The Wire with Oto

On the 25th of November, the University of Auckland’s new recreation and wellness centre officially opened for students and staff members.

The recreation centre boasts a 26,000 square metre facility equipped with amenities such as an 8-lane swimming pool, two sports halls and a large gym.

However, around the time of the centre’s opening, a protest was held outside the building by students, lecturers, university staff and members of the Tertiary education union in opposition to the rec centres opening and the expenditure that went into it.

According to the protestors in attendance, the $320 million expenditure that went into the rec centre’s development could not be justified, while staff were still fighting for fair pay agreements with university management and while numerous courses are facing cuts.

Wednesday Wire Host, Oto, spoke to Java Grant - A Representative of the student led-advocacy group - We Are the University, and Sean Sturn - an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Member of the Tertiary Education Union, to discuss why the protest outside the new rec centre was held, and the concerns that staff and students had with UoA management.

A team of scientists at the University of Auckland have recently received a $1 million grant to investigate the link between babies having low weight at birth, and developing heart problems later in life. The team will be using virtual models of the heart and placenta.

Producer Athena spoke to Associate Professor from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, at the University of Auckland, Alys Clark, who will co-lead the study alongside fellow academic, Jo James, about how the study will be conducted, and what the team hopes to achieve with its findings.

This week on the Monday Wire:

Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in the studio to discuss setting boundaries and how to navigate this.

For our weekly catch up with Te Pāti Māori, News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to Mariameno Kapa-Kingi about hīkoi mō te tiriti reaching Parliament, the Treaty Principles Bill passing it’s first reading, and the haka in the house in protest of this.

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party's Simon Court, Joel also speaks to Simon about the hīkoi mō te tiriti at Parliament.

Producer Yesenia speaks to Māori health researcher and spokesperson for Health Coalition Aoteaora, Christina Mckerchar, on the harms of food insecurity on Māori and Pasifika children and what those harms will impact them.

Yesenia also speaks to Paediatric Endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland, Paul Hofman, on the Ministry of Health's precautions regarding puberty blockers, and what the multidisciplinary approach would provide.

And finally, Joel speaks to the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at MOTAT, Katie Bundle, about MOTAT’s adopt a tram initiative.

Whakarongo mai!

A report from the annual New Zealand health survey data for 2023-2024 showed that the proportion of children from homes where food ran out sometimes or often has increased by nearly six percentage points in one year. That’s 21.3 percent to 27 percent. 

However, the food insecurity dives into areas of wellbeing like growth, wellbeing and immunity should these childrens not get all the nutrients they need in their meals.

Producer Yesenia spoke to Māori health researcher and spokesperson for the Health Coalition Aotearoa Doctor Christina McKerchar, about the harms that Maori and pasifika children have due to food insecurity, where linking information can be found for school performance and what communities can do to diminish food insecurity in Aotearoa.