95bFM: The Wire

The future of Palestinian leadership remains unclear as the current Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, remains unpopular and heavily criticised. 

One candidate for leadership is Marwan Barghouti, who has been described as a Nelson Mandela-like leader for Palestine. However, he has been imprisoned in Israel since 2004, facing ill-treatment and torture. 

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Professor Amin Saikal, Middle East Analyst at Australian National University, about Marwan Barghouti and the broader leadership crisis in Palestine.

Recently, the Labour Party have unveiled their capital gains tax (CGT) policy.

The policy only targets properties, with the exception of family homes, and farms. The tax policy, according to Labour, will supply all New Zealanders with three free doctor visits yearly.

For our weekly catch up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to him about Labour’s CGT policy, and what the Green’s think of it.

They also discussed the funding cuts for the Māori news organisation’s Te Karere and The Hui, as well as how the Green Party will be campaigning 1 year out from the next general election.

But first, they discussed Labour’s CGT policy.

The Ministry of Education has recently revealed their new draft math's curriculum for years 0 - 10, making this new curriculum the third in three years.

In announcing the move, Education Minister, Erica Stanford, says the new curriculum is another step forward for the country producing a world-leading system for all students.

However, the new curriculum has faced criticism, such as around the amount of time educators are expected to have implemented the new curriculum.

As a result, multiple open letters have been sent to the government. In an open letter from 44 maths education experts yesterday, they say the changes “seem more political than educational”.

News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to Lisa Darragh, a Senior Curriculum and Pedagogy Researcher at the University of Auckland, about this new curriculum and what her thoughts are on it.

This week on the Wednesday Wire:

For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March about Labour’s new capital gains tax, slashing of funding for the Māori news organisation’s The Hui and Te Karere, and the party’s campaigning plans one year away from the next general election.

And Joel spoke with Lisa Darragh, a Senior Curriculum and Pedagogy Researcher at the University of Auckland, about the government’s new maths curriculum of years 0 - 10.

And Producer Manny spoke with James Russell, Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Auckland and Peter Morton, Coordinator of the Department of Conservation’s predator control program about an impending explosion of predator populations.

Whakarongo mai!

The University of Auckland’s Ngā Ara Whetū – the Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society, are hosting a Blue & Green technology conference at the beginning of December looking at how technology can be a part of a climate-resilient future for New Zealand. 

Host Sara spoke with Professor Jacqueline Beggs, the co-executive director of Ngā Ara Whetū, who is organising the event. 

She started by asking what the Blue & Green tech conference is all about

The results of this year’s Te Taunaki Public Service Census highlight that almost a third of disabled public servants felt discriminated against at work. The Human Rights Commission’s disability rights commissioner Prudence Walker believes that the results highlight the need for more support towards public sector workers living with disabilities. 

Producer Faith spoke to Prudence about the discriminations faced, and how we can achieve a shift in attitude, rather than just strengthening laws.

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin chats with us about Napoleon’s army, pill-sized bioprinters, and mushroom memory chips. 

Producer Faith spoke to Rob Weinkove from the Malaghan Institute of Medical research about access to medical gene therapies in Aotearoa

Today, about 100,000 public sector employees are going on strike.

The action has been labelled as a “mega strike”, as it includes teachers, nurses and other public sector workers who are calling for better pay, staffing levels, and working conditions.

The government is strong against the strike, with Public Services Minister Judith Collins issuing an open letter, which she called the action “politically motivated.”

Rob Campbell, who has a background in trade unionism, business leadership, governance and public service, wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, with his view on how the government should be responding to the strikes.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Campbell about the strike and his letter.

October 13th is the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction with the United Nations.

The day focuses on the rising cost of disasters, as well as disaster risks, including the impact of climate change and development choices. 

Fatma Özdoğan, PhD Candidate and Researcher at the University of Montreal, co-wrote an article on this topic, focused on the impact of how we talk about disasters, with Professor Ali Asgary of York University. 

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Özdoğan for International Desk.

Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling for a permanent fix to New Zealand’s School Lunch Programme.

The current contract is being delivered by provider ‘The School Lunch Collective’, after National axed the prior Ka Ako, Ka Ora programme model. This latest iteration of the school lunches programme has seen smaller meals, lower nutritional quality, and disengagement from community-based providers. 

Currently, the funding for the government’s school lunch programme is due to end in late 2026, with no proposed initiatives in its place.

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Dr. Kelly Garton about the inefficacies of the current contract, and the urgent need to invest in this support for our rangatahi.