The Wire with Oto

This week on the Wednesday Wire:

For our weekly catch up with the Green Party's Ricardo Menéndez March, News and Editorial Director, Joel, speaks to him about  the gang patch ban coming into effect last week, as well as ​​New Zealand's fall in ranking on the Climate Change Performance Index and The Ministry of Health's evidence brief and position statement on puberty blockers.

Wire Host Oto speaks to a representative of the student led-advocacy group - We Are the University, Java Grant, and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work and member of the Tertiary Education Union, Sean Sturn, about a recent protest led by students and lecturers outside the University of Auckland’s new Recreation centre.

Producer Sasha speaks to  UNICEF Aotearoa Director of Communications, Tania Sawicki Mead about the recent State of the World’s Children Report and its implications for the future of childhood.

Oto speaks to Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, Treasa Dunworth, about the arrest issued by the International Criminal Court towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister - Yoav Gallant

And Oto also speaks to Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury, Bronwyn Hayward, on the recent COP29 summit in Azerbaijan and whether or not it effectively addressed climate change.

Whakarongo mai!

Last week, Judges at the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister - Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence minister - Yoav Gallant and the military commander of Hamas - Mohammad Deif.

As a result of the warrants, any countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court would be required to arrest those charged and hand them over to the court in the Hague. 

The move is considered to be particularly significant, as it’s the first incident in which the leaders of a western-allied country are receiving warrants from the court.

Wednesday Wire Host, Oto, spoke to Treasa Dunworth - An Associate Professor in the Faculty of :aw at the University of Auckland, to discuss the warrants, their significance and efficacy.

A team of scientists at the University of Auckland have recently received a $1 million grant to investigate the link between babies having low weight at birth, and developing heart problems later in life. The team will be using virtual models of the heart and placenta.

Producer Athena spoke to Associate Professor from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, at the University of Auckland, Alys Clark, who will co-lead the study alongside fellow academic, Jo James, about how the study will be conducted, and what the team hopes to achieve with its findings.

This week on the Monday Wire:

Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in the studio to discuss setting boundaries and how to navigate this.

For our weekly catch up with Te Pāti Māori, News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to Mariameno Kapa-Kingi about hīkoi mō te tiriti reaching Parliament, the Treaty Principles Bill passing it’s first reading, and the haka in the house in protest of this.

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party's Simon Court, Joel also speaks to Simon about the hīkoi mō te tiriti at Parliament.

Producer Yesenia speaks to Māori health researcher and spokesperson for Health Coalition Aoteaora, Christina Mckerchar, on the harms of food insecurity on Māori and Pasifika children and what those harms will impact them.

Yesenia also speaks to Paediatric Endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland, Paul Hofman, on the Ministry of Health's precautions regarding puberty blockers, and what the multidisciplinary approach would provide.

And finally, Joel speaks to the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at MOTAT, Katie Bundle, about MOTAT’s adopt a tram initiative.

Whakarongo mai!