The Wire with Caeden

For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about the need for council to be involved in discussions about the details of an additional harbour crossing, and the number of job losses in the Auckland Transport restructure. 

And they spoke to Māni Dunlop from Te Ao Māori News for our new bi-weekly catch-up on the political issues of the week from a Māori perspective.

News Director Castor spoke to kaumatua and climate activist Mike Smith about his court case against Fonterra in the wake of the government removing its legal basis. They also spoke to Professor of Law at the University of Waikato, Alexander Gillespie, about the legal ramifications of such a decision. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Producer Pranuja spoke with Shanan Halbert about the Government disestablishing the BSA and scrapping the tertiary Fees Free scheme, as well as the Government’s new citizenship test.

She also spoke with Associate Professor Alice Mills about why secure housing is central to reintegration for those leaving prison.

A recent report from the Auditor-General found more than half of people leaving prison have an unmet housing need. Producer Pranuja spoke with Dr Alice Mills, Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Auckland, about why housing is central to reintegration, and what gaps exist in the current system.

A policy area looking to become a feature of this year's election is the Superannuation income allowance for those over 65.

Although often considered an insured privilege paid across one's life, Superannuation is paid out of the yearly budget and is by far the largest benefit in New Zealand.

Historically, it's been a thorny topic for any legislator, but as people live for longer and longer, and the age of eligibility for superannuation remains the same, the cost of the policy is increasing. A recent OECD autopsy of the New Zealand economy says this is becoming unsustainable, and the National Party says they agree and will campaign in this election to raise the age. 

Host Manny spoke to Honorary Associate Professor working in the Pensions and Intergenerational Equity Hub at the Economics Policy Centre, Susan St John, about why she opposes raising the age of retirement and what alternatives she prefers.

This week on The Wednesday Wire...

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Immigration Amendment Act, the axing of Fees Free and the potential increase in the pension age.

He then spoke to honorary associate professor working in the Pensions and Intergenerational Equity Hub at the Economics Policy Centre, Susan St John, about the pension age in more depth - why she opposes raising it and what alternatives she prefers.

Then Toby spoke to infectious disease expert Siouxsie Wiles from the University of Auckland about the Huntavirus.

And Theo spoke to Dr Ulrich Speidel from the University of Auckland’s School of Computer Science on the recently released government report on our undersea cable resilience and security.