This week, sewage swept onto the beaches of Wellington and Christchurch as the water management systems failed in both cities.

At the same time the National Party floated their idea for a cap on council rates, the same rates that ostensibly fund those water managements systems.

Last week we also saw the release of a draft decision to decline sea bed mining in the Taranaki bite, a move that had been pushed for by the Green Party.

For this weeks catch up with the Green Party Wire host Manny spoke to MP Ricardo Menéndez March over the rates caps, the infrastructure crisis facing the councils and the draft decision to decline the sea bed mining project in Taranaki.

Rosetta and Milly are joined by Dr Madeline Shelling for Ready Steady Learn today, talking about her research in food insecurity facing Māori, the factors that cause the issue, and food sovereignty as a solution. Whakarongo mai nei!

Thanks to UoA!

Ear luge

Kia ora koutou,

Today's show takes a look at some highlights from Laneway 2026 – in particular, Alex G and Geese. We then venture into the psychedlic arena with the trippy sounds of Porno for Pyros, Vanishing Twin and more!

Ngā mihi to the Tuning Fork!

AJ Honeysuckle is blessing our ata with a guest mix and kōrero, ahead of the next Bass Rongoā gig this Rāhoroi - A Land of a Thousand Lovers at Whammy Bar with AJ Honeysuckle, DylanBiscuit, Leon Aoki, ilish, and Oscillation (UK). Whakarongo mai nei!

For Dear Science this week, right in the mood of the Winter Olympics, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman chats with us about snow, ice, and “freezing-point depression”.

Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!

Oto and Jaycee talked to TiGER about his new single - 'Chameleon' and played 2 hours of alt-r&b, soul and alt-pop by artists from the Asian diaspora.

Over the past year, the Trump administration has taken a series of actions targeting political opponents. Under Trump’s second term, the polarisation of American politics has seemingly reached unprecedented levels, with members of the administration accusing a variety of peaceful individuals and groups of ‘domestic terrorism.’

Dr. Maria Armoudian is a professor of politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, who has written books on international human rights and the role that the media plays in shaping the future.

She is also a dual citizen, having been born and raised in the United States, and this year she hopes to visit her home country. But she’s worried that some of her viewpoints may land her in hot water when she arrives.

Earlier this year, an Oxfam report revealed that once again, billionaire wealth increased in 2025 — three times faster than the previous five-year average.

In January, Oxfam also proclaimed ‘Pollutocrat Day’ on the 10th of January, on which the richest 1% have already exhausted their annual carbon budget.

Professor of Business & Society at the University of Technology in Sydney Carl Rhodes has delved into the ‘myth of the heroic billionaire’ and the problems generated for political processes and global inequality.

Wire Host Sara spoke to Rhodes about the influence of billionaires, in particular with regard to climate action, starting by asking what the myth of the heroic billionaire is, and how it is perpetuated.

On Thursday last week, politicians including Prime Minister Chris Luxon and ACT party leader David Seymour addressed the audience during the Waitangi Day events at the Treaty Grounds.

The theme this year was Mō tātou, mā tātou, which is for all of us and by all of us.

As well, the past week has seen various news updates in environmental legislation including the draft decision to reject consent for seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight, Greenpeace voicing concerns about a ‘kiwi killing clause’ in the proposed Natural Environment Bill, and a new Green Party bill calling to recognise the legal personhood of Tohorā — whales.

This week, Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamilton about all of these topics, starting with Waitangi.