The Wire with Bronwyn: August 5, 2020

This week on the wire is the weekly Dear Science segment, where Marcus Jones discussed the curious case of a man who can read letters but not numbers, the effect of vitamin D deficiency on COVID-19 mortality rates, and NASA’s most ambitious Mars rover yet.  

Bronwyn speaks to NZ First’s Tracey Martin about funding for counselling in primary schools, more funding for ORS for students with higher learning needs, and the historic amendment to the Crimes Act definition of female genital mutilation.

Producer Felix Walton speaks to Dr Stephen Child from Southern Cross about their national health and wellbeing survey.

Shane Heremaia, the Chief Executive of the Tuwharetoa Māori Trust Board tells Bronwyn about the iwi reaction to being the first use of a Section 33 transfer under the RMA, allowing the board to take over the Waikato Regional Council's water quality monitoring in Lake Taupō.

Lastly there is time for a small report about the Government’s allocations of the Three Waters Fund for councils, where Jessica Hopkins spoke to Alex Walker, the mayor of the Central Hawke’s bay District Council.