The Wire with Manny

This week on The Wire for Rāhina Monday!

Joe speaks to Chief Executive of the Breast Cancer Foundation Ah-Leen Rayner, about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and how we can support breast cancer initiatives and spread awareness of early detection.

Joe also speaks to Dr Nic Rawlence, from the Paleogenetics Lab at the University of Otago, about the extinct upokororo and how his research into its ancient DNA can teach us about how we treat our waters here in Aotearoa.

Joe finally speaks to Dr Tom Logan from the University of Canterbury about the work he’s doing with the Christchurch City Council surrounding climate change.

That's us for the Monday Wire!

Green Party MP Jan Logie has recently spearheaded an open letter to see welfare improved for parents of young children. 

Addressed to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the minister for Social Development, Carmel Sepuloni, the letter called for one central family support credit instead of multiple different kinds. 

Logie also calls for the Best Start Credit that supports parents through weekly paid instalments to be increased from one year of funds to three years after the baby is born.

The best start payment was introduced in 2018, giving families with under twelve month old's $60pw depending on their income, a number the Greens are also calling to be increased.

Liam spoke to Logie to learn more. 

Today on The Wire:

Liam spoke to Jan Logie of the Green Party about her open letter to the Prime Minister to improve welfare support for parents of young children.

David spoke to Pedro Mello about the upcoming Brazilian Elections.

We also have a series of interviews from Jack Horsnell at last week's Climate Protests in Tamaki Makaurau. He spoke to protesters about what they were calling for and why they believe climate change is important.

Liam also had a chat with Anton Ashcroft from Divergent Thinking NZ about the struggle neurodiverse students go under in schools.

David also spoke to the first haast tokoeka kiwi chick of the 2022-23 season Polina Stucke.

And finally Liam had a korero with Kelly Dombroski from Massey University about how Christchurch has implemented community installations and arts events after the earthquakes.

The focus of mental health awareness week on “reconnecting” is timely as research published this year from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study reveals the importance of connections with family, friends and community for maternal mental health and their children’s development in the early years. Growing up in New Zealand is the largest study of child development in this country and both parental and child mental health are research focus areas.

Joe spoke to Professor Karen Waldie, a developmental neuropsychologist from the University of Auckland and research lead for the Growing Up in New Zealand Psychology Domain, about their work and the importance of reconnecting for Mental Health Awareness Week.