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Media and Democracy, Job Cuts at MSD and the Samoan Citizenship Bill w/ Carmel Sepuloni: 11 April, 2024

 Media and Democracy, Job Cuts at MSD and the Samoan Citizenship Bill w/ Carmel Sepuloni: 11 April, 2024 Media and Democracy, Job Cuts at MSD and the Samoan Citizenship Bill w/ Carmel Sepuloni: 11 April, 2024, 22.07 MB
Thu 11 Apr 2024

The Ministry of Social Development is not immune to job cuts seen in other public service departments, with MSD calling for voluntary redundancies after cost-saving efforts failed to meet Government targets. For our weekly catch-up with Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni Wire Host Caeden asks her about the impact of cuts at MSD, especially amongst other Government policies disadvantaging beneficiaries.

They also ask about the Samoan Citizenship Bill led by Teanau Tuiono, and the impact of losing independent media giants such as Newshub for democracy.

A Proposal to merge South Auckland Local Boards and a new report on Tāmaki Makaurau’s quality of living w/ Lotu Fuli: 11 April, 2024

 A Proposal to merge South Auckland Local Boards and a new report on Tāmaki Makaurau’s quality of living w/ Lotu Fuli: 11 April, 2024 A Proposal to merge South Auckland Local Boards and a new report on Tāmaki Makaurau’s quality of living w/ Lotu Fuli: 11 April, 2024, 18.42 MB
Thu 11 Apr 2024

A proposal to merge the Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local boards has been met with criticism, with consultation opening at the end of next month.
A new report has also been released on the quality of living in Tāmaki Makaurau with our city receiving mixed results by scoring high on some areas (the environment), and lower on others (education). 

Wire Host Caeden speaks to Counsellor Lotu Fuli about both these topics for City Counselling.

Historic Support for Bill to Repeal the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 w/ Laumua Tunufa’i: April 11, 2024

 Historic Support for Bill to Repeal the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 w/ Laumua Tunufa’i: April 11, 2024 Historic Support for Bill to Repeal the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 w/ Laumua Tunufa’i: April 11, 2024, 14.82 MB
Thu 11 Apr 2024

Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono passed the first reading of his member's bill in parliament yesterday. The bill would restore citizenship to Samoan’s born between 1924-1948 who had their citizenship stripped in 1982 legislation. 

The bill received unexpected support from the Act Party and NZ First Party to go through to select committee, with the only party voting against it being National.

Wire Host Caeden spoke with AUT Lecturer in Criminology Laumua Tunufa’i about the bill and it’s historical context.

Expanding Hate Speech Laws to Protect the LGBTQ+ community w/ Paul Thistoll and Prudence Walker: 11 April, 2024

Expanding Hate Speech Laws to Protect the LGBTQ+ community w/ Paul Thistoll and Prudence Walker: 11 April, 2024 Expanding Hate Speech Laws to Protect the LGBTQ+ community w/ Paul Thistoll and Prudence Walker: 11 April, 2024 , 27.79 MB
Thu 11 Apr 2024

The Court of Appeal has heard a Court Case which would consider if Sexual Orientation should be considered under our hate speech laws.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Rainbow Spokesperson for Tika Tangata the Human Rights Commission Prudence Walker about this Court Case and what more needs to be done to protect LGBTQ+ communities under hate speech laws. 

They also spoke to Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa CEO Paul Thistoll about the mahi being done to include LGBTQ+ communities under hate speech laws by community groups, as well as the scope of what the Hate Speech Laws would cover.

The Foreign ministers speech at the UN General Assembly and public sector job cuts w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 5, 2024

 The Foreign ministers speech at the UN General Assembly and public sector job cuts w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 5, 2024 The Foreign ministers speech at the UN General Assembly and public sector job cuts w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 5, 2024, 15.29 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

In his speech at the UN General Assembly, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters expressed New Zealand’s support for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

The Green Party have been vocal advocates for a ceasefire since the beginning of the conflict and have also been advocating for the granting of Visas for Palestinians with family in Aotearoa.

Nicholas spoke to Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez  March about the foreign Minister’s speech. 

They also spoke about the consequences of job cuts in the public sector.

AI and War w/ Dr Thomas Gregory: April 10, 2024

 AI and War w/ Dr Thomas Gregory: April 10, 2024 AI and War w/ Dr Thomas Gregory: April 10, 2024, 18.02 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

Humanity is currently going through a stage in its history known as the “AI Spring”, an ongoing period of advancement in the world of artificial intelligence, heavily impacting the technology we use on a daily basis.
As to be expected, there are numerous ethical concerns to be raised regarding the development of artificial intelligence. The use of AI in modern military conflicts has demonstrated the capabilities of this new technology to cause large-scale destruction to human lives. The Israeli Defence Force, for example, have been using AI in their weapon systems to acquire targets in their war on Gaza, contributing to one the highest rates of civilian casualties in any modern conflict. 

Dr Thomas Gregory is a Senior lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, with expertise in civilian casualties and contemporary conflict. Oto spoke with him to discuss how AI is being used on the battlefield, and how it has impacted civilian lives in modern conflicts.

Period Underwear for Gaza w/ Reemi Founder, Emily Au-Young: 10 April, 2024

 Period Underwear for Gaza w/ Reemi Founder, Emily Au-Young: 10 April, 2024 Period Underwear for Gaza w/ Reemi Founder, Emily Au-Young: 10 April, 2024, 4.29 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

New Zealand NGO Reemi, an organisation which works to alleviate period poverty, have received a UK humanitarian grant to supply reusable period underwear to Palestinians in Gaza.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Reemi founder, Emily Au-Young, about what the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has meant for menstruators. 

She started off the interview by asking Au-Young about what Reemi does.

Changes to Free Flu Vaccine Eligibility w/ Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton: 10 April, 2024

 Changes to Free Flu Vaccine Eligibility w/ Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton: 10 April, 2024 Changes to Free Flu Vaccine Eligibility w/ Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton: 10 April, 2024, 5.84 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

The government has announced that the flu vaccine will no longer be free for children under 12 or Māori and Pacific people aged 55 to 64.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton, who along with other health experts, says this is a missed opportunity for New Zealand's health system to improve outcomes and achieve health equity.

She started off our interview asking Fenton for her reaction to vaccine subsidies being removed for these groups.

David Seymour using outdated information to justify cuts to Ka Ora Ka Ako w/ Dr Kelly Garton: April 10, 2024

 David Seymour using outdated information to justify cuts to Ka Ora Ka Ako w/ Dr Kelly Garton: April 10, 2024 David Seymour using outdated information to justify cuts to Ka Ora Ka Ako w/ Dr Kelly Garton: April 10, 2024, 14.84 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

Health Coalition Aotearoa have released a press release in which they claim that Associate Education Minister David Seymour is using outdated advice to justify cutting the school lunch program.

A treasury report released in 2023 has been used by the Associate Education Minister as evidence for looking into cutting Ka Ora Ka Ako funding.

However, Health Coalition Aotearoa believes more recent reports highlight the importance and positive benefits of the school lunch programs.

Nicholas spoke to Dr Kelly Garton of Health Coalition Aotearoa about Ka Ora Ka Ako.

The genesis of the largest study into dementia in New Zealand w/ Professor Rita Krishnamurthi: April 10, 2024

 The genesis of the largest study into dementia in New Zealand w/ Professor Rita Krishnamurthi: April 10, 2024 The genesis of the largest study into dementia in New Zealand w/ Professor Rita Krishnamurthi: April 10, 2024, 15.35 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

A new study into dementia in New Zealand is seeking to fill gaps in our understanding of how dementia affects our communities.

The study will be the largest of its kind and will aim to talk to more than two thousand older people and their families.

The study will also seek to understand the prevalence of dementia across four ethnic communities Pakeha, Chinese, Indian and Fijian Indian, with parallel studies taking place in Maori and Pasifika communities.

Nicholas spoke to the lead researcher for the Indian and Fijian Indian parts of the study Professor Rita Krishnamurthi, I began by asking about what prompted the research .