The Wire with Joel

Homelessness is not a new issue, but rather a persistent one, and will never go away unless our society confronts it directly. This is an issue which affects all of us, as no one is guaranteed housing or basic needs. 

Work and Income have declared changes to their emergency housing as of August. These changes make it harder for those experiencing homelessness to receive the help they need, as they now need to fill a criteria to receive this help.

The Kickback Organisation, a charitable trust focused on delivering support for those experiencing homelessness, are advocating for parliament to pass legislation to support those at risk of homelessness. Similar legislation has been successful in Wales.

Sasha spoke to Aaron Hendry from Kickback about their campaign efforts, and their event at their charity on Karangahape road.

One of the projects included in the government's recently announced fast track list is a construction project that would increase the capacity of Paremoremo, Auckland Prison.

The project would add a series of new rooms, floors and beds to the prison, which would double the prison’s inmate capacity from 600 to 1200.

The announcement has been criticised and denounced by prison reform activists in Aotearoa, with one of their concerns being that, without adequate staffing to accommodate an increase in prisoners, the upgrades would lead to chaos and more antisocial behaviour in the prison. 

Oto spoke to Emmy Rākete, a Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of Auckland and founder of People against prisons Aotearoa, to discuss the announcement of fast tracked upgrades to Auckland prison.

There is no doubt that adolescent depression psychological issues have been on the rise for the last couple years. Researchers have investigated many factors for this, such as Covid-19, or in the case of the GUiNZ study, factors present in pregnancy.

GUiNZ, or Growing Up in New Zealand is a long-term study of child development. This study has located a multitude of factors that may develop adolescent depression. This research could help guide mental health interventions within children and adolescents.

Sasha spoke to a Professor from the School of Psychology, and co-author of the research paper, Karen Waldie, about the new study which links perinatal risk scores with adolescent development of depression and other mental illnesses.

For Dear Science this week, our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about pterosaur evolution, 2 billion-year-old rocks with living microbes, and an mRNA vaccine for Clostridioides difficile.

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Katie Nimon about cuts to Te Ahu o te Reo Māori and the list of 149 projects set for consideration under the Fast-Track Approvals Bill.

On the Green Desk this week our reporter Jack Marshall heads to Wellington to check out how things are going in the Big Apple of Aotearoa. This time, he chatted with Spinoff Wellington editor Joel MacManus about infrastructure, cycleways, and tunnels. 

And producer Josef spoke to associate professor of evidence and criminal procedure at the University of Auckland, Scott Optican, about the government opening consultation about changing the way that we do jury trials.