The Wire with Justin Wong

Climate change is not going away anytime soon, as outlined by the recent IPCC report. The 1.5 degrees celsius warming target is to supposed to be met by 2030, which in the scale of climate change, is just around the corner. What actions can New Zealand take to meet this target? Conor speaks to University of Auckland's Professor David Noone, looking at what New Zealand can do for the future of climate change. This interview is leading on from discussions from last week with Dr. Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, which can be found here.

On their weekly chat, Justin Wong and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about Parliament sitting under high alert levels, surgery backlogs, and vaccinations.

Auckland businesses say they need more government support to stay afloat during the lockdown - Producer Conor Head-McCarthy talked to Heart of the City's Viv Beck.

Justin also chatted with journalist Lillian Hanly about about the inherited neurodegenerative condition Huntingdon's Disease.

Conor spoke to the University of Auckland's David Noone on New Zealand's potential actions on climate change.

Earlier this week Thomas Nail, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver in the United States, wrote an article titled: Why is walking so good for the brain? Blame it on the "spontaneous fluctuations".  

This article spoke about walking: how it affects our brains, and whether it could actually help students in school - to remember better, to think more creatively and help build more positive relationships between both students and teachers.

Given that New Zealand has gone back into lockdown we, as a result, are going on a lot more walks. Zazi wanted to speak to Thomas about this research to see if walking should continue to remain part of our daily lives, past the lockdown climate, as well as be incorporated into our education systems. 

Zazi began by asking Thomas what the connection is between walking and thinking.

This week on the Wednesday Wire, Zazi Hewlett and Frances Wright continue to produce remotely from home as Auckland remains in Level 4 Lockdown, with Jemima hosting the show and bringing us the news. 

The show starts off with Frances having her regular segment Dear Science with Allan Blackman. This week Frances and Allan celebrate the life of Ernest Rutherford the week after what would have been his 150th birthday; discuss why Pluto is no longer considered a planet; and talk about the discovery of the world’s northernmost island.

Frances then speaks with both Deputy Controller for Auckland Emergency Management, Rachel Kelleher, and NIWA Meteorologist, Ben Noll, about the flooding in West Auckland.

Zazi talks to the Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver in the United States, Thomas Nail, about the benefits walking has on the brain, and whether walking while learning could actually help students.   

Finally Zazi has her regular catch-up with ACT's Brooke van Velden, this week talking about ACT refusing to have Parliament sit virtually and Butchers being closed during lockdown.