The Wire with Joel

On the Seventeenth of June, 1972, a group of burglars working underneath staff of the Nixon administration broke into the Democratic National Committee office in the Watergate Complex.

This began the defining political scandal of the 20th century, as Richard Nixon and his colleagues continuously tried to cover up their involvement. 

This led to Nixon's impeachment and subsequent resignation in 1974, marking a major event in US history that set a precedent for how we can hold politicians to account across the world. 

On the fiftieth anniversary, Liam spoke to University Of Canterbury Professor in American History, Peter FIeld, on the impact of Watergate and its presence in the current conversations on the January Sixth Capitol Riots. 

This week on the Thursday Wire! Emilia is away, so Frances is our Producer today.

Tuva’a speaks to Labour Party’s Andrew Little about a new National Bowel Screening, the New Baby Unit at Waitākere Hospital, and the record number of patients in the Emergency Department. 

Joe will be speaking to Professor Warwick Bagg from the University of Auckland about increasing medical student places helping to address the medical practitioner shortage, he’ll also be talking to E tu about International Justice Day for Cleaners and Security workers. He’ll also be having a chat to the SPCA about their influx of puppies during Winter. 

Frances keeps to the winter theme and talks to Natalie Wendzich about the Gratis initiative and their work providing meals for the Street Community in Auckland, and also talks to Edy Setyawan about his research discovering a nursery for manta rays in Indonesia.

That's us for the Thursday Wire!

After eight years of research, a rare manta-ray nursery has been confirmed in the Raja Ampat islands in Indonesia by a team of researchers at the University of Auckland. The team’s research is the most comprehensive description to date of the manta ray anywhere and is prompting the Indonesian government to take extra measures to protect the area. The species has a special link with manta rays that hang out in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland. On the Wire this week, guest producer Frances Wright chatted to Edy Setyawan about the rays, Steve Irwin, and his work on this research project.

Auckland university is eager to participate in workforce solutions, working with Health NZ and the Māori Health authority to expand the health workforce across the country, due to shortages in medical. 

Today Joe spoke to Professor Warwick Bagg, the Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Administration at the University of Auckland. Warwick has been lobbying for many years for increased places within the medical sector for students to go to. They spoke about how an increase in student medical places could help address shortages in medical staff.