Undercurrents: Can Te Tiriti help us build a different economy? | Part 2

What does capitalism have to do with the colonisation of Aotearoa? And what did Te Tiriti promise Māori in terms of economic sovereignty? In part one of this two-part episode of Undercurrents, Ollie Neas is joined by Emeritus Professor Jane Kelsey and University of Canterbury academic Matthew Scobie to explore the capitalist origins of New Zealand's colonisation. They discuss how Māori economies operated before European settlement, the role of British investors and the Crown in colonisation, and how the dispossession of Māori land and resources laid the foundations of the economy we have today. Help us keep producing independent, in-depth journalism about politics and power in Aotearoa. Subscribe at https://www.publicinterest.nz

Why is everything so expensive? And who's getting rich while the rest of us struggle to pay the bills? This week on The State of It, comedian Guy Williams and researcher Avigail Allan take on New Zealand's cost of living crisis, with a little help from economist Dr Geoff Bertram. From outrageous power bills and supermarket prices to $350 Ed Sheeran tickets, they explore how decades of privatisation, deregulation and corporate greed have made life increasingly unaffordable. Along the way, they discover that the class war might already be over, make the case for bringing back trains, and investigate the cosy relationship between big business and our political leaders. Can Guy and Avi fix the economy? Probably not. But they're going to give it a crack.

The Alliance Party is back – and it wants to bring socialism back to New Zealand politics. But is there room for another party on the left? Ollie Neas speaks to Alliance leader Victor Billot about the party's plans to revive public ownership, full employment and a bigger role for the state in the economy. They discuss what separates the Alliance from Labour and the Greens, why Billot believes parts of the left have lost touch with working-class voters, and the Alliance's prospects for becoming a political force once again. Support independent media at publicinterest.nz.

Watch the first episode of The State of It, a new show from Public Interest featuring comedian Guy Williams and researcher Avigail Allan. Join Guy and Avi as they tackle the state of crime and punishment in New Zealand. Why does New Zealand lock up so many people? Why do politicians keep promising to get tougher on crime? And what does a Melbourne Cup horse syndicate have to do with it all? Public Interest is independent and entirely supported by our audience. If you value what we do, consider supporting us at publicinterest.nz.

National said urgent changes to local democracy were needed to lower costs and fix the basics. Then, just two months out from an election, it abruptly halted its council amalgamation plans, deferring decisions until after the election. So what's going on here? What's really driving the reforms, and who stands to benefit? Christchurch City Councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine and Wellington City Councillor Sam O’Brien take us on a crash course through rates capping, the urban-rural divide and the politics of local government. Are National's reforms straight from the Federated Farmers wishlist? Are city-dwellers about to lose control over the water they drink? And why do rural interests wield so much power in local politics? This is the first episode of Who Broke My City, a new series from Public Interest in which we explore how local government really works, who's calling the shots, and what it would take to fix our cities.