The Wire with Alex

Back in March, the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament, and is currently in the select committee phase, with a report due by mid August.

The bill makes some significant changes to how Aotearoa New Zealand’s immigration system operates - particularly for refugees and those seeking asylum.

Some key points include the prevention of individuals from applying for a further visa while in New Zealand after withdrawing an asylum claim, and greater restrictions on the rights of those seeking asylum for humanitarian appeals.

However, particular attention has been drawn to new powers that would be given to immigration officers, which would allow them to request information of those they may suspect of being in breach of their visa conditions or that may be liable for deportation. These powers have been compared by critics to those wielded by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (or, ICE) in the United States.

Many of the organisations who work with refugees and asylum seekers in Aotearoa are greatly concerned at the consequences that the proposed legislation will have for those who live in this increasingly precarious position. 

So, for this week’s Get Action, Producer Theo spoke with the Advocacy Lead at the Asylum Seekers Support Trust, Becky Little, on their petition to stop the proposed Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill.

If you'd like to sign this petition, you can find it on the ActionStation website, or just here.

The Five Eyes Alliance, a multilateral intelligence-sharing alliance which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States has issued warnings that frontier AI models are rapidly increasing the risk of cyber threats. 

This shift is too quick for humans to manually keep up with as instead of having years for defensive actions against attacks, we only have a few months now.

Hence why cybersecurity experts believe that using AI to fight against AI might be the only option to keep up with this new shift in pace. 

The phrase “AI fighting AI”, refers to when Artificial intelligence is used to both launch and defend against cyberattacks. Since AI can automate hacks and intrusions at un-heard of speeds, systems are needing to rely on autonomous AI models which can recognise and counter the threats in a few seconds. 

Producer Jude spoke with University of Auckland Professor, Dr. Alex Baird, to learn more about AI fighting AI.

This week on the Monday Wire...

For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to ACT MP Simon Court about the party's new co-leader, the Conservation Amendment Bill, changes to the Teaching Council, and recent poll results. 

They also spoke to General Manager of Science, Systems, and Performance at the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, Danette Olson, about science funding reforms. 

They also spoke to Professor of Taxation, Lisa Marriott, about recently announced KiwiSaver policies and the practical implementation of the Green Party’s tax package. 

And Producer Jude spoke to University of Auckland Professor of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering, Alex Baird, about AI fighting AI. 

The debate over the Conservation Amendment Bill has intensified in recent weeks, particularly after it was criticised by iwi and environmental advocates.

The Government has introduced the Te Here ā Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill to Parliament, which will enable the return of 3,000 hectares of land to its customary owners at the top of the South Island. 

And both Labour and National are down in the latest 1News Verian poll, with smaller parties rising. 

For Politics with Māni Dunlop of Te Ao Māori News, Wire Host Caeden asked about these topics.