95bFM: The Wire

In a recently released study from the University of Otago, researchers surveyed over 1000 participants, with over two thirds of these participants supporting the idea of the government developing plans to deal with catastrophe’s, extending across the political spectrum.

Such catastrophes include nuclear war, the spread of bioengineer infectious diseases, and weather events.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Senior Researcher and a Population Health Professor at the University of Otago, Wellington, Nick Wilson, about this study, and what the government already has in place to deal with these risks.

Last Week, at a United Nations Climate Summit, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters pointed to what he called the “elephant in the room” - that in order to rein in emissions, the top 4 countries in terms of emissions, at 60% of the world’s emissions, must do their part.

While there is validity to these claims, and they offer a welcome contrast to the Climate Denialism of leaders such as US President Donald Trump, there are still concerns over what these claims may mean in terms of Aotearoa’s own responsibilities and approach to climate change and action.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Senior Lecturer in accountancy and Finance at the University of Otago, Dr Sebastian Gehricke, about these claims, and how they may reflect the Government’s approach to Aotearoa’s emissions responsibilities.

Over the weekend, at the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced that New Zealand would not formally recognise a Palestinian state.

This follows weeks of the Government not explicitly laying out what their plans were regarding recognising Palestine, unlike countries such as France, the UK, Canada, and Australia, who all announced they would be recognising a Palestinian state.

The government’s decision to not recognise a Palestinian state has received criticisms from the opposition parties, international relations experts, and pro-Palestinian advocates.

For our weekly catchup, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about the country’s decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood.

We also discussed the government overhauling the Holidays Act.

The changes include a shift to hours-based accrual system for annual leave and a 12.5% Leave Compensation Payment for casual employees as opposed to accruing leave.

Joel also spoke to Simon about this topic, specifically about its impact on casual and part-time employees.

But first, we discussed the Government’s decision not to recognise Palestine.

Earlier this month, four out of five members of Brazil’s supreme court voted to convict the former president, Jair Bolsonaro, for plotting a military coup after losing the 2022 election. 

However, members of the right-wing political opposition that support Bolsonaro are attempting to pass a bill that would give him amnesty. 

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Marieke Riethof, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Politics at the University of Liverpool, about the conviction of Bolsonaro and the public response.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about the results of the New Zealand Herald’s mood of the boardroom survey, and the University reforms announced by the Government earlier this month.

For International Desk, they also spoke to Dr Marieke Riethof, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Politics at the University of Liverpool, about the conviction of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and the public response.

On City Counselling this week, Producer Sanat talked to Councilor Jule Fairey about the passing of Plan Change 78 and higher density housing 

He also had a chat with Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga Marlon Drake about the 300 person mayoral forum that was hosted last week on housing and wages.

Yesterday, the New Zealand Herald released their latest “Mood of the Boardroom” survey results, based on the responses from 150 senior business leaders. 

And earlier this month, the Minister for Universities, Dr Shane Reti, announced a series of reforms for tertiary education. 

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

Last week at St Matthew’s in the city, the community alliance Te Ohu Whakawhaungna organised a housing and wages Mayoral Forum attended by nearly 300 people.

This forum was centered on asking leading mayoral candidates about their plans to deliver public and affordable housing in the city, tackle homelessness and deliver a living wage for all those employed by Auckland Council.

Producer Sanat spoke to lead organiser for Te Ohu Marlon Drake about their community organising strategy, the sort of issues that diverse communities across the city care about and how they plan to work with the next mayor of the city to deliver on the needs of communities in Auckland.

Auckland Council’s Policy and Planning committee met yesterday to vote on a new plan that would zone the city for two million homes, primarily around train stations and rapid bus routes. 

This plan is a response to legislation put forward by housing minister Chris Bishop which requires councils across the country to zone for higher density housing.

This plan has not been without controversy, with councillors claiming that Aucklanders are being “put to the firing squad” 

Deputy PM David Seymour has publicly disagreed with his own housing minister, arguing that suburbs like Epsom and Parnell don’t have the right infrastructure to accommodate for this growth. 

Advocates for the plan, including mayor Wayne Brown argue that the council cannot continue to drag its feet on the need for housing that is closer to the city, and is more affordable. They argue that it’s better to build in places with pipes, public transport routes and job opportunities. 

The plan passed with a majority last evening, so Producer Sanat talked to Councilor Julie Fairey about the plan change and what it means for the future of the city.

A new study led by the University of Otago has found that, each year, firearms injuries are costing the New Zealand hospital system an average of $1.48 million and costing the country a further $321 million in years of life lost. The researchers investigated firearms-related hospitalisations and deaths from assaults, accidents and suicide between the years 2000 and 2018. The total cost of hospital care over the 19 years was $28.2 million.

Lead researcher Dr Lucy Telfar-Barnard, a senior research fellow at the University of Otago, Wellington, says more than 1,000 people died and 2,115 people were hospitalised as a result of firearms incidents between 2000 and 2018. More than 80 per cent of those hospitalised needed surgery, with most of the injuries from accidents.

To talk about this study, Producer Max spoke to Dr Lucy Telfar-Barnard.

Amid the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, a growing number of nations, including Western allies such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and France, have announced their recognition of a Palestinian state. These moves have intensified pressure on New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, to follow suit.

But with Israel’s war on Gaza now into its second year, and the Palestinian death toll surpassing 65,000, many Palestinians, experts, and advocates argue that recognition alone is not enough. They describe it as symbolic at best and instead call for stronger international measures, such as sanctions and arms embargoes against Israel. 

Meanwhile, the very notion of a two-state solution is being challenged, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to expand annexation and settlement in the West Bank in retaliation against countries that recognise Palestine.

I spoke with Dr Ritesh Shah, Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland, about why the current wave of countries recognising Palestine is seen as largely symbolic, and what more meaningful steps the international community should take.