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The ministry for Primary Industries has launched an investigation after a number of meals served to children by the School Lunch Collective were found to have their plastic packaging melted into their food.

This would be the fourth investigation launched into the collective after the government introduced the Alternative Provision Model for Ka Ora Ka Ako, replacing local suppliers.

Around this same period of time, a consultation document was sent to schools across the motu by education minister Erica Stanford asking for feedback on a proposal to defund and disestablish 174 full time roles for Resource Teachers of Literacy and Resource Teachers of Māori.

And the Greens recently issued a call to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling on him to rule out any possibility of joining the AUKUS military pact, following the contentious bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Whitehouse last week.

For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March for the Green Party’s take on all of these issues.

Oto and Jaycee played 2 hours of Japanese punk, as well as an interview with Japanese Punk Rock superstar Deathro who they both saw at 605 Morningside last week.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Doctor Cushla McGoverin chats with us about the cleanliness of the International Space Station, colours on birds of paradise, and stretchable display materials, thanks to MOTAT!

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Tuesday Wire Host Castor asked about the new citizen’s arrest policy and its potential impacts across society.

News and Editorial Director, Joel, speaks to the Principal of Papakura High School, Simon Craggs, about the roughly 50 principals from low-income schools who have expressed concerns about the new NCEA tests.

Castor spoke to the Co-Chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, Professor Lisa Te Morenga, about the government’s new school lunch program.

And Joel spoke to a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland, Ritesh Shah, about the substantial cuts to USAID, and whether we should revise the models of international aid organisations.

Whakarongo mai!

Last week the government announced a new citizen’s arrest policy that would allow members of the public to detain those who commit a crime. The policy has been met with criticism for its potential impact on retail workers and marginalised communities. While the government has asserted that citizen’s arrest should only be conducted when it is safe to do so, some are still worried about safety, especially with employer/employee power dynamics. 

Others are concerned that the law will encourage members of the public to conduct citizens arrests on anyone they suspect of committing a crime, even if their suspicions are false. This would predominantly affect marginalised groups already affected by harmful stereotypes

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Tuesday Wire Host Castor asked about how the new Citizens Arrest policy will work in Aotearoa. 

Roughly 50 principals from low-income schools have banded together to express their concerns regarding new online NCEA reading, writing, and maths tests.

Over half of NCEA students at low-income schools last year failed reading and writing tests, with three quarters of those failing numeracy testing. 

Students will not be able to receive their NCEA qualifications without passing these tests

The alternative option to this, which is only available until the end of 2027, is to complete up to 20 additional credits in numeracy and literacy.

These principals also say that these online tests will result in a generation of students without qualifications, and will disproportionately affect Māori and Pacific students.

News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the Principal of Papakura High School, Simon Craggs; one of the principals criticising these tests, about these concerns, and what he suggests as an alternative to this testing method.

They started off by asking him what are the barriers that students in low-income schools are facing regarding these new tests, and what he has been seeing at his own school.

Condensed crucialities, renkingly reported

Jonny chats to Nikki Maddow about the brand new podcast Ingenious launched by the University of Auckland, perfect if you love delving into interesting research and complicated topics as discussed by local experts and brainboxes in Tāmaki Makaurau! Check out the first episode Ingenious and learn about what really causes lactose intolerance (the worst for all the cheese lovers out there). Thanks to the University of Auckland!

Whakarongo mai to hear the fortnightly catch up with Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson on Isthmus'n That, a kōrero with the Ōtepoti-based Wax Mustang ahead of his Aotearoa tour, Short Player recap of Max's chat to CCTV about their new album Austerity Blues, plus talking about the just-launched Ingenious podcast on Ready Steady Learn with Nikki Maddow, thanks to the University of Auckland.

The government’s new school lunch program, spearheaded by ACT party leader David Seymour, has come under fire for a raft of problems related to its implementation.

With rollout issues continuing since the first week alongside quality and quantity concerns, many are questioning whether the program change was necessary. 

School lunches often support struggling families and students to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

Tuesday Wire Host, Castor, speaks to Co-Chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, Professor Lisa Te Morenga, about why a school lunch program is necessary and how the new program stacks up.