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It is a fact that what makes Aotearoa New Zealand an amazing place to live is nature. Our export industries are built off the idea of a ‘clean, green New Zealand’, attracting tourists and food exports.

Greenpeace’s Executive Director Russel Norman claims that “Luxon’s relentless War on Nature burns the natural capital of Aotearoa for short term GDP growth.”

He has called it a ‘war on nature’, and says that the clean-up costs of a coal mine are greater than a full year of royalties that coal companies pay to the government.

Sasha spoke in depth about Christoper Luxon’s continued ‘war on nature’ with Russel, further speaking on international implications.

Brought to you by NZ On Air Music, with thanks to Big Pop's Drake Street Studios!

Oto and Jaycee played some new releases by artists from Southeast-Asia, Asia and beyond!

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about good old Ernest Rutherford and why his mug is on our 100 dollar bills. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Tom Rutherford about National’s recent cabinet reshuffle and Christopher Luxon’s state of the nation speech. 

They also spoke to National Secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons, about ACT party leader David Seymour’s calls for privatisation of Aotearoa’s health sector. 

Producer Athena spoke to Director of Global Studies at the University of Auckland, Chris Ogden, about how and why Trump weaponises chaos.

The Academy of Aural Aromatherapy

Ngā mihi nui to The Tuning Fork x

In the lead up to U.S President, Donald Trump’s second term in office, the United States has been in what academics, and observers are calling a state of “permacrisis”.

Since Trump’s inauguration, decisions such as the appointment of Cabinet members, the pardoning of convicts involved in the January 6th Capitol attack, and the signing of executive orders targeting immigrants, and transgender people, have uprooted political conventions, and normalised chaos as a daily occurrence.

Producer Athena spoke to Director and Associate Professor of Global Studies at the University of Auckland, Dr Chris Ogden, about how, and why Trump and his followers weaponise chaos, and manufacture crises.

This week on Dear Science our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chatted with us about Ernest Rutherford, the man on the $100 bill, and how he split the atom. 

Last week saw the redistribution of some important portfolios between National’s cabinet ministers. The two most important changes were the shift of Dr Shane Reti’s Health portfolio to Simeon Brown and Nicola Willis’ adoption of the new Minister for Economic Growth. 

In Luxon’s State of the Nation speech he spoke about the future of the country and promoting economic growth. He also spoke about his concern about New Zealanders heading overseas to see big name artists perform. 

In our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues, starting with the National Party reshuffle.

Last week in a speech from ACT party leader David Seymour which he described as his own “State of the Nation” speech, he called for the privatisation of government assets. Seymour noted recent issues in public sectors such as health and housing, proposing that private organisations would manage operations better than the government. 

The Public Service Association says the privatisation of the health sector will lead to the prioritisation of profits over health outcomes for individuals. Countries like the United States where the health system is almost entirely private see those with or without insurance rejected from hospitals, unable to pay for life-saving treatment. 

Wire host Castor to National Secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons, about how a private health system would work in Aotearoa.