The Wire with Manny

After passing its first reading in May submissions are currently open for the conservation amendment bill, which would see up to 60 percent of current conservation land become open for sale as long as it's not considered important for threatened species. 

Additionally, the bill adds a new responsibility to the Department of Conservation to recognise and enable economic opportunities as much as possible from the land and resources it manages.

The bill has faced significant public pushback, with a recent poll finding that 64% of New Zealanders oppose it, including the majority of the current government coalition’s regular voters.

With submissions closing on the 2nd of July, producer Thomas spoke to University of Auckland Professor of conservation biology James Russell about the bill and its contentious proposals.

The Government is considering expanding prescribing powers for emergency paramedics, allowing them to prescribe certain medicines, including antibiotics, for conditions such as respiratory and ear infections. 

Supporters say the move could improve access to healthcare, particularly in underserved communities, but some experts are warning that stronger safeguards are needed to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use and growing antimicrobial resistance. 

Producer Pranuja spoke with Professor Bruce Arroll from the University of Auckland about the safeguards needed with this policy to protect public health.

This week on the Thursday Wire...

For City Counselling, News Director Castor spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about Labour’s $20 fare cap policy, proposed scenarios for changes to PC 120, and Council’s plans for Matariki. 

They also spoke to Director of Wellbeing, System Leadership, Data, and Insights at Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Dr Ella Cullen, about the state of Mental Health services in Aotearoa.

And they spoke to the Children’s Commissioner, Claire Achmad, about a recent Aroturuki Tamariki report on Māori outcomes in the care and protection system. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Producer Pranuja spoke with Shanan Halbert about the Government’s Jobseeker target, and the fallout from the Immigration New Zealand controversy.  

She also spoke with Professor Bruce Arroll from the University of Auckland about the proposed prescribing powers for paramedics and the safeguards needed to protect public health.

We’re well into the election year, with spats across the political aisle - and even within the government - on the up. Similarly rising are the political donations received by these parties. So far, the ACT party is leading the pack with over $1.35 million in donations exceeding $20,000, well above the National Party, which follows at just over $720,000.

However, concerns have continued to be raised at the lack of regulation and transparency for political donations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Transparency International New Zealand have called our laws around political donations some of the weakest  in the world, with the threshold for reporting donations far higher than many comparable OECD nations, and with no limiting cap on donations.

So, to learn more about the state of our regulation of political donations in NZ, producer Theo spoke to the Executive Director of Transparency International New Zealand, Julie Haggie.