The Wire with Caeden

Last week, the government announced a complete ban on disposable vapes and higher fines for vape retailers and individuals caught selling to under-18-year-olds, as part of its ‘crackdown’ on youth vaping.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Co-Founder of Vape-Free Kids NZ, Marnie Wilton, about how effective she believes these measures will be in stopping youth vaping.

She also asked Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Kelly Burrowes, for her thoughts on the government’s crackdown.

She started off the interview asking what impact Burrowes thinks the recently announced measures will have on reducing vaping among young people?

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Caeden chats with Labour spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinetti about Winston Peters recent comments on co-governance, the students at Freyberg High School, and Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech.

They also also chat with Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about public transport in Tāmaki Makaurau and Auckland’s last cost cutting budget for City Counselling.

Jasmine speaks to Professor Margaret Mutu about the path to a constitution of indigenous rights for Māori in Aotearoa.

She also speaks to Dr Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau about the emergence of more international research in support of free school lunches, and what this means for government research and action ahead of the proposed funding axe.

More international research has emerged evidencing the connection between hunger and school achievement both internationally and in Aotearoa, ahead of the proposed funding cuts for free school lunch programme, Ka Ora, Ka Ako.

 Producer Jasmine Gray speaks with public health researcher, Dr. Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau, about the lacking evaluation processes of Aotearoa’s government bodies ahead of cuts, and the positive impact of our free school lunch programmes that has been evidenced through community research. 

Bird feeding. It's one of life's simple pleasures that leads to rats, botuilism, and skewed biodiversity.

Though basic knowledge of bird feeding guidelines is present in Aotearoa, it is more often than not ignored, as demonstrated by the loaves of white bread that lay scattered in Auckland's Western Springs park.

Auckland regional representative for Birds NZ, Ian Mclean shares, his expert knowledge on what really happens when we feed birds.