On Thursday 30 March the Auckland Council Planning Committee will receive an internal report on compliance and decide how to better regulate helicopters within the planning system. This follows years of advocacy from residents in Herne Bay and Waiheke who are frustrated by the proliferation of helicopter pads and the significant impact they have on the wellbeing of people and animals nearby. The report suggests compliance is adequate and notes there are few complaints. However, there has been no consultation with residents who make the point that there is no proactive enforcement of compliance. The council relies on complaints to act and discourages feedback by providing no avenues to complain, noting on its website that it does not deal with aviation noise. When people do complain about breaches of consent they are required to know exactly what helicopter is used and the address of the consent holder. This creates an impossibly high bar for most people to meet. However, it was clear from a notified submission in Cremorne St last year which attracted 130 submissions, all in opposition, that feelings in affected neighbourhoods run high and that local residents with experience of living near private helipads want them banned in urban residential areas entirely.  Waiheke local board chair Cath Handley and Elena Keith of Quiet Sky Waitemata talk about the issues, why Auckland is an outlier, the changes in approach needed and why they want National Planning Standard 15 for helicopter noise measurement to be incorporated into planning decisions immediately. 

In lieu of the recent Posie Parker Protests, freedom of speech and Hate Speech have been a hotly debated  issue. Milly spoke with Dylan Asafo from the University of Auckland regarding the Hate Speech laws in New Zealand covering a variety of topics including holdups to the law reform, and why it is important to have laws to protect our minority groups. 

Myrtle Rust is a windbourne fungal disease that spreads via wind and effects many of our endemic myrtle species including Pohutukawa, Manuka and Kanuka. This summer has marked the worst spread of the disease so far, with infected Pohutukawa trees being found on Rangitoto Island - one of the largest Pohutukawa forests in the world. This week on the Tuesday Wire Milly speaks to Mahajabeen Padamsee from the University of Auckland about what the disease is, and how to prevent losing some of our endemic myrtles that are very important to our nation. 

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

The Universal Periodic Review is happening for the first time in five years and will provide New Zealand orginasations and individuals an opportunity to make submissions about their experiences this September. This week on the Tuesday Wire, Beth speaks to John Hancock about what the Universal Periodic Review is and why it happens. 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Cycle, and as a part of this scientists have weighed in on the ongoing effects of Climate Change. This week on the Tuesday Wire, Milly spoke to Olaf Morgansern who is a scientist at NIWA about how climate change is going to impact our weather patterns. 

For their weekly catchup, Hanna and Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp discussed the proposed 'slash-and-burn' budget for Auckland Council and new data from Stats NZ showing no annual change in the rate of child poverty.

Hanna spoken to the Tāmaki Makaurau candidate about the disproportionate impact proposed cuts will have on rangatahi and Māori, and on the tendency for government to consult without actioning on feedback received.

They then discussed why child poverty is such a stubborn issue in Aotearoa, the need for a transformative rather than incremental policy response, devolving funding to whānau, hapū and iwi, and the artificiality of separating child poverty from poverty. 

For their weekly catch-up, News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT MP Karen Chhour about the latest figures measuring child poverty rates in Aotearoa, which show no statistically significant improvement. 

Then, they discussed the ACT Party’s response to those protesting against Posie Parker and anti-trans hate.

Hanna Thompson spoke to Te Pãti Māori’s Takutai Kemp about the Auckland Council budget, which proposes sweeping cuts to essential services, and the latest figures measuring child poverty rates in Aotearoa.

News & Editorial Director asked ACT’s Karen Chhour about the recent child poverty statistics and ACT’s response to trans-rights protests over the weekend. 

She also discussed child poverty rates with Child Poverty Action Group spokesperson Dr Danny de Lore. 

Caeden Tipler interviewed Mīharo, who organised and spoke at the counter-protest for trans rights on Saturday.

A counter-protest against anti-trans speaker Posie Parker took place in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday.

It was attended by thousands of trans people and allies, forcing Posie Parker to cancel her speech and planned rally in Wellington the next day.

Caeden Tipler spoke to Mīharo (Ngāti Whātua), a cis woman who organised and spoke at the counter protest. First Caeden asked how she thought it went on Saturday.