The Wire with Manny

Research Fellow at Otago University Marnie Prickett recently co-wrote a report for the Public Health Communication Centre titled 'When The First Barrier Falls: Strengthening Protection for Drinking Water Sources'. Simon spoke with Marnie about protecting drinking water sources in Aotearoa as well issues with the water supply. She began by discussing the 2016 Havelock North contamination.

As many as 50,000 kaiako and tumuaki (teachers and principals) will go on strike tomorrow for better conditions and to improve public education for tamariki.

This is the education sector’s biggest industrial action since 2019. 

Most schools and kura will close on Thursday due to the strikes, and nationwide protest marches are planned.

The strikes have been organised by the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), representing primary and kindergarten teachers, and the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA), representing secondary school teachers.

First, News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Mark Potter, President of the New Zealand Education Institute. I started off our interview discussing why kindergarten and primary staff are striking.

Then she spoke to the acting president of Te Wehengarua, the Post Primary Teachers' Association, Chris Abercrombie. To begin, I asked about why secondary staff are striking. 

Lastly, she spoke to Maddy, an intermediate teacher, about why she is striking. I started by asking Maddy about her background in teaching. 

Increasing violence towards Auckland’s bus drivers has prompted several union groups to issue statements demanding better working safety protections for drivers. 

Arno spoke to Melissa Ansell-Bridges, secretary of the NZCTU, the council of trade unions, to find out more about the issue. 

Arno also spoke to Melissa to find out more about improving contractor positions in Aotearoa. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions is calling for better employment protections for contractors, many of whom earn below minimum wage for hours worked. This follows a landmark win where Uber drivers became classified as employees instead of contractors last year.

Arno started on the first topic by asking what Auckland bus drivers are concerned about.

This week on the Tuesday Wire, Milly spoke to Chanelle Duley from the University of Auckland's Faculty of Economics regarding the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, exploring what caused it, the flow on effects, especially in the tech sector, and the effects that this might have on our banks here in New Zealand.