95bFM: The Wire

Recently, a lot of conversation has been had about the curriculum, with the government planning to roll out yet another new and expanded curriculum. This expanded curriculum, beginning in term one of next year, will seek to provide the tools for teachers to educate and assist students with ‘high and complex needs,’ who were otherwise ignored in the existing curriculum, or so the government claims. This comes against the background of this government’s push for effective teaching and learning, based in ‘science’.

However, concerns remain about this curriculum. For starters, this curriculum exists separately from the rest of Aotearoa’s student body; we seem to be getting one curriculum for those with complex needs, and one for those without, dividing our youth. This has led to questions about the role of inclusion in our education, and what it means that the government has not attempted to create one curriculum that can work for all students.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland, Dr Jude MacArthur, about this separate curriculum, what it means for these students, and how it might affect their learning and inclusion.

Auckland Pride has filed a High Court challenge, following the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mark Mitchell, advising the sports body, Sports New Zealand, to withdraw the entity’s Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Community Sport.

The organisation says that the move goes against the kaupapa of Sports New Zealand and that Mitchell had not considered legislation such as the Bill of Rights Act and Human Rights Act in deciding on the move.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to the Co-Chair of Auckland Pride Bhenjamin Goodsir, about the organisation’s High Court challenge.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about ACT MP Laura McClure’s members bill, proposing the disestablishment of the BSA, or Broadcasting Standards Authority, and the government's move to halt new puberty blocker prescriptions for young transgender people.

Following on from their chat with Simon, Joel spoke to the Vice President of PATHA, the Professional Association of Transgender Health Aotearoa, and GP specialist in gender-affirming care, Dr Elizabeth McElrea, more about puberty blockers, and how this temporary ban will affect transgender young people.

Producer Alex spoke to Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland, Dr Jude MacArthur, about the Government’s plans to introduce an ‘expanded’ new curriculum for students with ‘high and complex needs’, and what it might mean for their learning.

And Joel spoke to the Co-Chair of Auckland Pride, Bhenjamin Goodsir, about the organisation's challenge to the High Court, following the removal of transgender guidelines for the participation in community sports.

Whakarongo mai!

Recently, the government has announced it will be halting new prescriptions for puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria pending a clinical trial in the UK, with the outcome of this trial set for 2031.

Health Minister, Simeon Brown, says this move is a “precautionary” measure, as he says the evidence regarding puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria remains unclear.

Despite this, puberty blockers will still be available for young people with conditions such as endometriosis and precocious puberty.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Dr Elizabeth McElrea, the Vice President of PATHA, the Professional Association of Transgender Health Aotearoa and GP specialist in gender-affirming care, about the government's temporary ban of puberty blocker prescriptions for transgender youth, and what this will mean for young people with gender dysphoria.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about the results of the Ipsos survey, the removal of the requirement for school boards to give effect to the Treaty, the petition for a social media ban for under 16s, and the government banning puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria. 

For International Desk, they spoke to Vira Paky, Youth Engagement Co-ordinator at Save the Children New Zealand, about her experience on the ground at COP30 in Brazil.

Producer Jasmine talked to Councillor Julie Fairey about Plan Change 120 and Tāmaki hosting the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education this week.

And she talked to Deputy Secretary of Worker’s First Union Anita Rosentreter about four New Zealanders that have won a four-year legal battle against Uber.

The supreme court has made a final ruling on the four-year long court battle between four Kiwi Uber drivers and the Uber corporation. The case signals a huge win for acknowledging employment rights for drivers, amidst the exploitative pitfalls of contractor classifications. The result coincides with the current Employment Relations Bill that has passed its first reading, a piece of legislation that would only allow selected workers access to the Court or Authority to seek declaration of their employment status and secure any minimum rights. The bill was drafted in part, by Uber.

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Anita Rosentreter, Deputy Secretary of Workers First Union, who supported the worker’s case, about what this means for Aotearoa’s employment law and protecting the rights of our workers.

This week COP30, the world’s main annual climate summit, has continued in the Amazonian city of Belém, Brazil.

COP30 marks a new push from indigenous voices to be elevated at the summit, with the largest indigenous participation in history - an estimated 3,000 with 1,000.

Tens of thousands of people also protested outside COP30 last week in the first large-scale protest at a United Nations climate summit in years.

Wire Host Caeden spoke with Vira Paky, Youth Engagement Co-ordinator at Save the Children New Zealand, who is on the ground at COP.

The Ipsos New Zealand survey has shown Labour is the most trusted party for eight of the top 10 most important issues to voters. This includes issues like cost of living, healthcare, and the economy. 

The Government has amended the Education and Training Act to remove the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

A petition calling for a minimum age of 16 to access social media has been handed over to Parliament. 

And the Government is halting prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria, while continuing to allow them for cisgender young people.

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

Producer Jasmine Gray speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about the folllowing for this week's edition of City Counselling: Auckland Council has unveiled their long-term housing development proposition in the form of Plan Change 120, which is now open for public submissions until December 19. Key focuses include intensifying housing density in high-infrastructure areas.

And this week Ngāti Whatua Ōrākei welcomed the world’s largest indigenous education conference to Tāmaki Makaurau, bringing over 3,800 visitors. Accompanying the conference is Te Ao Pūtahi, a free public festival showcasing indigenous artistry, that is happening in Aotea Square until 7pm tonight. 

Recently, ACT Party MP, Laura McClure, has launched a member’s bill, proposing the disestablishment of the Broadcasting Standards Authority, or BSA.

This member’s bill follows a complaint laid to the BSA regarding Sean Plunket’s online media network, The Platform. Plunket says the content of his show does not meet the requirements of the Broadcasting Act, and that the BSA had "woefully and egregiously overstepped its bounds".

The BSA, however, says Plunket's show clearly meets the requirements of the Act.

News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to Peter Thompson, an Associate Media and Communications Professor at the Victoria University of Wellington and board member of the Better Public Media Trust, about this member’s bill and what the bill is proposing.