This week, Mitchell speaks to Flinders University’s Professor of Hydrogeology Adrian Werner about his ongoing
research into groundwater exploration and occurrences in offshore aquifers. Adrian and his
fellows have been leading research into groundwater and offshore aquifers for some time
and found that there are definite and viable sources of freshwater under our oceans, which
in many cases we have already been tapping into. Mitchell and Adrian discuss what the
future of our water supply may look like which raises certain societal questions and some
potential implications. To begin, Mitchell asks Adrian about his research and some of their
findings.
Today on the Green Desk, Bronwyn had a kо̄rero with Phil Jones from the Sustainable Business Network about their GulfX project which aims to restore the mauri of the Hauraki Gulf. The recently published State of our Gulf report highlighted the increasingly dire state of the marine park. Some of the more shocking statistics of the included the occurrence of ten mass mortality events due to fish and shellfish in the gulf in the past ten years, and nine toxic algal blooms. This is due in part to the fact that 3,730 tonnes of nitrogen flow into the Firth of Thames from rivers in Hauraki each year. Crayfish are also functionally extinct in the Gulf, despite once being one of its most abundant species.
While overfishing is undeniable a serious cause of biodiversity loss, the GulfX project chose to focus on some of the lesser-known terrestrial sources of environmental degradation such as sediment, plastic and heavy metals.
Phil began by telling Bronwyn what we mean when we talk about the Hauraki Gulf:
Today on the Green Desk, Bronnie speaks to Liam Prince, co-founder of Takeaway Throwaways, an organisation seeking to ban single use disposable plastic service ware for food and drink and replace them with reusable alternatives. The closure of cafes during Alert Level 4 meant that more than 20 million takeaway coffee cups that would have otherwise gone to the landfill were avoided. However, with businesses reopening under Alert Levels 3 and 2, many have been hesitant to bring in their reusable cups. Takeaway Throwaways have been vocal in dispelling hygiene myths around BYO reusable containers, and that was the topic of today’s interview.
You can Takeaway Throwaways on Facebook, Instagram, or check out their website - www.takeawaythrowaways.nz - and sign their petition to ban the use of single use plastic serviceware.
Producer Ollie speaks with Michael Burnett of The Brothers Green on the reaction to their cannabis farm in North Canterbury and the sustainability and environmental benefits of hemp growing in Aotearoa
This week on Monday Wire, Zoe and the Green Party co-leader James Shaw discuss the Green's stance on the newly introduced quarantine fees for returning New Zealanders, the new roadside drug testing bill and the Green's Poverty Action Plan.
Felix spoke to James Shaw about the Greens' proposal to introduce cycling lanes to the harbour bridge, the calls for the government to apologize for the dawn raids of 1974 and 1976, and the newly announced review of women's prisons.
Felix spoke to Green co-leader James Shaw about their Reasonable Rent campaign, the elimination of exclusive patents for Covid-19 vaccines, and their new petition to remove the newly implemented wage suppression rules.
Felix interviews Green co-leader James Shaw about his thoughts on Israel's invasion of Palestine, recent bans on fossil fuel and weapons investments within KiwiSaver, and Chloe Swarbrick's report on student accommodation.
A Green Party motion to recognise Palestinian statehood has been rejected by National, Labour, and ACT. The party's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman spoke to producer Louis Macalister about this.
Felix speaks to Green co-leader James Shaw about climate action in regards to the farming industry, the reduction in police funding, and concerns over the mining industry.