The Wire w/ Alex: 8 September, 2026

For Dear Science this week, we chat with our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin, about Narwhals, exercise and sleep, and El Niño. For our Weekly Catchup with the National Party, Host Alex spoke with MP Tom Rutherford about the OCR rate raise, changes to move on orders, and potential calls for raising the pension age. For Green World, producer Liam talked to Departement of Conservation ranger Neve Duxfield, about her work with the Kākāpō recovery programme and the recent news that the Kākāpō population had hit a record number of 325.  And ahead of tomorrow’s nation-wide public servant strike, Liam spoke to the National Secretary of the Public Service Association Duane Leo about why these strikes are going ahead. Producer Thomas spoke to Earth Sciences New Zealand Principal Social Scientist Nicholas Cradock-Henry, about a new UN report which finds keeping global warming under 1.5 °C is no longer possible. Thomas also talked to University of Auckland Dean of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor Warwick Bagg, about a Ministry of Health report into the university’s Māori and Pacific Admissions scheme.