The Wire with Caeden

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin about the world’s biggest spiderweb, bacteria movement, and the Marsden Fund Awards for 2025. 

Journey into MOTAT this Sunday 16 November to celebrate all things train, tram and track with LIVE DAY: Rail!

Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow.

Last week, Climate Minister Simon Watts announced numerous changes to New Zealand’s Climate Change Response Act, including removing the requirement for Climate Change Commission advice on emissions reductions plans, and easing requirements around public consultation on government targets.

Last week, the second reading of the Regulatory Standards Bill passed through parliament, despite large public opposition to the bill.

Finally, the central government alongside Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown have been discussing measures to “move on” homeless rough sleepers from the Auckland CBD. 

Wire Host Sara spoke with MP Carl Bates about all of these topics, she started by asking about the government’s motivation for changing the consultation requirements within the Climate Change Response Act

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 government ministers announcing they are considering banning rough sleeping in Auckland’s CBD and the Regulatory Standards Bill passing its second reading.

Producer Alex spoke to  Dr Iresh Jayawardena, a lecturer in Architecture and Urban Planning and lead researcher for the Future Cities Research Centre about Earth Science New Zealand’s new Flood Risk Map, and what it says about our infrastructure’s exposure to climate based harms.

And Joel spoke to Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, an Associate Law Professor at the University of Auckland, about NZ First’s members bill proposed a ban on the private sale and use of fireworks, touching on why we are seeing so many members bills from the party.

Whakarongo mai!

Concerns have been raised that rough sleepers will be pushed into unfamiliar suburbs outside of Auckland CBD, following government ministers' consideration of new measures.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says he had been tasked with making sure police were equipped to halt public disorder. When questioned explicitly about the ban, he said, "We're working our way through those issues... when we've got something to announce, we'll announce that."

As well as this, the Regulatory Standards Bill has passed its second reading in Parliament, having seen a few changes made to the bill in the select committee process.

The bill, having received 156,000 public submissions, almost 99% in opposition to the bill, is controversial. Constitutional experts and critics of the bill have expressed concerns that the amendments do not address its failings, and the “ideological” way it has been written means that if passed, the bill will have a lasting impact. The bill also lacks references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

For our weekly catch-up with ACT Party’s Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to him about both these topics.