The Wire with Caeden

Wahine Kākano is the New Zealand Young Women's Festival being held at AUT next Monday supported by the Human Rights Commission, the Māori Women's Welfare League and the National Council of Women. It's a one-day event for 16- 22 year old women and non-binary people to engage with a range of speakers on topics such as innovation, the future of work, sustainability, relationships, adulting, authenticity, diversity, and inclusion. Lizzie Marvelly is the festival director and spoke with Lillian Hanly.

On the Friday Wire this week, Te Roopu Nahinara, National Party Member, Denise Lee is joining us today to keep us all in the loop about all things National. Next, Louis speaks with Sarah Gerritsen of the University of Auckland about the Ministry of Health’s focus on food insecurity. Then, Dental Surgeon, Sha-Ron Zaks, joins Laura to discuss her work. She specialises in dental treatment for survivors of sexual trauma. We discuss the work she’s doing to change how survivors of sexual trauma receive care. And Finally Benjamin J. Goldson on this day in history.

Content Warning: Sexual Violence 

Sexual violence and abuse can result in a range of symptoms. Moving through daily and doing what some may consider the mundane can trigger those who have been through sexual trauma. Dental surgeon, Sharonne Zaks has found the experience of receiving dental care can be triggering for those who have been through sexual trauma. She is working to change the process of how people with sexual trauma receive dental care, in her own practice and for others as well. She speaks with 95bFM about how dental work can put patients in spaces where they feel powerless and result in a triggering experience for those who have gone through sexual trauma. She tells us how she works to empower her patients and the important role a dentist can play in this recovery from trauma.

If you are interested in finding out more about Sharonne's work you can find videos for survivors of sexual trauma that can guide them through getting trauma-informed care here. You can also find videos for dentists, that give suggestions on how to provide trauma-informed care here. In addition, if you have any questions, you can reach out to Sharonne directly on smile@zaksdental.co.nz.

Shocking statistics show almost 9000 Kiwi children and teens needed dental work under general anaesthetic last year for largely preventable conditions. It came at a cost of around 22 million dollars and has put a strain on the hospital system as operating theatres were often booked up. So, is this something that can be prevented? Or is it this where New Zealand is, and we just need to deal with it. Host Stewart Sowman-Lund spoke to Dr Bill O’Connor, President of the NZ Dental Association - and started by asking him if he was shocked by that figure of 9000 children.