Who doesn't love some boogie woogie? Kirsten takes us on a journey through the blues genre. Whakarongo mai nei!

Ruby Savage and Shy One come up to the studio and treat us to a whirlwind adventure of sounds you can expect from their sets at this weekend's Beacon Festival. Whakarongo mai nei!

This week Prime Minister Hipkins announced a plan to scrap cuts to speed limits on many roads. The safety benefits of lowering speed limits has been well documented, but Professor Len Gillman is an advocate for the lowering of speed limits to help reduce emissions. Simon began by asking Professor Gillman what the benefits of lowering speed limits across Aotearoa are.

This week is neurodiversity celebration week in Aotearoa. Professor Karen Waldie is a Professor in the School of Psychology and with the Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland. Simon started by asking Professor Waldie what neurodiversity celebration week is and why it is important.

Kia ora, and welcome to The Wire for Rāpare Thursday!

Today Spike speaks to:

- Associate Dean Dr. Paul Heyward about today's teacher strike and current conditions for teaching staff

- and Mapu Maia CEO Pesio Ah-Honi about this Saturday's Lotto cyclone fundraiser and the harms of lottery gambling

Simon speaks to:

- Professor Len Gillman about the Government's scrapping of planned speed reductions

- Professor Karen Waldie about Neurodiversity Celebration Week

- and Marnie Pickett on drinking water safety in Aotearoa

That's us for The Wire!

Labour has announced a special Lotto draw this Saturday as part of a cyclone relief fundraising effort, but advocates for gambling harm reduction are asking whether the benefits outweigh the harm of gambling. Spike speaks to Pesio Ah-Honi, CEO of Pasifika gambling support organisation Mapu Maia, about the upcoming draw, and the harms of gambling on communities.

Today, 50,000 ECC, primary and secondary school teachers go on strike across the motu to push for better working conditions. Spike speaks to Dr. Paul Heyward, Associate Dean of Teaching at Auckland University, about the strike, and current working conditions for teachers.

Tāmaki-based Māori electro and break-beat producer Mokotron comes up to the studio to have a kōrero about their debut performance as Mokotron in Ōtautahi, and spins some unreleased tracks. Whakarongo mai nei!

Research Fellow at Otago University Marnie Prickett recently co-wrote a report for the Public Health Communication Centre titled 'When The First Barrier Falls: Strengthening Protection for Drinking Water Sources'. Simon spoke with Marnie about protecting drinking water sources in Aotearoa as well issues with the water supply. She began by discussing the 2016 Havelock North contamination.

Space Ghost comes into the studio to play some tracks and talk to Rachel about his upcoming set at Beacon Festival (head down to Queens Wharf in Auckland this weekend to catch his set!). Whakarongo mai nei.