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Issues with school lunches and Destiny Church’s charity status w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 25th February, 2025

Issues with school lunches and Destiny Church’s charity status w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 25th February, 2025 Issues with school lunches and Destiny Church’s charity status w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 25th February, 2025, 12.5 MB
Tue 25 Feb 2025

The government’s new school lunch program has been met with criticism over the past few weeks for various issues. Supply issues began just over a week ago, with some schools supplied with Pita Pit or pies as alternatives where the new lunches were unavailable. Students who have received the lunches have called them bland, unappetising, or insufficient. Others have noted the lack of halal certification, leaving schools or teachers in charge of providing for Muslim students. Despite these issues, the government has remained committed to the program, which it claims has made significant savings compared to the previous, Labour implemented program. 

The last few weeks have also seen actions by Destiny Church against Aotearoa’s rainbow communities at multiple pride events. These actions have led some to call for Destiny Church’s charity status to be removed.

In our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues, starting with the new school lunch program.

The Wire w/ Castor: 25th February, 2025

The Wire w/ Castor: 25th February, 2025 The Wire w/ Castor: 25th February, 2025, 110.57 MB
Tue 25 Feb 2025

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chatted with us about a new nuclear fusion record, plastic ice, and how aromatherapy may be linked to pollution. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Tom Rutherford about Destiny Church’s charity status and issues with the new school lunch program. 

Producer Athena spoke to Dr Victor Dieriks from the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research, about his research team's recent breakthrough in understanding Multiple System Atrophy.

They also spoke to Academic Staff in the University of Auckland’s German program, Mareike Schmidt, about her perspective on Germany’s recent federal election results.

Germany’s Federal Election Results w/ The University of Auckland’s Mareike Schmidt: 25th February, 2025

Germany’s Federal Election Results w/ The University of Auckland’s Mareike Schmidt: 25th February, 2025 Germany’s Federal Election Results w/ The University of Auckland’s Mareike Schmidt: 25th February, 2025, 21.88 MB
Tue 25 Feb 2025

Germany’s federal elections took place on Sunday, and the preliminary results show right leaning parties dominated the election— with the Conservative Alliance claiming most seats in the federal Parliament, as well as the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland party (AfD) winning 20.8% of the vote.

According to researchers in far-right extremism, from the University of Tübingen, writing for The Conversation— the AfD’s breakthrough in Germany’s 2017 federal election shattered the nation's stigma against far-right extremism.

Producer Athena spoke to Professional Teaching Fellow for German at the University of Auckland, Mareike Schmidt, about the rise of the AfD, and her perspective on the federal election results, as a German citizen living in New Zealand.

Breakthrough in Understanding Multiple System Atrophy w/ the University of Auckland’s Dr Victor Dieriks: 25th February, 2025

Breakthrough in Understanding Multiple System Atrophy w/ the University of Auckland’s Dr Victor Dieriks: 25th February, 2025 Breakthrough in Understanding Multiple System Atrophy w/ the University of Auckland’s Dr Victor Dieriks: 25th February, 2025, 21.89 MB
Tue 25 Feb 2025

A team of researchers, led by Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, Dr Victor Dieriks, have made a breakthrough in understanding the cause of the neurodegenerative disorder, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

It was previously believed the effects of MSA were caused by oligodendrocyte cells, responsible for producing protective covers for nerve fibres. However, the study, conducted by the Universities of Auckland, and Sydney, has revealed the cause resides in the neurons themselves.

Producer Athena spoke to Dr Victor Dieriks about this breakthrough, the importance of research into MSA, and what the team hopes will develop from this discovery.

Kiwis Working Overseas w/ Global Innovator, Matt Hart: 24 February, 2025

Kiwis Working Overseas w/ Global Innovator, Matt Hart: 24 February, 2025 Kiwis Working Overseas w/ Global Innovator, Matt Hart: 24 February, 2025, 8.52 MB
Mon 24 Feb 2025

Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, and Producer Evie, in studio to discuss kiwis moving overseas to work!

Increase in Children Living in Material Hardship w/ Child Poverty Action Group’s Sarita Divis: 24 February, 2025

Increase in Children Living in Material Hardship w/ Child Poverty Action Group’s Sarita Divis: 24 February, 2025 Increase in Children Living in Material Hardship w/ Child Poverty Action Group’s Sarita Divis: 24 February, 2025, 8.07 MB
Mon 24 Feb 2025

Recent Stats NZ findings have shown that there is likely an additional 36,300 children living in material hardship, compared to 2022.

In 2018, the Child Poverty Reduction Act passed, which received cross-party support, helped in creating a downward trend in these statistics. However, these Stats NZ findings show that there has not been any substantial changes to the nine poverty measures from June 2022 to June 2024.

Overall in Aotearoa, an estimated 156,600 children are living within these conditions, which is roughly 1/7th of the population.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Executive Officer for Child Poverty Action Group, Sarita Divis, about what has caused this increase, and what the government should be doing to tackle these concerning findings.

Firstly, they started off by asking her about what reasons there might be for this upward trend in recent years.

Addressing Period Poverty w/ Taslim Parsons, Interim CEO at Dignity NZ: 24 February, 2025

Addressing Period Poverty w/ Taslim Parsons, Interim CEO at Dignity NZ: 24 February, 2025 Addressing Period Poverty w/ Taslim Parsons, Interim CEO at Dignity NZ: 24 February, 2025, 18.11 MB
Mon 24 Feb 2025

On the show last week, in our weekly catch up with the ACT Party’s Simon Court we discussed comments he had made about period products. 

Court came under fire in the media following a hearing on benefit sanctions. During this hearing a female submitter was outlining concerns about period poverty and the impacts menstrual products can have on a low-income family budget. 

In response to these concerns Court asked if she was aware of, or had people around her aware of, a menstrual cup - outlining its cost and where to buy it. He was heavily criticised by Te Pati Maori, and later Labour for ‘mansplaining’, calling his comments ‘deeply offensive’ as he continued to double down. 

During our interview last week he stood by his comments. 

Period poverty action group, Dignity NZ says that Court’s comments were misplaced, and ignore a variety of issues that come with periods. 

Producer Evie spoke to Dignity NZ interim CEO Taslim Parsons about period poverty in Aotearoa and how it needs to be addressed.

Concerns around Tax Model Around Charities Operating as Businesses w/ AUT’s Ranjana Gupta: 24 February, 2025

Concerns around Tax Model Around Charities Operating as Businesses w/ AUT’s Ranjana Gupta: 24 February, 2025 Concerns around Tax Model Around Charities Operating as Businesses w/ AUT’s Ranjana Gupta: 24 February, 2025, 7.01 MB
Mon 24 Feb 2025

Concerns have been raised regarding Aotearoa’s tax model, regarding charities also operating as businesses.

Despite the current model requiring all profit obtained through a charity's business not be used for personal gain, this is a little bit of a grey area.

For example, any profit from weet-bix cereal products is tax exempt, due to Sanitarium Health Food Company being owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which results in the company having an advantage over their competitors.

However, with the 2025 Budget set to be released later this year, changes may be made to this system.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to a Senior Lecturer in the Accounting Department at AUT, Ranjana Gupta, about this tax model, and what she hopes will come out of the 2025 Budget regarding this.

They started off by asking her about what purpose a charity may have to run a business as well.

International Desk: The Controversial Cook Islands/China Agreement w/ AUT Law’s Sione Tekiteki: 20 February, 2025

International Desk: The Controversial Cook Islands/China Agreement w/ AUT Law’s Sione Tekiteki: 20 February, 2025 International Desk: The Controversial Cook Islands/China Agreement w/ AUT Law’s Sione Tekiteki: 20 February, 2025, 10.59 MB
Thu 20 Feb 2025

The Cook Islands and China have released the details of their recent partnership agreement.

The agreement has raised concern amongst the New Zealand government, who have close constitutional ties with the Cook Islands, as they felt they were not adequately consulted before the agreement was signed.

The controversial agreement, and New Zealand’s opposition to not being adequately consulted, have gained international attention.

For International Desk this week, Wire host Caeden spoke to AUT Law Senior Lecturer Sione Tekiteki about the agreement and the controversy surrounding it.

The Right to Repair Bill Passes its First Reading w/ University of Auckland Associate Professor Alex Sims: 20 February, 2025

The Right to Repair Bill Passes its First Reading w/ University of Auckland Associate Professor Alex Sims: 20 February, 2025 The Right to Repair Bill Passes its First Reading w/ University of Auckland Associate Professor Alex Sims: 20 February, 2025, 13.85 MB
Thu 20 Feb 2025

The Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament yesterday.

The bill would require manufacturers to make repair parts and information available to consumers to extend the lifetime of their products.

Wire host Caeden spoke to University of Auckland Professor and Right to Repair Coalition Aotearoa member Alex Sims about the bill and its limitations.