Radio One 91FM

As Aotearoa's borders closed in March 2020 to keep COVID-19 out of the country, influenza was also prevented from making its way into the community, and it has stayed out until now. However, with the nation opening back up, influenza is making its way around the community, particularly those under 25. We spoke to Dr Michael Butchard, Medical Officer at the Southern District Health Board, about the spread of influenza this winter alongside the continued presence of Omicron in the community.

On Monday, care workers and nurses around the motu protested against a proposed 3% pay increase for care workers, which some have called a slap in the face. R1 News's Quintin Jane spoke to nurses and aged care workers at the protest outside Labour MP David Clark's office.

The Electoral (Strenghtening Democracy) Amendment Bill, drawn in the members ballot on May 19th, seeks to bring about a raft of electoral reforms including lowering the voting age to 16, extending voting rights to all prisoners, lowering the party vote threshold to enter parliament and more. Green Party List MP Golriz Ghahraman, who entered the bill into the members ballot, joins us to explain why these reforms are needed.

R1 News speaks to University of Otago academic fellow and research assistant Joshua James on the state of Aotearoa's unique flora and fauna, and the Government's plan to protect and ensure biodiversity.

Feed My Flat is a non-profit initiative out of the Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Otago, which provides weekly meal kits to students on a budget. For $85 per week, they’ll provide the recipes and ingredients to feed four people for three dinners; thesix-person meal kit which will cost you $130 per week. R1 News reporter Seb Rice-Walsh spoke to Kimberly Ti, Human Nutrition student and one of the people behind Feed My Flat.