Towards the end of August, secondary school outdoor education teachers were told that the course would be removed from the Education Ministry's general subject list as part of the government’s proposed replacement of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).
As a result of being excluded from the list of general subjects, outdoor education, which provides direct training and pathways for students looking to enter conservation, environmental science and outdoor tourism careers, would be included in the list of vocational subjects, meaning that the course curriculum would be designed by the Industry Skills Boards instead of the Ministry of Education, stripping schools of the flexibility in designing the curriculum and removing pathways to higher education for students.
For this week’s Get Action! Wednesday Wire host Oto spoke with Fiona McDonald from Education Outdoors New Zealand to discuss a petition of hers calling on the ministry of education to keep outdoor education in the list of secondary school general subjects.
If you’d like to sign this petition, you can find it here:
Hundreds of actors, directors and other film industry professionals, including the likes of Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton have signed a pledge, which was submitted by the group “Film Workers for Palestine”, where they have vowed not to work with Israeli film institutions that they say are “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people”, the pledge is inspired by the cultural boycott that contributed to the end of apartheid in South Africa.
Taking it back to last year, Will Alexander, a New Zealand actor who has appeared on Shortland Street in the past, chose to go on a hunger strike due to what he referred to as the New Zealand government being complicit in an ongoing genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.
As he has personally acted against Israel in the past, Producer Max spoke to Will to get his opinion on the news of other global actors choosing to strike against Israel and how an actor can shape public perception.
Recently, commentators and industry voices have been raising the alarm about the state of our public health service while thousands of nurses strike for better conditions. One facet of this is concerns over inadequate nurse staffing compounded by the underhiring of nurse graduates. Leaks from Health New Zealand last week show reforms that will ensure nurse graduates are offered some work, but they will also be offered fewer hours of support and training.
Dr Sue Adams, a senior lecturer of Nursing specialising in developing the Nursing workforce at the University of Auckland has called Health New Zealand's move wrong-footed.
Producer Emmanuel spoke to Dr Adams to discuss the implications of these reforms, the state of the public health system as a whole and the silencing of nurses raising concerns.
For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman about Dame Jane Goodall, discoveries in Bearded Vulture’s nests and fresh clues of a new planet.
For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to MP Carl Bates about the government’s Electricity Plan, the Defence Industry strategy and the Freedom Flotilla activists
Sara also attended a press conference yesterday on the NewZealand activists detained by Israeli forces while attempting to deliver aid into Gaza. On this topic, she spoke to two experts on international humanitarian law on New Zealand and the international community’s obligations to respond to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
For Green World, Producer Jasmine spoke with Fiona McCormack, Associate Professor in Marine Anthropology at the University of Waikato, about the incoming Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill
Since the Industrial Revolution in 1840, the burning of fossil fuels and land use change have increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
While much of this excess carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere, a significant portion is absorbed by the oceans. As a result, the pH of the oceans is steadily decreasing, threatening marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and the communities that depend on them.
This week, Leilani spoke to Dr Cliff Law from Earth Sciences New Zealand about ocean acidification
With the rise of fast fashion outlets like Shein and Temu alongside the wider mainstream options available that contribute substantial amounts of clothing waste to landfill, experts are calling for an urgent response on a governance, business, and individual level.
Wire Host Sara spoke to Mindful Fashion Chief Executive Jacinta Fitzgerald about the problem, and the industry response to sustainability, as well as University of Auckland Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the importance of ethical consumption.for individuals.
First, is the interview with Fitzgerald, where she begins by talking about the organisation Mindful Fashion.
Following this, Sara spoke to Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the research he has undertaken around consumerism.
Last week, Social Media Companies began to face a Jury Trial for the first time. The claims being made are that social media is addictive and harmful for young people’s mental health; and that this is by design.
While this unfolds, experts have pointed to significant links between this trial, and those faced by the Tobacco Industry. Similar arguments are being made, on both sides, and there are lessons that can be taken from the decades long fight to hold tobacco and smoking accountable for its health harms.
Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Senior Research Fellow in General Practice and Primary Care at the school of Population health at the University of Auckland, Dr Samantha Marsh, about these links, and what more we need to see about social media based harms domestically.
Health Coalition Aotearoa and Healthy Families South Auckland have recently released a report looking at food security issues in South Auckland and actions which can be taken to improve access to affordable, nutritious food in these areas.
The report recommended multiple measures which could be taken such as expanding Ka Ora Ka Ako the Healthy School Lunches programme through a sugary drinks tax, giving communities a say in how many junk food outlets are in their neighbourhoods and allowing Auckland Council to better utilize underused public land for kai initiatives.
Its main call to action, however, is to ensure solutions are community-led with a collaborative approach from local and central government, to guarantee those suffering are being put first in systematic fights against the industrial food complex and economic inequality.
To discuss the report and its findings producer Thomas spoke to Health Coalition Aotearoa CoChair and Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health, Boyd Swinburn.
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