The Wire with Alex

For Dear Science this week, Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about medically implanted batteries, this morning’s solar eclipse, and the explosion of a star. 

Wire host Castor spoke to the National Party’s James Meager about the coalition government’s new action plan. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ActionStation Aotearoa Director Kassie Hartendorp about the government mandating referendums on Māori wards.

Producer Sofia spoke to Kaiārahi for the New Zealand History Teachers Association, Craig Thornhill, about the Education Review Office’s recent report on the first year of implementing the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum 

She also spoke to Professor of Toxicology at the University of Canterbury, Ian Shaw, about the coalition government’s intention to repeal the Therapeutic Products Act 2023. 

Producer Ezra spoke to Business School Researcher, Shohil Kishore, from the University of Auckland about his recent study on the impact of micro-influencers during crises.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton, about the government removing free flu vaccines for children under 12 and Māori and Pacific People aged 55-64

And co-founder of New Zealand NGO Reemi, an organisation which works to alleviate period poverty, discussed supplying reusable period underwear to people in Gaza.

This week on the Wednesday Wire;

Nicholas spoke to Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March about Winston Peter’s speech at the UN General Assembly as well as public sector job cuts

He also spoke to Professor Rita Krishnamurthi about new research into the prevalence of dementia in Aotearoa

And he spoke to Dr Kelly Garton of Health Coalition Aotearoa about associate health minister David Seymour using outdated advice to justify defunding school lunch programs

For GetAction! Sofia spoke to Abdul Safi  about a petition to place sanctions on Israel

Oto spoke to Dr Thomas Gregory from the University of Auckland, to talk about the use of A.I in military conflicts

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to OutLine’s volunteer coordinator, Jenn Tamati, about their perspective on how Aotearoa’s rainbow communities are feeling a week on from the vandalism of Karangahape Road's rainbow crossing, one of the most recent acts in increasingly visible hate crimes against our LGBTQIA+ whānau in Aotearoa.

For support visit OutLine.

To sign up to the rainbow support collective workshops Jenn mentioned, fill in one of the forms below.

Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland

Ōtautahi

Online workshop in May

Online workshop in June