95bFM: The Wire

Although the anti-stalking legislation has been praised as a step forward for women in NZ, activists have deemed the bill “the bare minimum,” and believe that some grey areas haven’t been addressed.

Producer Faith spoke to community worker Layba Zubair from Aotearoa Free From Stalking about why she believes that the bill needs to be modified to be more victim-focused, and that police need to be better-equipped to deal with cases of stalking.

The Act Party has unsuccessfully tried to pass legislation for the regulatory standards bill three times.

Producer Faith spoke to Emeritus law Professor Jane Kelsey from the University of Auckland about why she believes they should not progress a fourth time round.

The government has discussed potential changes to how sick leave is allocated, scaling sick leave days with the number of hours a person works. While this wouldn’t affect the days available to full-time workers, it could see part-time workers with reduced access to sick leave. This has raised some concerns around disproportionate outcomes for women and students, two groups that tend to be employed in more part-time roles. 

Wire host Castor spoke to professional teaching fellow at the University of Auckland, Simon Schofield, about the proposed sick leave changes and how they could disproportionately affect some demographics.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to him about ACT local candidates opposing moves to mitigate the climate crisis at a regional level, the ban of Israeli MPs Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for visiting the country, and changes to proposed anti-stalking laws.

Joel also spoke to Claudia Rozas — a lecturer in Critical Studies at the University of Auckland, about the new English curriculum, and the need for Māori and Pacific authors to be engaged with.

Producer Samantha spoke to PSA organiser Claire Nickson about staffing and funding cuts at the National Geohazard Monitoring Centre and its implications for the public.

Samantha also spoke to Justin Sobion, Professor of Law at University of Auckland about the Princess of Tonga calling for whales to be granted legal personhood.

Whakarongo mai!

On Friday last week, the consultation process for the proposed new English curriculum for intermediate and high school students ended.

The proposed English curriculum will result in senior high school students learning Shakespeare and 19th-century texts, and spelling and keyboard lessons for younger students.

However, concerns have been raised that the proposed curriculum is ‘Eurocentric,’ does not engage with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and lacks Māori and Pacific text.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Claudia Rozas — a lecturer in Critical Studies at the University of Auckland, about why elements of te ao Māori should be incorporated into the English curriculum and the importance of Māori and Pacific text being engaged with.

The government has reduced staff and funding at the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre by 25%

This comes despite the siesmic activity expierenced throughout the country and the rising frequency of natural disasters, not only in New Zealand but around the world.

The Wire producer Samantha sat down with PSA organizer Claire Nickson to discuss the implications of this move and its affects in the public.

Princess Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho of Tonga has called for legal personhood for whales, some of the most intelligent animals we share the Earth with.

This would not be the first time that governments have recognised personhood for non human things, New Zealand having done so with a mountain, Taranaki Mounga, and the Whanganui river.

Producer Samantha spoke with Dr Justin Sobion, Professor of Law at the University of Auckland about the legal and industrial implications of such a move.

Los Angeles is approaching a week of protests against ICE, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Over 200 protestors have been arrested since the protests began, and restrictions have been placed on protestors, including a curfew.

The White House has sent 2,000 members of the National Guard to the city already, and another 2,000 are expected to be deployed. This is despite California Governor Gavin Newsom attempting to stop their deployment. 

For International Desk, I spoke to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about the protests.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, sanctions placed on two ‘extremist’ Israeli politicians, and the NBR rich list.

For International Desk, they spoke to Andre Fa’aoso about the protests against ICE in Los Angeles.

And they spoke to the National Business Review’s Mike McRoberts about their recently published rich list.

For this week’s City Counselling, Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about this week’s release of falling housing valuations along with rising rates, and the progress on key Auckland City Rail Link stations. 

As well, she spoke to Associate Professor Scott Opticon about Trump’s use of force against the LA anti-ICE protesters.

Earlier this week, the National Business Review released its annual “rich list”, which contains information about who the wealthiest people in Aotearoa are. 

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Mike McRoberts, Te Ao Māori editor at the NBR, about the list, including its timing in a cost-of-living crisis and what it means for Māori.