The current coalition government has decided not to implement Labour’s plans to do mandatory reporting for pay gaps with companies that have more than 250 employees. 

Instead they will introduce a voluntary tool for companies to use in order to determine Gender pay gaps.

Rawan spoke with Senior human rights advisor Oliver Christeller from the Human rights commission about what this tool is and what the benefits could be. 

They also talked about the Commissioners' call to include ethnicity pay gap into the conversation. They discussed the current state of the ethnicity pay gap and why there needs to be an increased focus on this now more than ever.

For Dear Science this week, we chatted to Dr. Cushla McGoverin about a potential new treatment option for polycystic ovary syndrome, and a new development in the study of pain and 34,000 year old termite moulds. 

Wire host Castor spoke to the National Party’s Suze Redmayne about changes to speed limits and agriculture being removed from the ETS. 

He also spoke to the University of Auckland's Kendra Cox about removal of section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act. 

He also spoke to Dr Gabriela Baron about green consumerism and its impacts on the environment. 

Producer Elle spoke to Greenpeace Aotearoa’s Freshwater Campaigner Will Appelbe about the Resource Management (Freshwater and other matters) Amendments Bill.

Green consumerism is the idea that companies will offer products that appeal to the environmentalist desires of consumers. Essentially, companies may advertise their products as more environmentally friendly or conscious alternatives, despite not providing more environmental benefits or even being more environmentally damaging. 

Wire host Castor spoke to Dr Gabriela Baron about Green consumerism in Aotearoa, how it impacts people, and how to address it on both macro and micro levels.

Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act was introduced in 2019, designed to amplify voices of Māori within Oranga Tamariki and ensure it aligns with its obligations under Te Tiriti. Section 7AA was particularly praised upon its introduction, given Oranga Tamariki’s poor relationship with Māori historically. 

Wire host Castor spoke to the University of Auckland’s Kendra Cox about how the removal of section 7AA will impact Māori within Oranga Tamariki and state care.

The government is proposing the repeal of several speed limit changes introduced across the country under the previous government since 2020. Among these changes include the expansion of school zone speed limits to cover the full day. These changes have been criticised for their potential risk to particularly children and other young people. 

The Emissions Trading Scheme is a program introduced in Aotearoa to reduce emissions in line with global standards. The program requires emitters to log and report their emissions, and limits the quantity of emissions. Emitters can sell or buy emissions units from others to allow them to emit more or less. By removing agricultural emissions, farmers would no longer be required to adhere to these requirements.

In our weekly catchup with the National party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Suze Redmayne about the speed limit changes and removal of agriculture from the ETS. Particularly, he touched on the speed limit risks to children and how the government will restrict farmers’ emissions without the ETS covering them.

The Coalition government is making amendments to the Resource management act 1991 through the resource management (freshwater and other matters) amendments bill. This includes changes to stock exclusion and intensive winter grazing regulations.

An OIA request shows that DoC advised against these amendments, specifically the removal of key freshwater protections.

Producer Elle spoke to Greenpeace Aotearoa Freshwater campaigner, Will Appelbe, about their response to the proposed changes. She began by asking what the amendments to the resource management act 1991 are.

The first of the boot camps promised by the coalition government will be operating by the middle of the year. 

Bootcamps are military style academies for young people who commit serious offences.

However, lecturer in forensic psychology, Simon Davies, senior lecturer in clinical forensic psychology, Clare-Ann Fortune, professor of psychology, Karen Salmon, and PhD candidate in forensic psychology, Linda Fatialofa – all from Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University – have written an article about the psychological evidence that this form of intervention is ineffective and does not work.

Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to co-author, Dr Clare-Ann Fortune, about the psychological evidence behind this and why bootcamps are still being seen as a viable option. 

She started their interview asking her what bootcamps are and what their intended purpose is.

The government has proposed several changes to speed limits across the country, notably removing several of the reductions implemented since the start of 2020. 

Brake New Zealand is a charity that works to prevent road deaths and injuries across Aotearoa, through raising awareness and providing support for victims.

Producer Castor spoke to the NZ Director of Brake, Caroline Perry, about what the proposed changes could mean and the risks they pose to both pedestrians and vehicle users on our roads.

The government has announced $90 million in funding for specialist schools and facilities for students with disabilities.

Disability and Human Rights groups are concerned about how this investment may undermine inclusive education and our obligations under the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

CCS Disability is New Zealand's largest support and disability advocacy organisation. 

Producer Josef spoke with the National Disability Leadership Coordinator for CCS Disability Action, Debbie Ward, about what this focus on specialist schools could mean for disabled students.

For the weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to ACT MP Simon Court about taking agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme, reports about the ACT Party’s mistreatment of staff, as well as the party’s 15% of the vote goal for 2026. 

She also spoke with Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Victoria University, Dr Clare-Ann Fortune, about boot camps for young people who commit serious offences. 

Producer Castor spoke to New Zealand Director for Brake, the road safety charity, Caroline Perry, about the newly proposed speed limit changes. 

And producer Josef spoke to Debbie Ward, the National Disability Leadership Coordinator for CCS Disability Action, about the government announcing funding for specialist schools and classrooms for students with disabilities.

Whakarongo tonu mai!