The Wire with Sara

On Monday, Cabinet announced it would not be removing the COVID-19 self-isolation requirement of seven days. 

This is hoped to continue to contribute to New Zealand having one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rates in the developed world. 

Arno spoke to Dr Emily Harvey, a researcher from the University of Auckland who created scientific models to see what would happen if the requirement was removed or not closely followed by most people. 

Arno started off by asking what the scope of the research conducted was.  

Next, Arno spoke about COVID-19 self-isolation requirements with epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker.

Arno started by asking what his opinion was on the potential removal of self-isolation requirements from law. 

Kia ora, and welcome to The Wire for Rāpare Thursday!

This week, Spike speaks to:

- Labour MP Andrew Little about high rates of Defence Force attrition and the AUKUS alliance

- and Scott Optican about Trump's recent arrest, and its potential implications

Simon speaks to:

- Councillor Shane Henderson about Auckland Light Rail, the proposed extra harbour crossing and communities still recovering post-cyclone

- Morgan Donoghue from Ours Not Mines on mining on conservation land

- and Helen Petousis-Harris on a potential whooping cough epidemic 

Following the deaths of two infants, doctors and scientists worry that this winter could see a whooping cough epidemic unlike those seen in recent years. Helen Petousis-Harris is an associate professor of primary health at the University of Auckland, and she spoke to Simon about the low vaccination rates and those that are at the most risk in the community. Simon started by asking Helen what whooping cough is.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s plan to address the budget shortfall includes cutting funding to many public services, while retaining expensive golf courses that ratepayers are paying for. 

It also suggests selling public assets like shares in Auckland Airport to help fill a $295m budget shortfall. 

FIRST Union, a union representing 30,000 workers in Aotearoa, recently made a budget submission to Auckland Council. They branded Mayor Wayne Brown’s Submission as insufficient and irredeemable, and made several suggestions for improvement. 

Arno spoke to FIRST Union President Robert Reid, and started off by asking what FIRST’s position is on the proposed $21m budget cut for bus services.