The Wire with Caeden

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about the Manage My Health security breach and Labour’s proposed streaming levy. 

And, they spoke to Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary of the Public Service Association, about the election date falling on November 7th, or what is also known as Public Service Day. 

For City Counselling this week, Producer Jasmine spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about this week’s heavy rain and threats of flooding, changes to granny flat building regulations and marine protections of shellfish.

Last week Herenga ā Nuku published Aotearoa’s first report on the state of public land access. Jasmine also spoke to Doug Macredie, the Strategic Relationships Manager at Outdoor Access Commission who published the report, and Professor Margaret Mutu, about the significance of the publication for Tangata Whenua

The Outdoor Access Commission, Herenga ā Nuku, published Aotearoa’s first report on the state of national public land access. The report revealed how up to a third of Māori land is ‘landlocked’, citing this as one of the biggest challenges to public access in 2025. 

Producer Jasmine Gray first spoke to Strategic Relationships Manager of Herenga ā Nuku, Doug Macredie, about the research journey and the address of increasing accessibility to landlocked areas for land owners. 

She then spoke to Professor Margaret Mutu, who spoke on the report from the wider historical colonial context of the ability of Tangata Whenua to access their land. Margaret particularly highlighted the discrepancies between Pākeha landowners and Māori in their legal and physical abilities to access and utilise land under their ownership with ease.

Both perspectives provide valuable insight into the background and significance of the report.

The government has announced significant amendments to environmental protection legislation within the Resource Management Act (RMA). The affected policies include the National Policy for Indigenous Biodiversity 2023, Freshwater Management and Regulation 2020, Highly Productive Land 2022 and The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010. These amendments seek to facilitate mining and quarrying in areas that were previously restricted due to existing environmental pressures or wildlife preservation concerns. The government seeks to ‘cut red tape’ to enable resource consents in these areas and stimulate economic growth. 

Flo spoke to Forest and Bird Chief Advisor, Richard Capie, about the detrimental effects of the legislation on the environment, the short-term economic gains compared to long-term economic regression and his hopes for the upcoming general election.

Iran’s population are currently experiencing a state-imposed internet and communications blackout following mass demonstrations against the government.

Thursday Wire Host Caeden spoke to Samira Ghoreishi, women's rights advocate and researcher on social movements and civil society in Iran, about the nuances of the current political situation. 

Ghoreishi spoke to The Wire in an independent capacity.