The Wire with Max

Today on the Monday Wire, amongst a few tunes, we bring you:

A new fortnightly segment begins in collaboration with OurActionStation. Every fornight Charlie will speak about a new interviewee about their campaign. this week, she spoke to Patrick Rooney about the Save Our Trains Campaign that wants for done for New Zealand's intercity rail network.

Sam speaks to Dr Richard Stein, The Chair of Crohn’s & Colitis NZ, about IBD medication and how New Zealand isn't putting enough funding into the medication, despite other countries doing so.

Dr Matt Rayner is also with us today, speaking with Charlie about the upcoming T-Rex exhibit that the Auckland War Memorial Museum will be hosting.

Aotearoa has the third highest rate of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD in the world, but essential medication is still unavailable due to Pharmac’s budget. Ustekinumab, otherwise known by its brand name – Stelara was approved by MedSafe in 2018 and is already funded in Australia. Crohn’s & Colitis NZ petitioned to get Stelara funded here last year - receiving 30,000 signatures. This led to Pharmac testifying before the petitions committee in October last year – where they said Stelara is needed but they still don’t have the funding. Sam Clark spoke to the Chair of Crohn’s & Colitis NZ, Dr Richard Stein about what has happened since.

This week on the Friday wire Casper had his fortnightly chat with Auckland city councillor Pippa Coom, this time about AT’s proposed speed limit changes.

Liam spoke to Green Party co leader Marama Davidson about their calls for a rent freeze and rent controls, as well as Crystal Olin from sustainable cities Aotearoa about how to make city centres more green.

Jess talked with a Dr Anthony Hoete, a professor of architecture at the University of Auckland about the future of housing, and with Dr Rob Beaglehole from the NZDA about the government's proposal to ban fizzy drinks from primary schools.

This week saw  the release of another major IPCC Climate Report, stating that without immediate action we will reach a one point five degree rise in climate and beyond by 20300.

Several new contributors to climate change were highlighted, including the cumulative impact of big cities and towns on the climate.

Efforts to turn our cities more green have been taking place across Aotearoa for several months, so Liam Hansen spoke to Crystal Olin from Sustainable cities Aotearoa about what’s being done and what needs to come next.