The Wire with Castor

Yesterday students, staff, and alumni across the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology rallied in support of Palestine.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to protest organisers Layan Khalil and Ayyan Ali as well as protest attendees on why they were marching.

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.

One of the projects included in the government's recently announced fast track list is a construction project that would increase the capacity of Paremoremo, Auckland Prison.

The project would add a series of new rooms, floors and beds to the prison, which would double the prison’s inmate capacity from 600 to 1200.

The announcement has been criticised and denounced by prison reform activists in Aotearoa, with one of their concerns being that, without adequate staffing to accommodate an increase in prisoners, the upgrades would lead to chaos and more antisocial behaviour in the prison. 

Oto spoke to Emmy Rākete, a Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of Auckland and founder of People against prisons Aotearoa, to discuss the announcement of fast tracked upgrades to Auckland prison.