The Wire with Caeden

For Tomorrow's World, Stella Huggins speaks to Professor in Critical Health Psychology at Massey University, Sarah Riley about Menstruation Tracking Apps.

And the Wire team brings you the best of the Monday Wire, recapping the year that was in news and current affairs.

This year, Stella Huggins spoke to former Auckland Deputy Mayor, Penny Hulse about an ongoing review on the future of local government. 

We revisit Aotearoa becoming the first country in the world to have explicitly legalised drug checking. Spike Keith spoke to Know Your Stuff’s Brin Ryder about drug testing services at summer festivals. 

Spike also interviewed the NZ Drug Foundation’s Sarah Helm about their findings that overdose deaths in the past five years have increased by 50%.

And finally, we look back at Stella's interview with Chris Wilson, a Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, about his report on his colleague James Halpin, infiltrating Action Zelandia, a far-right extremist group in Aotearoa.

Biogen has announced that SPINRAZA (nusinersen) – a first-of-its-kind medicine – is the first medicine funded by Pharmac for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the number one cause of genetic death in Kiwi children under two.

SMA is a rare genetic disease that can have a devastating and life-changing impact. In its severe forms, SMA can cause paralysis and difficulty with the most basic functions of life, like breathing and swallowing,3 with babies and children possibly unable to hit major motor milestones like rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, or walking.

Joe spoke to Fiona Tolich a long-term campaigner and advocate for SMA, and a Trustee of Patient Voice Aotearoa, about how significant this is.

On The Wire this week for Rāmere Friday!

Joe speaks to Fiona Tolich, long-term campaigner and advocate for SMA, about Pharmacs funding of SPINRAZA, a first-of-its-kind medicine for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the number one cause of genetic death in Kiwi children under two. 

Daniel speaks to Merewalesi Yee, who is a PhD student at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia about her project that seeks to advance the understanding of human migration in Fiji caused by climate change. He also speaks to Leba Gaunavinaka who is a climate change adaptation specialist at the Fijian Ministry of Climate Change about relocating Fijian communities whose land is inhabitable due to climate change.  

David chats to Shane Henderson for our regular segment, City Counselling. They look at Auckland Council Group’s Annual Budget 2023/2024. David also speaks to Lachlan Keating from Deaf Aotearoa about creating NZ Sign Language videos for the 2023 census.

That's us for the Friday Wire!

Liam and Joe take on the Thursday Wire:

Tuva’a has his regular chat with health minister Andrew Little.

Liam had a chat with Shaun Greaves from Amnesty International about their Wrie for Rights campaign.

Joe speaks to Will Appelbe, Head of Investigations at SAFE for Animals about their calls for the government to improve oversight following a heat-stress related death.

Liam also spoke to Stephen Hartley from Victoria University f Wellington about the COP15 biodiversity summit

He also speaks to Levi Brinsdon-Hall from Delicious Revolution about a project looking to bring a sunflower garden to Starship hospital.

And Liam  toTe Arepa Morehu from Toi o Tamaki Auckland Art Gallery to discuss the value art galleries bring to our city.