The Wire with Castor

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour party Caeden chats to Priyanca Radhakrishnan about funding cuts to disability caregivers and job cuts at the Department of Conservation.

For City Counselling they also speak to Councillor Shane Henderson about Watercare signalling an increase in Water Rates, and a boost in funding for arts in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Caeden also speaks to Lola Fisher about the disestablishment of the Whanganui Youth Council.

And they speak to Professor Ralph Cooney for the University of Auckland about the importance of communicating Climate Change to the community.

Jasmine speaks with Devonport-Takapuna local board Chair Toni Van Tonder about their upcoming Youth Seat trial and the importance of youth inclusion and engagement in local government.

And she speaks with Research Fellow Marnie Prickett about the Public Health Communication Centre of Aotearoa’s submission against the fast-track approvals bill ahead of opportunities for feedback on the legislation formally closing tomorrow.

Watercare has signalled a potential rates increase for Aucklanders this year, while council balances needing funding for infrastructure in a cost of living crisis.
Council has also approved a $1 million dollar funding boost to Arts and Culture, which could have significant benefits to local communities.
For City Counselling Wire Host Caeden asks Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about both these topics.

Ralph Cooney is a former lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Auckland, where his career has developed into communicating Climate Change to his community.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to him about the importance of communicating climate science, especially to community groups and older generations, after he published a piece in Newsroom on this topic.

It has been one month since the government announced the Fast Track Approvals Bill, which has seen widespread criticism from conservationists and the general public, who say the bill is undemocratic and  will push the biodiversity of Aotearoa further into decline. 
As we are in the last week of submissions to the select committee regarding the bill, the Green party have opened up a submissions page on their own website that citizens are welcome to add their signatures to, and published a guide on how to add their own Submissions.
Oto spoke to Greens MP Ricardo Menendez, about submissions for the Fast Track Approvals bill and the current state of the bill since it was announced.
They also had a conversation about the government’s recent changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa, and what they mean for migrant workers here in Aotearoa.