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The National Business Review’s Rich List in a Cost of Living Crisis w/ NBR Te Ao Māori Editor Mike McRoberts: 12 June, 2025

The National Business Review’s Rich List in a Cost of Living Crisis w/ NBR Te Ao Māori Editor Mike McRoberts: 12 June, 2025 The National Business Review’s Rich List in a Cost of Living Crisis w/ NBR Te Ao Māori Editor Mike McRoberts: 12 June, 2025, 9.86 MB
Thu 12 Jun 2025

Earlier this week, the National Business Review released its annual “rich list”, which contains information about who the wealthiest people in Aotearoa are. 

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Mike McRoberts, Te Ao Māori editor at the NBR, about the list, including its timing in a cost-of-living crisis and what it means for Māori. 

International Desk: The Los Angeles protests against ICE w/ Yale Daily News Andre Fa’aoso: 12 June, 2024

International Desk: The Los Angeles protests against ICE w/ Yale Daily News Andre Fa’aoso: 12 June, 2024 International Desk: The Los Angeles protests against ICE w/ Yale Daily News Andre Fa’aoso: 12 June, 2024, 19.58 MB
Thu 12 Jun 2025

Los Angeles is approaching a week of protests against ICE, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Over 200 protestors have been arrested since the protests began, and restrictions have been placed on protestors, including a curfew.

The White House has sent 2,000 members of the National Guard to the city already, and another 2,000 are expected to be deployed. This is despite California Governor Gavin Newsom attempting to stop their deployment. 

For International Desk, I spoke to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about the protests.

The Freedom Flotilla, Sanctions Against Israeli Politicians, and the NBR Rich List w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 12 June, 2025

The Freedom Flotilla, Sanctions Against Israeli Politicians, and the NBR Rich List w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 12 June, 2025 The Freedom Flotilla, Sanctions Against Israeli Politicians, and the NBR Rich List w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 12 June, 2025, 9.32 MB
Thu 12 Jun 2025

New Zealand and key allies have imposed sanctions on two “extremist” Israeli politicians for their role in “inciting violence against Palestinians” in the West Bank.

However, opposition parties, including Labour as well as the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, are calling for further action to be taken against Israel.

It comes after Israel kidnapped 12 pro-Palestine activists on international waters, who were intending to break the aid blockade and reach Gaza.

And earlier this week, the National Business released their annual rich list.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, I spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about these topics.

The Wire w/ Caeden: 12 June: 2025

The Wire w/ Caeden: 12 June: 2025 The Wire w/ Caeden: 12 June: 2025, 82.85 MB
Thu 12 Jun 2025

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, sanctions placed on two ‘extremist’ Israeli politicians, and the NBR rich list.

For International Desk, they spoke to Andre Fa’aoso about the protests against ICE in Los Angeles.

And they spoke to the National Business Review’s Mike McRoberts about their recently published rich list.

For this week’s City Counselling, Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about this week’s release of falling housing valuations along with rising rates, and the progress on key Auckland City Rail Link stations. 

As well, she spoke to Associate Professor Scott Opticon about Trump’s use of force against the LA anti-ICE protesters.

Donald Trump's Military Deployment Against LA Protestors w/ Auckland University Law School Associate Professor Scott Optican: 12 June 2025

Donald Trump's Military Deployment Against LA Protestors w/ Auckland University Law School Associate Professor Scott Optican: 12 June 2025 Donald Trump's Military Deployment Against LA Protestors w/ Auckland University Law School Associate Professor Scott Optican: 12 June 2025, 32.49 MB
Thu 12 Jun 2025

Trump’s response to the LA protests has been a critical point this week for US politics, as the public onlooks the face-off of protesters against Trump’s immigration policies and his excessive military backlash.

US-trained legal academic Auckland University Associate Professor Scott Optican says the move threatens core rule of law and use of force principles that have guided past American presidents, saying this purposeful escalation allows him to employ “anti-immigrant rhetoric to stoke fear and galvanise his political base”

University of Auckland’s Politics and International Relations Associate Professor Maria Armoudian also said it’s yet more evidence of Trump’s unchecked power and the country’s apparent slide into authoritarianism.

Producer Sara spoke with Scott Optican about the implications of Trump’s response to these protests, and the discourse around immigration. To start, she asked him to explain how Trump’s use of force threatens the principle of appropriate use of force, and the rule of law.

A new slogan for ‘taxing the rich’ w/ Neal Curtis from the University of Auckland: 4 June, 2025

A new slogan for ‘taxing the rich’ w/ Neal Curtis from the University of Auckland: 4 June, 2025 A new slogan for ‘taxing the rich’ w/ Neal Curtis from the University of Auckland: 4 June, 2025, 21 MB
Wed 11 Jun 2025

In the wake of increasing global inequality, discussions about taxing the world’s wealthiest few and the redistribution of wealth are becoming more prevalent.

However, the concept of wealth taxes are often stigmatised by proponents of neoliberalism, often likening taxation to a form of theft.

Discussing the idea of wealth taxes and redistribution is Dr Neal Curtis, a professor in the Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland who says “reclaim the wealth” is a better rallying cry than “tax the rich.”

What is Effective Leadership? W/ Brigid Carroll: June 11, 2025

What is Effective Leadership? W/ Brigid Carroll: June 11, 2025 What is Effective Leadership? W/ Brigid Carroll: June 11, 2025, 16.25 MB
Wed 11 Jun 2025

The release of Jacinda Ardern’s new book, has sparked a renewed interest in the leadership style that was present as Prime Minister of New Zealand, between 2017 and 2023.

Leadership is constantly being tested and redefined. However, it was Ardern’s leadership and circumstances throughout her tenure as Prime Minister that caught global attention and recognition.

Professor Brigid Carroll, from the University of Auckland, is an expert in leadership identity and practice. Her work challenges many of the ideas that we have traditionally seen as good leadership traits. She believes that now is a good time to explore what effective leadership can look like.

Men’s Mental Health and the ‘Soften Up Bro’ Movement W/ Heemi Kapa-Kingi: June 11, 2025

Men’s Mental Health and the ‘Soften Up Bro’ Movement W/ Heemi Kapa-Kingi: June 11, 2025 Men’s Mental Health and the ‘Soften Up Bro’ Movement W/ Heemi Kapa-Kingi: June 11, 2025, 23.53 MB
Wed 11 Jun 2025

This week marks Men’s Mental Health Week in Aotearoa – a time to kōrero about the challenges that many men face, and to break down the stigma that still surrounds emotional well-being.

For a long time, the phrase ‘harden up’ has shaped the way men think about vulnerability, and in turn, often pushes men to bottle up emotions, instead of reaching out for help.

‘Soften Up Bro’ is a kaupapa grounded in Te Ao Maori values, encouraging men to embrace softness, honesty and connection.

To talk about men’s mental health in Aotearoa and this movement, I spoke to co-founder of ‘Soften Up Bro’, Heemi Kapa-Kingi.

The Wire w/ Oto: 11 June, 2025

The Wire w/ Oto: 11 June, 2025 The Wire w/ Oto: 11 June, 2025, 84.93 MB
Wed 11 Jun 2025

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about the seizure of the Madleen freedom flotilla by Israeli Defence Forces and the greens’ calls for Sanctions on Israel, The government's new Parent Boost Visa and the unrest in Los Angeles opposing the US immigration policies and how it could impact immigration policy here in Aotearoa.

For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Sue Coutts from Zero Waste Network New Zealand about a petition calling for Aotearoa to be kept incinerator free.

And he spoke to Neal Curtis a professor in the Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland to discuss why “reclaim the wealth” is a better phrase than “tax the rich.”

Max spoke to Brigid Carroll, a professor at the University of Auckland, to talk about the traits that make an effective leader.

And he spoke to Heemi Kapa-Kingi, Co-Founder of the ‘Soften Up Bro’ movement, to talk about men’s mental health.

The Wire w/ Castor: 10th June, 2025

The Wire w/ Castor: 10th June, 2025 The Wire w/ Castor: 10th June, 2025, 86.7 MB
Tue 10 Jun 2025

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chatted with us about new theories about the big bang, maths anxiety, and the legitimacy of a silver Dutch basin.

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about Chris Bishop’s comments at the Aotearoa Music Awards, the suspension of Te Pāti Māori MPs from parliament, and the new Parent Boost Visa. 

They also spoke to CEO of immigration advisory group Aims Global, Arunima Dhingra, about the Parent Boost Visa and how it addresses the issues migrants are facing in Aotearoa.

And they spoke to the owner of Hard to Find Books, Warwick Jordan, about news that the bookshop’s lease on Saint Benedicts Street will end at the start of next year. 

Producer Faith spoke to Kate Stone from Justice for Palestine NZ, about why she thinks our government should recognise the state of Palestine.

She also spoke to PhD student Yuan Gao from the University of Auckland’s health psychology department, about her research on how robots can help people with dementia.