National Coordinator of the Public Transport Users Association New Zealand, Jon Reeves, says the organisation supports the government's announcements regarding the mass Auckland rail network closures and reduced operations set for next year. tinyurl.com/3nazt63y

Principal Scientist at GNS Science, Dr. Nick Cradock-Henry, says it is important to adapt to rising temperature trends, as NIWA records 2024 as Aotearoa's tenth warmest year on record. tinyurl.com/pfcusyht

Associate Professor in the College of Health at Massey University, Marta Rychert, says a reason for the increase in medicinal cannabis prescriptions is that health practitioners have become more informed on the benefits of cannabis for certain conditions. tinyurl.com/252eesca

Chief Executive of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Paul Goulter, says the government’s healthcare funding policy needs to re-centre patient needs. tinyurl.com/ynsekv38

Senior Philosophy Lecturer at the University of Waikato, Dr Joe Ulatowski, says Meta's policy changes are to "satisfy trump and his supporters". tinyurl.com/5n7yyvfu

Researcher at the University of Auckland, Dr Hannah Chisholm, says vaccinating against whooping cough is vital to protect yourself and tamariki amidst concerns Aotearoa’s whooping cough epidemic this year will be the most challenging in the nation yet. tinyurl.com/59r398bk

In December last year, the government introduced a new stalking and harassment bill, but the University of Auckland’s Carrie Leonetti believes the legislation is too weak to actually protect victims of stalking. tinyurl.com/yme746cb

Despite Associate Education Minister, David Seymour, claiming charter schools will "help students struggling to succeed in school,” the University of Auckland’s Dr Jude MacArthur wonders if there is enough proof for neurodiverse and disabled students. tinyurl.com/u4tuj4nk

The Principal of Papakura High School, Simon Craggs, says new NCEA reading, writing, and maths tests, will be “disadvantageous to our kids”. tinyurl.com/yc538a2k

The University of Auckland’s Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere says Aotearoa’s current animal welfare model is structurally unsustainable and calls for an animal welfare police unit to combat animal cruelty rather than relying on the current system. tinyurl.com/4z5k5k2t

Co-Chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, Professor Lisa Te Morenga, criticises the coalition government’s new free school lunch programme and says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s recent comments about the new model are “really out of touch”. tinyurl.com/brs25ne3

Director at the Centre of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago, Professor Richard Jackson, says, “the US has now positioned itself in such a way that it's no longer a reliable ally,” and recommends New Zealand reconsiders joining AUKUS. tinyurl.com/2xttc85f

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s Letitia Harding says the government’s new vaping laws will result in companies searching for possible legislative loopholes and is concerned these changes are not enough to reach Smokefree 2025 goals. tinyurl.com/3fu2w46n

Massey University’s Bruce Glavovic says Aotearoa needs to pay more attention to urban fire planning due to the increasing concern of blazes associated with the climate crisis. tinyurl.com/2xhxj3ca

E Tū Union's Michael Wood has expressed concerns over billionaire James Grenon’s purchase of 9.3% shares of NZME and his announcement to replace the board with himself and three other members over a “lack of openness about what’s being planned”. tinyurl.com/ycysa5hx

Mental Health Foundation New Zealand's Shaun Robinson says the government removing RSE guidelines in schools without a distinct alternative is a “total cop-out,” that will impact students, particularly those from marginalised communities. tinyurl.com/5efactkd

Chair of Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) Electoral Reform Working Group, Nick Smith, says the proposed legislation to change central government terms to four years should include local government to better align the two. tinyurl.com/yywczmh4

Recently, a breakthrough in understanding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was made at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research. We spoke to a senior researcher a part of the the study, Dr Helen Murray, about these findings. tinyurl.com/4rrutbmc

The most recent data from the Ipsos Issues Monitor Survey, which recorded data from just over 1000 individuals, shows respondents gave the government a score of 4.2 out of 10. Read the full article: tinyurl.com/2w5def5t

Head of Advocacy and Justice at World Vision Rebekah Armstrong says that poorer nations are seeing far higher food prices and that New Zealand government needs to do more in addressing global food insecurity through its humanitarian response mechanisms. tinyurl.com/ymkybzzk