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.

Last week, the ACT party announced a new ‘one law for all’ election policy, which would add three principles to the Constitution Act and restrict courts from considering Maori tikanga in their decision-making.

Under the policy, any bill that references Te Tiriti o Waitangi would be required to retroactively detail the specific obligations it implies. 

Party leader David Seymour described the policy as a way to rein in “activist judges” and stop the Supreme Court from pushing the line on parliamentary legislation.

Seymour’s use of the term activist judge has been criticised as politicising the judiciary, and his claims that parliamentary sovereignty has been overpowered have been called into question.

To discuss the ACT party’s new policy and anti-judiciary language, producer Thomas spoke with University of Auckland associate professor Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere.

This week on Dear Science, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin, chats with us about Probiotics and Insulin, Duller Blue Butterflies, and Biodegradeable Balloons.

Thanks to MOTAT - Home of Powerful Play!

Thanks to The Tuning Fork.

Witch & Wench, Wren Probett & Maebh McCurdy hosting for the first time! (They did not realise that "Radio Training" meant being on the radio). Filling in for Sam Clark.

Genomic discrimination by insurance companies, where the presence of certain mutations can lead to a person paying higher premiums or being refused insurance entirely due to perceived risk of carrying a heritable disease, is a growing concern worldwide. Yet, unlike most OECD countries, New Zealand currently has no safeguards to stop genetic discrimination from happening, meaning that insurance companies have the legal right to request genetic data from clients. 

A number of academics and organisations have formed the Against Genomic Discrimination Aotearoa coalition (AGenDA), and are pushing the government to ban genomic discrimination by insurance companies completely through a submission to the Contracts of Insurance Bill 2024 which has yet to be accepted. 

I spoke with Professor Andrew Shelling, a medical geneticist at the University of Auckland and one of the co-leads of AGenDA, about how significant of an issue genetic discrimination is, why New Zealand still has no laws on the issue, and the benefits that a ban would have.

With Smashton overseas, Big J goes alone... 

Grant Smithies joins us this week for Audio Culture, where we ask: "What the funk is up with Kiwi funk?" 

Thanks to The Beer Spot. 

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, we chat with our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin, about bacteria and insulin, duller butterflies, and bioballoon

Producer Thomas talks to University of Auckland associate professor Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere about ACT’s new ‘one law for all’ policy, and the danger of the party describing judges as ‘activists.’ 

Thomas also speaks to New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate Jean Classey about nurses in North Shore hospital ED declaring a state of emergency due to understaffing.

And producer Liam chats with Professor Andrew Shelling from the University of Auckland on his proposed ban on genomic discrimination, which still has no regulations in New Zealand. We discussed why genomic discrimination is a problem, why it is taking New Zealand so long to implement such a ban, and what benefits such a ban would have.

Lara catches us up on all that's happening in the world of politics! Labour's fiscal policy, the last policy announcement from ACT, and how Opportunity Party are tracking in the polls. Whakarongo mai nei!

Last week, nurses from the North Shore hospital emergency department wrote a letter to Te Whatu Ora chief executive Dr Dale Bramley declaring the department was in a state of emergency due to overcrowding.

The letter claimed that understaffing meant the ED has been operating at up to 300% capacity, leading to long wait times and patients sometimes being treated in corridors.

The nurses have called on Te Whatu Ora to immediately employ an additional 25 nursing full-time equivalents, so patient demand and safer care can be met. 

Dale Bramley's office has responded to the letter, acknowledging the need for more staff, but only providing an offer that is less than half of the nurses' demands. 

To discuss the understaffing crisis at the North Shore ED, producer Thomas spoke to New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate Jean Classey.

Ata mārie e te whānau! Milly is BACK after being struck down by the flu, and the brekkie team have a great show for you lined up: Political Commentary with Lara Greaves, Ready Steady Learn thanks to UoA, and Short Player with Hannah Everingham. Plus prizes, tunes, chats, and more! Whakarongo mai nei.

Thanks to eighthirty coffee roasters!