There has been a great deal of talk recently about the rising cost of fuel with the price per liter reaching over $3 in New Zealand.
However, there are hidden costs to driving cars that are not factored in at the pump, particularly in regards to the environmental and social impacts of the car’s prevalence.
Casper had a chat with Dr Tim Welch, a senior lecturer in architecture and planning at the University of Auckland, about the hidden costs of cars and what rising fuel prices mean from a broader, social lens.
The cost of heating a child’s bedroom through the night in a Wellington winter would run through 46 per cent of the government’s Winter Energy Payment, a study by researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington has found.
Joe spoke to Dr. Caroline Shorter, a senior researcher from the University of Otago, on the matter.
Yesterday, Statistics NZ released data which showed healthy fruit and vegetables increased in price by 18 per cent in March 2022, the highest increase in a decade. Joe spoke to Dr. Lisa Te Morenga, Associate Professor in Nutrition and Maori Health at Massey University, as well as the Acting Chair for Health Coalition Aotearoa, on the matter.
A recent report has revealed that police have seized over 95 Million dollars worth of cannabis within this year's National Cannabis Eradication operation.
The operation was ended shortly after the 2020s cannabis referendum returned a “no” vote, but was revived by six police districts earlier this year.
The program costs seven hundred thousand dollars per year and saw 79 kilograms worth of cannabis captured.
To learn more about the scheme and its effectiveness, Liam spoke to Fiona Hutton, a Criminology Professor from Victoria University of Wellington,
He first asked her what the police were intending to achieve through the operation.
Despite the temporary removal of the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax, Fuel Prices are reaching their highest recorded costs. As of today, the most expensive fuel station in Auckland is offering prices up to $3.15 per litre.
Trishil spoke to Larry Green, developer of fuel comparison app Gaspy, and Dr Selena Sheng from the University of Auckland Business School to discuss these trends, as well as future predictions
One of the most highlighted aspects of the 2022 budget is the Cost Of Living Package, allowing those making less than seventy grand per year to receive three hundred and fifty dollars over the span of three months.
The check will not go ahead for those under eighteen, nor anyone who is already receiving the Winter Energy Payment.
As well as speaking to ACT Party Leader David Seymour, Liam spoke with the Green Parties Finance spokesperson Julie Anne Genter about their thoughts on the budget, and how they think some of it could’ve been spent differently.
He first asked her how much she thinks the payment will alleviate the cost of living crisis.
On this week's Wednesday show, Stella starts off chatting to advocate Abbey Trewavas from APEX, allied scientific and technical about the document of crisis delivered to government about lab workers. They also touch on the future of the profession, given a generation of lab work students didn't get comprehensive access to labs during lockdowns.
Alex talks to ACT's Brooke Van Velden in their weekly catch up. This week, they cover China’s new cooperation agreements in the Pacific.
Stella talks to the Green Party's Ricardo Menéndez March about the government's actions on the supermarket duopoly.
Finally, Frances speaks with European correspondent Cameron Mulgan on Eurovision, this week covering the war in Ukraine, the EU's Russian oil embargo passed late last night, Sue Grey's report on the Partygate scandal and nine euro per month public transport in Germany.
In a world-first, a New Zealand study has confirmed microplastics are present in Antarctica’s Ross Island region. Kiwi researchers analysed fresh snow from 19 sites, finding an average concentration of 29 microplastic particles per litre of melted snow. These microplastics most likely come from plastic products used at local scientific research stations, however, this team’s modelling also suggests their origin could have been up to 6,000 km away.
Joe spoke to Dr Holly Winton, a Research Fellow in Antarctic ice core climatology from the Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, on the matter.
Data collected by the Helen Clark Foundation has shown fast food and takeaway businesses make over $1 billion dollars a year on average or three million dollars a day.
So why is this industry so lucrative? Host Christina Huang asked Dr Michael Hale, a public health doctor at the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.
Earlier this year, Associate Professor Leah Watkins, from the Marketing department at the University of Otago, ran a study using bodycams on children and found they were exposed to nearly a brand per minute. Christina asked her about the impact of kids seeing so much marketing.
As per usual, we have Dear Science with Alan Blackman today. We talk about Ernest Rutherfod, sex and bloody mozzies.
Jess speaks to Caitlin Wilson, a YWRC Help Centre Co-ordinator, and Dr Mike Webster about new research published by the Human Rights Commission that shows there is still a high prevalence of workplace bullying and harassment in Aotearoa, with two in five people saying they have been bullied at work. Joe also looks at this new research. He speaks to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo on the matter.
Joe also speaks to Rothman Kam, a Senior Lecturer of Food Science & Microbiology at AUT about how Avocado seeds are being used to manufacturer a new snack and his findings can be used to address avocado wastage.