Last week, NZ First leader Winston Peters made derogatory comments towards Green Party MP Lawrence Xu-Nan. The comments echoed racist stereotypes about immigrants and led to strong backlash from members of the public and politicians across parliament.

This is not the first example of discriminatory comments from NZ First politicians this year. Candidate Stuart Nash spouted misogynistic rhetoric about National MP Katie Nimon earlier this year, and Deputy Leader Shane Jones made some derogatory comments about Indian migrants even earlier in the year. While MPs continue to call out these comments, little is being done to actually respond to them, especially as ACT and National continue to support NZ First in power.

Also this past week saw the Ministry for Regulation advising that legalising plug-in solar could provide significant benefits. While plug-in solar rarely generates enough electricity to power a home, it can alleviate power costs especially in sunny months, reducing the burden on households and the electrical grid. 

For this week’s catchup with ACT’s Simon Court, News Director Castor asked about each of these issues, beginning with NZ First leader Winston Peters’ comments.

The government’s COVID-19 inquiry recently returned a series of recommendations around New Zealand’s preparations for future pandemics. While the government accepted the vast majority of these recommendations, there are concerns about the implementation, especially as the pandemic and its management have become a topic of significant political polarisation. 

To discuss the inquiry and how politics is influencing our disease management, News Director Castor spoke to Professor of Public Health Michael Baker.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, we chat with our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin, about a new giant salamander that lived over 3 million years ago being described in Japan, fungi which can eat polystyrene and how sperm whales sleep vertically. 

For our weekly catchup with the National Party, news director Castor spoke with MP Ryan Hamilton about comments by Stuart Nash and New Zealand’s climate targets.

Host Thomas spoke to PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons about the employment leave bill and the 200,000 workers it might make worse off.

And Producer Liam spoke to Dr Kerry McInerney, a computer science lecturer from the University of Auckland, about public perceptions towards AI Data Centres in New Zealand.

Over the weekend, the Green Party announced their proposal to have a one year national moratorium on the consenting of new Artificial Intelligence Data Centres until proper regulations have been set up. Consent for a 3.5 billion dollar hyperscale AI data centre has already been approved for Southland, which is set to be the second highest consumer of electricity in the country, requiring 280 MW of power. While supporters claim that it will bring in jobs and allow New Zealand to be at the forefront of the AI industry, many have raised concerns about the harm it could cause to New Zealand’s natural environment, the strain it will put on our energy and water resources, and the fact that projects have been seemingly approved with little public consultation. 

I spoke to Dr Kerry McInerney from the School of Computer Science at the University of Auckland, about public perceptions towards AI Data Centres in New Zealand, concerns that have been raised and whether there can be a social license for data centres to be implemented.

Workplace relations minister Brooke van Velden’s employment leave bill is set for its third reading today. The bill is meant to replace the Holidays Act and move to a hours-based accrual system with a leave compensation payment for additional and casual hours.

The Public Service Association has spoken out against the bill, calculating that it could leave up to 200,000 workers worse off due to the change to overtime payments. Over half of those negatively affected workers are in the healthcare sector.

Van Velden has denied the calculation saying it wouldn’t be accurate as the new bill only sets new minimum standards, meaning worker conditions may stay the same. The PSA has accused the government of feigning ignorance of the harm the bill will cause.

To discuss the employment leave bill and the 200,000 workers who may be worse off, host Thomas spoke to PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.

News media company Stuff is proposing a restructure to its digital team, with up to eight cuts. The announcement follows cuts across different news organisations in Aotearoa, with Newshub and Re: News announcing closures and job cuts at multiple other organisations. 

E tū has raised concerns over the cuts in particular, noting the importance of well staffed news organisations in holding the government accountable and keeping people up to date on current affairs. 

To discuss E tū’s concerns, News Director Castor spoke to the organisation’s director Mat Danaher.

A new report from the Climate Change Commission has warned that New Zealand is no longer on track to meet its emissions-reduction targets, with agricultural methane identified as a significant risk.

Greenpeace says the findings reflect a series of climate policy reversals by the Luxon Government, including the return of offshore oil and gas exploration, the removal of the Clean Car Discount and changes to methane targets.

To discuss whether New Zealand’s climate progress has stalled and what would be needed to get the country back on track, Producer Pranuja spoke with Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe.

An ongoing inquiry into Fire and Emergency NZ has identified that the organisation is making multiple questionable spending decisions. Not only are equipment and vehicles for firefighters underfunded, but higher-ups are consistently seeing pay bumps. 

Also on firefighting, Labour’s Kieran McAnulty recently had his member’s bill drawn, which would see volunteer firefighters covered by ACC for injuries. 

Last week saw an announcement that inflation has reached a two year high, mostly due to the ongoing fuel crisis thanks to the US/Iran conflict. As the conflict wears on, pressure is on the government to improve fuel resilience and expand our use of renewable energy.

For our weekly catchup with ACT’s Simon Court, News Director Castor asked about each of these issues, beginning with Fire and Emergency NZ funding.

One week ago, ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar posted on Facebook to criticise University of Auckland Law Lecturer Treasa Dunworth over her comments about the ACT Party and the Treaty Principles Bill.

The post generated a multitude of responses - many supportive of Dunworth and many criticising her teaching style and suggesting she should be fired. 

In an article released also last week, the situation was compared to broader international movements criticising academics for speaking out against culture-war issues. 

To discuss the issue, how it works in Aotearoa, and what it might mean for academics, News Director Castor spoke to the article’s author, Professor of Communications Mohan Dutta.

This week on the Monday Wire...

For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about Fire and Emergency NZ, ACC cover for firefighters, inflation at a two year high, and improving Aotearoa’s fuel resilience. 

They also spoke to Professor of Communications, Mohan Dutta from Massey University about a Facebook post from the ACT Party’s Parmjeet Parmar criticising a University of Auckland lecturer. 

And they spoke to E tū director Mat Danaher about a proposed digital restructure at Stuff and broader trends at media organisations looking to digitise jobs. 

And Producer Pranuja spoke to Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe about the Climate Change Commission’s warning that New Zealand is off track to meet its emissions targets, and whether the Government’s climate policy changes are responsible.