The Wire with Manny

A recent paper from the University of Otago proposes changing New Zealand's five-tiered Covid-19 alert system to seven tiers. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to a contributor to the paper, Professor Michael Baker, about why a change is necessary.

Conor spoke to Clinical Psychologist and CEO of Umbrella Wellbeing Gaynor Parkin about the shortage of psychologists in New Zealand and the need for more training. They also talked about what the Government can do to support psychologists and possible solutions for the mental health sector.

The search for orca calf Toa's pod goes into the fourth day, but there had been few confimed of pods at the North Island's West Coast.  Justin Wong spoke to marine-ecologist Professor Karen Stockin of Massey University about the rarity of a orca calf being left behind and what needs to be done.

Yesterday the government committed to overhaul Well Child Tamariki Ora. The health programme screens babies between the ages of zero to five and provides parenting support and advice through the work of Whānau Āwhina Plunket and many other non-governmental organisations. A review has shown that the programme is outdated and is failing to keep up with the challenges facingwhanau today such as poverty, mental health, drug-use, family and housing situations. 

News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Dr Jin Russell, a Developmental Paediatrician working in Auckland, to provide an experienced view of the problems with Well Child Tamariki Ora.They discuss the history of the programme, the government’s decision to make significant changes to it, and whether the National and ACT Party’s criticism that Labour is enforcing seperatist policies are appropriate when it comes to whanau focused health policy changes in Aotearoa. 

95bFM reporter Conor Head-McCarthy also provides comment from Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall about the government's decision to overhaul Well Child Tamariki Ora.