Bowel cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Aotearoa New Zealand, with more than 1,200 people dying from the disease each year, making it second only to lung cancer.
Free government screening is one of our key policies aimed at combating the disease. Earlier this year, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced changes to the eligibility for screening. These included lowering the starting age from 60 to 58 years old while scrapping a pilot scheme that gave Pacifika and Māori earlier access from 50. These changes have sparked criticism about the inadequacy of the policy.
Producer Manny spoke with Associate Professor of Oncology at the University of Auckland, George Laking, about his views on these changes and whether we are doing enough to tackle bowel cancer.
New music from Kanye West, Leonard Cohen, Otoboke Beaver, The Pleasure Majenta, Chaii, Church & AP and more. On the Long Player we hear from Shannen Petersen of sports dreams about the duo's debut self-titled EP.
A recent international study has found that New Zealand had the highest death rate from melanoma in 2020.
High amounts of UV exposure, as well as traditionally outdoors lifestyles, especially in childhood, lead to an increased risk for melanoma.
Casper spoke to the medical director of the Cancer Foundation, George Laking, about New Zealand’s high rates of melanoma and how they can be addressed by prevention and early recognition. Casper began by asking him why melanoma poses a great risk to New Zealanders in particular.
Chris Hipkins has today announced an overhaul of Three Waters. It has been a contentious piece of legislation due to certain aspects of what it entails. What is not contentious is how bad water infrastructure in Aotearoa New Zealand is. Simon spoke with research fellow at Otago University Marnie Prickett about Three Waters and the need for better water infrastructure. I also spoke with Marnie about the recent report from the ministry of environment that stated just 2% of large lakes in Aotearoa New Zealand were in “good or very good” health. Marnie began by highlighting why our waters are so polluted.
Dr George Laking is a cancer specialist and director for the Centre for Cancer Research at the University of Auckland. He believes Australia’s prescription-only model for vaping is overkill and will be ineffective at reducing harms in New Zealand.
Arno started the interview by asking if he was glad that the legislation had not passed in parliament this term to restrict vaping further.
Last week Simon spoke with Professor John Townend on the science of the Alpine Fault, and the probability of a large earthquake in the next 50 years. The AF8 roadshow is touring around the South Island to help communities prepare for a large earthquake. Alice Lake-Hammond is the programme manager of the roadshow. Simon began by asking Alice what the purpose of the AF8 roadshow is.
Among the various inquiries into the government’s response to last year's Auckland Anniversary and Cyclone Gabrielle flooding was Te Weu me Te Wai, a report assessing the floods' impact on marginalised communities and identifying potential changes the government could make.
Wire host Castor spoke to Associate Professor George Laking, one of the report’s authors, about the issues with the current system and the report’s recommendations.
The Getting to Smokefree 2025 Plan, launched last week by Associate Minister of Health, Casey Costello, is predicted by academics, and Health Coalition Aotearoa, to fail. Concerns have risen regarding the plan's focus, as many of the previous governments successful population-based strategies appear to be excluded.
Producer Athena spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, George Laking, about what the Smokefree 2025 plan is, who it is expected to fail, and where the focus should be to make the plan more effective.
Recent findings from 6 countries, including New Zealand, of over 6.5 million cardiovascular disease hospitalisations, show a correlation between hospitalisations and the aftermath following a tropical cyclone.
The research looked into the hospitalisations of six different cardiovascular diseases, and showed that hospitalisations increased two months following a tropical cyclone and continued for six months after.
News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Professor George Laking from Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupu Centre for Cancer Research at the University of Auckland about this study, and a similar study he helped conduct following Cyclone Gabrielle - ‘Te Weu me Te Wai’
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