Animal rights in Aotearoa have been called into question once again with tensions rising between agricultural industry players and animal rights activists in light of coalition government agreements that outline a reversal of the recent ban on live animal export. In 2021, Aotearoa took a world-leading stance in banning live animal exports by sea, phasing out the practice this time last year. The proposed repeal signals a wider conversation around animal rights in Aotearoa, from political responsibility to public knowledge and transparent practice.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Tara Jackson, Executive Director of New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society, to gain insight into the broader current state of animal rights in Aotearoa and to get her comments on the Live Export bill.
NZAVS is Aotearoa’s only registered charity dedicated to ending animal experimentation. To learn more about their mahi, and access the resources Tara mentioned, head to NZAVS.org.nz
Last night hundreds gathered outside the General Library at the University of Auckland to rally in support of students in Palestine. The action was inspired by, and in solidarity with, students in campuses across the United States. Thousands of US students have set up encampments to protest their University and Government’s role in supporting Israel to carry out a genocide in Gaza.
Caeden spoke to one of the leaders of the action in Tāmaki Makaurau, Layan Khalil. They started by asking her to describe Student Justice for Palestine.
They also spoke to Yale University student Andre Fa’aoso about the protests on the ground in the United States. Andre is a former Wire host and has been reporting on the events for the Yale Daily News. They spoke about the reports of both police violence against protestors and anti-semitism from protestors, and the goals and demands of the striking students. It comes as US College Presidents, including the Yale President, have been summoned to Congress to speak on anti-semitism on their campuses.
Tales of cats, 20 massive pavers and many unanswered texts. Salene gives advice for your renting woes on A Room Of One's Own. Check out the resources below for additional information.
According to TradeMe figures, rental rates across the motu are at an all time high, rising by an average increase of $50 since last year and bringing the nationwide median rental price up to $650 a week.
Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, which remains the most expensive region of the country to rent in, has experienced a rent increase of 6.2%, bringing rental rates to $690 a week.
For their weekly chat, Oto spoke to Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the party’s calls to introduce rent controls to combat the increase in rent we’re experiencing here in Aotearoa.
We also had a chat about the government’s RMA reforms last week and the recent 1News Verian Poll.
The government recently made a series of changes to the licensing requirements for early childhood centres to be able to operate.
These include repealing the network approval provisions for people looking to establish early learning centres and removing the Person Responsible Staff requirements to have a full teaching licence.
The government justified these reforms by saying regulation cuts would make it easier for early childhood centres to operate, thus addressing Aotearoa’s teacher shortage.
However, many Kaiako working in early childhood education have said deregulation does not address the root causes of the teacher shortage, and that more focus is needed on addressing pay inequality for teachers within the sector.
For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Early childhood Kaiako and member of the New Zealand Educational Institute, Hayley Cross, to discuss a petition from the union to the government calling for pay parity in early childhood education.
The number of children in New Zealand not immunised against the measles is growing, raising the possibility of another measles epidemic.
Rachel spoke to Public Health Physician at the Public Health Communication Centre, Dr Oz Manssor about the immunisation gap found in today's society and the likelihood of a measles outbreak.