The Wire with Joel

This week on our regular catch up with Dr Shane Reti from the National party, Christina and Shane discussed emergency housing in Rotorua, the government’s new measures to tackle crime, and banning petrol cars.

Former Wire host Christina Huang is back to her old stomping grounds for a special guest spot on the Tuesday Wire.

In exciting news, the team welcomed brand new Dear Science co-host Dr Joel Rindelaub from UoA. This week, Joel chatted to Christina and producer Emily about air pollution and gut health, diamond rain on icy planets, and the complex social structures that dolphins can form, which can apparently get quite freaky!

Christina spoke to Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick about Sunday's allegations of sub-standard living conditions in motels used as emergency housing on Rotorua's Fenton Street.

She also spoke to Dr Shane Reti for the Wire's weekly catch-up with the National Party. This week, they discussed the Rotorua emergency housing crisis, youth crime and the banning of petrol cars.

Emily spoke to Asuka Burge from the New Zealand Blood Service about the need for plasma donors.

She also spoke to Sarah Pritchett from WasteMINZ about food waste minimisation efforts at the consumer and retail levels.

Finally, Christina wrapped up the show with a chat to University of Auckland student Viviana Becker about the recent Chilean referendum to implement a new constitution.

Whakarongo mai nei!

The NZ Drug Foundation has called for a thorough overhaul of Aotearoa's approach to the treatment of Methamphetamine, following a new report which showed that existing policies were failing the community and causing significant harm.

This recent report, Minimising the Harms from Methamphetamine, jointly commissioned by the NZ Drug Foundation and the Helen Clark Foundation, takes an in-depth look at how methamphetamine is impacting Aotearoa and proposes a various of new health-based solutions backed by local and international evidence.

Joe spoke to Sarah Helm, the NZ Drug Foundation’s Executive Director, on the matter.

Endometriosis is a chronically painful, invasive, inflammatory disease, with limited treatment options and long delays to diagnosis, which impacts 10% of females in New Zealand.

This study, conducted by the University of Canterbury, covers three themes associated with endometriosis patient experiences: intensity of pain, diagnostic tool shortcomings and perspectives of treatment options.

Joe spoke to Katherine Ellis, one of the co-authors of the study from the University of Canterbury, on the matter.