The Wire with Oto

Driven by a need to ensure the world is better prepared for future pandemics, for the past two years the World Health Organization’s 194 member states have been negotiating an international accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. 

While it initially aimed to have reached an agreement by last month, talks have been extended.

Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Professor Michael Baker from the department of Public Health at the University of Otago about what a global pandemic treaty might look like, as well as asking him about New Zealand’s current response systems to COVID-19.

Last week, Te Hiringa Mahara - the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission - released data on the state of New Zealand youth mental health. 

It found that while most rangatahi are doing well, there is a steady decline in youth wellbeing in comparison to older age groups more recently, with 1 in 5 young people experiencing higher rates of psychological distress.

Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Dr Ella Cullen, the Director of Wellbeing System Leadership at Te Hiringa Mahara, about this data, the factors contributing to this, and how to better support rangatahi.

For their weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, Wire host Sofia speaks to ACT MP Laura Trask about public sector job cuts, military-style academies for youth offenders, and the Māori wards bill. 

She also speaks to Dr Ella Cullen, the Director of Wellbeing System Leadership at Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, about recent data on the state of youth mental wellbeing in Aotearoa

She also speaks to Professor Michael Baker from the University of Otago about forming a global pandemic agreement and New Zealand’s current COVID response system. 

And she speaks to the Chair of the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children, Leonie Morris, about the government introducing a bill to make stalking illegal in Aotearoa. 

For this week’s Get Action! producer Oto speaks to Dinithi Bowatte from Massey University about a petition of hers calling for the university to divest it’s investments from the State of Israel.

He also speaks to Rachel Mackintosh from E Tu Union to discuss the nationwide rallies for care and support workers this week.

Whakarongo mai!

Eczema is a health issue that affects large groups of people across the country. The Eczema Association New Zealand, or EANZ, is a group that attempts to understand and address the impacts of eczema on both those who have it and those around them, such as families and friends. 

Producer Castor spoke to spokesperson from EANZ, Vanessa Jenkins, about the impacts of eczema and what more the government can do to support those who are affected by it.