Recent research claims the link between poverty and a child's mental health is unarguable, with children from disadvantaged homes more likely to need anti-psychotic drugs. The study was conducted at the University of Adelaide using data from the Longitudinal study of Australian Children. The findings indicate that a large proportion of children from disadvantaged families are placed on anti-psychotic medicine.
Wire producer Darashpreet Johal, spoke to Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft to find out whether this is the case for New Zealand.
Last week the government announced their overarching child and youth wellbeing strategy, which sets out a shared understanding of what's important for the wellbeing of young New Zealanders. Jemima spoke to Childrens Commissioner, Andrew Becroft, about the strategy and how it will be implemented practically. They also discussed the Commissioner's call for all schools to introduce anti-bullying programmes.
Yesterday RNZ released a report detailing findings that Internal Affairs has been providing funding to anti-abortion charities’ counselling services for the last 15 years through their Community Organisations Grants scheme. Despite providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to these groups, the provision of funding actually appears to go against their rules for Community Organisation Grants.
Deb speaks with Terry Bellamak, National President of ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa, who begins by describing the organisations Internal Affairs has been funding.
The first annual anti-terrorism hui took place in Christchurch this week. One of the hui's speakers was the Islamic Women's Council, who discussed their experience with discrimination in New Zealand.
Producer Louis chatted to councilperson Anjum Rahman about the role of social media in harbouring extremism and what action should be taken.
A ban on abortions from six weeks, with no excpetions has taken affect in Texas, after it was signed off by the Supreme Court. This is the first US state to allow a ban to go into effect since Roe v. Wade.
This move has been condemned by human rights activists and medical experts, who say this approach is not based on science and will put women at severe risk.
Jessica spoke to Terry Bellamak of Abortion Law Reform New Zealand, who says that anti-abortion lawmakers in Texas want to incentivize anyone in the US who opposes abortion to sue providers or individuals who help patients get care.
They started off our interview discussing the restrictions put in place by conservative judges, which many have called out for being unconstitutional.
Today, the Anti-Vivisection Society put out a press release talking about the transparency around the University of Otago’s animal experimentation. The Anti-Vivisection Society has been investigating the University of Otago to expose them for their cruel and unethical experiments that have been conducted on animals.
Zazi spoke to the Executive Director of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society, Tara Jackson. They spoke about the investigation in more detail, what proof NZAVS has on unethical experiments being conducted at the University of Otago and how this investigation could help change the way scientists and researchers treat animals.
Zazi then reads a written statement sent to her from the University of Otago media and communications team, which responds to the allegations the NZAVS are making.
Two years into the global pandemic, the world has faced a lot of changes: from new variants of the coronavirus running rampant, to the rollout of vaccines to protect us against Covid-19. We have seen nations mobilise to tackle the virus but we have also seen a small minority of people pushing back against the health measures that have been enacted. And in our digital age, it is no surprise that social media is fuelling the spread of fear and misinformation alongside the virus.
So why exactly does a global crisis invoke such strong reactions?
Christina Huang spoke to Associate Professor Danny Osborne from the University of Auckland Social psychology department about the recent antivaccination protests, anti-government attitudes and how our mindset towards the pandemic has shifted over the past two years.
This week News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston interviews ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden about the passing of the bill that will ban conversion therapy practices in New Zealand last night. They also discuss the anti-mandate protest taking place on the parliamentary lawns in Wellington,how the MPs are feeling about it, and when Brooke thinks the sit in may end.
The Auckland Council and Immigration NZ are allowing anti-trans campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull aka Posie Parker to enter Aotearoa and hold a transphobic event in Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend.
News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Ahi Wi-Hongi, National Coordinator at Gender Minorities Aotearoa about why Posie Parker entering Aotearoa is a danger to trans people.
Several Jewish organisations and individuals have spoken out in support of Palestinian liberation and oppose the conflation of criticising Israel with anti-semitism.
There have also been reports of isolated incidents of anti-semitic threats in the past few weeks, which has caused concern among the Jewish community.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to the Co-Founder of Alternative Jewish Voices, Marilyn Garson, who lived in Gaza for four years, about the difference between calling out the injustices of the Israeli government's actions and being anti-Semitic, and their calls for New Zealand political leaders in their response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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