95bFM: The Wire

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.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden speaks to Carmel Sepuloni about pay rises for MPs and National’s new social housing policy.

They speak to Shane Henderson for City Counselling about the Palestine protests in Tāmaki Makaurau and the end of half priced public transport for under 25s.

They speak to Student Justice for Palestine Organiser Layan Khalil about the student rally for Palestine that took place on campus last night, and with Andre Fa’aoso on the student protests for Palestine in the United States.

And they speak to Dr Kirsten Zemke about the racist backlash Beyoncé received after releasing her popular country album, Cowboy Carter, earlier this year.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins speaks to Professor Law at the University of Auckland, Claire Charters, about the United Nations Human Rights Council’s five-yearly Universal Periodic Review.

Producer Jasmine speaks Tara Jackson, Executive Director of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society, about the current state of animal rights protections in Aotearoa.

Superstar Beyoncé has recently put out a new country album titled Cowboy Carter. While fans have praised the album, it’s also been met with racist backlash on an institutional level. 

Some have said Beyoncé, a woman from Texas, does not truly represent American or country values.

Caeden speaks to Anthropology lecturer at the University of Auckland, Kirsten Zemke, about the backlash and why it’s so harmful. They started by asking about what this backlash was.

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.

Last week, the government announced its plan for the next Resource Management Act amendment bill.

The Resource Management Act seeks to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources including land, water, and air. 

As part of the first changes being made, farming, mining and other industrial regulations are being scrapped or amended. 

In response, Greenpeace has criticised the repeal of intensive winter grazing regulations and revision of Te Mana o Te Wai, highlighting concerns for the protection of freshwater and the health of rural communities. 

Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to the Head of Campaigns for Greenpeace Aotearoa, Amanda Larsson, about these changes, and the consequences they will have on our environment and access to safe drinking water in rural areas.

She started off the interview asking Larsson what the hierarchy of obligations under Te Mana o Te Wai are.

The fast track approvals bill is a planned piece of legislation that aims to cut through existing consent processes for several future works. These developments include bridges, roads, and drilling, which each could infringe on conservation or protected land.

The bill has been met with backlash from members of the public, who up until the 19th of April have been able to make submissions on the bill as it goes through the select committee process. Criticisms and protests against the bill have continued in recent weeks, with many claiming that it undermines democracy and allows members of parliament to circumvent conservation laws or expert advice. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s James Meager, Wire host Castor asked him about the Fast Track Approvals Bill: whether his opinions have changed since the last time I interviewed him, how this bill affects New Zealand’s democracy, and the overall theme of urgency we’ve been seeing with the current government.

For Dear Science this week, Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about stoner stereotypes, technology for detecting illegal ivory, and the voyager-1 probe resuming useful communications. 

Wire host Castor spoke to the National Party’s James Meager about the Fast Track Approvals bill. 

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Associate Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, Carrie Leonetti, about a New York court overturning Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction.

And producer Sofia spoke to the Head of Campaigns at Greenpeace Aotearoa, Amanda Larsson, about the government’s amendments to the Resource Management Act.

Last week, National MP Melissa Lee was demoted from Cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio. National’s Penny Simmonds was also taken off the Disability Issues portfolio.

This comes after Lee faced criticism for her response to Warner Brothers Discovery announcing it would be shutting down Newshub and Simmonds apologising for mishandling the announcement of changes to purchasing rules for disabled people's equipment and support services.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to PhD Candidate in New Zealand Politics at the University of Otago, Michael Derek Swanson, about this cabinet reshuffle and the public response to it.

She started off the interview asking Swanson about Lee and Simmonds time in their various roles. 

Last week, the High Court overturned a summons by the Waitangi Tribunal to Minister for Children Karen Chhour regarding the government's plans to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act.

Section 7AA requires Oranga Tamariki by law to improve outcomes for tamariki Māori in state care and adhere to the principles of Te Tiriti.

For their weekly interview, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, asked ACT MP Simon Court about why Chhour has refused to present evidence to the tribunal.

They also discussed comments made in ACT's recent Free Press newsletter, which claimed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has “styled himself as an elite, advertising his credentials as a former corporate CEO” and described Winston Peters as having more time at the centre of Government than any other current politician and that he "becomes much more erudite once elected".