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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is currently in New Delhi, meeting with government officials ahead of negotiating a trade deal with India.

A free trade deal between New Zealand and India was part of the Prime Minister’s election promises for his first term.

School lunch provider Libelle Group, who were contracted to deliver 125,000 school lunches daily, has gone into liquidation.

And Labour MP Camilla Belich’s bill to make wage theft a crime has passed it’s third reading in Parliament.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about all of these topics.

Auckland’s 21 local boards united in a letter to Mayor Wayne Brown last week, rejecting that they must absorb a $17.6 million budget shortfall tied to the Fairer Funding Initiative. 

The letter, dated March 10, highlights the significant pressures imposed on local board activities due to the cost-cutting measures, asserting that local boards had “no control over the budget” and "all decisions were made without any reference to any Local Board”.

While Wayne Brown responded earlier this week, ensuring that local boards would not need to seek extra funding to cover the budget shortfall this year, these discussions will become relevant again for next year’s budget. 

Group chief financial officer for Auckland Council, Ross Tucker, says the council "is embarking on a challenging transition to an equity-based funding model that will see local boards being empowered with more budget autonomy as well as greater budget responsibility".

Also, as the need increases to address the number of roaming dogs on the street, as well as the number of dog attacks, Auckland Council has opened a council-operated dog adoption centre.

Last year, less than half of roaming dogs were claimed by their owners, the lowest amount in a decade. The adoption centre which opened on the weekend will house over forty dogs in an effort to relieve the strain on animal shelters around Auckland.

Producer Sara spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these issues this morning. To start off, she asked him to explain the purpose of Auckland Council’s Fairer Funding Initiative.

Jonny chats to Dr Bryce Edwards about the Auckland Infrastructure Summit that happened in the week just been. 

This month's remedies and tips.

From the landscapes of New Mexico, jazz affiocinado Delbert Anderson joins Sofia Kent on 95bFM for the upcoming Auckland Arts Festival Indigenous Music Series. 

Anderson describes the intepretation of inherited stories and Diné values into the jazz melodies that simultaneously educate and uplift

"I hope it's more than just good music.. taking those stories away and creating awareness, letting people know the Diné tribe is still around and will be around for a very long time"

Catch the Delbert Anderson Quartet at Aotea Square fora beautiful Sunday afternoon on the 23rd of March, 2025. 

The Mother's first show in 2 weeks! Whakarongo mai!

Featuring Political Commentary with Dr Bryce Edwards, Angela Haldene gives advice and answers your queries on Natural Ange, and then Ben from the New Zealand Drug Foundation chats Methamphetamine on What's The Buzz, brought to you by The Level! Plus fresh tunes like the new track from local band Ringlets, classic tunes, and much, much more.

Military violence in Gaza has resumed after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed.

Israeli ground troops have advanced into Gaza, and earlier this week Israeli airstrikes killed more than 400 people, including 183 children.

Wire host Caeden spoke to UNICEF Aotearoa Communications Director Tania Sawicki Mead about the situation in Gaza, particularly the impact on children.

This week on Rāpare Drive, HALFQUEEN chats to Miss Kannina, a Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Kalkadoon and Yirendali nation artist residing in Naarm. Miss Kannina is on the ground for her debut headline tour of Aoteaora - don't sleep on it! Chris chats cannabis in the news on Marijuana Media, thanks to The Hempstore, and there's a brewed blueberry spin on a Spritz for Cocktail Corner, thanks to Black Sands Brewing.

Thanks to The Beer Spot!

Ben from the New Zealand Drug Foundation chats to Jonny about Methamphetamine. What it is, how it impacts your body and mind, the risks involved and harm reduction techniques. Brought to you by The Level, for more information and advice head to their website.