95bFM: The Wire

Recently, a study was conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton which uncovered a shift in the circulation of the Southern Ocean.

The study showed that the shift would draw up more salt water from the deep ocean, subsequently accelerating the loss of ice in the Antarctic and leading to an increase of sea levels and global heating.

The week before, the government allowed the terrorist designation given to the far-right ‘Proud Boys’ group to expire, effectively decriminalising the act of funding or openly supporting the group here in Aotearoa.

And, just yesterday Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed a number of changes to Family Boost which she said would help families with the cost of living.

For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez March to get the party’s take on all of these issues.

For the first time in its history, staff at the government drug-buying agency,  Pharmac, are going on strike. The action will happen this week, after Health economists, Māori health experts, and medical practitioners, who are members of the New Zealand Public Service Association, received what was described as an “unacceptable pay offer” and a “clawback of conditions”.

Pharmac is responsible for deciding which medicines and medical devices are publicly funded in New Zealand – an important part of the country’s healthcare system.

To talk about the details surrounding the first-ever strike, Producer Max spoke with the Public Service Association’s National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons.

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March about the recent study showing the increased speed of Antarctic ice melt, the removal of the Proud Boys designation as a terrorist group and The government's recent Family Boost announcement.

For this week’s Get Action! Wednesday Wire host Oto spoke with Dave Macpherson from Save our Trains Southern about a petition of his calling for the restoration of the Southerner Train line.

Producer Max spoke with PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons, to talk about the historic strike that is occuring at Pharmac this week.

Oto spoke with the co-head of Maori and Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland Gordon Nanau about French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to grant New Caledonia associated statehood.

And Monday Producer Sam spoke to the Deputy Director Māori at the Centre of Brain Research Te Huinga Hinengaro, Dr Makarena Dudley, about her kauapapa to support rural Māori communities with members suffering from mate wareware, or dementia.

New research shows that two thirds of Kiwis believe there is still a stigma around medicinal cannabis usage, and that users are still subject to negative stereotypes.

Producer Faith spoke to Dr. Waseem Alzaher from Cannabis Clinic NZ about the stigma, and what steps need to be taken to normalise its usage.

A recent study from the University of Otago shows that more than twenty percent of children in Aotearoa who’ve been infected by Covid-19 still suffer persistent, ongoing symptoms.

Producer Faith spoke to Larisa Hockey from the Long Covid Kids organisation about how long covid affects children, and how children are specifically at risk.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science, our expert, Daniel Thomas chatted with us about rice arriving in the Pacific, native forests sinking carbon, and seaweed used for grooming orcas. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about the regulatory standards bill in light of it going to select committee. 

Producer Faith spoke to Larisa Hockey from the Long COVID Kids organisation about the effects of Long COVID on children, and how the issue should be addressed.

She also spoke to the CEO of Cannabis Clinic NZ, Dr. Waseem Alzaher, about the stigma around medicinal cannabis. 

Recently, Justice Minister, Paul Goldsmith, and Associate Justice Minister, Nicole McKee, have announced tougher changes to those caught shoplifting, and those being trespassed.

Of the proposed changes to shoplifting include instant fines, the maximum punishment for theft being increased.

Of the proposed changes to trespassing include those being trespassed at one location of a business with multiple locations, such as a franchise, to be trespassed from multiple locations, increasing the maximum fine for someone refusing to leave, and increasing fines for anyone refusing to give out personal information.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Chief Executive of Retail NZ, Carolyn Young, about these potential changes, and what this could mean for retailers, and businesses as whole.

Under the previous Labour government speed limits were lowered nationwide, however the current National lead coaltion goverment these changes have been reveresed.

This reversal was done without community or local coucil approval and has been criticised for potentially putting children in danger, particularly around schoolds. Children are at much higher risk or injury and death in vehicular collisions than adults, and that risk rises more and more as speeds increase.

To discuss these changes Producer Samantha spoke to NZ Director of Brake, Caroline Perry, about the potential danger to children that these changes pose.

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to MP Cameron Luxton about the government’s expectations for City and Regional Deals, and Youth Parliament.

Joel speaks to the Chief Executive of Retail NZ, Carolyn Young, about proposed changes to increasing the penalties for shoplifting and trespassing from businesses.

And Producer Samantha speaks to Caroline Perry Director of the Brake road safety charity about the government reverseing lower speed limits implemented under Labour and the potential danger this poses to children.

Whakarongo mai!

As family violence service provider Shine amps up their July ‘light it orange’ campaign, the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children have released a statement condemning the decision by Minister for Children and for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour to disestablish Te Pūkotahitanga.

This collective is a Māori partnership body for the elimination of family violence and sexual violence, which gives Māori leaders a critical voice at the decision making table. 

In their statement they said the decision “is disrespectful to both Māori and non-Māori, and furthers the systematic erosion of Tiriti-based governance, entrenching distrust of the Crown across all communities.”

Following a report released earlier this week by the National Mortality Review Committee which found that Maaori women are disproportionately impacted by family and sexual violence, experts in this field have stressed the need for a stronger multi-agency response that is effective, proactive and includes crisis support.

There have also been calls for a national conversation that “treats gender-based violence as a public, not private, issue”, and highlights the issue of femicide in Aotearoa.

To discuss this topic further, Producer Sara spoke with Chair of the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children, Leonie Morris, about what the disestablishment of Te Pūkotahitanga means for mahi and outcomes relating to Māori