David Slack chats government cuts to the health care system. Plus tunes etc.

The final report in the Royal Commission’s Abuse in Care Inquiry, investigating incidents of abuse in state and faith-based institutions between 1950 and 2000, found that Māori had been largely and disproportionately mistreated while in state care. 

Speaking to the wire today, Professor and Criminologist Emmy Rākete from the University of Auckland talked to us about how abuse in state care led to the further incarceration of rangatahi Māori later on in their lives, creating what she called a state-to-care prison pipeline.

Earlier this week, a number of leaders în the Green party’s Pasifika Greens group announced their resignation. The now former MPs, namely: Marie Laufiso, Alofa Aiono, and Vasemaca (vah-seh-mah-tha) Tavola released issued a joint letter saying that they felt culturally disempowered by the party’s treatment of former MP Darleen Tana, who they say was treated too harshly during while under investigation for allegations of migrant worker exploitation at her husband’s business.

The resigning MPs also said that they were not properly convened with or reached out to by Green Party leaders following the passing of late-MP Fa’anānā Efeso Collins, a prominent Pasifika member of the Greens and representative of the Pasifika community of Tamaki Makaurau.

For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to Green party MP Ricardo Menendez-March about the resignation and statements made by the Pasifika Greens members. 

They also had a chat about the government’s changes to child poverty reduction targets and the Green Party's open call to the government on behalf of renters.

The most recent figures from the Global slavery index estimated that there were 8,000 people in Aotearoa who were victims of some form of labour exploitation and who legally fit the definition of being modern day slaves.

In spite of this, there are alarming gaps in providing victims of exploitation and trafficking with the resources they need to get assistance from organisations such as police, medical agencies and helplines. 

For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Synteche Collins, acting director of the NGO End Child Prostitution and Trafficking, talking to us about a petition of the organisation calling for the New Zealand government to establish an official helpline for victims of exploitation and trafficking.

If you're interesed, you can sign the petition here:

Steve Abel joins Jonny to chat about emissions trading. 

The Child Poverty Action Group is calling for better monitoring of private rentals, as new research reveals the share of affordable rentals has decreased significantly over the last five years.

However the national trend saw a consistent share of private rental housing in Auckland and Christchurch compared to other regions, this in part is due to increased home projects in those regions.

The Child Poverty Action Group is advocating for the need to increase public housing builds in all regions, stating the government prioritises one and two bedroom housing over other rental housing. Sasha spoke to Greg Waite of the Child Poverty Action Group about the decrease of affordable rental shares.

As a result of Israel’s war on Gaza, almost 2 million people in the Gaza strip are at risk of famine and disease and are in urgent need of food and medical aid, as a result of Israel’s mass destruction of civilian infrastructure. 

This is on top of the 39,400 Palestinians who have been killed throughout the course of the conflict. 

With the government set to implement it’s new tax cut policy today, a campaign was launched by organiser Hayden Eastmond-Mein calling for Kiwis to donate their tax cuts for to aid organisations in Gaza, aptly named “Give your tax cut to Gaza”. 

Hayden came down to the station earlier today to tell us about the campaign and how Kiwis can donate their tax cuts.

If you're interested, you can donate to the campaign here:

To celebrate the Olympics this week, the boys give a gold medal to the top song of the week. 

For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about resignation of the party’s key Pasifika members following the investigation of former MP Darleen Tana, as well as the changes to the government’s child poverty reduction targets.

He spoke to Hayden Eastmond-Mein, an organiser discussing a campaign of his calling for New Zealanders to donate their tax cuts to fund aid in Gaza

He spoke to Emmy Rākete from the University of Auckland to discuss how the abuse in care inquiry unveiled a care-to-prison pipeline for Māori Rangatahi.

And for this week’s Get Action! He spoke to Synteche Collins from End Child Prostitution and Trafficking, talking to us about a petition calling for a dedicated helpline for survivors of exploitation.

Sasha spoke to Greg Waite of the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss the decrease of affordable rental shares and the need to develop more public housing.

Breakfast with Jonny! Green MP Steve Abel phones into chat emissions trading.