The Wire with Caeden

On The Wire this Rāapa Wednesday!

Jess interviews NZ Drug Foundation Harm Reduction Manager, Phil Glaser, about their free, confidential drug checking clinic happening near the University of Auckland campus tomorrow. Jess also talks to the COO of pet insurance specialist PD Insurance, Michelle Le Long about their Lead the Way initiative with the Department of Conservation to help dog owners become more aware of Aotearoa’s sensitive coastlines.

Joe Wickins speaks to Assistant Professor of History at Texas Tech University, Daniella McCahey, about Sir Edmund Hillary’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition and how it may have set us apart from the rest of the Commonwealth. 

Arno speaks to Associate Professor Kelly Burrowes of the Auckland Bioengineering Institute on a potential prescription restriction for vaping in New Zealand. He also chats to University of Otago professor and Fukushima Daiichi disaster expert Karly Burch on Japan’s dumping of toxic wastewater into the Pacific, and Professor Janet Stephenson, Director of the Centre for Sustainability at the University of Auckland, on the struggles Maori face when it comes to managed retreat and planned relocation. Finally, Arno interviews Sally Cory, head of Veterinary Service for the NZVA, on protecting pets post-flooding.

That's us for the Wednesday Wire!

Last week, a library in Avondale was forced to stop a drag story time event because of protestors. 

This comes as drag story-times have become the target of religious groups and right-wing extremists, particularly in the US, with Republican legislators moving to ban drag in several states.

I spoke to Drag Queens Erika and CoCo Flash from Rainbow Storytime NZ about the misinformation surrounding what drag storytimes are, and discussed and why they are important. 

The damage and silt buildup wrought by flooding across the country poses a unique danger to all types of animals. 

Arno spoke to New Zealand Veterinary Association Head of Veterinary Services Sally Cory about the unique dangers for animals that have been playing outside and animals that have been relocated, and how to spot the signs of a sick pet. 

He started off by asking which pets could be affected by flood damage.

Vaping is currently the subject of a debate with certain clinicians suggesting vape sales should use a prescription-only model. Arno spoke to Associate Professor Kelly Burrowes from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute about the ongoing debate on whether or not vaping should be made prescription-only in Aotearoa. 

This is a change that some countries, including Australia, have already made. 

Arno started off by asking if the government was already planning to make vaping prescription-only.