The Wire with Joel

The adult minimum-wage rate has been set to increase by just 35 cents from the 1st April, the lowest increase since 2013.

Announcing the move on Tuesday, Minister for Workplace Relations Brooke Van Velden says it reflects the New Zealand economy’s recovery from a “sustained period of high interest rates and recessionary conditions” and ensures that “employers and businesses can continue to grow and provide employment opportunities – which could be put at risk with a disproportionate increase in the minimum wage.”

Unite Union, who represent hospitality and other minimum-wage workers, disagree. 
On Tuesday, Unite Union organised five rallies across Aotearoa demanding the government to provide real pathways to a living wage.

They highlight that the minimum wage increase is essentially a pay cut for thousands of workers as it falls below the inflation adjustment.

To discuss more about the less-than-sufficient wage increase and Unite Union’s call to action, Producer Sara spoke with Unite Union’s co-president Xavier Walsh this morning. Here is that interview

For their weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about Brooke van Velden's changes to the health and safety at work act, The recent controversies over comments made by Greens MPs Tamatha Paul and Benjamin Doyle and The Greens’ call to scrap government changes to early childhood care.

For this week’s Green Desk, Producer Leilani speaks to the Hospital Manager at BirdCare Aotearoa; a rehabilitation hospital for native birds, Pooja Dorle, about how to care for a sick or injured bird. Producer Liam, and News and Editorial Director, Joel, also attended their EcoFest workshop to check out the hospital, prior to their next event on the 6th of April. Thanks to Ecofest 2025!

Tuesday Wire Host, Castor, speaks to the Movement Building and Advocacy Director for Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, Lisa Woods, about new research showing many are concerned for social cohesion in the country.

For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Clinical Psychologist Dr Kumari Valentine about a petition to the government to roll back plans to introduce a new associate Psychology role.

And he spoke to Rachel Mackintosh, Assistant National Secretary at E Tū, about a poll they conducted showing opposition to the government’s plan to cut living wage requirements for a number of professions.

Archives New Zealand and the National Library announced last week plans to cut 30 roles within the organisations. The two organisations are responsible for the preservation and retrieval of both historical and legal records in Aotearoa. The National Library also assists libraries and schools across the country in initiatives to boost children’s engagement with literacy and reading. 

To discuss the impact of the layoffs and what they say about the government’s broader approach to the situation Wire host Castor spoke to national secretary of the public service association, Fleur Fitzsimons.

This weekend at MOTAT is the STEM fair, celebrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There’s plenty of exhibitions and activities to get engaged in, and to discuss the fair Wire host Castor spoke to MOTAT’s Te Puawānanga coordinator, Phoebe Drayton.

You can find more information about the STEM fair and book tickets here.