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Economy of Genocide report released by UN Special rapporteur Francesca Albanese w/ University of Otago Professor of International Relations Robert Patman and Amnesty International Aotearoa’s Margaret Taylor: 15 July, 2025

Economy of Genocide report released by UN Special rapporteur Francesca Albanese w/ University of Otago Professor of International Relations Robert Patman and Amnesty International Aotearoa’s Margaret Taylor: 15 July, 2025 Economy of Genocide report released by UN Special rapporteur Francesca Albanese w/ University of Otago Professor of International Relations Robert Patman and Amnesty International Aotearoa’s Margaret Taylor: 15 July, 2025, 49.82 MB
Tue 15 Jul 2025

Earlier this month, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council entitled ‘From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide’.

The report names companies who have financially supported or sustained Israel’s ongoing war and genocide against Palestinians, and highlights pathways to accountability that “transcend legal and diplomatic rhetoric”.

She calls on civil society to respond to the actions of Israel in light of the limited power of the United Nations to effectively end the violence. 

The United States has since imposed sanctions on Albanese, calling for her removal for allegations they say are “false and offensive”.

Exploring more in depth the potential impact of this Economy of Genocide report, as well as the obligation and power of the United Nations as a whole, and the New Zealand government to respond to the situation, Producer Sara spoke with University of Otago Professor for Politics & International Relations Robert Patman, as well as Amnesty International Aotearoa community manager Margaret Taylor.

Patman has published two pieces recently, criticising the New Zealand government’s failure to adequately respond to the US’ role in particular in the violence in Gaza.

The Wire w/ Castor: 15th July, 2025

The Wire w/ Castor: 15th July, 2025 The Wire w/ Castor: 15th July, 2025, 88.76 MB
Tue 15 Jul 2025

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chatted with us about lightning created by peeling tape, links between talc and cancer, and a new form of Nitrogen. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about the government’s health contributions in light of recent strikes.

They also spoke to Emeritus Professor Tim Hazledine about David Seymour’s plans to address the supermarket duopoly in Aotearoa. 

On the topic of the recent Economy of Genocide report released by UN Special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, producer Sara spoke with both University of Otago’s Professor of International Relations Robert Patman, as well as Amnesty International Aotearoa’s Margaret Taylor.

David Seymour’s plans to break up the supermarket duopoly w/ Emeritus Professor Tim Hazledine: 15th July, 2025

David Seymour’s plans to break up the supermarket duopoly w/ Emeritus Professor Tim Hazledine: 15th July, 2025 David Seymour’s plans to break up the supermarket duopoly w/ Emeritus Professor Tim Hazledine: 15th July, 2025, 10.71 MB
Tue 15 Jul 2025

ACT Party leader David Seymour announced plans to address the supermarket duopoly at the party summit on Sunday. Seymour proposed that international competitors haven’t begun operations in New Zealand due to restrictive approval processes. 

Seymour says that while his opponents have proposed breaking up the duopoly or imposing taxes, his solution of introducing a third competitor would be the only truly effective answer. 

Wire host Castor spoke to Emeritus Professor of Economics, Tim Hazledine, about his thoughts on Seymour’s proposal and alternative solutions to break up the New Zealand supermarket duopoly.

ACT 2025 Rally, James Lindsay as Keynote Speaker, and Public Hearings on Covid-19 Response w/ the ACT Party’s Simon Court: 14 July, 2025

ACT 2025 Rally, James Lindsay as Keynote Speaker, and Public Hearings on Covid-19 Response w/ the ACT Party’s Simon Court: 14 July, 2025 ACT 2025 Rally, James Lindsay as Keynote Speaker, and Public Hearings on Covid-19 Response w/ the ACT Party’s Simon Court: 14 July, 2025, 21.13 MB
Mon 14 Jul 2025

Yesterday, the ACT Party held their annual rally, being called the “Free and Equal Rally”.

Notably, US author, James Lindsay, was a keynote speaker at the event.

Lindsay is the author of ‘Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity—and Why This Harms Everybody’ - among other titles, such as ‘Race Marxism: The Truth About Critical Race Theory and Praxis’ and ‘The Queering of the American Child: How a New School Religious Cult Poisons the Minds and Bodies of Normal Kids’.

Party Leader, David Seymour, says Lindsay is a “prominent advocate for free speech”. Prior to the event, a spokesperson for the party said Lindsay would discuss “reclaiming liberalism in an age of extremes”.

For our weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about the rally, why the party chose Lindsay as a keynote speaker, and we address some of the concerns with Lindsay’s previous comments.

They also discussed the first public hearings into the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the former government’s Covid-19 response, and what to expect heading into the next hearings in Wellington next month.

But first, they discussed ACT’s 2025 “Free and Equal” Rally.

The Wire w/ Joel: 14 July, 2025

The Wire w/ Joel: 14 July, 2025 The Wire w/ Joel: 14 July, 2025, 87.05 MB
Mon 14 Jul 2025

This week on the Monday Wire: 

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the party’s annual rally that happened yesterday, and the choice of US author, James Lindsay, as a keynote speaker, as well as the recent public hearings into the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the government’s Covid-19 response.

Following up with their chat with MP Simon Court, Joel spoke to the Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition’s Anne Campbell, about James Lindsay, and his controversial views.

Joel spoke to Dr Collin Bjork — a senior Communications lecturer at Massey University, about the government’s recently released AI strategy. 

And Joel spoke to AI and technology governor, Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, about how the government’s AI strategy coexists with te ao Māori.

Producer Samantha spoke to University of Auckland Geology Professor, Phil James, about the sustainbility issues with modern society in the global north.

Whakarongo mai!

ACT’s choice of James Lindsay as keynote speaker at 2025 rally w/ Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition’s Anne Campbell: 14 July, 2025

ACT’s choice of James Lindsay as keynote speaker at 2025 rally w/ Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition’s Anne Campbell: 14 July, 2025 ACT’s choice of James Lindsay as keynote speaker at 2025 rally w/ Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition’s Anne Campbell: 14 July, 2025, 6.25 MB
Mon 14 Jul 2025

Following up on my chat with Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke with the Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition’s Anne Campbell.

The ACT Party’s choice of James Lindsay as a keynote speaker has raised concerns about his spread of conspiracy theories and thoughts on minority communities, such as the LGBTQIA+ community.

They spoke to Campbell about James Lindsay, his controversial comments, and what this means for Aotearoa.

The government’s AI strategy for the private sector w/ Dr Collin Bjork and Dr Karaitiana Taiuru: 14 July, 2025

The government’s AI strategy for the private sector w/ Dr Collin Bjork and Dr Karaitiana Taiuru: 14 July, 2025 The government’s AI strategy for the private sector w/ Dr Collin Bjork and Dr Karaitiana Taiuru: 14 July, 2025, 13.61 MB
Mon 14 Jul 2025

Recently, Science and Technology Minister, Shane Reti, announced New Zealand’s first-ever artificial intelligence, or AI, strategy.

With this, Aotearoa becomes the last country in the OECD to establish guidelines around the use of AI.

Despite the establishment of this strategy, which is aimed at enticing the private sector to incorporate and invest in AI, there are concerns that the strategy does not introduce any new legislation to regulate AI, rather using already existing legislation, and fails to address ethical concerns.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Dr Collin Bjork — a senior Communications lecturer at Massey University, about this strategy document, and how much of an impact this strategy will have on the private sector to be better engaged with AI usage.

They also spoke to AI and technology governor, Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, about how te ao Māori is engaged with this strategy, and whether more needs to be done.

Phase 2 of the Covid-19 Inquiry w/ Restaurant Association Chief Executive Officer Marisa Bidois & public health expert and Pacific academic Sir Collin Tukuitonga: 10 July, 2025

Phase 2 of the Covid-19 Inquiry w/ Restaurant Association Chief Executive Officer Marisa Bidois & public health expert and Pacific academic Sir Collin Tukuitonga: 10 July, 2025 Phase 2 of the Covid-19 Inquiry w/ Restaurant Association Chief Executive Officer Marisa Bidois & public health expert and Pacific academic Sir Collin Tukuitonga: 10 July, 2025, 32.79 MB
Thu 10 Jul 2025

This week’s second phase of the national covid-19 inquiry has seen public hearings from the community and experts talking about the wider impacts of mandates and lockdowns during the pandemic.

As health experts are urging the government to anticipate and better prepare for a future pandemic, and people in all sectors across New Zealand still work through the ongoing effects of Covid-19, this inquiry needs to inform critical decision making and processes for the central government. 

Speaking more about the inquiry and the general effects of Covid-19, I spoke with public health expert Sir Collin Tukuitonga about his research findings and the importance of pandemic preparedness, as well as Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois about the need to support businesses and hospitality in New Zealand

The Wire w/ Caeden: 10 July, 2025

The Wire w/ Caeden: 10 July, 2025 The Wire w/ Caeden: 10 July, 2025, 75.78 MB
Thu 10 Jul 2025

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Arena Williams about Phase Two of the Covid-19 inquiry and advisory group recommendations on climate adaptation legislation.

For International Desk, they spoke to Charles Hunt from Boise State University about United States President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill”. 

For this week’s City Counselling, Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about Mayor Wayne Brown’s recent council body reforms, as well as concerns around homelessness in the CBD this Winter

Regarding Phase Two of the Covid-19 Inquiry, she spoke with both Restaurant Association Chief Executive Marisa Bidois, and public health expert Sir Collin Tukuitonga

Phase Two of The Covid-19 Inquiry and Advisory Group Recommendations on Climate Adaptation Legislation w/ Labour’s Arena Williams: 10 July, 2025

Phase Two of The Covid-19 Inquiry and Advisory Group Recommendations on Climate Adaptation Legislation w/ Labour’s Arena Williams: 10 July, 2025 Phase Two of The Covid-19 Inquiry and Advisory Group Recommendations on Climate Adaptation Legislation w/ Labour’s Arena Williams: 10 July, 2025, 15.27 MB
Thu 10 Jul 2025

Public hearings as part of phase two of the Royal Commission into COVID-19 took place in Auckland this week.

The second phase of the inquiry has a stronger focus on lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and the impact of the Covid-19 response on business and the economy.

And yesterday, an independent reference group set up by the Ministry of Environment shared their recommendations for climate adaptation legislation.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Arena Williams about both of these topics.