On the Rāpare Wire this week, Spike speaks to:

and Simon speaks to:

Spike speaks to End Smoking New Zealand chair Dr. George Laking about Australia's move to prescription-only vape products.

In the wake of cyclone gabrielle, the way that we build back from the widespread damage caused is a topic of debate. Safety needs to be ensured, and environmental considerations are also important. But how do we merge these two issues? With around 50% of all waste in the country coming from the building and demolition industries, more needs to be done to reuse materials. Dr. Kris Roy is a senior lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Waikato and is an expert on the circular economy and has spoken about 'building back better'. Simon began by asking Dr. Roy what it means to build back better.

Marnie Prickett is an expert on fresh water and is BFM's water reporter. For this month's chat Marnie goes in depth on the regional plans for the new fresh water policy that council's are discussing around the country at the moment. Marnie highlights why this policy is important and why everyone should submit their opinions to local councils. She also discusses the health of lakes in Taranaki. Marnie began by discussing regional freshwater policy and the impact it will have on our waterways.

Vaping policy has become a hot topic, with New Zealand set to introduce restrictions on traditional tobacco products. The government yesterday announced it would not be making vaping prescription-only this parliamentary term.

Overseas, some countries have already banned flavoured vapes outright. 

Kelly Burrowes has been researching the health effects of vaping and its effects on society from her post at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute.  Arno started off the interview with Kelly by asking if politicians were beating around the bush.

Last week the IRD released a comprehensive report on the taxation of the wealthiest New Zealanders.

The findings sparked outrage as it was reported that the wealthiest New Zealanders pay an effective tax rate that was half that of median income earners.

But what is an effective tax rate? And what repercussions will this unprecedented report have on New Zealand’s tax system?

Nicholas sat down with Professor Craig Elliffe, a former member of the NZ Tax working group and a professor of Tax law at The University of Auckland.

Slated for a July launch, the Euclid satellite will scan the depths of the universe in order to help astronomers and other scientists better understand physics and the origins of the universe. 

The two tonne satellite will be launched on a SpaceX rocket, and it features two sets of imaging equipment capable of taking photos of parts of the universe 10 billion years old. 

Arno spoke to Richard Easther, University of Auckland astrophysicist about the Euclid satellite. Arno started by asking him what astronomers hope to uncover.

AUKUS has continued to be a contentious topic within Aotearoa’s political discourse. Last week, Nanaia Mahuta said on Newshub Nation that there isn’t enough visibility on the pillars of AUKUS to comprehend what impacts it would have for Aotearoa. Last Friday there was an anti-AUKUS demonstration outside parliament. Led by the anti-AUKUS coalition, the ‘don’t be a dAUKUS’ protest urged Chris Hipkins to declare that Aotearoa won’t join the agreement.

To learn more about the anti-AUKUS coalition and the meaning behind the protest, Andre spoke to John Richards, spokesperson and member of the anti-AUKUS coalition. 

To receive comments and analysis firstly on John Richards’s comments about AUKUS, and about Nanaia Mahuta’s denial of Aoteroa joining AUKUS, Andre then spoke to Doctor Arama Rata from Te Kuaka, a group that advocates for progressive foreign policy.

This week on Wednesday's Wire...

Emilia chats to Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw about the Emissions Trading Scheme following advice from the Climate Change Commission.

Andre talks to Anti-AUKUS Coalition member, John Richards, and Dr Arama Rata about the anti-AUKUS protest outside of Parliament last week and Nanaia Mahuta’s comments on Newshub Nation about AUKUS.

On The Green Desk, Jack Marshall interviews Julie Dillip from the University of Victoria about the state of Aotearoa’s wetlands. 

Nicholas spoke to Professor Craig Elliffe about the IRD wealth tax reports and its implications on our tax system.

Arno speaks to Kelly Burrowes, from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, about prescription-model vaping

Arno also speaks to Richard Easther, astrophysicist at the University of Auckland, about the Euclid space mission

Welcome to the Tuesday Wire! This week on the show: 

Whakarongo ki konei!