Ata mārie e te whānau! E whai ake nei, we make exciting announces about Cross St Festival and Princess Chelsea's next show, and have a kōrero with Red from the D*List about an exciting new segment! Whakarongo mai nei!

Thanks to eighthirty coffee roasters!

This week on the Wednesday Wire...

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the National Party's proposed Social Media Ban and walk back of the bed night levy.

Producer Theo spoke to Professor Boyd Swinburn, co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, on lobbying reform in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Finally Manny spoke to Professor of Public Health at the University of Otago, Michael Baker, about the mega flu season disrupting the nation.

Steve Newall joins Joel to chat about his picks for the week, including the tv series' 'Laterns' on HBO Max, 'Kia Eats The World,' on MĀORI+, and an interesting archival television screening website!

Mōrena e hoa mā! E whai ake nei, coming up on the show today: What's Up with Steve Abel from the Green Party, a chance to win a ticket to see The Advocators live, This Is How We Brew It, and more! Whakarongo mai nei!

Thanks to eighthirty coffee roasters!

This week we’ve seen two moves from the government that have created opposition even amongst allied groups.

The first is their proposed Social Media ban, opposed by both member parties of the coalition government. It would mimic the Australian policy passed earlier this year, placing responsibility to block underaged accounts on the social media companies. If they fail to adhere to adequately to the ban they’d be at risk of fines up to 10% of the their GLOBAL revenue. For a company like META, who owns facebook and Instagram, 10% could be over $36 Billion NZD. Thats about equivalent to the annual government revenue from GST.

So why does it seem that only Labour is at all interested in supporting them and what is the Greens opposition to it?

Second, the National Party has ruled out a bed-night levy on visitors in Auckland and Queenstown accommodation, on the grounds that they are promising no new taxes. The only problem? Earlier this year they agreed to explore the policy in the Auckland Deal with Auckland Council. Their rejection of the policy, that would allow the Council to raise revenue from visitors, is another in a long line of cutting off real and potential revenue lines for the council, including scrapping the regional fuel tax and proposals to cap rates increases.

So for this week’s catch-up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez March, we discuss the Greens reaction to national parties' proposed social media ban for under Sixteens and their walk back on the bed night levy.

Rosetta and Milly catch up with Steve Abel from The Green Party to chat about their recent policy announcements surrounding free school lunches, and funding marae through their proposed Te Waonui a Tāne strategy. Whakarongo mai nei!

Have you or your friends and family been taken out with the flu this season? 

Influenza A has raced through the country, combined with RSV, colds, and Covid 19 to make for the worst flu season in at least a decade.

This has placed additional strains on our already stretched healthcare system. In a letter signed by 100 nurses, healthcare assistants and other emergency department staff at North Shore Hospital sent to Health NZ chief executive Dr Dale Bramley, they detailed how they were lacking half the staff needed to reach capacityHealth NZ has acknowledged the staffing concerns and Bramley has urged the public avoid emergency department visits unless they needed urgent care.

Given that the Flu already contributes to 1-2% of deaths in the country, have we been taking it seriously enough?

Host Manny spoke to University of Otago's Professor of Public Health, Michael Baker, to understand what you can do to navigate this flu season.

This week's show focuses on J Dilla's Donuts, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Features tracks from lots of associated artists including D'Angelo, The Roots, Madvillain and Erykah Badu. Also includes songs from artists sampled on Donuts such as 10cc, Jackson 5 and Kool and the Gang!

2 hours of music for u to cry to, listen to, skip to, or maybe even bounce on a trampoline too. shout out coco solid i love u xo

piet still has the lurgy so no manu talk :--(( ...send thoughts and a nice chicken soup his way!

Thanks to The Tuning Fork sweeties xo

Lobbying in New Zealand has been making a few headlines recently, with the particularly prominent example of Fonterra and Z Energy successfully getting the government to legislate against climate lawsuits. Even more recently, the Opportunity Party has been campaigning on making some significant reforms to lobbying in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Currently, New Zealand has next to no lobbying regulation, and has been given a score of ZERO by the OECD on the area.

The Health Coalition Aotearoa has been at the forefront of calling for change, pointing to the outsized harm of alcohol, tobacco, and ultraprocessed food industries on our health.

So, to learn more about what lobbying actually is, and what can be done about it, Producer Theo spoke to the co-chair of the Health Coalition Aotearoa, Professor Boyd Swinburn.