The Wire with Manny

Joe speaks to Dr Nic Rawlence from the Palaeogenetics Lab at the University of Otago about extinct marine reptiles which once roamed Aotearoa's waters.

The 25-cent Fuel Tax Excise has been extended another 6 months, to January 2023. The Fuel Tax Excise had been set by the Labour Government as fuel prices steadily increased months ago.

The cut in petrol excise duty, the equivalent reduction in road user charges and the half price public transport fares were due to end next month before this extension.

Petrol prices increased 32% in the year to the June 2022 quarter, the largest annual increase since 1985.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson extended the measures, saying "We are doing this because we want Kiwis to have some certainty for the rest of the year in the face of volatile fuel prices and ongoing cost of living pressure," he said.

Inflation rates have also been released, rising to 7.3% and is now at a 32-year high.

Producer Trishil Dahya spoke to Economics Professor Tim Hazeldean from the University of Auckland, on the matter, and his proposals to mediate inflation.

On The Wire this week for Rāhina Monday!

Trishil speaks to Andrew Hubbard from the Citizens Advice Bureau on this week's segment of OurActionStation: about their push to open accessibility for digital governmental services. Trishil also speaks to Emeritus Economics Professor Tim Hazledean from the University of Auckland about the extension of the fuel tax cut

Joe speaks to Professor Jeremy Krebs, from the University of Otago, about developing Aotearoa New Zealand's wellbeing diet, He Rourou Whai Painga. Joe also speaks to Professor Michael Baker from the University of Otago about how Australia and New Zealand are managing COVID-19 during Winter. He also chats with Dr Nic Rawlence, from the Palaeogenetics Lab at the University of Otago, about New Zealand's extinct reptiles. 

That's us for the Monday Wire!   

The government has recently announced that they’re moving the make masks and RAT tests free to encourage people protecting themselves against the winter Covid wave.

Although we will not remain at Red, the country is likely to reach another peak of twenty one thousand towards the end of the month.

The masks and tests will be accessible fromm collection spots and incredibly important to getting us through winter according to Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield. 

To learn more, Liam had a chat with Michael Plank, a professor at the University of Canterbury specialising in applying mathematics to health.