95bFM: The Wire

Aotearoa continues to have one of the highest leptospirosis rates among developed countries, with flooding (notably the Hawkes Bay floods in 2023) being one of the main catalysts. 

A recent study shows that other causes include exposure to rodents, working with uncovered cuts, and handling of livestock. The carried lepto strains are currently not protected by any existing vaccines.

Last week, producer Faith spoke to researcher and epidemiologist Professor Jackie Benschop from Massey University about the disease, and what needs to be done. 

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science, our expert, Allan Blackman, chatted with us about the Voyager One getting really hot in space, breakfast impacting life expectancy, and nuclear fusion in Palladium metal. 

For our weekly catchup with the National Party, News director Joel spoke to MP Carl Bates the recent Budget documents have shown an almost $8.5 billion hole in future funding, the government’s expansion of support for those rough sleeping, and changes to Auckland Transport.

Producer Faith spoke to researcher and epidemiologist from Massey University, Professor Jackie Benschop, about the changing risk factors of leptospirosis in Aotearoa.

She also spoke to tax expert Nick Miller from Tax Justice Aotearoa about big tech companies’ tax avoidance, and what steps the government needs to take to address it.

Following on from my chat with MP Simon Court, I spoke to Dr Maria Armoudian, an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, the director of the University’s Sustainability Hub, and the co-director of the Ngā Ara Whatū Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society at the University, on the ACT Party’s stance on the Paris Agreement.

ACT’s stance on the Paris Agreement has received substantial criticism. Despite NZ First also being in support for moving away from the Paris Agreement, National have been staunch on continuing with this framework, alongside the Opposition Parties.

Greenpeace campaigner, Amanda Larsson, has referred to ACT Party Leader David Seymour’s comments regarding the framework as “rage-baiting the extremist edge of the farming community to grab headlines” and that Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, “mustn’t bite”.

This comes as Luxon indicated last week changes to our methane targets. Methane makes up almost a third of global warming, and is over 80x more powerful than CO₂ in the short term.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Armoudian about this, starting with how important the Paris Agreement is, and what exactly the framework is.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to MP Simon Court about the party’s stance on the Paris Agreement.

Joel also speaks to Dr Maria Armoudian, an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, the director of the University’s Sustainability Hub, and the co-director of the Ngā Ara Whatū Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society at the University, about the ACT Party’s stance on the Paris Agreement, and the importance of the framework.

And Alex speaks to The University of Auckland’s Dr Stephanie D’Souza about a study showing that high-level rugby players faced an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias at later ages.

Whakarongo mai!

Recently, ACT Party Leader, David Seymour, announced the party’s position statement on climate, saying that if the Paris Agreement isn’t reformed, the country should leave the agreement.

The Paris Agreement, signed by New Zealand by the then National-led government in 2016, aims to keep the global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an overall aim of keeping the temperature increase to 1.5°C. Currently, Aotearoa is one of 195 UN parties to adopt this framework.

If the country were to leave the Paris Agreement, the country would join the likes of the US, who signed an executive order to withdraw this year, and Iran, Libya, and Yemen, who have never formally joined the agreement.

For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to him about the Paris Agreement, and our future with this framework.

Last week, a study was published in the Sports Medicine Journal revealing that over an extended period, male high-level rugby players were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative diseases than the general population.

This comes as increasing research and attention is being paid to head trauma, and the way it affects the individual long term.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Dr Stephanie D’Souza, co-author of the study and Senior lecturer at the University of Auckland, about the Study’s results, what they tell us about head and brain injuries, and what that means for New Zealand’s national sport.

Over the weekend, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck in Eastern Afghanistan.

The death toll has passed at least 1400, with another 3000 injured and 500,000 impacted. 

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Associate Professor in Disaster Resilience at the University of Newcastle, Iftekhar Ahmed, about the earthquakes and the challenges with the disaster response.

The University Advisory Group headed up by Sir Peter Gluckman made more than 60 recommendations to improve the fragmentation, poor governance and funding woes of the university sector. Sitting above them all was a ‘highest priority’ call to set up a standalone government agency to administer separate strategy and funding for universities. The Government has said no.

Producer Sanat spoke to the Tertiary Education Union’s spokesperson Sandra Grey about the Government’s response to this report and whether it will change the Tertiary Education Sector fundamentally to respond to the persistent challenges that have affected New Zealand’s Universities.  

Advance voting is currently open for the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election, with the official election day on Saturday.

A Newsroom investigation has questioned the accuracy of Amazon’s claim that it will open several Amazon data centres in Auckland, boosting our economy.

And a new exemption has been announced to the 2018 ban on foreign buyers.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked Shanan Halbert about all of these topics.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked about the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election, the latest update on an Amazon Data Centre opening in Auckland, and a new exemption to the ban on foreign buyers.

For International Desk, they spoke to Associate Professor in Disaster Resilience at the University of Newcastle, Iftekhar Ahmed, about the recent earthquakes in Afghanistan and the challenges of the disaster response.

For City Counselling this week, Producer Sanat spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about the rise in Dog attacks across Auckland and public opposition to Auckland Council’s proposed housing intensification changes. 

After that he spoke to Vanessa Cole from the Public Housing Futures campaign about New Zealand’s state housing system and why the campaign is fighting for higher quality state housing. 

He also spoke to Tertiary Education Union spokesperson Sandra Grey about the Government’s response to the University Advisory Group’s report.