The Wire with Nicholas

In early April, Christopher Luxon and David Seymour addressed journalists with promises of several policies aimed at reducing absences in public schools. 

These policies joined other policies introduced by the current government, such as the school cellphone ban and ban on disposable vapes, which hope to improve education outcomes in our schools and increase attendance. 

Additionally, the government recently announced 565 job cuts in the Ministry of Education, including some currently vacant roles, in part of their larger move to cut costs across all ministries. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to James Meager about these issues, both the theory behind the policies and how the policies will functionally be implemented.

For Dear Science this week, Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted to us about underwater bumblebees, UV light for biofilm, and data analysis by Borderlands players.  

Wire host Castor spoke to the National Party’s James Meager about absence rates in schools, ministry of education job cuts, and the school cellphone ban. 

He also spoke to President of the Secondary Principals Association NZ and Principal of Papatoetoe Highschool about these same issues from a frontline perspective. 

Producer Sofia spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law, Carrie Leonetti, about criminalising stalking.

For our regular catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins spoke to MP Simon Court about pet bonds and no-cause evictions.

She also spoke to PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago, Jai Whelan, about calls to increase the accessibility of drug checking services across the country.

Producer, Ezra, spoke to Senior Lecturer of Law at The University of Auckland, Dylan Asafo, about the proposed Restoring Citizenship Removed by Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill and the implication of Tiriti-based constitution on Māori, Pacific, and tauiwi relations.

This week on the Wednesday Wire;

Oto spoke to:

Green Party MP Ricardo Menendez March to discuss their submission to the select committee regarding the Fast Track Approvals bill.

And,

E Tu Union Negotiation specialist, Michael Wood, to discuss E Tu’s claim against TVNZ with the Employment Relations Authority.

Rachel spoke to  New Zealand’s Association of Scientists  Co-President, Professor Troy Baisden, about the government’s proposed changes to coal mining provisions.

Nicholas spoke to PhD researcher at Victoria University, Finely Ngarangi Johnson about Ngaruroro, a new Māori wellbeing model.

And, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, speaks to Associate Professor in Hauora Māori at the University of Otago, Esther Willing (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngā Ruahine), about flu vaccines no longer being free for children under 12, or Māori and Pacific people aged 54-66.