New Zealand has declined its's invitation to join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace after saying it will give due consideration to the invitation. The Co-Convenor of human rights group Justice for Palestine, Samira Zaitoon, has welcomed the move, but has expressed concern over the government's wording around declining the invitation. 

She also talks about what the Board of Peace means for traditional global bodies like the UN, and what New Zealand can do in terms of policy-making on the issue. 

Jenna from Timeout is up in the studio with Rosetta and Milly to chat about the perfect read for the grumpy customer service worker in your life - John Tottenham's Service! Whakarongo mai nei!

Thanks to Timeout Bookstore!

Last week the National Party’s Greg Fleming and Labour’s Camilla Belich put forward a member’s bill to address modern slavery. The bill would require businesses with over $1,000,000 of annual consolidated revenue to generate a report on whether any of their suppliers use modern slavery. 

Despite being a member’s bill, the bill will be heard in parliament next week thanks to gathering support from sixty non-cabinet MPs, the first time this process has been used. The ACT party did not support the bill, with leader David Seymour and deputy leader Brooke Van Velden levying multiple criticisms. 

Also this past week saw an announcement that the prison population in Aotearoa reached an all time high, despite reports of overcrowding and underfunding last year. 

For this week’s catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues, beginning by asking about modern slavery.

Auckland council is set to introduce congestion charging, a policy aimed at reducing emissions, reducing traffic, and generating revenue for other transport endeavours.

While the University of Auckland’s Hyesop Shin says congestion charging is important, he also says it needs to be accompanied by other policies to ensure the gains are not reversed.

The prison population reaching an all time high has come as a result of this government’s “tough on crime” policies, which they say are making New Zealand safer. 

In contrast, Te Pāti Māori last week announced a policy of prison abolition leading up to this year’s election. They say prisons do not work in Aotearoa, especially for Māori, who are consistently overrepresented.

To discuss how our prison population got so high, and how Te Pāti Māori’s plan could work in practice, Wire host Castor spoke to academic and activist Dr. Emmy Rākete. 

It's Rāhina, but don't worry dear listener - Rosetta and Milly have got you covered with another excellent Breakfast show on 95bFM. E whai ake nei, coming up on the show today: whakataukī o tēnei wiki with Arini, This Is How We Brew It with Christian, Loose Reads with Jenna from Timeout, and bosom selecta with Hudge! Whakarongo mai nei. 

Thanks to eighthirty coffee roasters!

Arini joins us for a whakataukī, to start our week off the right way! Whakarongo mai nei. 

Kohia te rangatira, ruia te taitea // Gather the best and let go of the bad.

Christian is back up in the studio to chat all things kawhe with Rosetta and Milly - and this week we've got a brand new Kenyan single origin! Tune in to win a bag of the new Kenya Gichathaini aa beans from our friends at eighthirty, alongside a gorgeous cord cap! Whakarongo mai nei. 

Thanks to eighthirty coffee roasters!

You lucky thing, your bosom selecta i tēnei ata is Hudge! Catch him hosting Mass Appeal every Sunday from 10am - 12pm, and whakarongo mai nei, listen back to him chatting with Rosetta and Milly about Somethin' Else - an epic weekend of Jazz happening across Aotea Square this weekend!

Last week, Christopher Luxon declined to join the ‘Board of Peace’ being championed by Donald Trump on behalf of New Zealand. The Board is supposedly aimed to restore and maintain stability, particularly looking at Gaza, which would involve this board working together to form a transitionary power structure in the region.

However, this board is facing a great deal of criticism; for starters, some see it as a way for Donald Trump to enforce structures that he sees as beneficial for himself. Importantly, also, there is a concern over the absence of any Palestinian voice from a board that claims to want to move the region forward, undermining their self-determination.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, Treasa Dunworth, about this rejection and the invite, and what it means for Palestinian self-determination and New Zealand’s stance.