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This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, we chatted with our expert Professor Allan Blackman about genetic fingerprinting, mobile phones not being linked to brain cancer, and how eating habits can make you live longer. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Katie Nimon about the government’s newly announced transport plan and last week’s grocery commission. 

They also spoke to Professor of Māori Studies Margaret Mutu of Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, and Ngāti Whātua, about Cabinet’s reviewing the first draft of ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. 

On the Green Desk, Jack Marshall talked to Dung Beetle Innovations’ Dr Shaun Forgie about dung beetles and New Zealand's issues with manure.

And producer Josef spoke to Professor of Health Economics, Paula Lorgelly, about the economic impacts of Long COVID.

This week on The Green Desk things get shitty — New Zealand has a poo problem: An estimated 100 million tonnes of cow and sheep manure fall onto New Zealand pastures each year, causing an environmental and economic stink. 

Buff it up, 180 minutes of magnificent melodies and rude rhythms.

Researchers have estimated that Long Covid could be costing the New Zealand economy $2 billion a year.

The finding follows an Australian study which calculated the economic impact of Long Covid in Australia.

Producer Josef spoke to Professor of Health Economics Paula Lorgelly about the study, Long Covid, and what New Zealand can do about its economic costs.

Hosted by PHILLIEE, featuring the Sound of Sydney courtesy of our man Carlos Avilés.

~ Universal Harmony ~

Oozing a grateful ora, massaging the creative mind.

The ACT Party’s treaty principles bill was a hot topic during the election campaign last year, and made it into the coalition agreement, with the National party committing to support it to the first reading.

The bill has met controversy since the campaign, criticised by Māori leaders for its potential to remove Māori from decision making processes entirely. Recently, a group of 440 Christian leaders also spoke out against the bill in an open letter to MPs asking them to vote against the bill. 

Wire host Castor spoke to Professor of Māori Studies Margaret Mutu of Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, and Ngāti Whātua, about Cabinet’s reviewing the first draft of ACT’s treaty principles bill and its potential impacts on Māori.

To add to the contention surrounding David Seymour's revitalisation of charter schools, new documents have revealed that the bill may go against international labour obligations and fair trade agreements. 

A select committee report revealed a late addition to the charter schools bill, blocking staff at the schools from joining Multi-Employer Collective Agreements, which enable employees to be tied to unions. 

This sparked controversy, with opposition MPs concerned about the omission of this information from the select committee and the public. 

For their weekly catch up, Producer Evie spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about why staff should be prohibited from these collectives, and why the information was withheld from the public. 

She also asked him about new concerns surrounding Nicole McKee and firearms reform, in which McKee used her power as a Government minister to reduce regulation for gun clubs — without any public consultation.

And finally they talked about the ACT party’s views on 43 out of 45 councils voting to hold a referendum on their Maori wards, rather than disestablishing them. 

Last Thursday, following a six day tangihanga to honour the passing of Kīngi Tūheitia, a new Māori monarch was selected.

That monarch is his youngest child and only daughter, Kuini Nga wai pono i te po. Kuini Nga wai is 27 years old making her the second-youngest Māori monarch to be appointed, and only the second female monarch of the Kiingitanga. 

Kuini Nga wai’s ascension to the throne signals a new era and forward movement for the Kiingitanga. 

Producer Evie spoke to University of Auckland kaiārahi, Waikato descendant, and whānau of the Kiingitanga, Tui Kaumoana-Steedman about how Kuini Nga wai was selected for the role. 

They also discussed how she may take the Kiingitanga in a new direction, what issues she’ll be aiming to highlight, and how her rule may have an effect on Aotearoa as a whole.

On the 13th of August, Māori King, Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, who had reigned as Māori King since 2006, passed away, being laid to rest on the summit of Taupiri Maunga.

Various political party members from across the political spectrum attended the tangihanga of Kīngi Tūheitia, alongside thousands of others attendees at Tūrangawaewae marae in Ngāruawahia.

For their weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to Te Pāti Māori’s Mariameno Kapa-Kingi about Kīngi Tūheitia’s passing, and the legacy he has left.

They also touched on Kaipara Mayor, Craig Jepson, denying a request for a minute’s silence at a meeting for Kīngi Tūheitia’s passing.

Finally, they spoke to her about the crowning of Kuīni Ngā Wai hono i te pō as the new Māori monarch; the youngest daughter of Kīngi Tūheitia, at the tangi.