The free school lunch program has been in the headlines here in Aotearoa for several weeks after facing significant impacts to their quality and delivery following a complete restructure of the program led by associate education minister David Seymour.

Many schools have reported late deliveries of meals beyond the lunch period, plastic packaging melting into the food and one student even experiencing burns from the packaging that required medical attention.

This, of course, has the greatest impact on the more than 150,000 Tamariki living in severe poverty, who relied on programs like Ka Ora Ka Ako to receive daily meals.

In response, the Child poverty action group has made a call to senior government ministers and Finance Minister Nicola Willis to restore the funding that was cut from the school lunches program so that schools across the motu could receive meals from local community suppliers.

Oto spoke to Rich Greissman - Deputy Chair of the Child Poverty Action Group's Governing Committee, to discuss the group’s call and why it’s important for the government to ensure the provision of healthy school lunches to Tamariki.

Featuring What's Up? with Green Party MP Steve Abel, the Aural Emporium, and Reb Fountain live in the lounge thanks to Boring Oat Milk.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chatted with us about seal blood oxygen levels, phrases boosting citations, and an Australian man importing plutonium.

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, I ask about Sam Uffindell’s new private members bill and Winston Peters’ war on woke. 

They also speak to Senior lecturer at the University of Auckland, Dr. Charlotte Oyston, about a proposal to increase the maternity hospital stay period. 

And producer Amani spoke with former NZ Herald editor Dr Gavin Ellis on why he believes a digital-only strategy could shatter the future of the NZ Herald, and how he feels about the recent board-overhaul

Featuring an interview with Ben and Crystal from Phoebe Rings discussing new music, shows and their awesome new single Asurei, Short Player with 1800PRIVATEDRIVER thanks to NZ On Air Music, and Ready Steady Learn thanks to the University of Auckland. 

Oto and Jaycee played a variety of shoegaze and dreampop tracks by artists from across Southeast-Asia and had a chat with Daystar, a Singaporean artist who recently dropped a track called 'washed up' in the lead up to his upcoming E.P.

Oto and Jaycee had a chat with Singaporean alt-pop/shoegaze artist Daystar, aka Evan, about his newest single, washed up, as well as his musical influences, collaboration with Singaporean producer Sun Cell and his overall journey in the Singaporean music scene.

National MP Sam Uffindell lodged his private members bill last week, which the party claims is aimed at ensuring equal voting rights in local government. However, multiple Māori leaders say the bill ignores representation issues and the purpose of Māori wards. 

Māori representation positions on councils and committees aim to ensure and protect representation for Māori, rather than provide a specific privilege. 

Also in politics this past week, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters delivered his State of the Nation speech where he spoke about New Zealand First’s direction moving forward. Among his main new talking points were the party’s ‘War on Woke’ and his plans to ‘Make New Zealand First Again’. 

In our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about Sam Uffindell’s new bill and how the national party would respond to Peters’ new policies, starting with the private members bill.

Thanks to The Beer Spot!

A new government proposal would see maternity hospital stay periods extended from 48 to 72 hours. The change would reduce stress on parents and allow more time to adjust with hospital support.

To discuss the change and other support for new parents, Wire host Castor spoke to senior lecturer at the University of Auckland, Dr. Charlotte Oyston, about this proposal to increase the maternity hospital stay period.

Jonny speaks with Auckland Law School Masters student Meredith Herbert from the Rotorua District Community Law Centre about her research into the intersection of private law and social policy, specifically in the welfare and tenancy sectors. Thanks to the University of Auckland.