Show Notes
Today: More details have emerged about the visit from Green and Te Pati Maori MPs to a Mongrel Mob gang pad. One of those MPs was Te Pati Maori MP Oriini Kaipara. In a video of her speech she promises to "restore mana" to gang members, Oriini Kaipara joined Guyon Espiner to explain. Labour says it will ban social media for under-16, set up an online watchdog to fine tech giants and allow people to opt out of the algorithm and get posts only from accounts they follow. Guyon spoke to tech spokeman Reuben Davidson Finally, Guyon heard from Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith on National's promise to abolish the right to silence in cases of child murder, would it lead to forced evidence?
More from Midday Report
Kia ora, welcome to Midday Report essentials . In todays episode: Kerrin Leoni resigns from the Labour Party after video shows she campaigned with Mongrel Mob members, and Chris Hipkins says racism on the right is a factor in the gang scandal. RNZ political editor Jo Moir joined me on whether it could cost him the election. The fiscal fights continue: the Greens say NZ First's campaign promises add up to $70 billion: and that's before a BNZ buyback: Chloe Swarbrick fronts with her fiscal plan. Finally, a special interview with Luke Harding who is covering the war in Ukraine: He has a new book called Betrayal: which asks the question: if Trump were a Russian asset what would he do differently?
This week President Trump's envoy stood in St Petersburg and called Vladimir Putin a humanitarian. With the lifting of sanctions on Russia and harsh criticism of Ukraine President Vlodamyr Zelensky questions are being raised about whose side America is now on. Guardian journalist and author Luke Harding has a new book on the conflict called Betrayal. Harding spoke to Guyon Espiner.