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The government is reintroducing a ‘social investment agency’, an organisation last seen during Bill English’s National government. 

The agency assesses the cost of individuals to the state, largely the cost of beneficiaries. Once this is assessed the government steps in to prevent those deemed most costly from creating these costs. This includes managing individuals' benefits, putting a limit on what they can spend and sanctioning them if they miss support sessions or meetings. 

The move is largely created to save the government costs, rather than addressing poverty and disadvantage at the root. 

Teaching fellow at the University of Auckland, Dr Eileen Joy says this approach completely ignores the systemic causes behind disadvantage.

Producer Evie spoke to Dr Eileen Joy about the system, how it’s implemented and what impacts it will have.

Last week the Green Party unanimously agreed to use the Waka Jumping legislation to remove former Green MP Darleen Tana from parliament. 

The party has historically been against the legislation, with a long-standing history of opposing waka-jumping laws and their use. 

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, Producer Evie asked what the ACT party’s views on this decision were, considering the ACT Party was the last to use the legislation in 2003, removing Donna Awatere Huata who was accused of fraud. 

They also discuss Gore district council’s plan to designate the entire region as a site of cultural significance, which the ACT party strongly opposes, calling it a ‘land grab.’ 

And finally, they talk about the University of Auckland introducing a compulsory course focused around Te Tiriti o Waitangi for all students - which the ACT party has been vocally opposing. 

On Saturday, student nurses rallied across multiple cities in the country; in Auckland, Whāngarei, Hamilton, Mt Maunganui, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Nelson, over petitioning for the government to implement paid training.

News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Delegate of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Shannyn Bristowe, about the recent rallies, and concerns that studying nursing is gradually becoming a lot less accessible to New Zealanders.

On Friday, staff at the University of Auckland held a strike on campus, over ongoing conversations with the University regarding bettering working conditions and improving pay for staff.

This follows similar protest action that happened on campus THREE weeks ago, with members as a part of THREE different universities striking on the same day. These rallies were attended by 4,000 Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union members overall, making this strike action the largest since staff from all EIGHT universities striked two years prior.

News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the organiser of the Tertiary Education Union, Nicole Wallace, about the most recent strikes at the University of Auckland, and what this means moving forward.

Kirsten in the studio bringing some old favourite tunes and new releases. With guests The DeSotos playing a couple of tunes live. 

Blind Mango on the decks delivering more sweet jazz goodness. 

Your show kicks off with guitar music by Nicky Skopelitis, plays tribute to Brazilian arranger Sergio Mendes, who passed away last month. In the second half of the show he unboxes the new re-issue of the classic self-titled album by 1970 Tåmaki Makarau jazz-fusion innovators Dr Tree. Other selections include appearances by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Hubert Laws and the Mike Nock Trio.