The Wire with Caeden

Long COVID or long-haul COVID is a series of conditions characterised by long-term, multi-system, often severe health problems persisting or appearing after the typical recovery period of COVID-19. However there is little consensus on the definition of the term as of earlier this year. A new study by the Liggins Institute, headed by Rachel Jaros, sheds new light on the long-term health implications Covid can have, including heart disease and Parkinson’s. 

Arno started our interview by asking what clarifications the study focused on and to see what new research uncovered about Long Covid and its health effects. 

Last week, the Human Rights Measurement Initiative released it's latest data on the state of Human Rights in Aotearoa. Both JustSpeak and Amnesty International Aotearoa have expressed concern over disproportionate violations of human rights against Māori communities. Human rights breeches were particularly prevalent against Māori in the judicial system, healthcare systems, and domestic and sexual violence.

Wire producer Rosetta spoke with Aphiphany Forward-Taua, executive director of JustSpeak, about what the data means for our Māori communities, particularly wihtin our prison systems, and what needs to change moving forward. 

Victoria University of Wellington has proposed significant cuts to staff and several courses including secondary education and theatre.

The University is blaming the underfunding of the tertiary sector and a drop in international and domestic student enrolments. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins first spoke to Senior Lecturer of Education at Victoria University Dr Margaret Gleeson about the secondary education programme, which is set to be cut completely. 

She also spoke to Lecturer in Theatre Dr James Wenley at Victoria University. They started by discussing how the theatre programme, in particular, will be affected. 

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT MP Karen Chhour about their new contractor policy, serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards children in Oranga Tamariki care, and ACT's opposition to ethnicity being one of the factors to consider for surgical waitlist prioritisation. 

She also spoke to  E tū Union Spokesperson Annie Newman about ACT’s proposal to ban contractors from challenging their employment status. 

Producer Caeden spoke to Ellie Hooper from Greenpeace about the UN Oceans Treaty. 

And Lecturer in Theatre Dr James Wenley and Senior Lecturer of Education Dr Margaret Gleeson discussed cuts to programmes and staff at Victoria University.