The Wire with Castor

Kids have recently gone back to school, which means they will be “bombarded” with ads for junk food whilst commuting, according to researchers.

Senior research fellow at the University of Auckland’s School of Population Health and spokesperson for Health Coalition Aotearoa, Dr Kelly Garton, has published a comment on this in a recent Newsroom article and is advocating for Aotearoa’s local councils to eliminate junk food advertising from public transport spaces due to the impact they are having on young people.

Producer Amani spoke with Garton about what other major cities around the globe have done to tackle this issue and the further repercussions these ads could have on Aotearoa and its health system.

Over the weekend, an estimated 50 protesters, a part of Destiny Church-linked groups, stormed the Te Atatū Community Centre and library, where a show discussing the science of rainbows was being performed to children by a drag king as a part of Auckland Pride festivities.

Protestors attempted to storm the library, trying to push through volunteers and librarians, which resulted in 30 children and adults being forced to lock themselves in a room for protection.

News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the Chief Executive of OutLine Aotearoa; a rainbow support service, Emmaline Pickering-Martin, about these protests, and what the organisation hopes will come next to support the LGBTQIA+ community as we start to wrap up Auckland Pride festivities.

As well as this, a noticeable group at the protest was that of the men’s support group, ‘ManUp’ which has links to Destiny Church.

The group were seen displacing merchandise of their group in videos that were streamed online.

However, concerns have been raised about the group, due to their non-peaceful protest actions at the library.

Joel also spoke to rangatahi development advocate, Aaron Hendry, about the protests and the ‘ManUp’ organisation, and his concerns with this group in light of their actions protesting the pride event.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert Dr Cushla McGoverin, joins us in studio to discuss ancient Egyptian mummies smelling good, antidepressants potentially being able to protect against infections and sepsis, and using quantum inspiration to develop methods for classical computing memory, thanks to MOTAT!

For our weekly catchup with the National Party's Tom Rutherford, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to him about the storming of a library in Te Atatū by groups linked to Destiny Church over a lesson into the science of rainbows taught by a drag king to children, the resignation of Director-General of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, and Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, and Tourism Minister, Louise Upston, announcing a $500,000 tourism campaign to incentivise Australian tourism in Aotearoa.

They also speak to the Chief Executive of OutLine Aotearoa; a rainbow support service, Emmaline Pickering-Martin, about the protests at the Te Atatū Library, and the organisation's thoughts regarding this.

Finally, they talk to rangatahi development advocate, Aaron Hendry, about these protests as well, specifically discussing the ‘ManUp’ group, who were involved during the rally.

And Producer Athena speaks to Senior lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland, Dr Jude MacArthur, about the coalition government's move to bring back charter schools.

Whakarongo mai!

This week on the Monday Wire...

For our weekly catch up with the ACT party, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about critiques he’s received for ‘mansplaining’ period products, the Destiny Church pride protests and the Director General of Health’s resignation.

News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to the Co-Director at the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education and Social Work, Professor Jay Marlowe, about a recent report, which is a collaboration between the University and the New Zealand Red Cross, which expresses concerns into the country’s seven-year backlog of the family sponsorship system.

They also speak to vaccinologist and Professor in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, about the concerns with prominent anti-vaxxer, RFK Jr, being appointed as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.

And Matt Hart joins us in studio to discuss fandoms and micro-fandoms, following on from Laneway the week before last.

Whakarongo mai!