The Wire with Castor

Data released this month by StatsNZ has shown that annual inflation is down to six per cent from six-point-seven per cent in the previous twelve-month period until March 2023. 

Although despite this period of disinflation, Consumer Price Index data has shown that the price of consumer goods has continued to rise, with stubbornly high food prices fuelling the cost of living crisis. Food prices have risen above general inflation with food inflation on the Consumer Price Index sitting at twelve-point-three percent in the June quarter of this year. 

To talk more about the decrease in inflation and what that signals within the New Zealand economy, producer Andre Fa’aoso spoke to James Mitchell, manager of Consumer Price Delivery at StatsNZ.

The results of a new survey out of Massey University has shown that there’s been a 18.2% decrease in the number of Kiwis considering quitting their jobs since November 2021. This survey is a part of Professor Jarrod Haar’s Wellbeing at Work research. 

Nicholas spoke to Professor Haar about what the survey results mean, including possible measures businesses need to take to ensure staff

A new study using biological evolution models to trace the origins of the English language has made some remarkable discoveries. 

The study used a list of known words in different languages to find a common ancestor for these languages, and incorporated divergence dating so that researchers could estimate when each language diverged from the root language. 

The ancient language in which English has its origins is called Proto-Indo-European and dates back 8,000 years ago. It has been geographically isolated, and found to be the root of many modern day languages as well as English. 

Arno spoke with Professor Quentin Atkinson, a Professor in Psychology at the University of Auckland, to find out more about the study. Arno started our interview by asking about the methodology of the study.

Welcome to the Tuesday Wire! This week on the show:

• For Dear Science, Allan Blackman joins Milly and Rosetta in the studio to talk uncertainty, Superconductors and one worm in particular 
• For our weekly catch up with the National Party, Milly chat to Dr Shane Reti about the Breast Cancer Screening Bill and removing GST on fresh fruit and vegetables  
• Milly also speaks to Carina Walters from the University of Auckland about Opioid use in New Zealand 
• Rosetta speaks to Tracy Clelland, lecturer from the University of Canterbury and project director of Te Puāwaitanga: Beyond the Birds and Bees, about improving Relationship and Sexuality education in Aotearoa.
• Rosetta also spoke to Ella Shepherd, President of Abortion Law Reform Association New Zealand, about the newly implemented safe areas across different clinics in Aotearoa.