The Wire with Alex

A new report by the World Meteorological Organization has found that 2025 was among the three hottest years on record. 

High temperatures pose significant risks for our native wildlife, particularly our shorebirds, fish, and alpine birds. As we see a change in the needs of our native species, many of which are already endangered, the response from the Department of Conservation must also change. 

To discuss what DOC is doing as climate change continues to impact conservation efforts, News Director Castor spoke to Principal Science Advisor with the Department of Conservation, Drew Bingham.

Health Coalition Aotearoa and Healthy Families South Auckland have recently released a report looking at food security issues in South Auckland and actions which can be taken to improve access to affordable, nutritious food in these areas.

The report recommended multiple measures which could be taken such as expanding Ka Ora Ka Ako the Healthy School Lunches programme through a sugary drinks tax, giving communities a say in how many junk food outlets are in their neighbourhoods and allowing Auckland Council to better utilize  underused public land for kai initiatives.

Its main call to action, however, is to ensure solutions are community-led with a collaborative approach from local and central government, to guarantee those suffering are being put first in systematic fights against the industrial food complex and economic inequality.

To discuss the report and its findings producer Thomas spoke to Health Coalition Aotearoa CoChair and Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health, Boyd Swinburn.

The Government has announced a support package to address rising fuel prices.

And the McCains processing factory in Hastings is set to close in January 2027, but it is not yet known how many workers and growers will be affected by the closure.

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

The crisis growing at the pump is ramping up in seriousness as the conflict in Iran continues to escalate. 

This week saw US President Donald Trump make further threats to destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure that is yet to be bombed and - in turn - Iran continues to target the Gulf states and block the Strait of Hormuz, preventing any exports from this critically global hub

This blockade is preventing over a third of the world's nitrogen fertilisers and a fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas from leaving the region, while both sides' bombing campaigns are causing widespread destruction to infrastructure, which means we may not see a return of some oil and gas fields for years to come. 

In Aotearoa, the costs of fuel have seen steep rises, soon to be spread across the economy as everyone's back pocket is hit, and attention is now being turned to fuel reserves with fears that we may see imports decline.

To face the moment, the Green Party has put together a collection of proposals which they have sent in an official letter to the National Party and between the two parties, they’d have enough votes to pass.

For our weekly catch-up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez  March, Host Manny dug into this letter, the Greens proposals, and why they are reaching out to the Nats.