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The Wire with Castor

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Expanding Hate Speech Laws to Protect the LGBTQ+ community w/ Paul Thistoll and Prudence Walker: 11 April, 2024

Expanding Hate Speech Laws to Protect the LGBTQ+ community w/ Paul Thistoll and Prudence Walker: 11 April, 2024 Expanding Hate Speech Laws to Protect the LGBTQ+ community w/ Paul Thistoll and Prudence Walker: 11 April, 2024 , 27.79 MB
Thu 11 Apr 2024

The Court of Appeal has heard a Court Case which would consider if Sexual Orientation should be considered under our hate speech laws.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Rainbow Spokesperson for Tika Tangata the Human Rights Commission Prudence Walker about this Court Case and what more needs to be done to protect LGBTQ+ communities under hate speech laws. 

They also spoke to Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa CEO Paul Thistoll about the mahi being done to include LGBTQ+ communities under hate speech laws by community groups, as well as the scope of what the Hate Speech Laws would cover.

Period Underwear for Gaza w/ Reemi Founder, Emily Au-Young: 10 April, 2024

 Period Underwear for Gaza w/ Reemi Founder, Emily Au-Young: 10 April, 2024 Period Underwear for Gaza w/ Reemi Founder, Emily Au-Young: 10 April, 2024, 4.29 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

New Zealand NGO Reemi, an organisation which works to alleviate period poverty, have received a UK humanitarian grant to supply reusable period underwear to Palestinians in Gaza.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Reemi founder, Emily Au-Young, about what the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has meant for menstruators. 

She started off the interview by asking Au-Young about what Reemi does.

AI and War w/ Dr Thomas Gregory: April 10, 2024

 AI and War w/ Dr Thomas Gregory: April 10, 2024 AI and War w/ Dr Thomas Gregory: April 10, 2024, 18.02 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

Humanity is currently going through a stage in its history known as the “AI Spring”, an ongoing period of advancement in the world of artificial intelligence, heavily impacting the technology we use on a daily basis.
As to be expected, there are numerous ethical concerns to be raised regarding the development of artificial intelligence. The use of AI in modern military conflicts has demonstrated the capabilities of this new technology to cause large-scale destruction to human lives. The Israeli Defence Force, for example, have been using AI in their weapon systems to acquire targets in their war on Gaza, contributing to one the highest rates of civilian casualties in any modern conflict. 

Dr Thomas Gregory is a Senior lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, with expertise in civilian casualties and contemporary conflict. Oto spoke with him to discuss how AI is being used on the battlefield, and how it has impacted civilian lives in modern conflicts.

Changes to Free Flu Vaccine Eligibility w/ Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton: 10 April, 2024

 Changes to Free Flu Vaccine Eligibility w/ Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton: 10 April, 2024 Changes to Free Flu Vaccine Eligibility w/ Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton: 10 April, 2024, 5.84 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

The government has announced that the flu vaccine will no longer be free for children under 12 or Māori and Pacific people aged 55 to 64.

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Senior Lecturer in Bioethics at the University of Otago, Dr Elizabeth Fenton, who along with other health experts, says this is a missed opportunity for New Zealand's health system to improve outcomes and achieve health equity.

She started off our interview asking Fenton for her reaction to vaccine subsidies being removed for these groups.

David Seymour using outdated information to justify cuts to Ka Ora Ka Ako w/ Dr Kelly Garton: April 10, 2024

 David Seymour using outdated information to justify cuts to Ka Ora Ka Ako w/ Dr Kelly Garton: April 10, 2024 David Seymour using outdated information to justify cuts to Ka Ora Ka Ako w/ Dr Kelly Garton: April 10, 2024, 14.84 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

Health Coalition Aotearoa have released a press release in which they claim that Associate Education Minister David Seymour is using outdated advice to justify cutting the school lunch program.

A treasury report released in 2023 has been used by the Associate Education Minister as evidence for looking into cutting Ka Ora Ka Ako funding.

However, Health Coalition Aotearoa believes more recent reports highlight the importance and positive benefits of the school lunch programs.

Nicholas spoke to Dr Kelly Garton of Health Coalition Aotearoa about Ka Ora Ka Ako.

The genesis of the largest study into dementia in New Zealand w/ Professor Rita Krishnamurthi: April 10, 2024

 The genesis of the largest study into dementia in New Zealand w/ Professor Rita Krishnamurthi: April 10, 2024 The genesis of the largest study into dementia in New Zealand w/ Professor Rita Krishnamurthi: April 10, 2024, 15.35 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

A new study into dementia in New Zealand is seeking to fill gaps in our understanding of how dementia affects our communities.

The study will be the largest of its kind and will aim to talk to more than two thousand older people and their families.

The study will also seek to understand the prevalence of dementia across four ethnic communities Pakeha, Chinese, Indian and Fijian Indian, with parallel studies taking place in Maori and Pasifika communities.

Nicholas spoke to the lead researcher for the Indian and Fijian Indian parts of the study Professor Rita Krishnamurthi, I began by asking about what prompted the research .

The Foreign ministers speech at the UN General Assembly and public sector job cuts w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 5, 2024

 The Foreign ministers speech at the UN General Assembly and public sector job cuts w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 5, 2024 The Foreign ministers speech at the UN General Assembly and public sector job cuts w/ Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March: April 5, 2024, 15.29 MB
Wed 10 Apr 2024

In his speech at the UN General Assembly, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters expressed New Zealand’s support for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

The Green Party have been vocal advocates for a ceasefire since the beginning of the conflict and have also been advocating for the granting of Visas for Palestinians with family in Aotearoa.

Nicholas spoke to Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez  March about the foreign Minister’s speech. 

They also spoke about the consequences of job cuts in the public sector.

The first year of the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum w/ Kaiārahi for the New Zealand History Teaching Association, Craig Thornhill: 9th April, 2024

The first year of the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum w/ Kaiārahi for the New Zealand History Teaching Association, Craig Thornhill: 9th April, 2024 The first year of the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum w/ Kaiārahi for the New Zealand History Teaching Association, Craig Thornhill: 9th April, 2024 , 13.97 MB
Tue 9 Apr 2024

Schools began implementing the compulsory Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum at the beginning of 2023. 

By focusing on four key ideas –  Māori history as the foundational history of New Zealand, colonisation, the use of power, and relationships and connections between people – the curriculum intends to teach students from Years 1-10 to understand the big ideas, know the contexts, and do inquiry practises. 

Last week, the Education Review Office released a report on how the curriculum’s first year has been received. 

Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Kaiārahi for the New Zealand History Teachers Association, Craig Thornhill, about some of the commentary from parliament that has emerged, and how the implementation of Aotearoa New Zealand Histories has been received by students and teachers so far.

Repeal of the Therapeutic Products Act 2023 w/ Professor of Toxicology at the University of Canterbury, Ian Shaw: 9th April, 2024

 Repeal of the Therapeutic Products Act 2023 w/ Professor of Toxicology at the University of Canterbury, Ian Shaw: 9th April, 2024 Repeal of the Therapeutic Products Act 2023 w/ Professor of Toxicology at the University of Canterbury, Ian Shaw: 9th April, 2024, 21.78 MB
Tue 9 Apr 2024

Last year, the coalition government signalled its intention to repeal the Therapeutic Products Act 2023. 

Due to come into force in 2026, the Act would have modernised the regulation of medicines and natural health products, making medical devices subject to a similar regulatory regime as drugs.

Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Professor of Toxicology at the University of Canterbury, Ian Shaw, about what the Act would have provided and the significance of the repeal in terms of New Zealanders safety.

The Wire w/ Castor: 9th April, 2024.

 The Wire w/ Castor: 9th April, 2024. , 99.33 MB
Tue 9 Apr 2024

For Dear Science this week, Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about medically implanted batteries, this morning’s solar eclipse, and the explosion of a star. 

Wire host Castor spoke to the National Party’s James Meager about the coalition government’s new action plan. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ActionStation Aotearoa Director Kassie Hartendorp about the government mandating referendums on Māori wards.

Producer Sofia spoke to Kaiārahi for the New Zealand History Teachers Association, Craig Thornhill, about the Education Review Office’s recent report on the first year of implementing the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum 

She also spoke to Professor of Toxicology at the University of Canterbury, Ian Shaw, about the coalition government’s intention to repeal the Therapeutic Products Act 2023.