Justin and Zoe chatted about the federal government's decision to ban mobile phones from migrant detention centres, the state of Victoria making victims of sexual violence getting a court order before speaking out, and Melbourne prosecuters not pressing charges on two police officers responsible for the death of an Aboriginal woman.
Justin talked to Health Minister Andrew Little about mental health advocate Mike King returning his Order of New Zealand Merit (ONZM) medal saying the mental health system is still "broken", and updates to the Waikato DHB cyberattack and nurses pay negotiations.
A new report has detailed the importance of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which prohibited the use of chlorofluorocarbons in order to protect the Ozone layer. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to one of the author's of the report, Olaf Morgenstern from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, about what lessons can be taken to combat future climate change.
The government announced their ideal route for the new Auckland city light rail last week. The light rail is intended to connect the Auckland Airport with other parts of the city in order to improve public transport efficency. However, out of the three route options proposed the governments top choice is garnerning criticism from many with regards to it's practicality. The Public Transport Users Association was apart of the inital conversations between the government and the Auckland Light Rail Project as to what would be the best way to link the Auckland Airport with other parts of the city. Emily Bell spoke to the National Coordinator for the Public Transport Users Association about the government's light rail route choice and what other alternatives could be put in place instead.
This week on Various Artists Frances and Liam take the time to remember the life and works of Ans Westra.
Self-taught, Ans spent long periods of time travelling around the country as a full-time freelance documentary photographer committed to observing and candidly documenting New Zealand life and culture. Ans was a pioneer of documentary photography, and one of the first women to work in this area in Aotearoa New Zealand.
In 1998 she was awarded the Companion of the Order of New Zealand Merit for services to photography. In 2007 she was made an Arts Foundation Icon, an honour bestowed to a living circle of 20 New Zealand artists for their extraordinary lifetime achievements. In 2015 she received an honorary doctorate from Massey University in recognition of her long-standing contribution to New Zealand’s visual culture.
To hear about her life and works Frances talked with Athol McCredie, Curator Photography at Te Papa and also with David Alsop, owner of Suite Gallery and lifelong agent and friend of Ans.