Ora to have a strategic role in the vaccination rollout for Maori and Pasifika. They spoke about what Whānau Ora do, how the vaccination figures for Maori and Pasifika are looking like as we enter the group four vaccination phase, and the efficacy of the approach that the government has had so far in engaging these communities.