The Wire with Jessica

A project aiming to track the lives and mortality rates of Kekeno AKA NZ fur seals has recently been approved for extension. 

The Department of Conservation project was originally slated to take place from June to November of last year, getting citizens to become involved by submitting photographic sightings of the seals in various places across Aotearoa. 

To learn more about their next steps and how the extension will benefit the research, Liam spoke to Nicola Roos, a student at Otago Uni who’s assisting with the research.

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins, and producer Troy Matich, bring you The Wire for Rāapa Wednesday.

Jessica speaks to Associate Professor of Māori and Pacific Studies Jemaima Tiatia and the Associate Dean Pacific of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Sir Collin Tukuitonga, about Carmel Sepuloni becoming Aotearoa’s first Pasifika deputy prime minister. 

She talks to Tertiary Education Union Organiser Jill Jones about the union's legal action against redundancies at the Auckland University of Technology. 

She also asks Academic GP Nikki Turner about Jacinda Ardern’s legacy on child poverty. 

Troy interviews SAFE For Animals Head of Campaigns, Jess Chambers, about why battery-caged eggs were banned. 

Carmel Sepuloni has just become Aotearoa’s first ever Pasifika deputy prime minister. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Associate Professor of Māori and Pacific Studies, Jemaima Tiatia about what this historic appointment means for our Pacific communities in Aotearoa and our country?

Then, she spoke to the Associate Dean Pacific of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Auckland, Sir Collin Tukuitonga about why this appointment is a positive sign for Pacific health. 

Following the resignation of Jacinda Ardern there’s been a great deal of discussion around the vitriol and personal attacks that targeted her online.

One study conducted by University of Auckland researchers found Ardern was the target of 93 percent of toxic posts against seven high profile politicians and officials.

For Casper's weekly chat with National’s Shane Reti, they discussed the level of polarisation and hateful messaging in New Zealand’s political climate.