Today on the show, Ximena, Will & Reuben explore the debate around vaping, and whether or not it should be banned from public spaces. AUT’s Allan Blackman joins the team to chat about the first official transatlantic telegram that was sent on this day in 1858, as well as new research that has discovered a pigment used in analysing the legitimacy of historic artwork may have been incorrectly identified up until now. NZ First’s Tracey Martin also comes onto the show to chat about the extension of Government’s learning support pilot in schools.
Throughout recent years many people have switched from tobacco smoking to electronic cigarettes, or vapes, claiming that it is both far healthier and cheaper than regular tobacco.
Whilst there are many proponents,there are some that strongly oppose vaping. Last month the Whanganui Council signed off on its new smoke-free policy that now restricts vaping in some public areas, citing health risks such as oral cancer and tobacco gateway effects.
Producer Reuben McLaren interviews population health Professor Chris Bullen and Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall and asks them about vaping health effects and what they made of the new vaping ban.
Environmental policies are a major issue for voters this election. As we're focusing on this issue on the lead up to the election, Joel spoke to Green Party leader James Shaw. They discussed the Green’s environmental policies, as well as the Party's relationship with labour in terms of influence on policy.
As per usual, the Māori seats are throwing up a lot of interest this election with star candidates, royal endorsements and the possibility of a much-loved candidate being voted out. Reporter Sam Smith reviewed the battle for the Māori seats with the Hui producer Annabelle Lee.
After ten months of campaigning, The Opportunities Party gained 2.2 percent of the vote, meaning they are fell well below the 5 percent threshold needed to gain a seat in Parliament.
India spoke to the party’s deputy leader Geoff Simmons about what’s next for the party, whether he’ll be taking over the leadership from Gareth Morgan, and why he believes the Greens should consider a coalition with National.
On today's Wire we have journalist Rod Oram talking about the new ministerial line-up, as well as former MP Te Ururoa Flavell on Maori representation in parliament.
Lachlan speaks to Dr Jane Kelsey, from the University of Auckland's Law Faculty, about the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and we have our regular State of the States feature with Nick Sawhney.
Finally we have This Day in History, which takes us back to 1955 and the creation of the Republic of Vietnam.
Saturday marked the first ever official commemoration of the New Zealand Wars. The New Zealand Wars were a series of battles that took place in the 19th century between Government troops and Maori. Lives were lost on both sides, communities terrorized, while land was confiscated in what was a defining time in this country’s short history. Commemorations to mark the wars were held around the country with gatherings taking place at some of the key sites of the battles. Sam Smith spoke to Auckland University historian Dr. Aroha Harris about the commemorations and why it is important that we remember this time of our history.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen more than 3 million people displaced from their home amidst growing violence in Kasai Province.
The UN High Commissioner For Refugees said that over 400,000 have been displaced in the last three months alone and that the unrest and violence caused by the ongoing ethno-political conflict could cause that number to rise dramatically.
bFM's Conor Knell spoke to Robert Patman about the crisis.
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