Over the course of the latest Trump Administration, numerous international organisations have found themselves in the President's crosshairs. The latest is the World Trade Organisation, with the US proposing a set of reforms that would consolidate their influence over the organisation, and reduce the limitations placed upon them. 

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke with Professor Emeritus in Law at the University of Auckland, Jane Kelsey, about these reforms, particularly in regards to how New Zealand is positioning ourselves in these changes, and what they’ll mean for us.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about this year’s Waitangi Day, seabed mining in Taranaki, and Labour and National’s joint Modern Slavery members' bill.

And for International Desk, they spoke to Dr Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Sports History at Macquarie University, about the controversy surrounding security at the Winter Olympics. 

For City Counselling this week, News Director Castor spoke to Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about Auckland Museum, a potential merger of Kaipara and Rodney district councils, and the opening of the Auckland International Convention Centre. 

They also spoke to Communications and Advocacy manager at the Burnett Foundation, Kirk Serpes, about the decision to allow politicians to speak on the mainstage of Big Gay Out this weekend.

Thousands of locals have protested the Winter Olympics in Milan, citing issues like cost of living and the environmental impact of the games, as well as the presence of law enforcement officers from the United States.

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Sports History at Macquarie University, about these protests in Milan, and their broader context within Olympic history.

This year at Big Gay Out, politicians will be permitted to speak again at the mainstage, despite not being allowed last year. Politicians and their parties have had a complicated history at the event, most recently with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon leaving after being harassed by protestors at the event in 2024. 

Big Gay Out has also been the site of other significant political action, including the Green Party’s 2021 petition to ban conversion therapy. 

To discuss the decision and the importance of linking queer events with politics, News Director Castor spoke to Communications and Advocacy manager at the Burnett Foundation, Kirk Serpes.

Big Gay Out is on this Sunday 15th February at Coyle Park. 

Last Friday was Waitangi Day, with over 35,000 people visiting the Waitangi grounds on the day.

The fast-track approvals panel has turned down a bid from Trans-Tasman Resources to mine the Taranaki seabed.

And Labour’s Camilla Belich has lodged a joint members' bill with National MP Greg Fleming to combat modern slavery. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked MP Shanan Halbert about all of these topics.

The Commerce Commission, responsible for regulating competition and fair trading in Aotearoa New Zealand, recently took two businesses to court over their ‘unconscionable conduct’.

Among other behaviour, the businesses were found to have misled and exploited consumers, and targeted particularly vulnerable customers.

This is the first time that the Commerce Commission have pursued cases under this prohibition, with ‘unconscionable conduct’ being added to the Fair Trading Act back in 2022.

To understand exactly what ‘unconscionable conduct’ entails, and how future cases may play out, Producer Theo spoke to Professor of Law at the University of Auckland Dr Jodi Gardner.

This week on the Wednesday Wire...

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the National Party's idea of a rates cap, local governments infrastructure crisis and the decision to decline a seabed mining project in Taranaki.

They then spoke to Elvisa van der Leden, Waikato and Taranaki regional conservation manager for Forest and Bird about the draft decision to decline the sea bed mining project in Taranaki, their appeal of the Waihi north Goldmine application, and the reforms to the fast track approvals scheme which is cutting them and other community groups out of the process.

Finally producer Theo spoke to Law Professor Jodi Gardner on the first two cases pursued by the commerce commission under its unconscionable conduct prohibition.

Last week we saw the release of a draft decision to decline sea bed mining in the Taranaki bite, a move celebrated by a number of local and environmental groups.

One of the voices opposing the project was Forest and Bird. They are now appealing a fast-track gold mine consent in Waihi North. 

Following reforms to the fast-track approvals scheme pushed through last year which cut them and other community groups out of the process, the Waihi mine is the final project which Forest and Bird is invited to input on.

Wednesday Wire host Manny spoke to the Waikato and Taranaki regional conservation manager for Forest and Bird, Elvisa Van Der Leden, about the draft decision to decline seabed mining in Taranaki, Forest and Bird's appeal of the Waihi North Goldmine application, and the reforms to the fast-track approvals scheme.

Over the past year, the Trump administration has taken a series of actions targeting political opponents. Under Trump’s second term, the polarisation of American politics has seemingly reached unprecedented levels, with members of the administration accusing a variety of peaceful individuals and groups of ‘domestic terrorism.’

Dr. Maria Armoudian is a professor of politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, who has written books on international human rights and the role that the media plays in shaping the future.

She is also a dual citizen, having been born and raised in the United States, and this year she hopes to visit her home country. But she’s worried that some of her viewpoints may land her in hot water when she arrives.

On Thursday last week, politicians including Prime Minister Chris Luxon and ACT party leader David Seymour addressed the audience during the Waitangi Day events at the Treaty Grounds.

The theme this year was Mō tātou, mā tātou, which is for all of us and by all of us.

As well, the past week has seen various news updates in environmental legislation including the draft decision to reject consent for seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight, Greenpeace voicing concerns about a ‘kiwi killing clause’ in the proposed Natural Environment Bill, and a new Green Party bill calling to recognise the legal personhood of Tohorā — whales.

This week, Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamilton about all of these topics, starting with Waitangi.