The Wire with Alex

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chats with us about characterising liquid carbon, Antarctic base cleanup, and plants making their pesticides. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about new investment in tourism marketing and New Zealand’s recent sanctions on two Israeli ministers.

They also spoke to professional teaching fellow at the University of Auckland, Simon Schofield, about the proposed sick leave changes and how they could disproportionately affect women. 

Producer Faith spoke to Emeritus Law Professor Jane Kelsey from the University of Auckland about ACT’s regulatory standards bill, and whether the party should progress with it, after it failed three times.

She also spoke to Layba Zubair from Aotearoa Free From Stalking about the gaps in the anti-stalking bill.

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.

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.

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!