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On the 25th of November, the University of Auckland’s new recreation and wellness centre officially opened for students and staff members.

The recreation centre boasts a 26,000 square metre facility equipped with amenities such as an 8-lane swimming pool, two sports halls and a large gym.

However, around the time of the centre’s opening, a protest was held outside the building by students, lecturers, university staff and members of the Tertiary education union in opposition to the rec centres opening and the expenditure that went into it.

According to the protestors in attendance, the $320 million expenditure that went into the rec centre’s development could not be justified, while staff were still fighting for fair pay agreements with university management and while numerous courses are facing cuts.

Wednesday Wire Host, Oto, spoke to Java Grant - A Representative of the student led-advocacy group - We Are the University, and Sean Sturn - an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Member of the Tertiary Education Union, to discuss why the protest outside the new rec centre was held, and the concerns that staff and students had with UoA management.

This week on the Wednesday Wire:

For our weekly catch up with the Green Party's Ricardo Menéndez March, News and Editorial Director, Joel, speaks to him about  the gang patch ban coming into effect last week, as well as ​​New Zealand's fall in ranking on the Climate Change Performance Index and The Ministry of Health's evidence brief and position statement on puberty blockers.

Wire Host Oto speaks to a representative of the student led-advocacy group - We Are the University, Java Grant, and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work and member of the Tertiary Education Union, Sean Sturn, about a recent protest led by students and lecturers outside the University of Auckland’s new Recreation centre.

Producer Sasha speaks to  UNICEF Aotearoa Director of Communications, Tania Sawicki Mead about the recent State of the World’s Children Report and its implications for the future of childhood.

Oto speaks to Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, Treasa Dunworth, about the arrest issued by the International Criminal Court towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister - Yoav Gallant

And Oto also speaks to Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury, Bronwyn Hayward, on the recent COP29 summit in Azerbaijan and whether or not it effectively addressed climate change.

Whakarongo mai!

Last week, the government’s ban on gang patches officially came into effect. Under the new law, gang insignia is now officially banned in public places and police now have the power to break up large groups in public for causing fear and intimidation and can issue orders preventing gang members from associating or communicating for up to three years.

While hailed by the coalition government as a bold step in their “Tough on Crime” approach to law and order, the law has been questioned by experts and even a number of police officers themselves, who say that a suppression approach to policing gangs is likely to push gang activity to the periphery instead of eradicating it, and that it would disproportionately target marginalised communities.

For our weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendedz-March about the gang patch ban coming into effect and the party’s take on it.

They also had a discussion about the fall in New Zealand’s ranking on the Climate Change Performance Index, as well as the Ministry of Health's evidence brief and position statement on puberty blockers.

Last week, Judges at the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister - Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence minister - Yoav Gallant and the military commander of Hamas - Mohammad Deif.

As a result of the warrants, any countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court would be required to arrest those charged and hand them over to the court in the Hague. 

The move is considered to be particularly significant, as it’s the first incident in which the leaders of a western-allied country are receiving warrants from the court.

Wednesday Wire Host, Oto, spoke to Treasa Dunworth - An Associate Professor in the Faculty of :aw at the University of Auckland, to discuss the warrants, their significance and efficacy.

The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP29, concluded in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku last week. 

Wednesday Wire Host, Oto, spoke to Bronwyn Hayward a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury, to discuss the outcomes of the COP29 conference and the New Quantified Goal in Climate Finance that came from it.

Top house tunes

Tune in for Jonny's fortnightly catchup with Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson.

Glittering gold groove drops & sparkling stereophonic silver rain

This week on Ready Steady Learn, Jonny chats to Phyllis Ohene-Agyei about her research into the

Today on Audio Culture, as festival season looms, we chat with Dr Sharon McIver about her 2007 thesis WaveShapeConversion - a reflection on the role of land in shaping the sounds and culture of Aotearoa dance music and festivals. Rosetta chats with Sharon about whats changed since she undertook her research, and why it's important to keep studying the relationship between landscape, social context, and music.