The Wire with Castor

Amidst a cost of living crisis and subsequent drops in consumer spending, it’s no surprise that small businesses in Aotearoa are going through tough times.

Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has shown that company liquidations were up by 40% in the first eight months of 2024 compared to figures from last year, and the economic climate in Aotearoa has been compared, by many experts, to the 2008 financial crisis.  

Oto spoke to Antje Fiedler, a Senior lecturer at the University of Auckland and director of the small enterprise association of Australia and New Zealand, to discuss the impacts small businesses have been experiencing amidst the cost of living crisis and current economic climate.

For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the government’s recently announced fast-track project list, as well as a leaked report of cuts to public health services and The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into climate adaptation.

He spoke to Emmy Rakete from the University of Auckland and People Against Prisons Aotearoa to talk about the inclusion of capacity upgrades at Auckland Prison to the fast track project list.

He spoke to Antje Fiedler from the University of Auckland and the small enterprise association of Australia and New Zealand to talk about how small businesses are struggling under current economic conditions.

And, for this week’s Get Action! He spoke to Keremia Tairua who’s started a petition to increase funding and awareness for Functional Neuroogical Disorder Awareness.

Sasha spoke to Aaron Hendry from the Kickback Charity about changes to emergency housing and their campaign to end homelessness.

And he spoke to Professor Karen Waldie of the School of Psychology about a recent study which links the development period of pregnancy to postliminary adolescent mental illness.

There is no doubt that adolescent depression psychological issues have been on the rise for the last couple years. Researchers have investigated many factors for this, such as Covid-19, or in the case of the GUiNZ study, factors present in pregnancy.

GUiNZ, or Growing Up in New Zealand is a long-term study of child development. This study has located a multitude of factors that may develop adolescent depression. This research could help guide mental health interventions within children and adolescents.

Sasha spoke to a Professor from the School of Psychology, and co-author of the research paper, Karen Waldie, about the new study which links perinatal risk scores with adolescent development of depression and other mental illnesses.

For Dear Science this week, our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about pterosaur evolution, 2 billion-year-old rocks with living microbes, and an mRNA vaccine for Clostridioides difficile.

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Katie Nimon about cuts to Te Ahu o te Reo Māori and the list of 149 projects set for consideration under the Fast-Track Approvals Bill.

On the Green Desk this week our reporter Jack Marshall heads to Wellington to check out how things are going in the Big Apple of Aotearoa. This time, he chatted with Spinoff Wellington editor Joel MacManus about infrastructure, cycleways, and tunnels. 

And producer Josef spoke to associate professor of evidence and criminal procedure at the University of Auckland, Scott Optican, about the government opening consultation about changing the way that we do jury trials.