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!

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!

Ear luge

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!

This past week saw multiple polls on public support for Te Tiriti o Waitangi in lawmaking. In RNZ’s Reid Research poll, while 38.1% thought Te Tiriti had too much influence, 34.1% thought it was just right and 16.6% called for more. 

The complex array of approaches to Te Tiriti were on full display this weekend, with politicians and MPs talking about what it means to them. Some of the narratives shared, especially by the act party, framed Te Tiriti’s role in politics as taking rights away from Pākehā and favouring Māori. 

To discuss all of these, News Director Castor spoke to senior lecturer of sociology at the University of Auckland, Avril Bell. 

You can find the article by Avril Bell here and more information on Matike Mai here. 

Paddy Fox is up in the studio as your bosom selecta i tēnei wiki! Listen back to hear his selections and chats about the infamous Hard, Fast and Heavy show on 95bFM. Whakarongo mai nei!

In late January, Education Minister Erica Stanford and Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced the latest development in their approach to supporting disabled children in Aotearoa; $44 Million of funding to build 2 new ‘special schools’. 

These schools signal a focus on providing options for parents to support their children who need it with the choice for specialised support, but are not without criticism. Experts have expressed concern that this move is turning towards strengthening the exclusion of disabled children from Aotearoa’s youth and education, and have instead argued in favour of a more inclusive approach, supporting these children in local schools instead.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke with Senior Lecturer in Education and Social Practice at the University of Auckland, Dr Jude MacArthur, about this announcement, what it means in the context of this government, and what we should be seeing instead for the best outcomes for all of our young people in Aotearoa.

This Waitangi weekend saw politicians gathering at the Treaty grounds to pay homage to Aotearoa’s founding document. At the event, party leaders and MPs across parliament gave speeches around the significance of Te Tiriti for their work. ACT leader David Seymour spoke about colonisation - stating that it wasn’t “all bad” and that there were some positives. 

Seymour also acknowledged the tensions around the Treaty Principles Bill, which he called a pyrrhic victory. 

Also last Thursday saw protestors from the Workers First Union gathering outside the office of Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden to protest against the Employment Relations Amendment Bill. The Union says this bill will take rights away from workers and put them into a place of uncertainty, which is especially worrisome as unemployment reaches its ten year high.

For this week’s catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News Director Castor asked about each of these issues, beginning by asking about this Waitangi weekend.

Happy Monday! Rosetta and Milly are back in the studio after Waitangi weekend, filling your ata with plenty of tunes and chats. E whai ake nei; Whakataukī o tēnei wiki with Arini, Loose Reads with Nate, bosom selecta with Paddy from The Hard Fast and Heavy Show. Whakarongo mai nei!

Thanks to eighthirty coffee roasters!

This week on the Monday Wire...

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about the party’s stance on Te Tiriti in light of this past Waitangi Weekend, and the employment relations amendment bill in light of a recent protest.

They also spoke to Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Auckland, Avril Bell, about public sentiment on Te Tiriti and interpreting the government’s stance on it. 

And producer Alex spoke to Senior Lecturer in Education and Social Practice at the University of Auckland, Dr Jude MacArthur, about the Government’s recent moves to fund new ‘special schools’ for disabled children, and what that says for exclusivity versus inclusivity in our education.