95bFM

The government’s new school lunch program has been met with criticism over the past few weeks for various issues. Supply issues began just over a week ago, with some schools supplied with Pita Pit or pies as alternatives where the new lunches were unavailable. Students who have received the lunches have called them bland, unappetising, or insufficient. Others have noted the lack of halal certification, leaving schools or teachers in charge of providing for Muslim students. Despite these issues, the government has remained committed to the program, which it claims has made significant savings compared to the previous, Labour implemented program. 

The last few weeks have also seen actions by Destiny Church against Aotearoa’s rainbow communities at multiple pride events. These actions have led some to call for Destiny Church’s charity status to be removed.

In our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues, starting with the new school lunch program.

Gareth Shute revisits the wide-spanning career and music of Stanley Manthyng and Fatal Jelly Space, as well as the newly launched NZ On Screen Rainbow Collection. Brought to you by our friends at AudioCulture.

For Dear Science this week, our expert Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about a new nuclear fusion record, a new ice type, and aromatherapy causing air pollution. 

Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!

On Rātū Morning Glory i tēnei wiki, Sof speaks to Swedish-Filipino-American musician Baba Stiltz about the making his collaborative album with Norwegian-American musician Okay Kaya, Blurb. Listen back to their kōrero here! 

+ a selection of tunes from the likes of Laika, Black Market Karma, Spritualized, and more!

Full playlist here, but support artists on bandcamp / otherwise if you can :)

Ngā mihi nui The Tuning Fork x

Jenna chats about the spooooooky new book from Susan Barker Old Soul. 

Thanks to Time Out Bookstore!

Hosted by Mikey Majestic

Recent Stats NZ findings have shown that there is likely an additional 36,300 children living in material hardship, compared to 2022.

In 2018, the Child Poverty Reduction Act passed, which received cross-party support, helped in creating a downward trend in these statistics. However, these Stats NZ findings show that there has not been any substantial changes to the nine poverty measures from June 2022 to June 2024.

Overall in Aotearoa, an estimated 156,600 children are living within these conditions, which is roughly 1/7th of the population.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Executive Officer for Child Poverty Action Group, Sarita Divis, about what has caused this increase, and what the government should be doing to tackle these concerning findings.

Firstly, they started off by asking her about what reasons there might be for this upward trend in recent years.

On the show last week, in our weekly catch up with the ACT Party’s Simon Court we discussed comments he had made about period products. 

Court came under fire in the media following a hearing on benefit sanctions. During this hearing a female submitter was outlining concerns about period poverty and the impacts menstrual products can have on a low-income family budget. 

In response to these concerns Court asked if she was aware of, or had people around her aware of, a menstrual cup - outlining its cost and where to buy it. He was heavily criticised by Te Pati Maori, and later Labour for ‘mansplaining’, calling his comments ‘deeply offensive’ as he continued to double down. 

During our interview last week he stood by his comments. 

Period poverty action group, Dignity NZ says that Court’s comments were misplaced, and ignore a variety of issues that come with periods. 

Producer Evie spoke to Dignity NZ interim CEO Taslim Parsons about period poverty in Aotearoa and how it needs to be addressed.

Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, and Producer Evie, in studio to discuss kiwis moving overseas to work!

Jonny brings you three hours of music, features, opinion and probably-other-stuff-as-well.